I have some Guest Rewards Points just begging to be spent. I also have a wife willing to let me travel solo from roughly June 29 until July 5 or 6.......maybe 7 if I really need it. ("Guess you'll be calling up that Julie again" is what my wife says.)

So....EVERYONE, ANYONE, where would you go and what would you do if you had a week or so?

I'm interested in favorite trains, non-Amtrak rail enthusiast spots, historic stations, good deals on hotels close to stations that may not have already made it to Trainweb, interesting non-rail things to do, easy access to light-rail........things like that.

Here is my 'tentative' plan based on a weekend of contemplation, visits to Trainweb, Expedia, and the Southwest Airlines websites;

1) Fly to Kansas City

2) Use GR points for a roomette to Los Angeles on the 'Southwest Chief' and then to Portland, OR on the 'Coast Starlight'. Portland hotels? How about stopping short in either Eugene or Salem and taking the Cascades to Portland the following morning?

3) Fly to Salt Lake City and either A) rent a car to visit the steam locomotives at Heber City, Promontory Summit, and Ely, NV OR B) make the longgggg daytrip to Denver and back on the 'California Zephyr'. Denver hotel suggestions anyone? Can I do better than the downtown Comfort Inn?

4) And finally, fly home from SLC.

Again, nothing is solid yet since Southwest Airlines is not yet selling tickets for trips beyond June 6th. New ideas and suggestions are always welcome right up until the time tickets are purchased or GR points cashed in.

Thanks,

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David Pressley

[This message has been edited by notelvis (edited 02-07-2005).]

[This message has been edited by notelvis (edited 02-07-2005).]

1) of the multiple rail and non-rail activities available in and around downtown Denver;
2) you'll have two daylight rides through a very scenic part of the system, and if you have a room on the CZ you'll have the opportunity for several meals thus making good use of your points...
3) there's a big railyard with an overhaed walkway near the Denver station and downtown and you could watch freight traffic galore;
4) a couple of interesting rail and transportation museums around the Denver area;
5) I think you are okay with your hotel choice although there is a Holiday Inn in downtown Denver that is a short mall bus ride (free) from the station. Not sure how the rate would compare.

I live in Denver, about a mile and a half from the station, so if you decide to come this way and are looking for more specifics let me know and perhaps we can email off list.

Meanwhile I am getting excited about my annual trip from Denver to NY with my 7 year old son. California Zephyr 3/25 to the Lake Shore Limited and then back a week later on 4/1.

Hope you have a great time regardless of itinerary.

Ira

I really enjoyed my ride SEA/PDX on the Cascades so breaking the northbound trip at Eugene might be fun. I stayed at the Campus Inn last fall. You could, with minimal luggage or wheels, walk it from the station.

In PDX I stayed at the Mark Spencer in December which is on this boards Hotel section. It was very good value, especially since they gave me an upgrade to a one-bedroom unit with full kitchen. I walked there from the station but on the way back it was raining so I just walked a block or two to 6th (or maybe 5th) and took the free downtown bus.

I'm not sure how GuestRewards handles breaking a trip. The folks I've dealt with by phone there have been very helpful.

Have a great trip no matter where you head!

I envy your plans. I'm a Salt Lake City girl who now lives in the Midwest and misses the mountains.

Is the rental car place open in Salt Lake City late at night when the train arrives?

I never made it to Promotory point. The road was flooded and started carry our little car away. In the spring there is sometimes a lot of runoff that causes flooding in the deserted flood plains. The road to Promotory gets flooded once in a while.

My favorite places to visit around Salt Lake City are the mountains, of course, the LDS Temple Square which takes me a whole day of site seeing, Antelope Island, which is 30 miles north of Salt Lake City.

My favorite place to stay is Little America. Just can't beat the red carpet treatment they give you. They run their business with old fashioned hospitality. The rooms were $98 last time we stayed but that was housing seven people.

The light rail TRAX is about four blocks east of Amtrak. It takes you just about anywhere you'd like to go downtown during business hours. It's been a while since I rode it but I think the schedule and maps are on utahbus.org.

Salt Lake City's downtown area around Temple Square has had a lot of renovation these past four years. It is clean, and easy to get around, as far as I remember. There are a lot of historical pioneer sights.

If I have the time my most favorite place to visit is the Uinta mountain range, especially in June, it's beautiful. There are many lakes and the mountains are gorgeous. It would takes about two hours each way.

Also, how are you getting from the Kansas City Airport to the station? Taxi?

I'm looking for ways to transport my brood of six from MCI to KCY and from the SLC Amtrak to the SLC Airport.

We were hoping to take a train ride from KCY to SLC but the inhumane night pick up times for both cities have made it difficult, so will be flying instead.

A word of caution, don't walk any part of the way to your hotel in Salt Lake City after nine o'clock at night, the station is just down the street from Pioneer Park which is the most dangerous part of Salt Lake City. Of course, it's been four years since I lived there, so things may be safer. Definitely take a taxi if you can at night.

Debbie

quote:

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Originally posted by iowamomofsix:
Oops! Forgot to mention that KCY and SLC represent two trips I've been thinking about.

Deb

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Wow! How ironic is that? Maybe your earlier posts had a subconscious effect on my thinking.

My initial arrival and departure from Salt Lake City would be by air and I'll likely do an economy car rental. I'm also thinking that if I do the daytrip to Denver I would drive over to Green River to catch the train rather than face the abysmal Amtrak arrival/departure times in Salt Lake City.

I'm no fan of the Salt Lake City Amtrak station having stumbled off a nice warm train into a cold wind in SLC at 4:30am in April 2002. I caught a cab to the airport from there and paid $15.00.......but that was one person in one cab. I'm guessing you and yours would require two cabs.

As for Kansas City Airport to Union Station, looks like the city bus system has a route that will get me downtown Monday through Friday. Takes 90 minutes with a transfer. I would rather fly into St. Louis and take the train across Missouri from there BUT I don't want to risk wrecking the whole trip on a missed connection in KC the first night. (I have experienced the '16 people in a 12 passenger van ride across Missouri' to make that connection before and don't want to risk a repeat of that either.) I'd also rather get a cab from the airport to downtown KC (yes, I know it's like 30 miles) than pay for a hotel room in either St. Louis or Kansas City.

Thanks for your SLC suggestions......those are helpful.

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David Pressley

quote:

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Originally posted by chrisg:
Try the Days Inn near the Airport A block off the Light Rail Line. I booked therefor the NRHS and they gave me a rate of $50 a night or 55 on the weekend. That is easily
half of the Mark Spencer.

Chris

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Good suggestion Chris. Thanks. I've read tremendous things about the Mark Spencer but this trip is about being economical off the train......any opportunity to get a decent room at a savings of $40-$50 a night is something I'll take a look at.

Keep us posted on your plans.

quote:

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Originally posted by Michael Christiansen:
the rate I got for the MS on expedia was 59 dollars. After taxes etc it came to 67 dollars. I had originally looked at a hotel in Portland that was cheaper, but it was about 20 blocks south of the Mark Spencer. I find it easier to be able to walk everywhere and 20 extra blocks, with luggage, might have been too much for me!
-mike

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Thanks for your suggestions Mike.

I've been scouting around online again this evening. Expedia is showing a rate of $109.00 for the Mark Spencer the night I would be in town (January vs. July I suppose). The Days Inn just off the MAX (and I will likely be going to the airport in Portland) is $49.00 the same night. I've seen Travelodge in Salem about a mile from Amtrak that's $49.00.

I'll sometimes treat myself to a hotel with an exquisite location but some of the $60.00 I could save in Portland might wind up being spent later at, say, the Nevada Northern Railway Museum. I'd rather see that cash go towards keeping a steam locomotive in operation than my going posh in Portland.

I'll keep looking a while longer......admittedly, I would be very interested in the Mark Spencer if I could get in for $59.00!