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I am also replanning my canceled visit to Kansas City, not sure for when. But when I go, I also want to see the capitols of Topeka and Jefferson City. I considered taking the SW Chief all the way to Topeka, but it gets in late and leaves early and seems a lot easier to make a day trip there (using the dreaded Greyhound) and stay in Kansas City. So the itinerary now is: Capital Ltd to SW Chief to KC for arrival on a Thursday, with a (mercifully short) Greyhound roundtrip Friday morning to Topeka to see the capitol there, returning to KC in the late afternoon and getting back to KC before dark. Then, I'd spend the weekend see KC sights, including taking a taxi to and from the Truman library and home, probably on Sunday (I'll check to make sure that's a good day to do it). Then Monday leaving on the Ann Rutledge I have three options for seeing Jefferson City:
(A) Take Ann Rutledge to Jeff City and overnight there. See capitol. Pick up Ann Rutledge in Jeff City the next morning and change in St Louis for the Lincoln Service, getting into Chi supposedly at 8:40, in time to catch Lakeshore Ltd back east.
Is there nice scenery east of Jefferson City on the Kansas City to St Louis route? It's a route I have never been on and likely would never have a chance to go on again, so I'm tempted to go that way. But if staying in Jefferson City is going to be really tiresome, I'd rather not do it. What is the city like? Can I get around on foot? Are hotels conveniently located?
(B) Make a day trip on Amtrak to Jefferson City, taking Ann Rutledge in the morning, seeing capitol, and returning to Kansas City in the evening, then leaving next morning on the SW Chief and getting in Chicago with a much safer layover for catching the same Lakeshore Ltd. This is nice and convenient for catching the Lakeshore Ltd and for "free" time in Chicago but it means I would not see the Missouri route east of JEfferson City, probably ever.
(C) Take the train out of Jefferson City late in the day to St Louis and overnight there, but that's quite a late arrival; I'm worried about what that would be like. Does anyone know? And an even greater problem: I don't know what I'd do with my luggage while visiting the capitol in Jefferson City. I guess I'd have to phone in advance about the possibility of taking it with me and arranging someplace to leave it while I tour the building?? Don't know if that's possible, but it's a main reason for not considering option C.
Also, I would not want to bother with a hotel in St Louis if I were just going to head for Chicago the next morning; I'd have to stay another night and see something of St. Louis while I'm there. For some reason (maybe it's the Amshack the city has), I am less interested in seeing St Louis than many other places, but I think I'd find something to see (the Arch!). But I'd be spending more on hotels. I could then leave fairly early for Chicago and have plenty of time there before catching the Lakeshore Ltd.
So which option seems best, and why?
Posts: 2642 | From: upstate New York | Registered: Mar 2004
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How about switching option C around a bit. As long as you're making the trip, why not see both routes. But, instead of taking the SWC upon arrival in Chicago, use the Texas Eagle to St. Louis (arrive 7:35PM) and get dinner in the diner.
There is a very nice Drury Inn near the old Union Station (so it is close to Amtrak - hotel may have shuttle service)? The building is the old railroad YMCA where the crews for the passenger trains used to stay. If you are an early riser, you could walk to the Union Station (now a Hyatt hotel) from the Drury for another cup of coffee and see the magnificent station/hotel before taking a cab to catch the train.
It would be easy to spend half a day there seeing that great station and many shops now under the shed that covered the tracks. Another half day could be spent riding the transit system and seeing the arch. It is worth doing, one time.
Next morning (assuming you don't spend the day in St. Louis) take the Mule to Jeff City (arrive 10:51 am) and spend the day there then on to KC on the Ann Rutledge at 5:52 pm. If there is no luggage storage option there, you could spend the night in Jeff City rather than KC (might also be cheaper) then on to KC the following morning. Once in KC use your original itinerary. This will put you in KC on the weekend when hotel rates are cheaper and you'll get to see all of the scenery St.Louis-KC plus check out the Texas Eagle with its 'new' diner-lounge.
Return on the SWC/LSL. Plan on lunch one day in the renovated Harvey House restaurant in the KC station. Go for the milk shake, it's great.
Posts: 2397 | From: Camden, SC | Registered: Mar 2006
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Don't forget about the Depot Inn and Suites in La Plata, MO (a stop on the Southwest Chief). Very nice hotel, nice people, Enterprise rental car available on-site, and a free train watching platform overlooking the BNSF main line.
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