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I was casting about looking for a nice three-day, two-night weekend trip from Chicago for the Mrs. and me, and happened upon the National Bald Eagle Center in Wabasha, Minnesota.
That's 30 miles up the Mississippi from Winona, where the Empire Builder stops. The train times are convenient -- a 7:50 p.m. arrival at Winona and a 10:17 a.m. departure two days later.
So I costed out the train fare, hotel for two nights in Winona, rental car for a weekend day, and admission to the center, and came up with $426 plus meals for the two of us. Not too bad, especially in this parlous economy.
Has anyone taken this trip to the eagle center? It sounds pretty good to me, especially since there are several good eagle-watching spots along the river up from the center.
My only concern is that it might be difficult to get into the diner from the coaches at the early seating for dinner, but that is not a deal-breaker.
Posts: 2236 | From: Evanston, Ill. and Ontonagon, Mich. | Registered: Feb 2007
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posted
On the outbound leg, ask at the ticket counter on the day of departure about upgrading to a sleeper CHI-Winona. I did that once on a trip MKE to MSP - cost = $50 which included dinner brought to my roomette since all the dinner reservations were taken by the time the train got to Milwaukee. On a train that coach was so crowded they had MKE passengers in the lounge car until LaCrosse, I thought it was a great deal. It's worth checking, considering the price of dinner in the diner.
I have not been to the Winona Eagle Center, but I look forward to hearing about it when you return.
-------------------- My new "default" station (EKH) has no baggage service or QuikTrak machine, but the parking is free! And the NY Central RR Museum is just across the tracks (but not open at Amtrak train times. . ..) Posts: 337 | From: Goshen, IN | Registered: Jun 2006
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There is limited NEC service to Aberdeen, MD, however "once upon a time' or from A-Day until 1974, trains passed within sight of this sanctuary. The trains were the Wash sections of the Broadway and National Limited.
Oh and the bonus, railviewing of the NS C&PD Port Road line.
Posts: 9976 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002
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Regarding Aberdeen, MD; the town is accessible Monday - Friday on 3 or 4 MARC commuter trains each direction. That bolsters the one or two Amtrak trains which stop.
-------------------- David Pressley
Advocating for passenger trains since 1973!
Climbing toward 5,000 posts like the Southwest Chief ascending Raton Pass. Cautiously, not nearly as fast as in the old days, and hoping to avoid premature reroutes. Posts: 4203 | From: Western North Carolina | Registered: Feb 2004
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