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Well, I know the train doesn't go to Montgomery, but I plan to take Amtrak to Atlanta and then it looks like I will go with a friend by car to Montgomery for the weekend. My question to anyone who knows the city: Would staying downtown be OK for 2 women on the weekend? They seem to have several hotels there now (Embassy Suites but also not Renaissance and a Hampton Inn) all reasonably well reviewed at Trip Advisor, but I did see where it said a lot of downtown is boarded up empty buildings--would be therefore be better off staying outside downtown, e.g., The Hampton Inn at Eastchase? But everything we are going to see seems to be downtown, would rather stay there . . .
I see Montgomery has a Union Staiton downtwon, not used. boohoo!!!!
Posts: 2642 | From: upstate New York | Registered: Mar 2004
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Sojourner, I have a nephew whose in laws are from Montgomery. You'll have a good time and you should stay downtown.
For his wedding we stayed at the Embassy Suites - very nice. While much of downtown has not been restored, it is still a nice area. When we were there, the station had a good restaurant in it (4 years ago). Now the visitor center is there and is the hub for the bus/trolley that circulates to the tourist spots: http://www.visitingmontgomery.com/visit.aspx?id=2758
There was also an excellent minor league ballpark across CSX mainline in a park along the river and walkable from downtown. Even if you're not a fan, it would be a fun evening to see the Montgomery Biscuits.
The station is worth a close inspection. It is one of the very few left that still has a large train shed covering the area where the tracks were. Too bad it's not used. Of course Montgomery was the capitol of the Confederacy for a time and many historic buildings are open to the public. Go in the spring when the azaleas are in bloom.
Posts: 2397 | From: Camden, SC | Registered: Mar 2006
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I have heard quiet rumblings that Alabama is interested in restoring the short-lived 'Gulf Breeze', a train which in the early 90's separated from the 'Crescent' in Birmingham and ran to Mobile via Montgomery.
(sorry but I cannot remember the source. I receive emails with news updates from Trains Magazine and the Carolina Association for Passenger Trains.....I also scan the NARP Hotline News about once a week. One of those is where I caught this and it was brief....maybe two or three sentances max.)
We'll see if the support materializes once the projected expenses are known.
-------------------- 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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