Advice needed: What are the best small town stops on the Amtrak System

Dwight K. Schrute said:

Hello all- I have AGR points to burn, and I'd like to get your recommendations about small town stops on Amtrak long distance routes that would be quiet and fun for 1 or 2 days. Distance is not important, but for this trip I'd like to visit towns with access to basic shopping, fast food, a tourist attraction or two--in other words, nothing TOO rustic, but definitely not along the lines of a big city like LA or Minneapolis. I'm most interested in stops along LD routes that originate in Chicago. Thanks in advance!

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Let me suggest my old stomping grounds of Harpers Ferry, WV (HFY). HFY is served by the Capitol Limited. The small town has a lot to offer. Check this site for pertinent information you requested. Some of the b&b's, like Laurel Lodge, provide transportation to and from the train station. You can also rent a car from Enterprise at nearby Charles Town. They will pick you up at the station. Just make arrangements in advance for this pickup. Charles Town also has several more lodging options and Hollywood Casino if you care to try your luck at the tables or slots.

Glenwood Springs Colorado.

It's about 22 hours out of Chicago on the California Zephyr. On the west end of the Rockies.

The Colorado River runs through town, Hot Springs, a nice (walk around) downtown right at the station, and plenty of hotels and places to eat (even fast food). It is a tourist town but I think well worth a day of two.

Savannah Georgia would be my recommendation.

Historic river walk section with lots of restaurants and shops. Riverboat tours, somewhat close to the beach and you have six daily Amtrak trains for that station.

Only downside is there is no direct train from Chicago.

What about Galesburg, IL? I have heard several AU'ers say they like to

transfer trains there and enjoy the sites and restaurants.

You could take The Cardiinal to Alexandria, VA. While a part of the Greater Washington Region, Alexandria has its own identity. It is an historic seaport town that has lots of charm and history. Our Amtrak station is conveniently located at the western end of Old Town and is a really nice station. If you wanted to do a circuit you could either take Metro to WAS and catch the Capitol Ltd., or catch a NER from ALX to NYP and take The LSL to CHI.

Which small towns do you guys like on the Empire Builder route? Where the train stops right in town and you can just walk to where you are staying and walk everywhere.

For a long time I was fascinated with the idea of Sandpoint, Idaho and toyed with the idea of moving there. If I ever moved to a place that small I would have to be self employed already though.

My main consideration for a place to stop over would be that there is no need for a car.

Oh - more so than the Empire Builder line, what about the Coast Starlight? Suggestions for the best overnight in the southern end of the route for the safest place to walk around, easiest station access on foot, low crime?

Hope my questions are okay on your thread Dwight! Thanks for starting it!

Red Wing, Minn., on the EB route is a nice little town with a restored hotel within walking distance of the station, an attractive downtown, the Red Wing shoe factory, and even a casino. A nice ride from Chicago. The 20th Century Railroad Club of Chicago runs a yearly excursion to the town.

On the Coast Starlight we like Santa Barbara. The train station is downtown and right along the beach-pier. Lots of places to visit that you can walk to. Museums, art shops, restaurants and nice atmosphere for walking or biking on the boardwalk trails. Plenty of Amtrak trains to meet your scheduling needs--Surfliners and CS trains abound.

Let me also recommend Glenwood Springs, CO (but Fraser-Winter Park is not bad either.) Hotels, Restaurants, shopping, etc. all within walking distance from the Amtrak Station. Scenery is not bad either. Enjoy!

Granted, it's not a one-seat ride on the Lake Shore anymore, but I'd recommend Hudson, NY (south of Albany)--a small town on the river, nestled between two mountain ranges. The whole town extends maybe a mile uphill, and there are a bunch of antique shops and restaurants. There's a small hotel in town though I forget the name, and the main street and diner have been in several movies. As a side note, it's the oldest active train station in New York State.

Cascadia - San Luis Obispo is a sweet little town - AAMOF I'm thinking of moving there! The Amtrak station is very central to downtown which is easy to walk and interesting. There is a super famers' market every Thursday night with vendors and entertainment and lots of folk parading around. Most of the hotels tend to be clustered around the exits from highway 101. Local transit is pretty good and you can get to Los Osos and Pismo Beach on it. And of course, all important, there are 2 Surfliners plus the Coast Starlight everyday!

Charlotsville, Va. is Highly Recommended as is Harpers Ferry!! If You want to be in the Midwest Glennwood Springs is Outstanding, I liked Galesburg Also! Any of the West Coast Stops in Oregon/California NOT in Major Cities are Pretty Nice, and I suggest Santa Barbara even IF it is Large, it's a Great Place! Flagstaff,AZ/GrandCanyon is Another, Just Dont Go in the Summer! :lol: Special Consideration to Alpine,Texas, my Birthplace and a nice Little Mountain Town on the Sunset Ltd. Route! :wub:

Taking the Downeaster to Portland ,Maine wouldnt be too Shabby Either as well as the Small Cities on the Adirondack Route North of Albany around the Beauitful Lake! There's a Million of 'em!!!

Wisconsin Dells, WI (WDL), assuming the EB stub is still running. Very touristy and lots to do there. Although much is spread out, most attractions have shuttles from the downtown. I'm not sure of hotels/motels near Amtrak. Hotels.com doesn't show anything closer than 10 blocks.

Along the Empire Builder, I'd say Whitefish, MT. For a short trip from Chicago, Wisconsin Dells is a great stop with many attractions right in walking distance from the station. Some of the resort hotels will also pick you up at the station.

Grand Junction is also a pretty nice town along the CZ.

Of course, it largely depends on how far you're going, but there are lots of good choices out there. On the Empire Builder, Whitefish is a great small town ... and Leavenworth, Washington would be lots of fun. Spokane is a very pleasant, somewhat larger city. If you're going in the summer, East Glacier would be pretty cool, too.

For the California Zephyr, I definitely concur with the Glenwood Springs suggestion. Going farther west, I really like Truckee, California ... and if you want someplace a little bigger there's always Reno.

Or you could head for New Mexico on the Southwest Chief. I personally like Las Vegas, New Mexico a lot. Gallup is a little gritty, but full of Route 66-style atmosphere. Flagstaff, Arizona is a pleasant and somewhat hip college town. And I quite like Albuquerque -- if that's too big for you, though, you could take the train there and then connect to one of the New Mexico Rail Runner trains up to Santa Fe.

+1 on Las Vegas, NM. I really enjoyed my visit a few years ago, a very walkable town with two nice "downtown" areas w/shopping and eats, historic hotels, museum, college, historic homes, etc. Right on the edge of the NM mountains. Also the site of filiming for a number of movies over the years. It is kind of a combination of old west, Mexico, mountains, and victorian elegance all in one spot.

Where are you going from? Out west, I like Flagstaff; in the east, Charlottesville is very nice; Savannah is fine as well; Alexandria can be nice as well, but it is by DC. You might also consider Portland, ME if you can get there (I hear it is nice).

For a small town. I'll put in a plug for Fort Madison, Iowa. Not a lot there, but it's a very pretty town with decent food by Iowa standards and right on the river. Most of it is walkable, and there are astonishingly cheap local cabs. Looking out the train window I've been intrigued by Las Vegas, NM.

I can't beleive nobody has mentioned Dodge City, KS on the Southwest Chief route, well because its the REAL Dodge City! And yes, of course it is very touristy but all the remaining wild west towns are.

And don't forget about Williams Junction, AZ also on the Southwest Chief. The Grand Canyon can be found there!

Saratoga Springs, NY. I havent been there by train yet but worked there in the summer in my younger days. Very historical & has the oldest horse track in the country, Saratoga Downs ( opens 6 weeks in the summer) I'll be there by Amtrak soon!!!

On the Empire Builder is Red Wing (RDW). The station is right downtown, and a walk up the hill, and you have the historic St James Hotel, and many historic store fronts. Red Wing kept the small town look and shop, and keep the big box outside of town on the north end.

On the Southwest Chief route: Flagstaff AZ and Lamy NM. Lamy is the gateway to Santa Fe. Both these stations are very old and a wonderful experience for just walking around. There's a shuttle bus that meets the Chiefs at Lamy and goes to/from Santa Fe. An alternative would be taking the Rail Runner commuter train out of Albuquerque to/from Santa Fe .

Although I've never stopped off there on a train trip, I was VERY impressed with Spokane Washington when I visited there a number of years ago for a convention. I thought the city was really lovely, with its Riverfront Park and the Spokane Falls right downtown. It's a very cosmopolitan city, with museums, art galleries, and loads of interesting restaurants downtown. I've always thought I'd like to go back there for a visit.

Spokane was the site of the 1974 World's Fair ~ the smallest city ever to host one at that time.

I spent 2 weeks in Charlottesville VA 3 yrs ago and enjoyed it very much - also considering moving there .

Plus I took a 3 day side trip to Charleston WV which I enjoyed. The station in both towns is central to lots of other things. The Kanawha River and state capital are beautiful and, in Charlottesville, the U of Va is very picturesque and Romantic. Charleston is a little bit remote for me with only 3X/week service.