I will be traveling from Orlando to Chicago for LitFest and some genealogy research in Chicago the 2nd weekend of June. I have taken the Orlando-Washington-Chicago route several times as well as the Orlando-NYC-Chicago. I thought I would take the train in the other direction this time, as the airline fares from Orlando to Chicago are cheaper and it makes it easy to pickup a rental car.
Question is: Should I go via the Cardinal and the thruway bus in Charlottesville to Roanoke to Orlando, or the Capital to the Silver Meteor (I want the dining car). I will be going on rewards points and need a sleeper, so I may not have much of a choice as to what is available. But if I have a choice, which is better? My son says the Cardinal route isnt very scenic but thought the bus part might be interesting. Pros and cons, please?
Question is: Should I go via the Cardinal and the thruway bus in Charlottesville to Roanoke to Orlando, or the Capital to the Silver Meteor (I want the dining car). I will be going on rewards points and need a sleeper, so I may not have much of a choice as to what is available. But if I have a choice, which is better? My son says the Cardinal route isnt very scenic but thought the bus part might be interesting. Pros and cons, please?