At 11:39 a.m., we will be getting on a TRAIN.
For our very first TRAIN RIDE.
*Grins*
It’s Josh’s spring break, and we planned long ago to go visit his family in Missouri. But we HATE driving.
- We hate the 7 hour trip it is without two young ones in the backseat.
- We hate that 12 hour trip it becomes with two young ones in the backseat.
- We hate that you can’t interact with the kids. All they can do it sit there, strapped in, and watch Veggie Tales.
- Josh’s eyes dry up at the mere mention of a car trip.
- And I fall asleep. I’m a car-induced-narcoleptic.
Flying is theoretically a quicker trip, but the closest airport to Josh’s family is three hours away. (And our closest one is an hour away.) Add in the extra time for security, and it’s an eight hour trip. If there are no delays.
And airplane rides are expensive.
The train stations are one hour away from the in-laws, and two and a half hours away from us. We’ve got a 3.5 hour trip, a one hour layover, and a 2.5 hour trip. Plus 3.5 hours total driving time. All in all, an 11 hour trip. In between driving and flying.
And train tickets for the whole family equal the amount we would have paid for a plane ticket for one of us.
So hopefully, trains will work for us.
We’ll see.
————————————-
Don’t forget to come back tomorrow for Recipe Swap: Dinners – El Cheapo!
We did a bus trip for a getaway a while back and had great luck. There weren’t any small children on the buss though, so I don’t know how they’d do. How will potty-training-on-a-train go?
I’ve taken the train w/the kids a few time. This is my only dispute. Amtrak is unrealiable. My MIL lives 2.5 hr drive from our home – the train is sometimes delayed so much that it takes her 5 or more hours to get to us – when it should be half that time.
If you have connecting trips w/trains – if one is late, you miss your connection. I know airplanes can have delays too – but with our experiences w/Amtrak – it’s the rule for it to be delayed rather than the exception.
But if you go KNOWING that you are most likely going to have to add time to your trip and you’re not in a hurry – then it’s ok. Just don’t try taking the train to the city thinking you can shop there all day – b/c half your day might be spend on the train!
Having said all that – I still like taking the train w/kids. They enjoy the experience – they can get up walk around, explore, go to the bathroom, get a snack, sit in the snack car etc.etc.
ooh where ya going in Missouri?
We thought it was pretty good. If the weather is ok, hopefully they won’t be too late. I liked it MUCH better than taking the baby in the car, and he had a lot of fun too. The only thing I’d worry about right now is the germs, but a plane is just as bad or worse.