I spent 200 hours solo traveling across America by train... here is what the experience was REALLY like
Chloé Höglund, 34, who is originally from New Zealand, went on a solo trip around America on Amtrak sleeper trains earlier this year.
She visited a whopping 26 states and spent nearly 200 hours on trains, and along the way, she witnessed a series of beautiful sights.
'I basically drew a rectangle across the map of America - New York to Seattle, down the Pacific Coast, across the deserts to New Orleans, and up the East Coast to New York again,' she shared exclusively with the Daily Mail.
'I saw a mix of big-name spots and tiny towns I'd never even heard of until the train stopped there.'
Chloé gushed that there were 'so many amazing views' but the place that stood out to her the most was Washington state.
'I loved it - mountains, rivers, bridges, snow-capped peaks, big trees - it had everything I love,' she explained.
According to the avid traveler, even the more 'boring' states surprised her by their beauty.
'Even the "boring" or flatter states had beauty in them - whether it was quirky houses, farm animals, or strange little structures in the middle of nowhere,' she continued.
'I found something to enjoy everywhere. Nothing went unappreciated on my end.'
While many people choose to travel via plane, Chloé explained that taking a train gives you the opportunity to explore places between your starting point and destination.
She added that time seems to 'slow down' when you're on a train, and it's a lot less stressful than getting on a flight since there are no security lines and TSA.
'Days stretch out, scenery unfolds, and you get to be fully present,' she shared.
'It's slow in the best way. You can read, nap, chat with strangers (which I had to practice doing as I was terrified), or just watch the world roll by without worrying about traffic or airport delays.
'It feels nostalgic, cinematic, and a bit magical. It's like pressing pause on real life for a few days.'
She said traveling via train helped give her a taste of so many different places, and she can now pick which ones she wants to go back to and visit more thoroughly.
'Sure, you might not fully explore every destination you pass through, but I think of it more like a little preview of places I'd love to come back to,' she explained.
'My travel list has grown massively just from watching the world roll by on Amtrak.'
Chloé, who estimated that she spent $5,000 on the train tickets during the trip, slept on a bed on the train, and while she admitted the rooms were a little 'cramped,' she said they felt 'cozy' to her.
'The rooms are tiny but honestly, I love tiny spaces, so it didn't feel like a downside to me. It's a bit like camping… but with walls, bumps, horns, and a moving bed,' she joked.
'The gentle rocking helps you sleep (usually), and waking up to a new view out your window feels like a little gift every morning. I loved the surprise of opening my curtains to a new view each day.'
There were some downsides, however, like some crew members who 'seemed like they hated their jobs' and rooms not always being the cleanest.
There were some downsides, however, like some crew members who 'seemed like they hated their jobs' and rooms not always being the cleanest
'Unfortunately, Amtrak's rooms weren't exactly sparkling clean - not awful, but definitely not spotless,' she shared.
The Wi-Fi was also 'unreliable' and the service was usually spotty, but she added, 'I kind of enjoy the forced disconnect of it all, it's all part of the charm of slow travel.'
In the end, she wanted to remind others that travel doesn't 'always need to be fast of fancy to be memorable.'
'It's such a different way of traveling - you're not in control like you are on a road trip. You have to give in to the journey, surrender to the pace,' she concluded.
'It kind of forces you to be 'bored' and relax in the best way possible. Read that book you've been putting off, daydream, watch the clouds… it's good for the soul.'
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