Latest news with #Pacific Coast
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Daily Mail
I spent 200 hours solo traveling across America by train... here is what the experience was REALLY like
A woman who has traveled over 8,000 miles across the US by train has shared the hidden gems most Americans don't know about. 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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Travel + Leisure
4 days ago
- Travel + Leisure
You Can Surf Down the Side of an Active Volcano at This Central American Destination
With chill coastal communities like San Juan del Sur buzzing with surf-minded visitors, the stellar swells crashing along the Pacific Coast of Nicaragua are no longer the best-kept secret in Central America. But in-the-know thrill seekers are heading into the country's interior for another kind of surfing experience: "volcano boarding" down the sandy black cone of Cerro Negro volcano. "Volcano boarding is a really unique and memorable experience to try when visiting Nicaragua," says Javier Silva, a long-time Nicaragua expat and executive director of the non-profit Lacrosse the Nations. The adventure is just as other-worldly as you'd imagine, starting with facing down the slopes of a still-active volcano and culminating with a dusty, high-speed descent that feels somewhere between sledding and go-kart racing. To protect against the ashy, sandy spray that coats the sides of Cerro Negro, boarders don bright orange jumpsuits and ski goggles, only adding to the next-level thrill of the experience. Tourists prepare to leave after sandboarding down the Cerro Negro volcano. INTI OCON/AFP via Getty Images "Keep in mind that you probably won't be able to stand up on the board; you'll definitely want to sit on it," says Silva. "The descent is so steep that you get going very fast, and it's pretty challenging to control the board. Hold on, and simply lean into the ride." Just how fast is fast? Wait until you reach the bottom of the cone to find out. Most volcano boarding excursions will have someone standing at the bottom of the volcano with a radar gun to clock your speed, which can reach up to 40 miles per hour. "If you're traveling with friends and are at all competitive, seeing who can reach the highest speed will be a riot," says Silva. Named by Travel + Leisure editors as one of the best places to visit in 2025, Nicaragua wows with everything from white-sand Caribbean islands and centuries-old churches to immense biodiversity in its untouched rainforests. But for a destination that still draws many intrepid travelers, volcano boarding is easily one of the country's most popular experiences. "It's one of the most highly-requested tours from visitors and guests," says Howard Coulson, general manager at Jicaro Island Lodge, a sustainability-focused luxury lodge on a private island in Lake Nicaragua. Tourists climb the Cerro Negro volcano to enjoy sandboarding. INTI OCON/AFP via Getty Images Most volcano boarders embark early in the morning from the charming city of León, located just 45 minutes from Cerro Negro. However, volcano boarding's growing popularity means that tour operators now offer the excursion, with transportation included, from other destinations across the country. Many hotels and resorts, including Jicaro Island Lodge, curate their own private or small-group excursions for guests, but Coulson also recommends Vapues Travel for their certified guides with years of experience. León's proximity to Cerro Negro allows volcano boarders to get an early start on the expedition, beating the crowds and avoiding the midday sun, which can make the experience more challenging. "It's important that travelers know that the experience can be demanding," cautions Coulson, citing the high temperatures on the sunbaked surface of the volcano. Though the descent down the slopes is invigorating and lasts less than a minute, it's the hour-long ascent up the volcano's cone carrying your board that makes it unexpectedly challenging. The sandy, unstable terrain and steady incline don't make it easier. Boarders should come well-prepared for the experience by wearing sneakers or hiking boots and carrying plenty of water, sunscreen, and sun protection gear like UPF-rated clothing and a sunhat with a chinstrap. Tour operators will provide orange jumpsuits for the descent, but you'll want to be comfortable when ascending the volcano. There's one unexpected highlight of the experience that most visitors forget until they arrive: taking in the view from the top of the towering crater. "Walking to the top of an active volcano, where you can contemplate all of the volcano's beauty and the beauty of its surroundings, is something truly special," says Coulson. Vistas stretch on for miles in every direction, but peeking into Cerro Negro itself, less than 200 years old and still belching streams of gas and smoke, is arguably just as enchanting. "That's definitely one of the highlights of the experience," says Silva, "but the thrill ride back down the volcano again doesn't hurt, either."
Forbes
6 days ago
- Forbes
3 Best Amtrak Routes for an Epic Long-Distance Rail Trip
The westbound Amtrak 'California Zephyr' overnight passenger train passes through Hot Sulphur Springs on a summer afternoon. getty For those who love rail travel, the United States offers some of the most scenic and dramatic long-distance trains in the world. Seeing the Rocky Mountains from an observation car, gazing at Glacier National Park, or crossing the endless prairies are vistas that can only be experienced in this country. While Amtrak might lack the panache of European trains or the speed of Japan's bullet trains, there is something unique and deeply memorable about these all-American journeys. This impressed me as I was researching and writing my forthcoming book, National Geographic's 100 Train Journeys of a Lifetime: The World's Ultimate Rides (which will be published in October 2025). So here are three of my favorite long-distance train routes in the United States. Passengers enjoy the sightseer lounge car on Amtrak's California Zephyr during its daily 2,438-mile trip to Emeryville/San Francisco from Chicago that takes roughly 52 hours. Getty Images Amtrak's California Zephyr runs from Chicago to San Francisco, a two-night, three-day experience through the Midwest and the West to the Pacific Coast. The train passes through canyons, farmland, and deserts, not to mention the Rocky Mountains and the Sierra Nevada ranges. At 2,438 miles, it is Amtrak's longest daily route, following the same path as the 1869 transcontinental railroad. From Chicago's historic Union Station, you cross the prairie and over the Mississippi River, reaching Colorado the next day, slipping through Glenwood Canyon and then into Salt Lake City, Utah. Wake up in Nevada and chug into California's Sierras into the Lake Tahoe region, arriving in Emeryville, not far from San Francisco. You can do it straight through or break it up with an overnight stay in Denver, Salt Lake City, or Reno. The California Zephyr features Amtrak's coach reclining seats and Superliner sleeping options, ranging from Roomettes (which have seats that convert into beds, complete with linens and lounge access) to Superliner Bedrooms and Suites (more spacious than a Roomette and equipped with en-suite showers). The Observation car has panoramic windows to ensure fantastic views along the way. In mid-September, rates for a Roomette start at $1,613. King Street train station in downtown Seattle, Washington getty Amtrak's Empire Builder operates daily from Chicago to Seattle, a 2,210-mile journey that begins in Illinois and passes through Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, Montana, and Idaho. Packing in some of the most scenic stretches of America's prairies and mountains, the route follows parts of the Lewis & Clark Trail. Departing Chicago's Union Station, the Empire Builder heads north to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, before heading west across the Mississippi River into Minnesota, arriving the next morning at dawn in North Dakota. It crosses the prairies to the Rocky Mountains and the splendor of Glacier National Park. This is where you can easily break up the journey for a few days or more. The train continues through Idaho and arrives in Spokane, Washington, where it splits, with part of it heading to Portland, Oregon, while the other travels onward to Seattle. The latter route crosses the Cascades and travels along Puget Sound before arriving at King Street Station. Like all Amtrak long-distance trains from Chicago to the West Coast, the Empire Builder has four levels of service: coach reclining seats, Roomettes, Family Rooms, and Bedrooms. Meal service is available in the dining car, included in all classes except coach. There's also a classic western route Observation car. In mid-September, rates for a Roomette start at $1,546. The Amtrak Sunset Limited train travels through the desert near Sanderson, Texas. getty 3. Sunset Limited The Sunset Limited links two of the country's most distinctive cities, New Orleans and Los Angeles, crossing the southern United States on a 1,995-mile trip that spans five states: Louisiana, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California. For history buffs, note that it shadows a route originally used by the Southern Pacific Railway in 1894. From the Crescent City, the Sunset Limited passes through Louisiana's bayou country and heads into Texas, with stops at Houston and San Antonio. It passes close to Big Bend National Park, and then traverses the high country of New Mexico, near White Sands National Park. Entering Arizona, it pauses in Tucson before continuing to California, with a stop in Palm Springs, and then arrives in Los Angeles. The Sunset Limited utilizes two-story Superliner railcars with coach seats on both the upper and lower levels. Sleeper accommodations include Superliner Roomettes, Superliner Bedrooms, and Superliner Bedroom Suites. The Observation car on this train has floor-to-ceiling windows. In mid-September, rates for a Roomette start at $912.
