For the last major leg of our trip (and our final weekend away) we did something we've been wanting to do for years. I never did work out how to go from Singapore to Bangkok by train. And we chose a road trip in New Zealand over a train trip across Australia.
We booked a sleeper car from Seattle to San Jose--954 miles and 24 hours past Puget Sound, the Cascade Mountains, the Willamette Valley, and down to the California coast.
Our sleeper car (a superliner roomette) was cozy: a private compartment with two large seats facing each other. A door to the corridor on one side, big windows on the other. A table folded out between the two seats, an upper bunk dropped down from the ceiling at night, and the seats reclined into a lower bunk below.
We didn't splurge for the en suite room, but there was a bathroom almost directly across the hall and another bank of 3 bathrooms and 1 shower on the lower level of the sleeper car (and most other cars too).
Once our bags were tucked in it was perfect. We lounged comfortably and Hamish was free to climb and explore to her heart's content. She even took her naps on the top bunks while we read below.
But this isn't a flight. You are free to move about the train. The dining car was two cars down where we had reservations for lunch, dinner and breakfast, a small but varied menu available at each meal. Beyond that was the observation car with windows curving up into the ceiling on both sides and swivel seats facing the scenery.
At 24 hours vs 2.5 (the flight from San Francisco to Seattle), there's a big difference in speed between the train and a flight, but there was also a big difference in comfort.
We were even able to get off the train for a quick visit in Portland. In fact, there were regularly spaced "fresh air stops" with enough time to at least hop off and stretch your legs. In my experience that's discouraged in air travel.
We loved watching Washington turn into Oregon and into California. Farms into mountains into cities. Busy stations and empty platforms. We visited with other passengers and Hamish charmed everyone (or at least gave them her best Thoughtful Baby Stare).
By the time we were in Northern California, it was dark and it was time to go to bed. We cuddled Hamish to sleep on our bunk (Kyle on top; Hamish and me on the bottom).
Kyle and I stayed up a bit longer watching the station lights flash by in the dark before falling asleep ourselves and waking up just in time to see Sacramento, the bay, and the Golden Gate Bridge through the fog.
Unfortunately, cold #2 really started to affect Kyle during the night, so it wasn't the best night of sleep in his life, but that was not the train's fault. We really enjoyed it and would definitely recommend if you have the time. In fact, I'd suggest going even further! The Coast Starlight goes all the way to LA (another 12 hours or so, about 36 total from Seattle to LA). The stretch from San Jose to LA goes along the Pacific coast, and I bet that scenery is incredible.
By the time we were in Northern California, it was dark and it was time to go to bed. We cuddled Hamish to sleep on our bunk (Kyle on top; Hamish and me on the bottom).
Kyle and I stayed up a bit longer watching the station lights flash by in the dark before falling asleep ourselves and waking up just in time to see Sacramento, the bay, and the Golden Gate Bridge through the fog.
Unfortunately, cold #2 really started to affect Kyle during the night, so it wasn't the best night of sleep in his life, but that was not the train's fault. We really enjoyed it and would definitely recommend if you have the time. In fact, I'd suggest going even further! The Coast Starlight goes all the way to LA (another 12 hours or so, about 36 total from Seattle to LA). The stretch from San Jose to LA goes along the Pacific coast, and I bet that scenery is incredible.