Help with a SW/NW loop trip?

[pianocat]

I've got my itinerary planned for a summer visit to see my daughters in both Riverside, CA and Spokane, WA. However, I have a couple of questions that I'd like to get some input on before making the phone call. I'll be taking the City of New Orleans to CHI , then 6 hrs. later catching SWC out to Riverside to complete the first leg of the visit. [roomette all the way] I'll stay there a couple of days with my eldest and son in law, then take the CS from LAX to PDX [roomette] .

Now for the questions... I'll have apx. 24 hours to spend in Portland, OR. I've never been there - any ideas for good hotels? things to do the first evening there as well as the morning/afternoon the next day before the train leaves for SPK? The ride from PDX to SPK is 4:45 p.m., getting in at 12:13a.m. The price for a coach seat [on the date I'm going] is $120, roomette is $198. I'm wondering if it'd be worth it to just get the roomette, have a nice dinner onboard, and maybe be able to sleep a little before getting off at SPK. Also, it will be light outside until around 9pm so would the scenery warrant a nice cozy place to curl up and watch the Cascades pass by? [You can tell I've just about talked myself in to that one!] Is the PDX-SPK train usually on time? Then a couple of days in Spokane with my youngest and hubby. Here's where I'm most curious of your experienced input...I took EB last summer, and was only about 4 hrs. late getting in to CHI. I had a room reserved, so no sweat. EB back to the midwest this time [roomette], I'd have an Amtrak approved connection to the CONO back to southern Illinois, leaving CUS at 8pm.[EB is supposed to arrive CUS at 4pm] Based on recent history, is this likely to happen? And if not...why is Amtrak still calling it an acceptable connection? If we're ridiculously late, they are required to set me up for the night in Chicago, right? Ok, I think that's about it! TIA for any help~

 

[D T Nelson]

The schedule of the Empire Builder recently changed. It now leaves Portland at 1:40 pm and arrives in Spokane at 9:08 pm.

 

[JayPea]

Be aware the Portland-Spokane run of the EB does not have a diner. Instead sleeping car passengers receive a boxed meal, which actually is very good. Also, as you will be traveling along the Columbia Gorge, there will not be much mountain scenery to be had. The gorge itself, in my opinion, has beautiful scenery.

 

[D T Nelson]

Regarding where to stay in Portland, I have never stayed at any of them, but there are three Kimpton Hotels in Portland. Kimpton Hotels are supposed to be pretty nice, and, more importantly, they offer a 15 percent "Ride the Rails" discount: "... save 15% on our best available rates with proof of train ticket at check-in."

 

[oregon pioneer]

JayPea, *most* people from the flatlands would call the Gorge nmountain scenery, LOL! The mountains rise thousands of feet straight up from the river, and though I have never taken the EB when it was light out, I've admired the scenery many times from the road.

What to do in Portland? If it's raining out (you don't say what month you are going), you can go to OMSI, take a ride on MAX light rail, or check out the classic mall at Lloyd Center (check out the ice skating rink). If it's dry, walk around the downtown area (a few blocks west and several blocks south from the train station), or take a walk in the park.

Pianocat, you'll still have the dinner aboard with the new schedule. But since there's no doner, and you can't guarantee which side your roomette will be on (and you REALLY want to be on the right side of the train through the Gorge), it's a tossup whether you get a roomette or just sit in the lounge car. I will say the boxed dinner is absolutely excellent, and I highly recommend the salmon. If you have a roomette, it's served to you in your accommodations.

 

[CHamilton]

I just posted some things to do in the Portland thread.

 

[pianocat]

Thanks for all the information ,I appreciate it. I wonder why the Amtrak site just this afternoon was showing the old Portland to Spokane schedule. I like this one much better myself. And the Columbia Gorge sounds awesome - perfect scenery. I'll check the consist and see about getting a roomette on the right side. Am I likely to be out of luck for a vegetarian boxed meal? I'll check out the Portland ideas later but there seem to be some really good ideas I'd be interested in, at first glance.

 

[the_traveler]

Be aware that your "right side" room could be on the "left side" depending how they hook up the sleeper. As far as the "cold box dinner" you get - my personal opinion is that it was one of the best dinners I've had on Amtrak!

 

[brentrain17]

the change in the Empire Builder departure time of 1:40 is supposed to be just till the end of May.

 

[andersone]

the change in the Empire Builder departure time of 1:40 is supposed to be just till the end of May.

Don't be eating that Wilbur,,, I got cash it will get pushed even further back,,,,,

 

[greatcats]

Pianocats -- Greatcats here in Flagstaff. I stayed at the Kimpton Vintage Plaza in Portland last October. I love their hotels, although usually not cheap by any means.

 

[JayPea]

JayPea, *most* people from the flatlands would call the Gorge nmountain scenery, LOL! The mountains rise thousands of feet straight up from the river, and though I have never taken the EB when it was light out, I've admired the scenery many times from the road.

Ahh, it's all in your perspective. To me, mountain scenery is what I see in the Washington Cascades and Montana Rockies on the EB, the Colorado Rockies on the CZ, and the Oregon Cascades on the CS. To be sure, on a clear day, you can see Mt. Hood on the way to Spokane from Portland.

 

[the_traveler]

In RI, the weather forecast says snow or cooler temperatures "in the higher elevations (of RI)". The highest elevation in the state is something like 600 FEET! Many cities have buildings higher than the highest land elevation in RI.

 

[AmtrakBlue]

In RI, the weather forecast says snow or cooler temperatures "in the higher elevations (of RI)". The highest elevation in the state is something like 600 FEET! Many cities have buildings higher than the highest land elevation in RI.

Your hill(s)it's be higher than our two hills. I don't recall ever getting a forecast for higher elevations.This year flat southern DE got more snow than hilly northern DE.

 

[tricia]

In Portland, don't miss Powells Books on Burnside--a full city block of millions of used and new books, with a pleasant coffee shop. A few blocks away is the city's largest food-cart pod, around Alder St. Hotels thereabouts are NOT cheap, alas.

 

[oregon pioneer]

Am I likely to be out of luck for a vegetarian boxed meal?

You will need to check and see if a "special meal" can be prepared in advance to meet your dietary needs. Don't wait till you get on the train! The choices offered were salmon, beef and chicken on a bed of baby greens, with roasted vegetables, plus a roll and dessert. I've done this route from PDX to SPK twice, and it was the same both times (even when we were bustituted to SPK last December), so I assume it's standard. If you just asked for one without the meat, it would not be a very large meal, but it would be delicious. Do check, they might have a vegie option for the topping.

 

[pianocat]

The Kimpton hotels are definitely out of the range that I care to spend, though they look really nice. Thinking now that I might stay in coach for the PDX-SPK leg, and just spend substantial time in the SSL for scenery. I will have had a big lunch in Portland just before boarding and won't need to eat dinner - if I do get hungry, I assume there's a cafe downstairs from the SSL ?

Regarding the EB eastbound, connecting with the CONO in CHI.....Only 4 hours are allowed here, should I have a hotel already booked for CHI then cancel if I see EB will make it? Or is Amtrak responsible for getting me a hotel for the night if we DON'T make the connect and how big a hassle is it to get that ironed out at CUS?

 

[Dovecote]

The Kimpton hotels are definitely out of the range that I care to spend, though they look really nice. Thinking now that I might stay in coach for the PDX-SPK leg, and just spend substantial time in the SSL for scenery. I will have had a big lunch in Portland just before boarding and won't need to eat dinner - if I do get hungry, I assume there's a cafe downstairs from the SSL ?

This is not a bad decision to ride coach to SPK. The last time I rode this route my roomette was not on the Columbia side and so my time was spent mostly in the CCC viewing the river. The CCC configuration unfortunately kind of limits the seating as half of the car was of table configuration. Some of the occupants were table hogs and limited seating. There is a cafe downstairs. Even though sleeping car passengers are provided supper I found it necessary to visit the CCC later for additional nourishment.

 

[oregon pioneer]

I will have had a big lunch in Portland just before boarding and won't need to eat dinner - if I do get hungry, I assume there's a cafe downstairs from the SSL ?

Regarding the EB eastbound, connecting with the CONO in CHI.....Only 4 hours are allowed here, should I have a hotel already booked for CHI then cancel if I see EB will make it? Or is Amtrak responsible for getting me a hotel for the night if we DON'T make the connect and how big a hassle is it to get that ironed out at CUS?

There is indeed a cafe downstairs. The lounge car is a standard SSL (not a CCC), which stays with the EB all the way from PDX to CHI. The diner goes with the Seattle section, and they do not have a lounge at all west of SPK. But you will find there are so many wonderful eateries in Portland, you'll have no trouble getting some light food to take with you onto the train (much better than cafe car choices).

Is your connection to the CONO "guaranteed", that is, did they book it as a through trip rather than multi-city? If so, no need to worry about the overnight in CHI: Amtrak will bus or taxi you to a hotel of their choice (rumors have it they are out by the airport, don't know WHICH airport). But I think you are much more likely to actually make the connection with the new schedule. Does anyone know how it's been doing on connections since the schedule change?

 

[pianocat]

OrP, the CONO connection indeed IS a guaranteed connection on the Amtrak website, so I take it that they are responsible for making sure I get to my destination in so. Ill first thing the next morning [391 goes where I'm headed at 8:15a.m.] AND take care of finding the hotel for the night. I won't bother pre-booking/cancelling something then, on my own. I really will need to be getting back home by this point, but the idea of a bonus night in Windy City is quite attractive.

 

[oregon pioneer]

If you do miss your connection, they will automatically re-book you as soon as they know it's going to happen. You should watch your email for a re-booked e-ticket. It the EB should happen to be VERY late (as we were in December), they may assume you'll want to "sleep in" and NOT book you on the "next train out." That happened to me, and was not what I wanted (since I had a coinference to attend in SPI). Beware, if this happens you'll need to call AGR to change to your preferred train. Best to be proactive on this, if it should happen. On the EB, it takes a smartphone to check email, but I was able to borrow one for a few minutes from a kindly fellow-traveler.