Picturesque small town stops on Amtrak routes

[MccfamschoolMom]

Did anybody suggest Springfield IL?

Within an easy walk from the station is the world class Lincoln museum, the old state capital, a cool Frank Loyd Wright house to tour, the Lincoln Home National Park, lot of good eateries and lodging. Plus it is the state capital so all the government stuff is nearby.

There's usually some sort of Lincoln-related exhibit at the old train station (should be near the current Amtrak station, and either free admission or free w/Lincoln Museum admission). And I can personally recommend "The Feed Bag", a lunch-only soup & sandwich restaurant very popular with state employees, as well as the Prairie Archives, a used bookstore next door to the Feed Bag, with a huge collection of local history & Lincoln-related books, as well as some cute souvenir T-shirts. (My favorite features Mary Todd Lincoln's face, with the caption, "I'd have to be crazy to go back to Springfield, Illinois!")

 

[Maglev]

La Conner, Washington, is just a short cab ride from the Amtrak station in Mount Vernon. Here is a view from our room at the Channel Lodge:

 

[Northwestern]

A lot of great info.

Here is another list of picturesque small towns with Amtrak stops:

https://is.gd/GmZfV7

Truckee and Leavenworth are on my list. I would delete Gallup, NM.

Thanks, Maglev, for the photo of La Conner. I am thinking of a trip, next summer, from Portland, on a Cascade train, to Mount Vernon. Then a cab or Uber to La Conner and a stay at the Channel Lodge. By the way, are there interesting things to do and see in Mount Vernon?

 

[Willbridge]

A lot of great info.

Here is another list of picturesque small towns with Amtrak stops:

https://is.gd/GmZfV7

Truckee and Leavenworth are on my list. I would delete Gallup, NM.

Thanks, Maglev, for the photo of La Conner. I am thinking of a trip, next summer, from Portland, on a Cascade train, to Mount Vernon. Then a cab or Uber to La Conner and a stay at the Channel Lodge. By the way, are there interesting things to do and see in Mount Vernon?

There are some ideas in this thread.
https://www.amtraktrains.com/threads/northern-puget-sound-by-rail-bus-and-boat.85242/#post-1008756

 

[Northwestern]

Thanks for the above link. With regard to the Mount Vernon station, I noticed that it's an unstaffed station. With a trip from Seattle to Mount Vernon, can I still check baggage at the Seattle station? If so, would my baggage be trackside when I get off in Mount Vernon? What about the return to Seattle. Would I need to carry baggage, with me, when I board the train in Mount Vernon?

 

[tgstubbs1]

Checked baggage is only available at stops with checked baggage; both stops have to have baggage handling personnel.

 

[zephyr17]

Thanks for the above link. With regard to the Mount Vernon station, I noticed that it's an unstaffed station. With a trip from Seattle to Mount Vernon, can I still check baggage at the Seattle station? If so, would my baggage be trackside when I get off in Mount Vernon? What about the return to Seattle. Would I need to carry baggage, with me, when I board the train in Mount Vernon?

Nope. You can only check bags between stations that both have checked baggage service. You will have to carry all your luggage on, both directions, to and from Mt. Vernon.

Normally, that isn't a much of a problem as Amtrak's general practice in the field is "if you can carry it, you can have it".

 

[crescent-zephyr]

The Amtrak station at Dearborn Michigan is located on the backside of the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village. There is a Comfort Inn right next to the train station (older Comfort Inn but it's decent) - they have a free shuttle to the Museum.

While Dearborn itself isn't particularly picturesque - the Henry Ford Museum and Village certainly is. Plan to stay 2 days if you want to see both the museum and the village - both are very large!

 

[MccfamschoolMom]

There is a Comfort Inn right next to the train station

Any time there's a hotel next to the train station, that town moves up my list of "towns I'd like to visit someday"! Unfortunately, Dwight's motels are geared more towards Interstate and US Route 66 traffic, so train visitors would need to be picked up by a friend/relative/taxi/Uber(?).