Planning a post vaccination trip!

[Yumacool]

My wife and I have spent the last year hunkered down in our house, and have now completed taking both vaccinations, so are ready to go! Earlier this week I made reservations for an Amtrak trip that will take us on the Texas Eagle from Los Angeles to St. Louis for two nights, than the Missouri River Runner to Kansas City where we will spend three nights, then returning on the Southwest Chief. We are taking a family bedroom for the three night Texas Eagle trip and a roomette for the two night Southwest Chief return. For meals (since I have heard they are tastier) I ordered kosher meals each day on the train. We will have the omelet for breakfast, the chicken entree for lunch and fish for dinner. We are REALLY looking forward to the trip. Anyone have any advice? Do we have to stay with the kosher meals even if we find we don't like them? I should mention that when we stay two nights in St. Louis we are staying at the hotel inside the old St. Louis Union Station. Anyone been there?

 

[AmtrakBlue]

I should mention that when we stay two nights in St. Louis we are staying at the hotel inside the old St. Louis Union Station. Anyone been there?

I stayed there in 2019 - loved it, though I was only there one night. I love old buildings that have been restored. I arrived in the evening. After having breakfast in the old Harvey House restaurant, I spent the day going to the Arch and taking a riverboat ride, checked out the old cathedral then stopped somewhere for lunch before heading back to the hotel. I then rode the ferris wheel and played a game of miniature golf. Checked out the old RR cars parked there and just walked around a bit. The aquarium was not open yet when I was there. Then went inside and hung out (had already checked out) till it was time to get my luggage and head to the station.

 

[niemi24s]

You'll find find 4,056 reviews of that hotel on Trip Advisor... ST. LOUIS UNION STATION HOTEL, CURIO COLLECTION BY HILTON $121 ($̶2̶0̶5̶) - Updated 2021 Prices & Reviews - Saint Louis, MO - Tripadvisor ..., but those reviews won't amount to a hill of beans compared to the couple of comments you might get here.

 

[Bob Dylan]

Nice trip. As for your Hotel in Union Station, the Lobby is Beautiful, the rooms are standard Mid-Level Hotel Rooms that, depending on the price you're paying, are a good deal, or overpriced.

The Light Rail stop is right next to the Old Train shed, and will get you anywhere from the Airport on the West clear out to the Air Force Base in Illinois on the East.

Union Station is just up the Hill from the Intermodel Station that serves Amtrak and Buses.

St Louis is a fun place to visit, if you like tours the Budweiser Brewery Tour is very good, St Louis has really good Italian Food, and there are Casinos on both sides of the River close to the Arch.

I'm not sure if the Cardinals will be allowed to have fans @ their Games, but Busch Stadium is a fun place to see Baseball.

The NHL Blues play in the Dome by the Intermodel Station but not sure if fans are allowed???

As for Kansas City, a great place to visit with lots to see and do.

The Beautiful Restored Union Station itself is worth a day in itself with a Rail Museum, a Post Office, a Theater,A Harvey House Deli and a really good Steak Place( Pricey and Dressy but Excellent).Unfortunately the Amtrak waiting room reminds one of a Small Bus Station with really hard benches and harsh lighting.

I recommend visiting the Old Black Entertainment District around 19th and Vine, especially the Jazz Hall of Fame and the ***** Leagues Baseball Museum which are located in the same building.

Lots of good BBQ in KC too, the original Arthur Bryant's is close to the Jazz/ Baseball Building, but there are plenty of other Good Joints too. Google is your friend here.

As for Baseball, the Royals play @ the Truman Sports Complex, which has 2 Stadiums.( the NFL Chiefs play in the other ones), but again, how many fans will be allowed is TBD??

 

[Cal]

My wife and I have spent the last year hunkered down in our house, and have now completed taking both vaccinations, so are ready to go! Earlier this week I made reservations for an Amtrak trip that will take us on the Texas Eagle from Los Angeles to St. Louis for two nights, than the Missouri River Runner to Kansas City where we will spend three nights, then returning on the Southwest Chief. We are taking a family bedroom for the three night Texas Eagle trip and a roomette for the two night Southwest Chief return. For meals (since I have heard they are tastier) I ordered kosher meals each day on the train. We will have the omelet for breakfast, the chicken entree for lunch and fish for dinner. We are REALLY looking forward to the trip. Anyone have any advice? Do we have to stay with the kosher meals even if we find we don't like them? I should mention that when we stay two nights in St. Louis we are staying at the hotel inside the old St. Louis Union Station. Anyone been there?

That's awesome! I'm doing something similar to this, but in reverse. soon.

Taking the Chief out to Chicago from Socal, then leaving the next day o the Eagle back to LAX!

Hope you have a great trip.

 

[Yumacool]

If we were on the same trains it would be fun to meet!

 

[Cal]

If we were on the same trains it would be fun to meet!

Still pretty new here, so I'm not really up for meeting yet! However, in the future, possibly.

 

[Oliverprime]

I hope that everything will be fine after the vaccine and you will be able to go well on the vacation you are planning. I'm in the same situation as you and now I've booked some Burj khalifa tickets at the top from Burj Khalifa Tickets Prices and Deals 2021: All You Need to Know because I've been dreaming of getting there for a long time. I will surprise my wife because she still doesn't know about these plans. I'm sure she will like it because we are both people who love to travel and see as many new places as possible. This is what makes us really happy and I can't wait to go on the next adventure.

 

[niemi24s]

Welcome to the Forum.

Hope you've researched the climate of that area enough to know that summer months are not only excruciatingly hot but also excruciatingly humid. Spent a year in nearby Dhahran Saudi Arabia a while back and found Summer along the South shore of the Arabian (not Persian) Gulf to be a real challenge when out in the elements.

 

[City of Miami]

Still pretty new here, so I'm not really up for meeting yet! However, in the future, possibly.

Oh I encourage you to go for it, Cal. I have met several AUers without regret in addition to 1 mini-gathering in TX which had a bunch. You have to like trains tho

 

[Asher]

Welcome to the Forum.

Hope you've researched the climate of that area enough to know that summer months are not only excruciatingly hot but also excruciatingly humid. Spent a year in nearby Dhahran Saudi Arabia a while back and found Summer along the South shore of the Arabian (not Persian) Gulf to be a real challenge when out in the elements.

Ever been to Yuma in the summer. toasty.