I don’t know about you, but the way I get through the harsh winter months is getting my spring and summer traveling in order. It gives me something to look forward to, and save for.
I live in Southern California, so the weather is normally much nicer than the rest of the Country, but rain storms can and do occur. Right now, rain is wreaking havoc to the tracks in California, especially in the Sacramento area. Sometimes the coast gets slammed, and closes routes. Remember, no area of the United States is immune.
When planning trips, try to be mindful of seasonal problems and avoid routes that might have these disruptions. For example, stay away from travel in the South during their tornado season, if you can help it. Amtrak does stop trains to keep them safe, but sometimes it is better to just avoid it.
On a personal level, I once took the Capitol Limited from Pittsburgh to Washington, DC. It followed the Potomac River through the Appalachian Mountains and it was one of the most stunning trips I have ever taken. The Potomac River was running very high and was full of muddy brown water, but thankfully we made the trip without any problems (minus speed delays here and there). It was the end of May and I was surprised at how much water there still was in the rivers along the journey.
Once again, if you are booking several trains with connections, don’t forget to book the entire thing as one ticket. If you don’t make the connection, Amtrak will put you up in a hotel and re-book you on another train, for your missed connection. Thankfully, this has never happened to me, but I have heard of several people who were stranded in Chicago unexpectedly.
No matter where you go, safe travels.
