How to Go by Rail with Your Grandchildren

Because time is limited for most people, they ordinarily travel by car or plane. But if you are retired and want to spend quality time on your next trip with your grandchild, you should investigate America’s trains, the last means of luxury transport that is available to everyone. Find out below how your trip with your grandchild will be fun, educational and affordable

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Slowing down is the first big step. Going by train addresses the concept of time because it slows you down from a world of instant messaging, and other immediacies. And it helps you to appreciate your time together.
2. If comfort is important to you, trains are like mobile hotels with gleaming twin-decked coaches, air-conditioning and uniformed attendants who make you feel you have stepped back in time. The reclining seats are thick and soft, with comfortable leg-rests so you can snooze after a meal, or sleep through the night. There are also traditional sleeping cars with cozy family-size bedrooms that will provide comfort for you and your grandchild. It's wonderful to be so pampered on your journey.
3. If you want the trip to be educational for your grandchild, the train speeds are perfect for sightseeing, making this is an ideal way to explore the country. Between the many small towns and big cities you can come to understand America's sheer size and variety, getting a feel for what this land must have been like before the days of fast food and TV.
4. If costs are an issue, particularly if you are on a fixed income, going by train is a wonderfully economical alternative, particularly since you don’t have to pay for gas and a hotel; and if you are in a sleeper car, your meals are included.
   
   Trains are very competitively priced. Children’s tickets are always ½ price, and occasionally specials are free. People over 62 years old receive a 15% discount on most rail fares. In addition, prices are based on demand; so if you plan your trip during a slow time of year, you’ll get a cheaper fare.

Tips & Warnings

• Before you plan your trip, discuss it with your grandchild and his parents. Find out the best time to take the trip and the places that are of interest. By doing so, you'll be in a much better position to plan for yourself and your young friend.