Tag: chicago

Union Station Stopover

On By Daniel DavidsonIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

Our route gave us several hours of layover in Chicago as we transitioned from the Wolverine line to the beautiful California Zephyr.

I was absolutely stunned by the opulence of Chicago’s Union Station.

We ordered a deep dish pizza from a nearby establishment and marveled at the massive Christmas tree, the impressive carved marble and columns, and the ornate wood benches. It was a place of beauty on the trip that was a complete surprise for us.

Victor is almost two years old and toting his suitcase around Union Station.

We were surprised to find quite a few people wearing pajamas in the station, until we discovered that an entire wing had been set up as a platform for the Polar Express. There was an actual decorated train that took off every several hours with staff dressed as from the film, and of course serving hot-hot chocolate!

Maybe someday we will visit just for the Polar Express ride, but for the meantime we enjoyed our restfull hours of layover at Union Station.

Time for a nap at the stopover

From Jackson to Chicago

On By Daniel DavidsonIn personal, travel1 Comment

We are fortunate to have a recent great family adventure to Salt Lake City. This one will go down in the history books for us I think.

We arrived at the Jackson Michigan Amtrak Station (the oldest continually operating train station in Michigan) at 7:30am. We were loaded with 3 carseats, 3 suitcases, a diaper bag, a snack bag, a purse, and a sling bag. The station had only one or two other people at it, and is a beautiful old building. Long wooden benches, tile and ornate trim, and the bathrooms were accessible and decently clean (though we did notice they didn’t have changing tables).

Waiting on the platform in the cool morning air with only a dim dawn light, we could see the train approaching from quite a distance, and the anticipation was positively electric.

As it arrived, the conducters jumped off and without a moment of delay began beckoning and calling us to the far end of the platform to board as fast as we could. Tiffany is nearing her third trimester, and we still have to carry Victor (as he is not yet 2) in situations such as this, so it was a harrowing boarding process.

In a short time, we were sitting in clean plush seats, with functioning electric outlets available and good legroom. The storage racks had plenty of room for our great load of luggage, and we were soon traveling 110 mph to Chicago.

The conducting team was warmly welcoming and treated us with kindness the entire journey, answering our many questions, and checking in on us to see if we needed anything, and even playing with the kids a little.