Amery, WI: We are planning a train trip along the Pacific Coast from San Diego to San Francisco or Santa Cruz or someplace in that area. We are 2 adults, ages 60 & 66, and plan to travel on May 15,16, or 17th. Does the train go along the coast all the way between these 2 cities? Also, we are possibly looking at taking the train from San Diego to San Luis Obispo and rent a car to drive along the coast if the train does not go along the coast. Any suggestions?

Fred W. Frailey: Can I come with you? Take the 615 am Pacific Surfliner from San Diego to LA. Transfer there to the Coast Starlight for Salinas (Santa Cruz) or Oakland (San Francisco). The Surfliner runs on the beach of San Clemente. But the crown jewel of this trip is the hour, from about 30 miles north of Santa Barbara, to just beyond the stop at Surf, when the train and the ocean are alone. You are right up against the water, there is no highway, no houses, no towns, no cars, no roads, no nothing but you and the water and the shoreline. It is the most sublime hour you will ever spend on a train. I've made this trip at least half a dozen times, and talk in the Sightseer Lounge invariably ceases. How can conversation compete with this?

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Chicago, IL: What is the best and cheapest Chicago/Chicago round trip booking for 2 US citizens (ages 63 & 60)both holding disability IDs with: stop overs in Quebec, Montreal and/or Tonronto, Bampf and/or Lake Louise. John

Fred W. Frailey: Sorry, you can't get there! From Quebec City or Montreal, take connecting trains to Toronto and then VIA Rail Canada's Canadian to . . . . well, not to Banff or Lake Louise. The Canadian runs 100 miles north of those spectacular spots, through Jasper, and at night, to boot. It terminates at Vancouver. From Vancouver, take Amtrak's daily train to Seattle, and from Seattle, the Empire Builder to Chicago. Explore on amtrak.com getting a North American Rail Pass. At the home page, click on Hot Deals and then on Rail Passes & Programs.

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Phoenix, AZ: What are the three MOST SCENIC train routes in the U.S., covered by AMTRAK? (These routes would not only pass through scenic areas, but also be scheduled so that those scenic areas are covered in the daytime.)

Fred W. Frailey: Good question! I'll give you five, in order of my preference --
California Zephyr, westbound from Denver to Oakland (the train originates in Chicago, but the scenery starts leaving Denver). Unquestionably the best of the bunch.
Coast Starlight, between Oakland and LA (the train runs Seattle to LA and the line through Oregon is scenic but no competition for the hour between Surf and Goleta CA when there is nothing but the Pacific Coast and the Coast Starlight).
Empire Builder either way between Chicago and Seattle. The gem is the three hours through the Rockies between Libby and Whitefish, Mont.
Southwest Chief eastbound between Flagstaff Ariz. and Raton NM. I slightly prefer EB to WB because you get more daylight west of Albuquerque.
Acela Express between New Haven Conn. and Providence RI. You skirt the marshy coast of Long Island Sound and then streak through New England villages at 135 mph! All of this seen through big picture windows in your business class seat. Very pretty.

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Winter Park, FL : What is a good age for children to start traveling by train? Our girls are 3, 5 & 7. What's a great family train vacation?

Fred W. Frailey: You are in luck. I suggest a visit to Washington DC for the girls, getting there and back on the Auto Train. I've ridden it dozens of times and never tire of the experience. It's overnight. You ride in nice bilevel coaches or sleeping car and your car rides behind these cars in auto carriers. The diner has the best food on Amtrak at dinnertime. Breakfast is continental. There are movies in the two lounge cars. Each sleeping car has a Family Room across one end of the lower level. I don't think five of you could fit in it, but for sure three and maybe four. My kids have ridden it and enjoyed themselves.

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Columbia, SC: I am looking to take a trip from Chicago to Seattle, Seattle to San Fran, and then back to Chicago. I asked a travel agent that I have used for cruises for some information/help booking. He pointed me to the Amtrak website. Is this the best place to get pricing for a trip like this, or are there travel agencies (online or in person) that specialize in rail travel? If not, gosh, it seems that cruising with all it's ammenities is cheaper than rail.

Fred W. Frailey: If you can navigate the Amtrak web site, amtrak.com is as good as anything. I'm not the person to compare cruises to trains. I've been on cruises so expensive I cannot imagine a train costing more, but then. . . .

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Denver, CO: My elderly parents have booked a RT Amtrack trip from Emeryville, CA to Glenwood Springs, CO for a summer family wedding. What suggestions do you have for helping them make the trip comfortable and enjoyable? Thank You

Fred W. Frailey: The most important thing is that they book a full bedroom and not try to go el cheapo in coach or share an economy bedroom, which is simply too cramped for two people. They'll get a good night's sleep and feel rested when they arrive in Glenwood. Maybe a bottle of wine to share (you can buy splits of wine on the train, but still . . .) I also suggest they bring a good book and go to the Sightseer Lounge during the day to relax, see the sights better and get the most of the experience. They should NOT be cooped up in the bedroom all day.

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Gloucester, VA: We need advice on planning a Canadian rail trip that includes most scenic sites, hotel accomodations, and "must do" excursions. We are presently looking at a rail circle of Vancouver, Quesnel, Jasper, Lake Louise, Banff and back to Vancouver. Is is worth our while to do trans-Canada? (Calgary, Winnipeg, etc).

Fred W. Frailey: That's a nice trip you describe, utilizing two trains run by the Rocky Mountaineer people. If you do this, I would skip the trans-Canada thing -- you'll have seen the best!

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Avondale, AZ: Are there any affordable scenic train trips? Most really great ones I have seen advertised (5 star) are 5,000+. Any in the US under 1,000.00? Thank you, Karnella

Fred W. Frailey: Carnella, why don't you drive north two hours to Flagstaff, and ride Amtrak's Southwest Chief to Lamy, NM, just outside Santa Fe? Enjoy Santa Fe and return by train. It's a very pretty ride and you can buy a coach ticket (no overnight travel) and spend your time in the comfort of the Sightseer Lounge, enjoying the wonders of northern New Mexico and a bit of your native Arizona.

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Okemos, MI: My husband and I wonder: Are there any deals, at any time of year, for a train trip across the US, then back through Canada? If we could travel inexpensively we'd like to use the savings toward an upgrade to the coveted gold leaf service on that portion of the trans-Canada trip.

Fred W. Frailey: Go to amtrak.com, click on Hot Deals and then on Rail Passes & Programs. Look at the North American Rail Pass. You can upgrade as needed and as space is available. Golf Leaf is the term used by Rocky Mountaineer for first class travel on its trains. However, RM does not operate across Canada -- only in western Alberta and British Columbia. The trans-Canada train is run by VIA Rail Canada.

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Pacific Palisades, CA: What are the 10 best train trips in the world? Would like to know your opinion. Thanks. Don

Fred W. Frailey: Too many! Based on my own experience, the five best would be --
Rocky Mountaineer from Calgary to Vancouver
San Francisco Zephyr from Denver to Oakland
Orient Express from London to Venice
Auto Train between Washington DC and Orlando areas -- fun experience
Coast Starlight between LA and Oakland

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Brea, CA: We are getting interested in a train trip to the East Coast, then ... along the Coast, re-turning on a more Northern Route (or, vice-versa). Is there a trip that we could take, that would allow us to de-train at several stops, and continue the trip a day, or two, later. This has some real advantages for us, and could take up to a month+ to complete. Would appreciate any helpful hints you might have for a trip of this magnitude. Thank you so much.

Fred W. Frailey: Sounds like fun. Take the Sunset Limited across the western deserts to New Orleans, then the Crescent from there to Washington DC. The Capitol Limited is an excellent train (bilevel cars) from DC to Chicago. You can't beat the scenery on the California Zephyr (Chicago-Oakland) west of Denver, and the view of the Pacific from the Coast Starliner (Oakland-LA) is not to be missed. Explore the economics of a pass (amtrak.com, then Hot Deals and then Rail Passes & Programs) and upgrade as needed. When you are traveling, remember this isn't work and don't be upset when the train is late, which it almost always will be. At such moments, I tell myself that I get more travel experience for the same price.

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Southampton England, UK: What would you advise for two male friends both over 60 years of age that would like to travel by train in the usa with the intention of meeting people and visiting interesting places probably during September/November. If it's to late in the year then during 2008.

Fred W. Frailey: Go to www.amtrak.com, click on Hot Deals and then Rail Passes & Programs. September and October are ideal months to travel by train -- the weather is usually great, the crowds are gone and reservations relatively easy to get. I'd go to places like Savannah Ga., Charleston SC., Fort Worth or Austin Tex., Kansas City, Mo., St. Louis. They're not the huge cities, but still urban areas and the people are friendly -- I've been there and checked them out for you. Out west, Flagstaff Ariz., Santa Fe NM, Glenwood Springs Colo., all pop to mind as places I can't wait to visit again. Go for it!

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Hudgins, VA: My husband and I have been looking at a Vantage tour from Vancouver to Toronto that includes a trip on the Rocky Mountaineer and a trip on VIA Rail's "Canadian" plus 8 nights accommodation and 22 meals. (11 days) The price is $3699 per person. My husband thinks we could do all of this on our own much cheaper. What's your opinion?

Fred W. Frailey: Your husband can rent a train for 11 days for less than $3699? I don't think so! To be serious: Of course you can drive and the out of pocket cost will be less. So will be the experience. I love trains. I'd pay the price and have a great time.

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Eastero, FL: I would like to take a train trip (amtrak because I am using reward points) and would like to know whether the empire builder or the california zepher would be the most scenic?

Fred W. Frailey: I vote for the California Zephyr, Denver west, and westbound more than eastbound. Right out of Denver you start climbing the Front Range, then go through these marvelous canyons, Coal Creek and South Boulder, on your way to Moffat Tunnel. Moffat takes you for five miles under the peaks, where the trains once ran. On the other side is the Winter Park ski resort. Next thing you know you're in Fraser Canyon, and after the stop in Granby you pick up the magnificent Colorado River near its headwaters, and follow it for like 8-9 hours. Through a canyon called Gore that is so narrow that it's a miracle there was room for a railroad -- forget a highway on the river's other side. Through Glenwood Canyon, whose sheer beauty was ruined by the construction of Interstate 70 but which remains awesome. Then the hill country west of Glenwood Springs, culminating in the driest desert on earth, in western Colorado or maybe eastern Utah -- this just after you finally leave the Colorado River. Finally, in darkness, you descend the mountain plateau country at a locale called Soldier Summit and end up on the REAL desert floor, at Salt Lake City. That's just the first of two days. The Sierra Nevada mountains -- Donner Pass -- is the next day. Have I gotten you interested?

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Lima, OH: We would like to take a trip that includes the parks in utah, nevada (with a stopover in Las Vegas) and Arizona. What would you suggest?

Fred W. Frailey: The national parks are ill served by Amtrak, and it doesn't serve Las Vegas now at all. I have one suggestion, but it isn't cheap. This is to book the train trip of a lifetime on Grand Luxe Rail Journeys, formerly called American Orient Express. GL has no set route. Instead, its trains run a series of trips in various parts of the U.S., Canada and Mexico. One series visit the national parks of the west. Go to this URL for more information.
American Orient Express was bought last year by Tom Rader, whose Rader Railcars in Colorado makes luxury rail cars. He renamed the company Grand Luxe and I suspect you will see the addition of new equipment to the train soon, if new cars aren't already there.
Save your pennies!

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Sherman Oaks, California: Hi, Fred.

What itinerary would you suggest to a couple that lives in Los Angeles and wants a scenic experience of the Pacific Northwest?

Facts: 2 adults (31/35), 0 children... world travelers, lacking USA experience... both love to eat... have 5-7 days to spare.

Thank you!

Christy

Fred W. Frailey: Christy, start by taking Amtrak's Coast Starlight from LA to Seattle. The 100 miles of oceanfront between Ventura and Surf (Lompoc) is fabulous. Overnight you'll cross the Cascade Mountains and the next evening reach Seattle. Amtrak runs an early morning train from Seattle to Vancouver. From there you have a couple of choices. One is a day trip from North Vancouver to Whistler and back on a train operated by Rocky Mountaineer (rockymountaineer.com). Another option is to spend two days on another Rocky Mountaineer train going from Vancouver to Calgary -- the river scenery the first day is like nothing you've ever seen, and the Canadian Rockies through Lake Louise and Banff the second day is world class.
Still got time on your hands? Then fly back to Seattle and book a trip from there to Essex MT on Amtrak's Empire Builder. Essex is in Glacier Park, and right beside the track is the famous Izaak Walton Inn. Going west, you leave Seattle at 4:45 p.m. and get to Essex at 8:55 a.m. Returning, you board at 7:41 p.m. and arrive back at Seattle at 10:20 a.m. the next day. This could either be a two-day trip or you could explore Glacier Park, using the Izaak Walton at your base. See izaakwaltoninn.com.

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Grand Haven, MI: Can I travel by train to Phoenix or Flagstaff AZ this June? We are a family of 5 with children from 3 to 7 years old and would like to spend about a week.

Fred W. Frailey: Absolutely. Amtrak runs trains from Michigan to Chicago. From there, you can ride the Southwest Chief straight to Flagstaff. You leave on Day 1 3:15 p.m. from Chicago and get to Flagstaff at 9:50 p.m. on Day 2. The bilevel train has coaches, sleeping cars, a diner and a Sightseer Lounge. Your older kids in particular will love it. See amtrak.com for pricing and accommodations. Phoenix is served by Amtrak, but not by way of Chicago. Best to rent a car in Flagstaff and drive down -- it's a pretty, two-hour trip to the desert elevation.

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San Antonio, TX: I would love to take a leisurely train trip, but I have no idea which one is the best for comfort, scenery, and price. Can you recommend a train trip that is fun and not really expensive? Thanks

Fred W. Frailey: Yes I can. A trip that is convenient to you is on Amtrak's Sunset Limited, which starts in New Orleans and runs to Los Angeles on a triweekly basis. You could leave San Antonio on Tuesday, Thursdays and Saturdays at 5:40 a.m. and get off at El Paso at 5:10 p.m. that day or go on to Rucson (1:05 a.m. the next morning) or all the way to Los Angeles (10:10 a.m.). I like desert, and so this is the sort of trip that relaxes me. The equipment is new and bilevel and comfortable. A coach seat to El Paso costs $76 each way before AAA or senior citizen discount. Tucson is $101 each way and Los Angeles $127. A budget bedroom to LA adds $133. Returning, the Sunset leaves LA on Sunday, Wednesdays and Fridays and El Paso on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturday.
Option two is to visit New Orleans. Option three is to go to Little Rock and the Clinton Library. Little Rock is served by Amtrak's Texas Eagle by way of Fort Worth, Dallas and Texarkana, and ends up in Chicago.

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Seattle, WA: Who can I contact about scheduling train travel in and between Germany, Switzerland and Austria? We'll be traveling in March and April. Thanks!

Fred W. Frailey: Go to these two places for the information you need: eurail.com and raileurope.com.