For families with children, taking a train can be a completely new experience. Although typically people fly to where they need to go, it might be a new adventure for all of you to take a train around the country instead of a car or airplane. Train tickets are not that expensive and for children, you can find great discounts on train fares.
Amtrak is the leading train in the United States and offers routes from almost everywhere in the country to other cities and states. The best thing about Amtrak is that children always ride for half price which allows you to save money if you have a large family. Another perk that can be found through Amtrak are specific regional deals that may be found during the year that will offer additional discounted fares for children.
The best way to find out what these deals are is to contact your Amtrak station which is located in your city or a city nearby, or you could scour the Amtrak website for special deals that they may be offering. Once you start researching you can find some amazing deals. For example, the Auto train which services the East Coast has a summer special that allows up to two children, ages two to fifteen, to ride for free with a paying adult. The only catch is that you need to make reservations at least seven days in advance. Another region specific deal you can find on Amtrak is the “Downeaster” which allows children to ride free on Sunday. With at least three days advance notice your family can be taking a trip through the east coast in no time.
For the West Coast people, Amtrak offers a Car Free Discount to those families traveling in Northern California. Initially designed to ease traffic in the area, it is a fabulous way to travel through Northern California at up to 20% off for all adults and up to two children.
Another example of train travel in the United States that you can save money on is the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad. By going to the website you can find short day trips that offer rates that are half price for children. The kids will love going through the mountains and you can relax while your entire family gets to see nature at its best. Children under two always ride for free on this train.
If getting out of the United States is on your agenda, then you may want to look into taking a ride on the Canadian Railway that offers special summer fares for children. Kids between the ages of two and eleven ride at a 50% discount, and children twelve to seventeen get a student discount.
Europe as well offers fantastic deals on their train system which if you are able to, you simply must try out. Children get discounts on these as well, with kids up to fifteen years old riding for free. They also offer passes called the “Eurorail” pass that allows you to get on and off the train as much as you like for a certain price. Therefore you can see any parts of Europe that you want for a much lower rate then if you bought the tickets separately. Whether you travel through the United States or take an exiting trip to Europe, traveling by rail offers you a new way to see the world.
it is quite sad that most train stations these days are horrendously overloaded _