[mrmummert]

My dad worked for the railroad in Pre Amtrak days (Penn Central) and later for Amtrak.( He worked between Washington and New York) One of the nicest trains i ever rode on was the old Southern Cresent train from New York to New Orleans (I lived in Charlotte in my early 20's and rode it between Baltimore and Charlotte) This was a couple years before Amtrak took it over. The then Southern Railway (Now part of Norfolk Southern) was run old school like it was decades before. Amtrak has several nice trains today....some better then others.

The down side is that it takes a longer time on a train but if you have the time i recommend it. Most long distance trains have a dining car or some sort, sleeping cars with private rooms (they cost more) and you can get up and walk around (often thru the whole train) and do some things you can't do on a bus or plane.