6 Scenic Amtrak Routes to Book Just for the Views

"After a long post-covid hiatus, Amtrak Cascades has resumed its service from Vancouver, B.C., to Seattle, so passengers can yet again enjoy one of the most gorgeous coastal journeys in the country. Nothing feels more invigorating than boarding the sleek service at 6:30 a.m., coffee in hand, and sliding into a window seat in the Bistro Car to watch the morning mist lift off the water. Murky and dark, with bridges barely visible through the haze, the scene soon softens to peach and blue as the sun breaks through, warming the air to reveal inlets and bays that emerge then recede as the train curls down the coast. At times, it feels as though the train is free-wheeling across the ocean with nothing but water flanking it, and the occasional spray from waves in winter months. Rocky shores gather up against the tracks, and huge bald eagles perch on fences watching the train belt around fingers of green farmland that poke out unannounced. Passing piers, abandoned boats, and dog walkers waving up at the train, you’ll feel compelled to press your nose to the glass for the whole journey lest you miss even a moment of this extraordinary ride."