This West Coast Train Route Has Been Enchanting Riders Since the ’70s | Vogue

"Shortly after pulling away from the station in Oxnard, passengers migrate to the glass dome observation car for a coveted window-facing seat as the train lunges west, dips down to the sea, and the Pacific Ocean fills the window frame. This view continues for over 100 miles and has been dazzling riders since the route’s inception in 1971. Departing once daily, the 35-hour journey from Los Angeles to Seattle is celebrated for its coastal scenery, but also soars through sprawling valleys and winds around snow-capped mountains and cascading waterfalls, easily lending it status as one of the most beautiful train routes in the United States. The route isn’t without its shortcomings—it’s been known to run behind schedule and there’s no Wi-Fi onboard—but fans don’t ride to answer work emails; they do it for the romance and the opportunity to experience 1,377 miles from an old-school perspective, with 28 picturesque stops that make extending the trip into a multi-day exploration feel all but necessary." - Nicole Kliest