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We travel to Mississippi frequently to visit my parents, and it is always an exciting journey for the children. They know that the 3-hour trip means television in the car, along with special snacks and new coloring books. Then, when we arrive they get the undivided attention of Maw-Maw and Paw-Paw. So, what could be better? We found the answer this weekend when we traveled to Mississippi by train.

We purchased tickets online and spent a little more for five people to travel by train than we would have spent on gas for our SUV. We caught the Amtrak in Hammond, which has a very easy train station to find and navigate and rode to Jackson, Miss. The train runs from New Orleans to Chicago, with many stops along the way, and there were a number of people making the overnight ride on the train. This was my first experience on an Amtrak train, and I have to say it was a positive one. The staff was very friendly, passing out glow sticks to the girls and stopping to talk to us about our journey and destination. I also found the train to be very relaxing and enjoyable. We spent the entire trip in the lounge car, which has windows along the sides and top that provide a terrific view. Below the seating area is a snack counter and booths where we enjoyed playing cards to help pass the time.

So if you are looking for a relaxing and affordable way to reach your vacation destination this summer don’t overlook the train.