Our 9-member, 3-generation family group took Amtrak's Empire Builder train from Seattle to Whitefish MT and back during the week of August 10, 2008. We very much enjoyed it and would like to update the existing reviews with our experience. The main reason for enjoying the trip was the fantastic scenery; this is particularly true of the stretch immediately leaving... more

We took our 8 yr old daughter on the Empire Builder starting in D.C. with a 3 day stop in E. Glacier Montana and then on to Seattle. During our route, we had every mode of sleeping accomodation: bedroom, family bedroom and roomette. The ONLY sleeper accomodation that is bearable is the bedroom which is the only one with a... more

We took the EB from Seattle to Essex Montana to visit Glacier National Park and stay at the Izaak Walton Inn. While the train was 3 hours late departing we thoroughly enjoyed eating in the dining car as the train headed north up the coast. We had a family car, two upper bunks and 1 1/2 lower. It was very... more

My wife and two daughters (11 & 12) just returned from a fabulous trip on the Empre Buiilder from Chicago to Seattle. As a rail fan, I had looked forward to this trip for months. We booked a family sleeper (sleeps 2 adults and 2 children); was more spacious than we thought--it spans the entire width of lower floor of... more

Ok, this a review to defend against all those reviews that expect the magic carpet ride of their life when they take the train. LIGHTEN UP!! Yes, it's going to take time. That's why you take it. Plus it's economical. The ride is not suppose to be first class. Remember, you aren't at 10,000 feet, it's going to be a... more

This was our first Amtrak experience and first sleeper car experience. 36 hours on a train was just tolerable to us. I guess there was just a lack of entertainment--wished we brought a portable CD or DVD player! Perhaps if you befriended a neighbor to have someone else to chat w/, the time would pass by quicker. We did bring... more