I paid $1,963 for a 43-hour Amtrak train to avoid Thanksgiving travel chaos. It felt like stepping back in time.

"If the plagues of our modern age are screen addiction, anti-social behavior, and a desire for immediate gratification, all driven by the supercomputers constantly affixed to our hands, then Amtrak may be the antidote. On a 43-hour, 2,265-mile cross-country journey from Los Angeles to Chicago on Amtrak's Southwest Chief, I stared out the window at deep red mesas and Midwest farmland. I shared meals with strangers. I played chess with my husband while others watched before playing a game of their own."

"We paid $1,963 for a two people in a large sleeper car room. While it was a lot more expensive and took much longer than flying, it delivered on the promise of an adventure across the American West. And, after my ride, it's no surprise to me that Amtrak has reached record ridership and revenue, with 34.5 million customer trips in the fiscal year that ended in September."

A 43-hour, 2,265-mile journey on Amtrak's Southwest Chief travels from Los Angeles to Chicago past red mesas and Midwest farmland. Shared dining and onboard socializing created connections with strangers and opportunities for group activities like chess. The trip was chosen to avoid holiday airport chaos and for the sense of adventure. The fare for two in a large sleeper car room was $1,963. The train ride was pricier and slower than flying but provided an unhurried, communal experience. Amtrak reported record ridership and revenue with 34.5 million customer trips in the latest fiscal year. A Family Room spans the width of the train and sleeps up to two adults and two children.

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