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Getting Around [edit]

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Internal flights, cars to rent, trains and of course the Greyhound buses.

Many Europeans and North Americans alike travel to get their kicks on Route 66, the "Mother Road."  Perhaps the most celebrated piece of road in recent history, Route 66 is an American icon that draws millions of people to it each year.

All aboard! [edit]

US passenger trains go to all the big cities as well as to Disney World, Niagara Falls and the Grand Canyon. You can travel from coast to coast, explore the Rocky Mountains and ride directly alongside two oceans. Less expensive than flying, more comfortable than the bus, trains keep you relaxed and in touch with an ever-changing landscape.

Amtrak coaches provide generous reclining seats, observation domes, air-conditioning and snug bunks. This may not be the fastest way to travel, but the civilized pace is perfect for sightseeing. If the scenery palls you can always go for a stroll, enjoy a meal, make friends in the bar or watch a movie. At night a gentle rocking and the steady rhythm of the wheels are sure to lull you to sleep.

For more information visit the website at www.usa-by-rail.com  Detailed route guides can be found the comprehensive USA by Rail guidebook (ISBN 1 84162 127 7), available from book stores or from Bradt Travel Guides ( www.bradtguides.com ), 19 High Street, Chalfont St Peter, Bucks, SL9 9QE, UK.

American trains have a strong hold on the popular imagination, inspiring countless stories, songs, films and legends, and a rugged charm sets them apart from more mundane means of transport. Their ecological soundness is again in vogue as they pollute less, rarely suffer from weather delays and won't give you jet lag. You can choose your companions, read a book, take a snooze, sleep horizontally and generally enjoy most of the comforts of home. One reason for going by train is especially compelling: it's much more fun. Among Amtrak’s long-distance trains the following are particularly recommended:

The Coast Starlight – One of Amtrak's most scenic routes and a particular favorite with young people. A party atmosphere often develops, starting in the lounge car and spreading throughout the train on its journey between Seattle and Los Angeles. You see snow-covered mountains, forest valleys and long stretches of Pacific shoreline.

The California Zephyr – One of the world's great trains, taking two days and nights to travel between Chicago and San Francisco, crossing farmland, prairies, deserts, rivers and the Rocky Mountains. Western pioneers came this way, as did gold prospectors, the Pony Express and the first telegraph line. The Zephyr follows America's earliest transcontinental rail route for much of its 2,420-mile journey.

The Southwest Chief – Amtrak's fastest trip from Chicago to the Pacific is along part of the Santa Fe Trail first used by Native Americans then by Spanish conquistadors, mule caravans, wagon trains and stage-coaches. You travel 2,230 miles through eight states, past wheat fields, ranches, missions, pueblos, mountains and deserts. Sometimes the canyons are only a few feet wider than the train.

The Sunset Limited – The only way to travel from coast to coast on a single train. After going north from Orlando to Jacksonville in Florida, the train heads west into two sunsets. You see the swamps of bayou country and flirt with the Mexican border before crossing Texas rangelands to the mountains, deserts and orange groves of California.

The Empire Builder – Between Chicago and Seattle the train crosses the Mississippi River and travels more than 2,200 miles past wheat fields, cattle ranges, forests, mountains and glacial lakes. America's northern plains were mostly wilderness until the freewheeling tycoon James J. Hill built his Great Northern Railway between St. Paul and Seattle. Amtrak's Empire Builder takes its name from a train called after him, which ran on this route during the heyday of passenger travel. more..

USA Car Rental [edit]

The only way to see the USA is by car. After all, the country is so big that having your own way of getting from A to B is so handy! The public bus/rail system is only good for the large cities. There are a few ways of getting hold of a car in the USA, these are:
*Renting - Renting a car is a good way of seeing the USA if you are there for a short vacation in a certain area. Be aware there are lots of hidden charges when you want fully covered Insurance.
*Buying - If you are in the USA for some time, it may be worthwhile to buy a car. There are lots of drivers with lots of cars, and many of them are constantly upgrading to the newest/fastest/flashiest model. This inherently leaves you with a large choice of second-hand cars. Make sure you get a vehicle check done.
*Driveaway - If you are flexible in where you are going within the USA and/or heading in a particular direction, a Driveaway is a very useful way of getting around. Go to http;//www.autodriveaway.com and see if the local office has any cars heading in the direction you wish to go. Give the office a ring. If you are lucky, you just need to head down, fill in the forms, leave some fingerprints and a $350 deposit and the car is yours for a certain amount of time and mileage. Obviously you have to deliver the car somewhere!!
*Borrowing - If you have friends/family in the USA, see if you can borrow their vehicle for a couple weeks. Get yourself some temporary insurance, and when you return it, make sure you have given it a good clean!!

To help you get around in your car, gas stations usually sell regional and national maps, although many drivers choose to get driving directions on their home computers prior to their journeys; MapQuest and Google Maps are popular websites for obtaining directions. Drivers can get directions in the midst of their travels by calling 1-800-Free411, which will provide text message directions, or they can stop and ask locals for nearby directions. Americans are usually happy to give directions to travelers. more..

Air Travel USA [edit]

In the US, if you want to go to a city that is farther than maybe 400 miles, the fastest and There are hundreds of commercial airports in the US, but the main Domestic hubs are: Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Denver, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Minneapolis, Detroit, Orlando, Ft. Lauderdale, San Francisco, Washington DC, St. Louis, Houston, Boston, Philadelphia, Charlotte, San Juan, Honolulu, and for Alaska Anchorage. Flights within the USA and airfares. more..

Train Travel in the United States [edit]

Railroads built America, and were once to principal way to travel in this great country. Unfortunately, during the last four decades the powers-that-be in our country have devoted billions of dollars to building our highways and airports while neglecting the railroad. In my opinion, this is to America's shame. more..

Chinatown Bus [edit]

By far the least expensive way to travel within the United States is on a “ Chinatown bus”.   This term is used to describe low-fare, no-frills bus service that is offered in most major cities on the east and west coast.   There are many bus operators that run this type of service and they often (though not always) pickup and drop-off in a city’s Chinatown district.   These bus companies do not usually have a formal bus station and run very basic service.   The cost is commonly about two thirds to one half of what it costs to take traditional bus service.  

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Motorcycle Touring [edit]

In addition to getting around by automobile, those who ride can travel by motorcycle. Depending on your destination and distance to it, you might favor riding the interstate highways, or perhaps take a more scenic byway that still gets you there quickly.  Check out the Mother Road on your bike. more..

Route 66 -- "The Mother Road" [edit]

Get your kicks on Route 66.  Immortalized in the book "Grapes of Wrath" by John Steinbeck, Route 66 became known as the "mother road."  It is probably one of the single most important roads in the modern history of travel in the United States.  Born from the mind of Tulsan Cyrus Avery in order to promote tourism to his community, Route 66 developed as a part of the national highway system.  But unlike other roads of its day, it did not run straight east and west across the country.  Route 66 has also been called "America's Main Street" and was officially called "The Will Rogers Highway."  more..

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