5 Great Train Journeys Across America

4. The Adirondack
This scenic 11-hour train journey leaves the concrete canyons of the Big Apple far behind as it travels 380 miles to Montreal — stopping in New York's capital city, Albany, and tracing the bluffs and riverbanks that shadow the inky black Hudson River along the way. Be on the lookout for the ruins of Bannerman's Castle, an arsenal built on an island in the river by a Gilded Age millionaire, as well as the imposing towers of West Point Military Academy, a national historic landmark established in 1802. The Adirondack neatly skims the shoreline of shimmering Lake Champlain, where forest-green firs rise above the waters. In winter, it's an icy wonderland.

5. The Pennsylvanian
For a fascinating blend of urban and rural landscapes and modern and rustic tableaux, snag a seat on The Pennsylvanian. This breezy, 444-mile, 9-1/2-hour, daily train journey connects Pittsburgh and New York — with rolling Amish pastureland, mossy mountains and historic covered bridges in between. You'll be treated to the beauty of the Pennsylvania Dutch country, home to quaint red barns, horse-drawn buggies and summer meadows dotted with wildflowers. In fall, orange and red leaves blaze against a blue sky in the Alleghany Mountains. Near Altoona, Pa., the train coils around Horseshoe Curve, a half-circle carved from the undulating mountainscape in 1854.

Also of Interest

• 5 most dangerous cities
• Foods that help lower cholesterol

Check out the AARP home page every day for tips on travel, vacations, and great deals.