Amtrak Trips

I would love to take a trip on Amtrak spending three or four nights on the train. Does such a trip exist?

- Beth, Irving, Texas

There are plenty of long train trips you could take, and they start from a variety of locations. Check out Vacations By Rail (http://www.vacationsbyrail.com/). The Grand Fall Tour in upstate New York gives you the chance to enjoy the fall foliage of the Northeast. The trip  includes six train rides, a private motor coach, and two cruises. Be warned, though: This trip also includes a lot of walking and hiking. Best of the West is a 13-day escorted Amtrak tour that explores the western region of the United States from Chicago to Salt Lake City. Including national parks, this trip is hosted by a professional tour manager so you can learn more than if you were to embark on a self-guided tour.

But really, if you're interested in choosing your own stops, remember this: You won't pay extra for stopovers on Amtrak. For example, let's say you'd like to go from Los Angeles to Seattle but want to make a stopover in Portland, Ore. All you'd have to do is buy your ticket from LA to Seattle and schedule yourself a stopover for a few hours, or a few days, when you book. The easiest way to do this to call toll-free, 800-USA-RAIL (800-872-7245) or TDD/TTY (800-523-6590).

You can also check out Gordon’s Guide Train Tours (http://train-tours.gordonsguide.com/) or RMA Tours Amtrak vacations (http://www.rmatours.com/). Happy travels!