Taking the train in the United States is not as common as it is in other parts of the world, such as Europe. We don’t have the public transportation tradition that most of Europe has, so most people fly to any place that is too far for driving. For the most part, the long distance trains that are still in service are destinations in their own right, such as the Empire Builder, which goes from Chicago out to Seattle.

That said, there is one train that I am quite fond of taking, and that is Amtrak’s Wolverine, which runs between Detroit, and Chicago. Even though driving to Chicago would actually be faster for me, the train is a better option, due to the exorbitant cost of parking in Chicago. Plus, it’s fun to sit back and have a drink while the scenery flies by.

I’ll be doing that this weekend, actually, since I’m going to Chicago with some my sister and some friends. I’m looking forward to a fun New Year’s train adventure.