Amtrak just resumed three of its most scenic routes

I love train travel. I do. I love how trains make the journey a fun part of getting to your destination. I far prefer sitting window-side while speeding through beach towns or towering trees than sitting in a middle seat on a 9-hour flight. 

Luckily, Amtrak is bringing back three of its most scenic routes just in time for a summer train trip. Here are the three routes they are bringing back:

Adirondack from New York to Montreal 

“Adirondack” is a word I’ll never be able to say but I’d love to hitch a ride on this train route that returned in April. The 12-hour train route goes from NYC’s Penn Station all the way to Montreal daily and costs $70 one way. Thankfully, there is Wi-Fi service onboard as well as a cafe car so you can brave the journey. The train makes 17 stops including Saratoga Springs and Schenectady. 

Berkshires Flyer from New York to Pittsfield, Massachusetts

This is only the second summer that Amtrak is piloting a program that takes travelers from New York to Massachusetts. It’s a convenient train trip for anyone looking to do a quick weekend getaway. This train route comes with Wi-Fi and makes six stops at popular tourist destinations like Poughkeepsie, Hudson, and Albany. 

I’ll be honest, I had never heard of Pittsfield, but after looking it up, it’s an adorably quaint New England town—in fact, all the cities on the stop are. This is a great, short train route for anyone who wants the ease of visiting a Northeastern town without renting a car.

Cascades route from Portland to Vancouver

The route between Portland, Oregon and Vancouver, Canada has resumed for the first time since the pandemic and it’s the one I’m most excited about. It makes 12 stops along the way, including Seattle and Mount Vernon, and gives travelers a good way to see the Pacific Northwest in all its glory. The full journey takes about 8.5 hours but you won’t want to blink for a second of it as it has views of the Cascade and Olympic Mountains for nearly the entire trip.