west coast trip, a.k.a. "left coast"

Train travel is more fuel efficient than planes or cars, although it is slow travel in comparison. We left Minneapolis Friday at 10:50 pm and arrived in Portland Sunday at 10:30 am. In total it's about 36 hours. At first I thought I would go stir crazy on the train without the comforts of home (a computer, television, DVD, stereo, etc.) On Friday night we traveled from Minneapolis through St. Cloud, Staples, Detroit Lake, Fargo, Grand Forks, and Devils Lake.

Saturday morning we arrived the geographical center of North America, Rugby, North Dakota. During the day we traveled through North Dakota and Montana. On Saturday evening evening we made it to Glacier Park. The train stoped at East Glacier Park, Essex, and West Glacier, all destination stops for campers.

We awoke Sunday morning to beautiful views of the Columbia River George. We arrived at Portland's Union Station on Sunday morning. The station was built in the Italian Renaissance style and opened in 1895. It's on the National Register of Historic Places.

Portland has an amazing public transit system. Visitors to Portland's Union Station are greeted with a large neon sign, "Go By Train." Cars are not needed in Portland. You can travel in and around the city by bus, light rail, or street car. You can get a "free ride" on public transit in Portland's "fare-less square" where all public transit inside the square is free. Portland is also very walkable and bike-able.