Amtrak Guest Rewards - Trip planning advice required.

Trying to plan next years May vacation and wanted Ft'ers opininions on the best option from LA to WAS.
Taking the Coastal Starlight from Seattle and then catching either The Southwest Chief or Texas Eagle to Chicago and then either The Cardinal or Capitol Limited to WAS.
Is there a more scenic route anyone could recommend out of these routes?
The timing is fairly flexible as we will just spend less time in WAS if we take a longer route.

If scenery's what you want, I would consider taking the california zephyr from emeryville to chicago, and then the capitol limited to WAS.

Of those choices, for scenery I would choose the Southwest Chief over the Texas Eagle from what I have heard (I've ridden neither), and the Cardinal over the the Capitol Limited (I've ridden both), although the Capitol Limited is a nicer and faster train otherwise. If it matters, the Capitol Limited has Superliner equipment and a full dining car while the Cardinal has Viewliner equipment and a combo diner/lounge car which is not as nice.

I agree that the Zephyr scenery is outstanding and would be my first choice (but not if you wanted to take the Coast Starlight all the way to LA first). I think the New River Gorge (on the Cardinal) beats Harper's Ferry (on the Capitol) for scenery having done both, but they are both excelent scenic routes.

I did the trip in reverse last year, and I chose the SWC - CS routing from CHI to SEA over the CZ choice.

I really enjoyed the parts on the CS between Emeryville and LAX, and I loved the southwest scenery/dessert views.

I would choose the Cardinal for scenery over the CL. The new river gorge is best viewed heading East.

Yes, the most beautiful part of the CS is south of EMY. But if you want to switch to the CZ, then stop at SAC and pick up the CZ there.

If time and cost are of no concern, then go to LAX on the CS and the SWC.

Enjoy the trip!

The Cardinal is a pretty poor excuse of a train in its current form, and while the route is arguably more scenic, May isn't really a peak time for scenery. I'd suggest the Cap Ltd.

I'd only go with the Cardinal if you're content to spend most of your time in you sleeper, and/or if you're looking to experience both bi- and single-level equipment (ie Superliner and Viewliner sleeping compartments) on the trip.

West coast options all have their pros and cons. Note that while the Texas Eagle now has a shorter dwell time in San Antonio, it's still adds an extra night en route. I consider it and the Southwest Chief to be pretty comparable in terms of scenery - not so dramatic like the Builder or Zephyr, but still memorable.

I would give the Chief high priority because the line over Raton pass is endangered, i.e. only Amtrak uses it.

Watch your dates on the Sunset and the Cardinal carefully --- unless you want an extra day in the Big Easy or Chicago.

Bob H

Thanks for all your posts.
Have now booked The Coastal Starlight from SEA - LAX followed by SW Chief & Cardinal to PHL for next May.
Will take the Acela to BOS to complete our journey.

Thanks for all your posts.
Have now booked The Coastal Starlight from SEA - LAX followed by SW Chief & Cardinal to PHL for next May.
Will take the Acela to BOS to complete our journey.

Actually, the Cardinal will bring you back into DC and the New River Gorge will astonish you.

Have fun !

Bob H.