Afar, A Retrospective: Why a Train Trip Across the U.S. Is the Fastest Way to Slow Down

Unpacked by AFAR

This podcast episode is part of Afar, A Retrospective. As part of Afar’s 15-year anniversary celebration, this episode from our sister podcast, Travel Tales by Afar, was selected as one of our favorites. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do—and stay tuned for more archival Travel Tales episodes from September - December 2024. Explore more of our favorite stories over the years at afar.com/fifteen.

Can a train be a travel destination? Welcome to “Amtrakistan.” On a quest to cure his chronophobia and calm his anxious mind, Eric Weiner, the bestselling author of The Geography of Bliss, books a roomette on an Amtrak train that travels from Washington D.C. to Portland,Oregon.

Crossing the Country in a Caboose

On this episode you’ll learn:

• What it’s like to take a four day trip on an Amtrak train.
• The benefits of train travel for the anxious mind.
• What it’s like to stay in a roomette with the best views.

Are Train Trips Worth It?

Don’t miss these transformative travel moments:

[01:28] Can a train trip cure my chronophobia?

[06:06] Time: the abundant resource of Amtrakistan.

[09:03] “You’ve got to dance with the train,” she said.

[13:41] Lessons about time, brought to you by Amtrak.

“My Mind Slowed to the Speed of Life”

The New York Times best-selling author, Eric Weiner, never left the train during his four day journey— but he discovered a new world. After traversing 2,806 miles, 12 states and four time zones, the compulsive watch checker finally learns to slow down.

In this episode of Travel Tales by Afar, step into the world of slow-train-travel and discover how one traveler found peace and connection aboard.

Resources:

Read Eric’s original story.

Buy Eric’s book, The Geography of Bliss: One Grump’s Search for the Happiest Place on Earth.

Watch the docuseries, Rainn Wilson and the Geography of Bliss.

Check out Eric’s other work.

Explore Afar’s tips for train travel.

Be sure to subscribe to the show and to sign up for our podcast newsletter, Behind the Mic, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Travel Tales, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us.