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: 

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 more Afar train stores, like these tips for train travel and this Travel Tale about kindness and Canadian trains.

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, Unpacked, which unpacks a tricky topic in travel each week.

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