It was springtime; it was time to think about planning our summer vacation. I called a family meeting and discussed ideas.  Everyone agreed they wanted to head south to Florida. The kids wanted to go to Orlando; my wife wanted to go to Sanibel Island. My 9-year-old son, who loves trains, asked if we could take a train. Everyone thought that would be fun, so I went online and did a little research.
That’s when I discovered “Auto Train.” A train, which leaves from Lorton, Va. (Washington D.C. suburbs) to Sanford, Fla. (just outside of Orlando) and carries both passengers and cars. The only other decision that had to be made was to book a sleeper car or the passenger car. After further discussion we selected the sleeper car. Being a Washingtonian with the Auto Train station just 20 miles away I made our reservations

We packed the family van with everything we would need for a two-week trip, and after a short drive we arrived at the train station. From the time we arrived in the parking lot to the time the train began moving down the tracks, everything was seamless.

The van was checked in and loaded onto a car-carrier freight train. We had about an hour before the train was to begin the 855-mile trip. Suddenly we heard the conductor say, “All aboard.” With smiles on their faces, everyone shuffled to their assigned train car.  We located our sleeper compartment, loaded all our carryon bags and made ourselves at home. After all the passengers got settled the train began slowly moving down the tracks.  We were on our way.

As the train rumbled down the tracks, gently swaying back and forth we decided we would explore. We discovered a lounge car, where we played board games and cards, had some snacks and just looked out the windows watching the countryside and small towns pass by. My kids loved the sound of the doors between each car swooshing open and closed as they walked from one car to another. After exploring the train, we returned to our compartment to settle down. The kids watched a DVD on the portable player they brought along; my wife read her book and I relaxed.

When we checked in at the station, we were asked what time we would like to have dinner. As the dinner hour approached, we filed our way up the stairs and through the passenger cars to the dining car. We were shown to a table; the tables filled up quickly. Each was fully dressed with white linen tablecloths and quality dishware. The waiter came and took our order. Our food, which was better than I expected, arrived in a timely fashion.  We completed our dinner then returned to our sleeper car. 

While relaxing in our sleeper car, the porter knocked on the door. He told us about a movie that was being shown in the lounge car and asked what time we would like our compartment prepared for bedtime. During the day, the compartment had bench style seating, and during the night the benches were converted to beds. We ventured off to the lounge car to watch the movie, which was perfect for all ages. 

After the movie we returned to our compartment and saw the transition of our room. There were two small side beds (perfect for small children) and two full size beds, which had been folded down from the wall almost like bunk beds. The quarters were tight with the beds down and all of our personal belongings in the compartment, but it was comfortable and above all private.

We all took turns getting ready for bed in the bathroom, which was just down the hall. Washed up, teeth brushed, PJs on, we each climbed into our bunks. As the train continued on its journey, the rumbling along the tracks and the gentle swaying of the cars lulled each of us to sleep. Through the night the kids slept like babies. My wife and I woke a few times, as the bunk was hard and tight. Turning over I’d hit the ceiling or my wife would hit the underside of my bunk. I had to remind myself that it wasn’t the Ritz, but it sure beat driving. 

As the light peaked through the curtains and we all woke up, we dressed and returned to the dining car for breakfast. The breakfast was more or less continental style with cold cereal, juice, coffee and pastries.  My kids asked the waiter, “How much longer before we get there?” He told them, “Just under and hour.”  We all started to get excited, finished our breakfast and returned to our compartment to pack things up shortly before the train pulled into the station in Sanford, Fla. 

As the train pulled to a stop, all the passengers began to grab their carry-ons and file off the train into the hot, humid Florida air. We waited a short time for them to unload all the cars. As we saw our van driven off the car carrier and pulled into a parking space, we climbed in and drove to our hotel. It was a great feeling. We left Virginia at 4 p.m. and arrived in Florida at 9 a.m., rested and relaxed.

After a week in Orlando checking out all the different amusement parks, we drove to Sanibel Island. We spent a wonderful, relaxing week swimming in the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico and walking the beach collecting shells, or as the locals call it, “doing the Sanibel stoop.” It is said to be one of the sea shell capitals of the world. 

As our vacation was winding down, we packed our van and drove back to Sanford to board the train for our return to Virginia.  The return train trip was just as fun and exciting as the trip down.  Everyone had a great time and said they wanted to do it again…….And we did!!!