Take the Train - Enjoy the Journey

Recently, I took my mom on an extended weekend getaway to her favorite destination -- Charleston, SC. We have visited Charleston almost yearly for several years now. But this time instead of driving, I suggested that we travel by train. It had been about 50 years since my mom had ridden on a train, and she remembered it to be a very slow means of transportation. However, she was pleasantly surprised and elated after experiencing the speed and comfort of present-day train travel with Amtrak. (Ok, I know, the train is not as fast as an airplane, but it’s still much faster than it was 50 years ago.)

When I asked my mom what she enjoyed most about our getaway, she said “the train”, then after a couple minutes, she revised her response and said “the train, and the fact that you paid for the trip”. I couldn’t help but smile at her response.

I most enjoyed the people we met throughout our journey. For example, the impromptu song performed by Donovan Brown (a local celebrity of sorts) who walked into the Say-Yum Jamaican restaurant as we savored a meal during our layover in Wilson, NC. And as I chatted with a fellow traveler (and Alaska native) who was waiting for the same train to Charleston, I learned things about Alaska I had not known before.  
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I appreciate learning, experiencing new things, and connecting with people. So, for me travel is not always about the destination. I also appreciate the journey just as much.
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