Courtesy of Cali O'Connor
- Cali O'Connor bought an Amtrak USA Rail Pass to get from Boston to Napa two summers ago.
- She spent 96 hours on trains and stopped along the way in three different cities.
- Though she dealt with noise and slept in a train seat, she said she loved the adventure.
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Cali O'Connor, a 35-year-old freelancer from Boston. The following has been edited for length and clarity.
I took a 96-hour train ride from Boston, Massachusetts, to Napa, California. I've spent a lot of time traveling internationally, but I haven't seen much of the United States, so when I had to travel to a wedding in Napa two summers ago, I figured I'd give Amtrak a go.