[RKC]

Love to drive, obviously (my dream drive is US 50 - the lonliest road in the land - from coast to coast - been about 2/3 of the way from Ohio to California so far). Like to fly too. But trains are cool. I remember seeing maglev stories in Popular Science and Discover eons ago, and hoped they'd be here in America by now, but no such luck. I'll get to ride a bullet train this October in Japan....

Taking the family from Chicago to Santa Fe, NM in a week or so. Been there before and to Tucson & New Orleans & D.C. on a train. The kids got to wake up in the family car and see the Rockies looming up. Got to see horses running during meals in the dining car. Went under the St. Louis arch. Saw Texas gently pass from humid and flat and swampy to rolling hills and ranches to scrub and desert in a single, relaxing day. Saw Dealey plaza as the train stopped in Dallas (the bridge Kennedy's car goes under in the films is a railroad track). Trains go through the hearts of cities. Nothing like walking out of Union Station in Wash. D.C. and seeing the Capitol Building. If you want to feel and see America, drive or take a train. Airports just can't be physically close enough to cities to compete in that way. And even w/o any serious funding, Amtrak is alright.