Taking the train

It's fun, it's easy and it's cheap if you plan ahead.

© Beth Gauper

Sometimes, we forget that Amtrak can be a great way to get around. (For excursion trains, see 5 great/train rides.)

We've all heard stories about late trains. Well, you don't take the train to a business meeting — you take it if you've got the time and a sense of adventure.

If you do that, you can expect some incredible deals.

Trains work just like airplanes — the cheapest seats sell first. If you can plan ahead, you'll reap the rewards. Say you're a Twin Cities parent, and you know your children have a four-day school break on the third weekend in October. So you decide to take the family to Chicago to see Navy Pier and visit the museums (See Chicago with kids ).

Book early for the best prices. The cross-country Empire Builder, which you'll catch at St. Paul's Union Depot at 8:50 a.m. rolls into Chicago at 4:45 p.m. On the way back, you'll get on the train at 3:05 p.m. and arrive in St. Paul at 10:56 p.m.

The new Borealis line leaves Chicago at 11:50 a.m. and rolls into Chicago at 7:14 p.m. On the way back, you'll get on the train at 11:05 a.m. and arrive in St. Paul at 6:29 p.m.

If you're flexible, check for deals. They go fast, so book quickly if you see one, and don't forget to  book your return at the same time.

You may also be eligible for a discount. Children age 2-12 get half off and seniors get 10 percent off.

And unlike the airlines, Amtrak allows multiple stopovers. Say you want to travel from the Twin Cities to Chicago over the Memorial Day weekend, but along the way, you want to stop in La Crosse to tour the brewery, in the Wisconsin Dells to try out a water park and in Milwaukee to see the art museum.

The Twin Cities-Chicago train also stops in Red Wing and Winona in Minnesota and Tomah, Portage and Columbus in Wisconsin.

Also consider the train for short hops to cities where parking is very expensive. Say you're in Milwaukee for one of its big lakefront festivals, and you decide to go down to Chicago on one of the seven daily commuter trains. Round-trip train fare may be less than the daily parking fee at downtown hotels.

And bicyclists can use the train to go on a bike trip. From La Crosse, for example, there are 101 miles on four state trails. Cyclists also can ride along the Mississippi between Red Wing, Winona and La Crosse and take the train back to their starting point.

Each train and station handles bicycles differently, so check in advance.

Depots aren't always close to lodgings. If not, ask hotels if they'll send a van. And many inn proprietors will pick you up, especially on a weekday.