The train ticket was actually cheap. It was about $200 for 1 adult and 2 kids (kids are 1/2 price and got a AAA discount). The expensive part was the sleeper car upgrade but worth it. That included a breakfast, 2 lunches and 2 dinners for each of us. There was also a wine and cheese tasting at 4pm each day. It left LA around 10 am and arrived in Seattle at 8 pm the next night. The sleeper runs about 200 to 250 per person. I got to take a shower on the train which was surprising spacious and enjoyable. The parlor car for sleeper car passengers was really nice with comfortable swivel club chairs. Perhaps my favorite part was dining (we took anywhere from an hour to two hours at each meal) and watching the world roll on by. Lunch on day one was spent riding up the Ventura coastline less than 50 yds from the water for most of the time. Younger kids would enjoy it also but it was perfect for my kids ages (8 and 12).
We got a great hotel downtown on Priceline for about $100/night with taxes and nonstop flight back to John Wayne on Alaska Air for $85. It wasn’t a cheap trip but I would and will do it again without thinking twice knowing what it costs.
Just go to the Amtrak website and you can find out all the details. They even have menus.
