An extraordinary train journey across America

American traveler and entrepreneur Derek Lowe invites everyone to travel across America — from California to New York - by train. The journey will take about four days, and if you sometimes make stops for excursions, then even longer. But this way, Derek believes, you will be able to fully appreciate the beauty of America!

Derek believes that it is necessary to travel across America not by plane, but by train: firstly, you will see more, and secondly, such a trip will cost much cheaper.

The trip from San Francisco to Salt Lake City will take about 17 hours. As you leave, admire the beautiful panorama of the San Francisco Bay.

Soon after you move away from the coast, you will be surrounded by the misty mountains of the Sierra Nevada. The mountain range occupies 63,000 sq.km., has a rich history and is famous for its views. You will pass by three national parks located in the Sierra Nevada Mountains - Yosemite, Sequoia Park and Kings Canyon. Nearby is the highest peak of the Sierra Nevada - Mount Whitney with a height of 4418 meters.

The path runs past Donner Lake, which is associated with the terrible history of the times of the "gold rush". A party of gold diggers was locked up by bad weather on its shores, only 48 out of 87 people survived, who were saved by cannibalism — they ate their comrades.

After California, the train ends up in the territory of the state of Nevada. the mountain landscape is replaced by fascinating views of the desert.

The train on which Derek traveled does not pass through the gambling capital of the USA — Las Vegas. But it goes through Reno, which Lowe calls "the biggest little city in the world."

At night, the train crosses the border between Nevada and Utah, arriving in Salt Lake City at 3 a.m.

The 68-meter Mormon temple is overwhelming with its heavy forms.

The next train will take you from Salt Lake City to Denver in 15 hours. According to Lowe, "traveling between Utah and Colorado is the most fascinating possible." You will be surrounded by landscapes familiar from westerns.

The train is surrounded by magnificent canyons. Looking at them from the window of the car is convenient and comfortable — not like trudging along the rocks in the heat.

For a while the train goes along the Colorado River, giving the opportunity to take impressive photos. Rafters love Colorado, but keep in mind: according to the old Hooligan tradition, they tend to "greet" passing trains by turning their backs to them and taking off their pants. Take care of the morality of women and children!

Just before Denver, the mountains turn into a green plain.

Denver is the capital of Colorado and one of the sunniest cities in America: the number of sunny days per year is about 300.

The next stage is from Denver to Chicago. The trip will take place on the territory of four states — Colorado, Nebraska, Iowa and Illinois. It will take 19 hours, and you will overcome more than half of the route at night.

Here the landscapes are already more reminiscent of those familiar to residents of Russia, but there are enough beautiful views on this section of the route.

Chicago is the third most populous city in the USA with a rich history, it is impossible not to spend at least one day here.

The most famous architectural landmark of Chicago is the Willis Tower with a height of 442 meters. And the most ambiguous is Anish Kapoor's sculpture "Cloud Gate", which locals simply call "bob" and regularly dedicate all new Internet memes to it.

The last leg of the journey, between Chicago and New York, will take about 20 hours. According to Lowe, it is not as rich in views as the previous stages, but ahead of you there is a meeting with the greatest city in the USA.

And here's New York!

Getting here by train from Chicago, you will overcome 5,466.9 kilometers, cross 11 states and get from the Pacific coast to the Atlantic, without getting on a plane. "After my trip, many people told me that I know the country better than most Americans," says Derek. And the whole trip cost him $429 — quite inexpensive. Will you try?