One of my favorite things about being in Europe is traveling by train. It’s so mainstream there that it’s one of the major modes of transportation for everyday life. But, here in the US, it never seemed as common or talked about.
In April of 2024, I decided to put traveling by train here to the test and was pleasantly surprised. Even if it seems to not be talked about, the train was bustling with a vast assortment of people. For that trip, my husband and I took our then almost one-year-old and almost two-year-old to Raleigh and had a blast. Since then, we’ve taken two more train trips including a recent one to Cary, and our now two-year-old and three-year-old still love the adventure!
NC by Train and Amtrak have really taken traveling by train in our state seriously and are continually working to up the train travel here in North Carolina and beyond.
After three train trips, with babies/toddlers, it’s safe to say I’ve learned a few things and wanted to share a few trips if you and your family are considering a train trip.
Arrive Early
Train travel is essentially the complete opposite to airplane travel when it comes to boarding. It always seems to take a lengthy amount of time to board a plane.
That is absolutely not the case with trains. They get passengers on and off the train within minutes. It’s so fast! Also, unlike planes, they aren’t tracking all the tickets and seats. Therefore, if you are thinking it’s okay to be a few minutes late – it’s not, and you’ll likely miss your train!
My advice is to arrive early, usually around 15 minutes is good, and hang out at the train station. Another important thing to know in advance is you can’t go to the platform until the train arrives or just before depending on the station.
Pack Light & Intentional
I think it might vary by train, but I believe you can take two personal items and two carry-on bags. Honestly, it didn’t really seem like they are very strict about bag and carry-on policies if it’s all put away overhead or by your seat. Side note – trains have plenty of leg room unlike planes. You can easily stow bags down by your feet and still not be cramped.
That said, keep in mind that once you arrive at your destination, you have to carry everything. We typically pack all our kids’ needs, like change of clothes, snacks and pull-ups in a big diaper bag that carries like a bookbag. Then, either pack another bookbag with things to entertain the kids on the trip or let them take their bookbag purses with things to do on the train. This kept walking more manageable without too much stuff to haul.
Regarding strollers, for the first trip our youngest daughter was still pretty young, so we brought the bigger stroller. Since they are older toddlers now, we only bring the umbrella strollers as they are light and compact. We traveled with a family on one trip who brought a wagon, which yes, it’s nice to have all the kids in one thing, but it was such a hassle to get on and off the train. In my opinion, it wasn’t worth that trouble!
Plan Accordingly
Be sure to check the weather the day ahead or even that morning and plan for sun or rain. Again, remember you must carry everything once you are there, but you also want all you’d actually need!
The trains do have café/vending cars, and there are usually vending machines at the train stations. We usually still pack snacks though to save money and to ensure it’s something our toddlers will eat.
Many of the NC stations are walking distance to plenty to do and see. For instance, the Raleigh station is an easy walk to Marbles Museum, and the Cary station is another easy walk to Cary Downtown Park. However, it’s best to look up the area in advance to decide where you want to go once you get off the train.
High Point Station (HPT)
Unfortunately, Winston-Salem doesn’t have an operating train station in the NC train system. Hopefully, it’s in the works for some day in the future as I know they are planning out future stations in our state. For now, High Point is the closest station to travel from if you live in or near Winston-Salem.
If you see Winston-Salem show up when searching Amtrak, those are the bus stations downtown as you can take buses from downtown Winston-Salem to the High Point train station. We always just drive to the High Point train station as it isn’t too far, and they have free parking beside the station.
No matter where you go, you are sure to have a fun adventure when you choose to travel by train with your family! I promise you’ll enjoy not having to drive and spending quality time together that everyone will remember for years!
