Photo by SlapBcn

As U.S. airlines seem to get worse and worse (when was the last time you had a meal on a plane?) and increasing awareness of the environmental impact of air travel grows, more travelers headed for domestic destinations are trading planes for trains.

To stimulate interest in train travel, Amtrak is sponsoring the first National Train Day today, May 10. Musical performances and appearances by special guests are scheduled for stations in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York City, and Washington, D.C.

Community Connection: New Matador member Tina Kafka loves traveling by train, and is planning a Trans Siberian Railway trip this year.

Julie Schwietert

One of Matador's most prolific contributors, Julie Schwietert Collazo is a writer, editor, researcher, and translator who lives in New York and Mexico City.