A Ski Trip - Whitefish, MT (1/2)

Our actual spring break from school was going to be spent at the Bantam State Hockey tournament in Plymouth, Minnesota, so we had to skip out a week early to get a ski trip in this year.

It was the first time my kids would ski on actual mountains, instead of ski hills in Minnesota. I was nervous for them and excited. I love exposing them to new adventures and they all love to ski.

We took the train. We’d never traveled by Amtrak before and did not know what to expect. It takes longer, but gives you quality time together and was much cheaper than flying. We played games for 6 hours straight in the Lounge Car on our way home from Whitefish and enjoyed all of the views Montana had to offer.

The kids enjoyed the ample space. Our Coach Car was never full so we could spread out and stretch. We did the dinner service, complete with reservations, in the Dining Car on our way out. A white tablecloth and 3-course dinner with a few options for choosing, was enjoyable, but expensive at $45/person, so we only did it once.

Train travel with five people has some limitations. Only 4 to a dinner booth, so Eric enjoyed his meal with some kind lady travelers across from us. We didn’t get a family room for the same reason. They can actually be pretty cramped and are made for 4. The Coach Car was perfect for a one-day trip like ours, and with 2-carryons included per person, you can bring whatever you like! They were not strict on this at all. Next time, I’d have the kids carry on their pillows and pack a cooler like so many others on the train did.

Another first, we booked a vehicle for our stay through Turo. Ever heard of this company? It’s like Airbnb for cars.  You book from an actual person and can get the vehicle delivered right to the train station or wherever you’re staying. We got a Jeep for our ski adventure, which looked cool, stored all the things, but to Emily’s dismay, we never got ducked.

More on this trip to come!

Check out Instagram for more photos and video.