All the amenities of home and more –  plus free shuttle service to Walt Disney World theme parks – makes The Grove Resort Orlando the perfect place for your next Florida getaway!

7 Reasons Your Family Will Love The Grove Resort Orlando

SimplifyLiveLove occasionally receives complementary products, hosted travel, and/or compensation related to the content shared here. Many thanks to The Grove Resort Orlando for hosting our recent stay there.

Do you ever travel one-on-one with your kids? Family vacations are a lot of fun, but one-on-one time is amazing. Recently I took a one-on-one trip to The Grove Resort Orlando with my son, and we had a fabulous time playing at the resort, and also spending a day at nearby Hollywood Studios. If you’re looking for a family friendly full service resort near the Walt Disney World theme parks, look no further than The Grove Resort Orlando.

A trip to Walt Disney World is a dream vacation that many families work hard to afford. If you’re looking to maximize your time and money, staying off property may be the best bet. Orlando offers many options for families, but here are seven reasons why my son and I highly recommend The Grove Resort Orlando.

1. The Grove Resort Orlando = Spacious Residential Style Suites

When you’re traveling with family, being able to spread out is the key to sanity – everyone’s sanity. This is true whether you’re with one child, or with everyone. As a mom of four, you can bet I appreciate my space!

One thing The Grove Resort is not short on, is space. Featuring one- to three- bedroom suites with fully equipped kitchens, full washers and dryers, a living room, and so many fun entertainment options, The Grove can be a great way for families to get a big bang for their buck in Orlando.

From playing at Flip Flop’s Family Fun Center to swimming at Surfari Water Park and boating on Lake Austin, to learning to surf on the FlowRider – families with kids of all ages will enjoy spending time on property at The Grove just as much as they will enjoy exploring Walt Disney World. And maybe they will even prefer it!

2. Lots of Dining Options at The Grove Resort

Guests staying at The Grove might enjoy fully equipped kitchens in their suites. They’re so helpful if you’d like to prepare your own meals. It’s super easy to order groceries (or pizza) and have them delivered using The Grove’s Delivery to Your Suite service. 

However, don’t feel like you have to cook! Cooking your own meals can be a great way to save a little money, but the resort has enough delicious restaurants that you don’t have to cook at all if you don’t want to! If you’re not feeling it, head down to one of the restaurants have someone else cook and clean up! Win, win. 

Ben enjoyed picking up snacks at the Alfresco Market. Featuring souvenirs, wine, a little coffee shop, candy, snacks and more – this market is perfect for grabbing a little something on the way out the door. 

I highly recommend trying the Valencia Restaurant while you’re here. They have great meal options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Ben’s favorite other than the Cafe Mocha I let have for breakfast one morning was the Valencia Burger with Shoestring French Fries. I really loved the Center Cut Filet Mignon and the Verona Craft Cocktail. YUM!

3. The Grove Resort’s Surfari Water Park

Another great feature at the Grove are all the pools. Sadly, it was a little chilly and windy while we were in Florida, but that didn’t stop Ben from spending time in the water at the Surfari Water Park. He enjoyed the water slides and the 695 foot lazy river. If you want a little quieter pool area, check out the Springs Pools. Located near Lake Austin, you’ll find another three full-sized pools, an oversized hot tub, and a children’s splash area as well!

It was too chilly for me to swim, but the private cabanas and pool side delivery of drinks and food  from the poolside bar and grill restaurant called Longboard Bar & Grill made sitting outside in the sun quite pleasant! The weather was so much nicer than the snow and ice back home, I really don’t have anything to gripe about! 

4. FlowRider

The highlight of Ben’s day at the Surfari Water Park though, was learning to surf on the FlowRider! In his 30 minute lesson (only $30!), he progressed through holding on to the board to sitting on the board, and finally to standing on the board and actually surfing! I must admit, I was surprised at how far he got in such a short time. 

Watch the video and see how he did! He said it was a lot of fun and didn’t hurt at all when he wiped out. The instructors were very professional and nice and they helped Ben a lot.

5. Lake Austin

More fun water options at the resort include renting boats on Lake Austin. We were really looking forward to taking out one of those cute swan boats or having a driver take us for a spin in the pontoon boat, but unfortunately a wind advisory while we were on property kept us from enjoying these nice amenities. When you go, I hope you get to try them!

6. Flip Flop’s Family Fun Center

When you’re ready for a break from water activities, head inside to the 6,600 square foot Flip Flop’s Family Fun Center! You and your kids both will enjoy glow-in-the-dark mini-golf, arcade games like Air Hockey and Skee-Ball and so much more. And yes, Ben kicked my butt at pretty much everything in there except mini-golf. I still smoked him at mini-golf. 

7. Escape Spa at the Grove Resort and Spa

Last but certainly not least, don’t forget to pamper yourself with a little spa action! The Grove Resort also has a full service spa so you can enjoy a mani-pedi, massage, or facial to really get your relaxation on! Even Ben enjoyed his first ever manicure on our getaway. He said the hand massage at the end was ah-mazing, and yes, I made him wear the robe. He was not amused. But he was a good sport. 😉

If all of this hasn’t convinced you to check out The Grove Resort, perhaps learning that a three-bedroom condo that sleeps eight costs under $300 a night will! If you have a large family or you’re taking a multi-generation trip, you really can’t beat that price!

If you’ve been to The Grove, I’d love to hear! Have so much fun on your next Orlando Vacation!

And if you liked this post on The Grove Resort Orlando, you might like these posts too:

Top 11 Secrets to Planning a Trip to Walt Disney World on a Budget

Fun, Affordable Family Skiing at Sunlight Mountain Resort

Sarasota Bayfront Park

Robinson Preserve, Bradenton Florida

My kids have been begging to visit the Mall of America for years and we finally realized that it is the perfect place to escape from winter! There are so many indoor things to do at Mall of America -perfect for kids of all ages – plus food and shopping! Here’s why you should plan a visit to one of the biggest malls in the United States!

SimplifyLiveLove occasionally receives complementary products, hosted travel, and/or compensation related to the content shared here. We were thrilled to collaborate with Mall of America and Bloomington MN CVB to bring you this post.

Fun Facts about the Mall of America

No trip to Minneapolis is complete without stopping at the Mall of America. I recommended that you plan to spend at least one full day there, but you could easily spend two to three days if you plan to do all the fun things. With over 400 free events at the Mall each year, you’ll find lots of entertainment you just can’t pass up. Before you go, there are a few facts you’ll want to know!

Where is the Mall of America?

Located 15 minutes from Minneapolis in the suburb of Bloomington, the Mall of America is linked to the Minneapolis / St.Paul Airport (and the Amtrak Station) by the Light Rail Train. Two hotels are connected to MOA and more than 50 hotels are located within ten minutes of the mall. 

It’s just over 3 1/2 hours from Des Moines, a 5 1/2 hour drive from Eastern Iowa or Omaha, and a 6 1/2 hour drive from Kansas City which makes it the perfect distance for a quick getaway when you need an escape from dreary winter weather or a rainy weekend.

I’m sure you could even leave your coat at home! We didn’t take ours to the mall at all. All hotels offer complementary shuttles to the mall and there are lots of great places to stay within a very short walking distance.

How big is Mall of America?

The Mall of America spans 1.15 miles on only one level and there are multiple levels, so you’ll definitely get your steps in! Home to over 520 stores, including an Apple Store and the Lego Store,  we could have spent much more time shopping than we did.

Over 40 million visitors go to MOA every year which is more people than the entire populations of Iowa, South Dakota, North Dakota, and Canada combined!! It also makes the Mall of America the most visited attraction in the United States!

Is there tax at Mall of America?

One of the great perks of Mall of America is there is NO sales tax on clothing or shoes! I think a mother/daughter back to school shopping trip would be so much fun! Only my son is my biggest shopper. LOL! I’d have to do a mother/son trip. We only had time to explore a few of the stores, but even though we aren’t big shoppers, I know my kids would love to explore them more.

Is there a curfew for teens?

There is a weekend curfew for teens. If you’re visiting with kids under 16 on a Friday or Saturday night, they have to be with adults after 4 pm. They can walk around on their own before 4 pm, but after 4 pm they need to be with an adult.

I can tell you from experience that if your teens are off on their own after 4 pm on a weekend night (and they’re arguing with each other), they will be stopped and security will call a parent. True story. LOL!

Food in Mall of America

In addition to lots of fun things to do at Mall of America, and a huge selection of stores, there are also over 50 restaurants to check out, from fine dining at FireLake Grill House and Cocktail Bar to Hard Rock Cafe to Piada Italian Street Food and Shake Shack in the food court. You’re sure to find something delicious to satisfy any taste or budget.

Pro tip: Make sure to buy a copy of the Mall of America Coupon Booklet. We used quite a few coupons on food and at stores as well. The kids were excited to see how much money they could save! 

Mall of America is So Much More Than Shopping

While we did spend some times in the stores at the MOA, there are so many more things to do than just that. I can’t believe how many fun activities one mall is able to pack inside! Here are some of the fun things we did during our very busy day and a half at the mall.

Things to Do at Mall of America

We arrived at the MOA on a Friday afternoon after our Amtrak trip out to Montana. We were supposed to have arrived by 8 am, but due to a freight car derailment in Idaho, our Empire Builder train was seven hours behind. 

Instead of spending most of Friday and half the day Saturday at MOA like we had planned, we spent a couple hours on Friday, then shut the mall down on Saturday.

We were not able to fit in everything we wanted to do, so if you’re planning a trip to Minneapolis, make sure to stay long enough! I recommend at least two full days at MOA if you want to do all of the things there.

Here are the six things we really enjoyed at the Mall of America:

1. The Escape Game – 

My kids have been dying to do an escape room, but truth be told, I was a little worried. Our family can argue with the best of them. With six strong personalities, I was concerned that we would fight the whole time. 

Luckily, we didn’t! We worked well during our 60 minutes together and managed to solve our Special Ops mission with seven minutes to spare! Everyone had a lot of fun and I was so impressed with how well we were actually able to work together. The Escape Game at the Mall of America was my favorite part of the trip.

Learn more about The Escape Game and buy tickets here.

2. Nickelodeon Universe Amusement Park – 

Did you know that MOA has its own indoor theme park? Again, I was a little skeptical of an indoor amusement park, but MOA delivers! $38 buys an all-day wristband, good for unlimited rides in the largest indoor theme park, and my kids put their wristband to great use.

They loved the roller coasters most of all, but there are rides for everyone, including a water ride and lots of rides for toddlers too. You can enjoy photo ops with Nick characters who hang out at the park and take little shopping or eating breaks as well!

3. Dutchman’s Deck Adventure Course – 

Confession. My kids were not able to get me on the Ghostly Gangplank ropes course or zipline, but they had an absolute blast! I wasn’t sure how my youngest daughter would react after getting to the top of the Barnacle Blast, but she did just fine and enjoyed zip lining with the best of them! 

In fact, she used my ticket the next day and went back for more. At 55’ above Nickelodeon Universe, the zipline at MOA is the longest indoor zip line in North America! 

Pro tip:  you do need to be 48” tall to enjoy this attraction and it is a separate ticket, but you get a discount with a theme park ticket. You’ll need close-toed shoes for this attraction. But don’t worry – if you forget, you can borrow a pair of Crocs!

Learn more about Dutchman’s Deck Adventure Course here!

4. FlyOver America – 

If you’ve ridden Soarin’ at Epcot, you know the drill. FlyOver America is very similar. It’s an interactive ride that takes you high above the earth for a bird’s eye view of either the USA or USA and Canada. We took the USA flight and really enjoyed flying over the country. 

Not only are you really moving, you also feel the wind and the spray of water from time to time. My kids loved seeing places we’ve visited and we even found our home state of Iowa in the movie as well!

Check out FlyOver America here!

5. Moose Mountain Adventure Golf – 

As if I haven’t covered enough things to do at Mall of America yet, there are also a few opportunities to mini golf right in the mall! The whole family, from young to old, enjoyed our 45 minutes on the Moose Mountain Adventure Golf course. It was pretty busy, but we kept moving. We enjoyed looking out over the edge and watching the roller coasters from this 18-hole mini golf course!

6. Sea Life Aquarium – 

Don’t let the bored expression on my kid’s face fool you!  While not the biggest aquarium by any means, my kids really enjoyed the interactive nature of the Sea Life Aquarium inside the mall. How many malls have aquariums?

We spent about an hour learning about Seemore the Green Sea Turtle, Dutchess the Sawfish, jellyfish, sharks, and more. The 300 ft Ocean Tunnel was especially fun, but the highlight for my younger kids was filling out the Dive Logbook and earning a prize at the end.

Similar to the Junior Ranger programs at national parks, the ranger program at Sea Life Aquarium helps kids learn about sea life and gets them interested and active in their surroundings!

Buy Sea Life tickets online and save a little bit of money!

I’d be remiss in my post if I didn’t also mention the family-friendly hotel right across from the mall where we stayed for two nights.

Best Western PLUS Bloomington Hotel by Mall of America

The Best Western PLUS Bloomington is located across the street from Mall of America. We walked over in under ten minutes. It was an easy walk to a skywalk over to the Radisson. The hotel also has a shuttle, though, so you don’t have to walk.

Perks of the Best Western PLUS include free parking, free all you can eat breakfast buffet, water park for the kids and a huge spa for relaxing in after a full day at the mall! We stayed in a pool side room and were happy that the pool noise stopped promptly at 10 pm each night so we could get a good night’s sleep!

With all of the fun things to do at Mall of America, why wait to go? Make sure to enjoy all of these things and let me know about your favorite thing to do there too! 

For more information on visiting the Minneapolis area, check out these posts too!

5 Delicious Farm to Table Restaurants in the Twin Cities

30 Free Things to do at the Minnesota State Fair

7 Best Family Friendly Indoor Activities in the Twin Cities

Family Fun at the Grove Resort Orlando

All aboard! It’s time to consider a trip on the Amtrak Empire Builder! Vacations by rail are gaining in popularity in the United States as more people decide to travel coast to coast on an Amtrak train. If you’re curious about rail travel in the US, here’s what it’s like to ride the Amtrak Empire Builder – how to buy tickets, what to pack, how to sleep, and what to do on the train.

*This post on staying healthy during train travel in the US is sponsored by Boiron. All opinions are mine.*

Must Know Travel Tips for Taking the Amtrak Empire Builder

Even if you aren’t familiar with US train travel at all, you may have heard of Amtrak’s California Zephyr or the Empire Builder trains. Both are iconic long distance train routes, that go from Chicago to California and the Pacific Northwest respectively.

Travelers certainly don’t normally choose long haul Amtrak routes because they’re an efficient way to travel, but sometimes train travel makes a lot of sense. The journey to a vacation destination can be as fun as the vacation itself!

That’s particularly true when you jump on an Amtrak train and chug through North America. Train travel is nostalgic and fun, and a great way to see our beautifully diverse country. 

Our entire family enjoys every train trip we take – we really think it beats driving and we’d love to encourage more families to take train trips as well. We took the California Zephyr from Mount Pleasant, Iowa to Denver, Colorado a couple of years ago on a spring break trip. It was a 14-hour overnight train ride and was a very practical way for our family to get to Colorado.

Deciding on Amtrak Empire Builder

For our most recent trip, we decided again on Amtrak to get to our family vacation in Whitefish, Montana instead of driving or flying. We boarded the Empire Builder train at Union Depot in Minneapolis- St. Paul, Minnesota and spent 24 hours on the train through North Dakota and Glacier National Park. 

We got on the train at 10:20 pm and arrived in Whitefish at 10:30 pm the next day. While we consistently arrived at stops ahead of schedule and had longer than anticipated stops all along the route, we did end up an hour and half hour late to our final destination. I’d like to gripe about being late, but how many times is air travel disrupted??

Our entire trip to Whitefish was very smooth except for the delay at the end. There were very few people on the train and we had almost an entire car to ourselves! I know from past train trips that’s not normal, but we took full advantage of the extra space!

Even though we arrived 90 minutes late, we really enjoyed our 24 hours on the train and do encourage more people to travel by train. Here’s what you can expect if you decide to take a ride on the Amtrak Empire Builder.

What to Expect on the Empire Builder from Minneapolis-St Paul to Whitefish, Montana

When we originally decided to take Amtrak to Whitefish, we weren’t sure where to board the train. The California Zephyr is what crosses Iowa and options to go north on Amtrak from Iowa are non-existent. 

From Iowa, our choice was to find a stop along the northern route – either go to Chicago, Wisconsin, or Minnesota to get on the Empire Builder, or take the Zephyr to Chicago and change trains there. Changing trains in Chicago didn’t look like a very convenient option.

Why we chose to board in Minneapolis

We decided to drive five hours to Minneapolis to catch the Empire Builder there. Not only did it shave a few hours off the trip even with the longer drive, but it also saved us money on parking. It’s a lot cheaper to park in St. Paul (only $2 per day!) than it would have been in at Union Station in downtown Chicago. Another good option might have been to get on the train in LaCrosse, but we’re happy with our decision to board in St. Paul.

Not only did we save a little bit of time on our total trip by driving five hours, but we also saved some money. And score – we’ll be able to spend a couple days on our return trip having fun at the Mall of America too!

From Whitefish, the Empire Builder continues on to Spokane where it splits into two west coast trains: one heads to Seattle and the other heads to Portland, Oregon. The entire trip from Chicago to Seattle is 2,205 miles and takes 48 hours. 

Billed as one of the most scenic train rides in North America, we think more US families should take their kids on Amtrak trips through the United States. 

If you’d like to take a trip on the Amtrak Empire Builder, here’s what you need to know

How much does the Amtrak Empire Builder Cost?

We have found train travel to be pretty cost effective. For our family of six, air travel is often out of our budget, so we generally drive. However, when you factor in hotels, meals, gas, wear and tear on your car, driving does add up. It also takes us longer to drive. The train keeps going all through the night, but we have to stop to sleep when we drive. 

Train travel isn’t as cheap as driving, but it’s not outrageous either. It cost $1380 for our family of six to travel from Minneapolis to Whitefish in coach class, or $230 each. Just so you know, one kid rides for 50% off with each adult fare, so my price is averaged. We could have driven for less money, but it would have taken us longer. Flying our family to Whitefish was totally cost prohibitive. 

Coach vs Sleeper Car

Definitely, the most economical way to travel on Amtrak is via the coach cars. The difference is pretty big – around $200 per person in coach versus much much more in a sleeper car. 

There are three different options for sleeper cars: the Roomette (sleeps 2), the Family Bedroom (sleeps 4), or the Superliner Bedroom (sleeps 2-3 + private bath). For our family of six, we would need two sleeper rooms. 

I have slept in a sleeper car on a train before (in Thailand) and we honestly didn’t sleep much better on a bed than we did in the seats. The included meals, ability to shower, and privacy of the sleeper car is nice, but I doubt it makes much of a difference as far as sleeping goes.

Sleeping in Coach Seats on Amtrak

You won’t get a great night’s sleep on an Amtrak coach chair, but we think it’s ok. The chairs on Amtrak trains are much nicer than coach on airplanes. There’s a lot more room to stretch out in, with footrests and leg rests as well. I’m 5’9” and I can stretch my legs from my coach seat and barely touch the seat in front of me. Imagine doing that on an airplane! There’s also plenty of overhead space to store your bags. 

How to Book a trip on the Amtrak Empire Builder

It’s really easy to book your trip on Amtrak’s website, but be prepared to do some research to figure out what to book. Options are often more limited with fewer trains than airplanes so you will have to be flexible.  Also, the further in advance you book, the cheaper your tickets will be. Plan far in advance when booking Amtrak to get the best price.

Where to sit

You don’t get assigned seats, but when you book your tickets, you have to choose the upper or lower deck. The choice is yours to make. We prefer the upper deck because the views are nicer. It’s also the only part of the train you can walk through. If you want to go to the dining car or the observation car, you have to walk through the upper cars.

That means that lower cars don’t have as much traffic walking through, so it might be quieter. You also don’t have to walk up the narrow steps to get to the upper cars if you don’t want. A final reason to you might prefer to stay on the lower deck is that’s where the restrooms are located. There are no restrooms on the upper cars.

Checking your Bags

It’s not possible to check your bags at smaller stations, but if you’re getting on the train at a larger station like Chicago, Seattle, or St. Paul, I highly recommend that you check your bags. Amtrak allows each traveler to check two bags for free and it’s really an easy process. 

Simply arrive at the station an hour before boarding and hand over your luggage. Amtrak does not have security screenings like airports and the process is pretty quick.

Boarding the Train in Minneapolis St. Paul

Boarding Amtrak is not like boarding trains in Europe. Instead of walking out to the platform and getting on the train like you do in Germany, with Amtrak, you wait in a large hall and head down to the train in a group. Sometimes, you’re assigned a specific train car before heading out to the platform, sometimes that happens at the platform. 

The nice thing about traveling in a family or a group of four or more people is that you are generally able to head to the train ahead of the masses to help you find seats together.

One thing you may want to be aware of when waiting in large train terminals, especially in the winter: oftentimes they are warm, dry areas in urban locations. It’s not all that unusual to see homeless people in the waiting areas as well. 

If that makes you uncomfortable, you can wait in the private lounge if you book a sleeper car. It’s just worth mentioning because we’ve had to have conversations with our kids about the people at train stations.

When to Take the Train

You can take the Empire Builder train at any time of year, but there are a few things to be aware of before you book your trip. One of the highlights of the Empire Builder is traveling through Glacier National Park. 

The East Glacier stop is closed after early October, but the West Glacier stop stays open year round. If you’re heading west from Chicago, you won’t arrive at Glacier until after 8:00pm. In the winter, it’s dark and you won’t be able to see anything. 

Summer is probably the more scenic time for train travel. The fields are green and it’s light longer. We’ve only taken the train in the winter and spring and while we haven’t had lush green scenery to behold, we did enjoy the beautiful frosty, foggy days anyway.

What are the Bathrooms Like?

The two downsides to the Empire Builder would have to be sleeping in the seats and the bathrooms. While the bathrooms aren’t terrible, they aren’t all that great either. Think airline toilets, but not as nice. 

They are small and cramped and sometimes overflowing with trash. The good news is there are five or six toilets per train car, so it’s usually pretty easy to find an open one. The bad news is, they aren’t always very clean.

There’s also a lounge bathroom on each car that includes a seating area, a larger sink with a stool and a separate toilet. This is where you probably want to go in the morning to clean up and get ready for the day. It’s a nice sized area, but the door to the sink area doesn’t lock which I think is strange.

What about the Dining Car?

You can buy food on the Empire Builder at two places: the lounge and the dining car. The lounge sells drinks (soft drinks, coffee, mixed drinks, beer & wine) and snacky convenience food like chips, cookies, ramen, etc. 

The dining car serves meals. Breakfast and lunch are first come first serve, but you’ll need to make a dinner reservation. Attendants walk through the train to make the reservations and assign an eating time. Eating in the dining car is a lot of fun!

Only four people per table, and they do assign you to tables with other people – a great time to meet someone new. The food can be described as edible, but not overly delicious. I’ve heard it used to be made from scratch and served on fine china, but it’s not like that these days. Nonetheless, it’s a fun experience to eat in the dining car and one I wouldn’t miss.  You can see the Empire Builder menu here.

Is there WIFI on the Empire Builder?

Gasp! There’s no WIFI on the Empire Builder, though some Amtrak trains do have WIFI. The Empire Builder travels through desolate areas in North Dakota and Montana, and oftentimes even cellular data doesn’t work. 

What Can I do on the Amtrak Empire Builder?

Believe it or not, there is plenty to do on the train even without WIFI. Bring along a good book or magazine you’ve been wanting to read, work on your computer, walk to the observation car and check out the beautiful scenery. Try a Bloody Mary. Eat a meal in the dining car. 

Some trains also participate in Rails and Trails program where national park volunteers give informative talks about the area! If all else fails, watch a movie on your iPad or try to sleep. The train provides lots of opportunities to talk to new people if you like that. If you don’t enjoy it, step out of your comfort zone and give it a try.

Can we get off the train?

The train will stop repeatedly throughout your journey. Most stops are just quick in and out. Let people off, and let new people on. A few stops however, last a little bit longer, around 20 minutes. You might have time for a quick walk outside or maybe enough time to walk to a nearby bar or restaurant for a bite to eat. 

The longer stops are in Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN; Minot, ND; Havre and Whitefish, MT. If you do a little research ahead of time you might be able to come up with a game plan for a quick activity at those stations. 

The train cannot leave a stop earlier than the published departure time, so if you happen to arrive at stops early like we did, you will have a longer break. 

What to Pack

Be very prepared for your Amtrak trip! If you’re sleeping in coach like we did, bring a pillow and a blanket. The temperature fluctuates quite a lot on the train, so I recommend wearing layers. It’s easier to take off than put on after all! Here are a few more things you’ll want to bring along too:

• Snacks – you can buy snacks in the lounge car, but you can also bring your own favorites which I highly recommend. Technically, you’re not supposed to eat food you bring on board at your seat, but every one does. Instead you’re supposed to eat your own food in the sightseeing car.
• Drinks – According to Amtrak, you may BYO if you’re staying in a sleeper car but “private stock alcoholic beverages may not be consumed in public areas.” Alcoholic beverages are for sale on the train and can be consumed anywhere, but in our experience, discretion works pretty well too if you happen to bring your own.
• Toiletries – if you’re sitting in coach you won’t be able to shower, but that doesn’t mean you can’t clean up. Bring your toothbrush and toothpaste, cleansing wipes, deodorant, and any makeup that you may want to wear.
• Change of clothes – I’m sure you won’t want to wear the same clothes the entire 48 hours if you’re on the train that long! Make sure you have easily accessible clothing to change into and / or sleep in! 
• Face mask – If you’re sensitive to light, you may want to pack an eye mask. There are curtains on the windows, but there’s still a little light. 
• Same with noise – if you’re sensitive to noise, bring noise cancelling headphones or ear plugs too. It’s pretty quiet on the train, but sometimes you can hear the train horn, and when other trains pass, it is very loud and startling. 
• Slippers – it’s pretty gross to sit around in your bare feet in public areas, so I highly recommend that you bring a pair of socks and some slippers for walking if you won’t want to wear your shoes all the time.
• Electronics, charging cords, camera. Amtrak is nicely equipped with 120 volt plugins at each seat so charing your devices is no problem if you have your cords!
• Small games – some of our favorites include  a deck of cards, Sushi Go, Dutch Bliss, and uno.
• Reading material: Books, magazines. Wifi is not always available so make sure you have other things to do as well.

Small First Aid Kit and Homeopathic Medicines

The holidays are the busiest travel times of the year, right in the middle of cold and flu season. Being in close contact with lots of people means exposure to germs so I I always stock my small first aid kit very carefully during winter travel. It’s better to be over-prepared than underprepared when traveling, especially if you have kids along. Bringing along a small first aid kit is very important. I always have the following items on hand in my small travel first aid kit:

• • Tissues and hand wipes
  • Headache medicine
  • Allergy medicine
  • Cold and flu medicine – Cold Calm & Oscillococcinum
  • First aid ointment
  • Bandaids and mole skin
  • Arnica pellets & ointment for sore muscles
  • Lip balm
  • Honey 
  • Germ fighting essential oils

Boiron Oscillococcinum for Flu

I’ve been using Boiron products for years. I started with Arnica pellets when my kids were younger and always getting bruises. Gradually we added more and more of their homeopathic remedies to our natural medicine cabinet and I love them all. Boiron Oscillococcinum is a great homeopathic flu medicine recommended for everyone age two and up that really does work better than anything else. I was excited to see a full-page Boiron ad in the Amtrak magazine too! Learn more ways Boiron can help you stay healthy when you travel!

Oscillo is so easy to take – simply dump the small vial of pellets under your tongue at the first sign of flu symptoms and let them dissolve. I usually pair the pellets with elderberry, lots of water, and extra rest and am able to kick the flu very quickly. I’m not alone thinking it works either. Clinical studies show that Oscillococcinum is effective at reducing length and severity of the flu.

Just so you know, Oscillococcinum is a homeopathic medicine which means it has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. However, it has been used for over 50 years in more than 50 countries and is the best-selling flu medicine in France. 

The most important tip about using Oscillococcinum is to have it on hand. For it to be most effective, you need to take it right away. So do yourself a favor and grab a pack right now using this $2 off coupon! You can find it at Walmart, Target, Amazon, Walgreens and more.

Now that you know everything there is to know about riding Amtrak Empire Builder, what are you waiting for??

Many thanks to my sponsor, Boiron, for helping us all stay healthy when we travel. Please leave your thoughts on train travel in the US in the comments below!

For more family fun travel posts, read these:

Family Fun at the Grove Resort Orlando

Top 11 Secrets to Planning a Trip to Walt Disney World on a Budget

Fun, Affordable Family Skiing at Sunlight Mountain Resort