New Orleans via Amtrak: the affordable getaway

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May 9, 2009

Anonymous The Meridian Star Sat May 09, 2009, 10:38 PM CDT

By Fredie Carmichael

editor@themeridianstar.com

It's probably one of the easiest, most readily available weekend getaways for East Mississippi residents.

But for some reason, it's probably the one most people overlook.

The Riverwalk, Bourbon Street, Cafe Du Monde and all that New Orleans has to offer is a comfortable 4-hour train ride from Meridian's Union Station. And the best part: you can get that for a $68 roundtrip ticket. For $47 more, you can enjoy a private roomette and complimentary meal.

It's the best value for your dollar around.

Amtrak's Crescent makes the final leg of the New York to New Orleans journey from Meridian. So for my trip, I took off work a few hours early and got to Union Station at 2:45 p.m. The ticket says the train departs at 3 p.m. but it typically arrives about 20 minutes late, so if you get to the station a few minutes after 3 p.m. you should be fine. Amtrak's user-friendly Web site makes it easy to track train arrival times.

Once we boarded the train, my fiancé, Susan, and I got comfortable in our sleeper car. I was surprised at how roomy it was. It had two beds (or a couch if you prefer to use it that way), a bathroom/shower, a sink, a full-length mirror, and a place to stow luggage. The biggest difference between the roomette and the bedroom sleeper car is room. Both are great. And it's by far the best option.

If you're thinking, "but I can't afford the extra money," consider this: your meal and beverages are included in the price. So it's really not that much extra.

On board, we got comfortable and watched the scenery through the window as we passed through backwoods Mississippi. Before we reached Hattiesburg, the attendant came by to tell us it was time to eat.

We made our way to the diner car and looked the menu over. We both ordered the steak, which came with a salad and potato. We also enjoyed cheesecake for desert. The food is actually pretty good. Think Western Sizzlin'.

By the time we made our way back to the room, we were nearing Slidell, La. We got comfortable and enjoyed the sun escaping behind the Mississippi River as we made our approach to New Orleans.

We made it to New Orleans about 7:40 p.m., just in time to catch a quick 2-minute cab to our hotel in the Warehouse District. Once we unloaded our luggage (which you can pack pretty light on a short weekend to New Orleans) we made our way towards the Warehouse District for entertainment.

Side note: I'm not a big Bourbon Street fan. For those who are, the train arrives in plenty of time to get ready for a night out in the heart of Bourbon Street mania.

If you like to dance, I'd suggest Club Metro in the Warehouse District. It's a trendy dance club that offers several rooms and different types of music.

After a night out, we got up early the next morning to venture out to Riverwalk and the French Market. We'd done the Cafe Du Monde thing before, so we opted for a different breakfast treat this time.

Boy were we lucky we did. We accidentally ran into an incredible little breakfast eatery: Suave Latino Bar and Grill at 200 Magazine St. I know, I know. It doesn't really sound like the place to get a quality breakfast, but it is.

I ordered the eggs benedict latino with egg, bacon, ham and french toast. She ordered a three-egg omelet with spinach and crawfish. Superb. It's a little off the beaten path, but I highly recommend finding this spot and eating breakfast there.

From there, we enjoyed our favorite activities in New Orleans and called it a day.

The only downside to a weekend getaway to New Orleans on the Amtrak: the early-morning departure on Sunday morning. The train leaves at 7:05 a.m. from New Orleans.

But my favorite part is the free copy of the Sunday Times Picayune newspaper that they leave on the couch in your sleeper for the ride home.

And after a hearty breakfast, a cup of coffee and when you're about halfway through your Sunday paper, you're back in Meridian. We arrived at Union Station at 11:08 a.m. on our trip.

It's a great trip and you're still left with the better part of your Sunday to relax and get prepared for the workweek.

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