I've never forgotten a single one of the train trips we went on as a family. Or the many that I took as an adult. There's just something special and magical about traveling by train — planes, buses and cars can't even begin to compete.

Listening to the clacking of the wheels against the tracks and feeling the gentle sway of the cars as the train carries you through America's cityscapes and countrysides is so much more relaxing than the hustle and bustle of air travel. Plus, you get to experience a little bit of history on your way to where you're going. Every train and every station has its own character, its own story.

But one of my favorite things about trains is the socializing. Sure train travel takes a little longer, but at least you can get up and move around instead of being forced to stay buckled up in a tiny, cramped little seat. That means there are plenty of opportunities to strike up conversations as people move from car to car or grab a snack in the café car. And since a lot of the passengers are train enthusiasts like me, there's always lots to talk about with all the new friends I make when I ride the rails.