It goes without saying that America is a massive country. So big in fact that some states, like Texas, dwarf England and other European countries.
I've been a few times and it feels nearly impossible to see all the great things it has to offer. Flights can be expensive even if you're just hopping across to the state next door; and a car can take ages to get from point A to point B.
But travel blogger Derek Low has found a way to see gorgeous canyons, beautiful rivers and stunning mountains without breaking the bank.
Derek travelled from San Francisco to New York on the train, which cost as little as $213.
"Traveling by train gives you a glimpse into the soul of America. The experience rewards you with far more stories and experiences and sights than you could ever witness alone in a car, eyes fixed on the road, or on a five-hour flight across the country."
Credit: Derek Low
Derek says, "The train begins its journey running alongside the tranquil waters of the San Francisco Bay Area for some fabulous coastal views. At some parts, the train was literally a foot from the water."
The trains Derek travelled on have rooms for sleeping in, a café, a dining area, as well as a sightseer lounge car, which has massive windows for people to take in the beautiful scenery. An expert from the California State Railroad also provides some history and explains what people are looking at.
Photos uploaded to his blog shows he goes from ocean scenery, to snow capped mountains, to deserts all within the first leg of his journey from San Francisco to Utah.
Credit: Derek Low
Credit: Derek Low
I've caught a few trains in my lifetime and I can tell you the most exciting food was either a Mars bar or a meat pie - but Derek shows these trains are stocked with some impressive food.
Credit: Derek Low
Credit: Derek Low
If you're like me and can't fit into an economy seat on a plane on account of being tall - Derek says the trains have plenty of legroom.
"The seats are spacious with plenty of legroom and they recline a good 40 degrees. They're more comfortable than economy class seats on planes; perhaps something more like business class on a crappy domestic airline."
Derek says if you want to get the best value you have to book two different train tickets: the California Zephyr and Lake Shore Limited.
"In just four days, I've seen both the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean without taking a flight. Some people have told me that I've already seen more of the country than most Americans."
If you're keen to take up Derek's journey - he's offering to plan it for you for just $49.
You might soon be able to travel from London to Tokyo by train
Good news for anyone who is shit scared of travelling by plane... they're looking to expand the Trans-Siberian railway, which would mean that it's possible to travel entirely by train from London to Tokyo.
The changes would see the route bypassing Vladivostok, currently the final stop on the Trans-Siberian route, with a four-mile bridge or tunnel linking the city of Khabarovsk to the Pacific island of Sakhalin.
The new rail connection would cross from Sakhalin to the northerly Japanese island of Hokkaido, using a 26-mile tunnel.
"The ventures are seen as leading to a revival of not only commercial traffic between the two countries, but also to increased tourism and other human contacts," reported The Siberian Times.
The Kremlin is into the idea because it wants to develop Russia's far east, which lags behind the rest of the country economically. Japan is interested in the extension because it could increase tourism to the country.
However, the plan may never get off the ground because of a long-standing argument over the Kuril Islands. Both nations claim the four islands as their own. The issue is the reason the two countries never signed a peace treaty after World War II.
Vladimir Putin is visiting Japan in December, and it is likely that the railroad extension will play a major part in talks between the two countries.
Featured Image Credit: Derek LowTopics: World News, Money, Interesting, travel, USA