travel style

How to travel by train

 in General Fashion / Travel  tagged fall 2025 / outfits / Sacramento / travel style / travel tips by

wearing: tweed blazer / nail polish / earrings / tee shirt / classic cut jeans / black loafers / backpack (similar here)

Are you wondering how to travel by train and how it is different than traveling by airplane? I recently went on a work trip to Sacramento via Amtrak and since it was my first time traveling by train instead of car or airplane, I had a few questions.

Can you carry-on a suitcase on Amtrak? Yes! Yes you can! If you bring the suitcase you typically carry-on for air travel, it should be the right size for train travel, but always check the train you plan to take in order to ensure the dimensions are correct.

If you have a favorite bag you typically use as a personal item for air travel, and it fits under the seat on an airplane, it should be good for a train too. My trusty backpack fit nicely under the seat in front me on the train, just like on a plane. Love that!

When it comes to carry-on storage on Amtrak, there are suitcase racks near the ends of the train cars where you can store your suitcase or large bag. For smaller luggage, you can put your carry-on in the overhead bins. If you have a large suitcase or luggage, you can check them at the train station. Be sure to allow extra time for checking your baggage.

Can you bring full-size beauty products on a train? Yes! Yes you can! Since there aren’t stringent tsa requirements on a train, you can bring your full-size beauty products with you in your carry-on.

The Amtrak train I took also had 120 volt plugs which were great for plugging in a phone or laptop. Some of the coach seats had tables, and some of the seats were regular, airplane style seating, as shown in the photo of me above. If you have an open seating coach ticket, you can pick the style of seat you want to travel in when you board the train. We ended up moving upstairs to the tables and it was nice because those seats are quite roomy.

The train trip I took was a roughly three-hour ride, if you have an overnight train trip, things could be a little different. Check with your train’s website for additional rules.

We found the train leaves on time, if not a minute or two early. Make sure you arrive on time with extra time to spare. At some stations, the walk from the entrance of the station to where you board the train can take up to ten minutes. Give yourself extra time!

Enjoy your trip by train and let me know if you have any questions!

XOXO

Cathy

Tucson and the night sky

 in General Fashion / Travel  tagged arizona / outfits / travel style by

Packed for spring break in Tucson: lipstick / spring nail polish / pink earrings / spring sweater / bucket bag / summer dress / maxi skirt / white top / western boots / sneakers / wide leg jeans /

Off to Tucson! For my son’s spring break, he wanted to go somewhere where we could see the night sky. I heard that Oracle State Park was one of the top night sky parks in the country, so I booked a trip to Tucson, AZ without realizing the moon would be almost full. Oooops. Mom fail. But I digress. . .

We landed in Tucson and the airport had a classic car on display. I love classic cars! So, I naturally had to snap a pic of this 1957 Chevy Bel Air on our way to pick up our rental car. Isn’t it amazing? Of course, our rental car wasn’t nearly as cool, so again, I digress. . .

We picked up our rental car and checked into our hotel. After getting settled, we headed out to Guadalajara Mexican Grill for dinner. It was so good! They made the salsa right there at our table, and as you can tell, it was in a large bowl! They made the guacamole at our table too. Both were seasoned to perfection. Love!

I enjoyed chicken tacos, and my son and husband indulged on burritos. The food was amazing, I would definitely go back! So, if you are ever in the Tucson area, be sure to stop in for lunch or dinner. Yum!

After dinner, we headed out to Oracle State Park. In order to view the night sky, you need to schedule an appointment ahead of time to get gate access and permission. So, if you want to visit, be sure to plan ahead.

Once we arrived at the parking lot for star gazing, we parked and let our eyes adjust to the dark sky. Unfortunately, I didn’t check the moon schedule ahead of time. Rookie mistake. We were a few days away from a full moon, so the moon was quite bright. We were able to see several constellations and stars; my cell phone photo below didn’t pick anything up. So, while the milky way wasn’t visible, we did see more stars than we would have back home. We were also able to see Mars, which was amazing.

It was a fun travel day, and our trip was just getting started! Stay tuned for more coverage from Tucson, AZ!

XOXO

Cathy

Exploring Boalsburg PA

 in General Fashion / Travel  tagged boalsburg / central pa / outfits / travel style by

This was out fifth day of our vacation, and we had a slow start. We decided to grab brunch instead of having breakfast and then lunch. We enjoyed a hearty brunch at The Original Waffle Shop where there is always a line to get in, but somehow, we got lucky and arrived slightly after the rush. Loved it!

After brunch, we took off in our rental car and headed over to Boalsburg. It is a historic village known as the birthplace of Memorial Day. This is an important holiday where we remember everyone who paid the ultimate price for our country. So, it was nice to be able to see the birthplace in person and get a little history lesson at the same time.

This statue commemorates the birth of Memorial Day as it memorializes the three women who started the holiday. The statue is located at the Boalsburg cemetery and offers a historical marker explaining the meaning of the statue and how Memorial Day got started. It is a must-see in Centre County!

Another must-see in Boalsburg is the museum! It has two main parts which include the mansion and also the Columbus Chapel. Apparently, the Boal family is descendant from Christopher Columbus! Isn’t that amazing?! They have a small museum on-site with the history and artifacts related to Christopher Columbus. In the off season, it is by appointment only, so definitely call before you go! That being said, you must go!

Do you like to hike? Mt Nittany is a fabulous hiking spot. Just make sure you have actual hiking boots, my sneakers were not right so we ended up not hiking. The trail is rocky so boots are a must. I’ll pack them in my suitcase for next time!

Lastly, be sure to enjoy dinner at Duffy’s Tavern. It was built in 1819 and has been in business for about two hundred years. It feels like you’ve been transported back in time when you dine there. Loved it! Be sure to check it out!

What I wore to Boalsburg:

Well, that’s it! Be sure to visit Boalsburg next time you are in Central Pennsylvania!

XOXO

Cathy