No doubt about it, the holiday season comes with a flurry of activity. Adding travel plans into the mix of hustle and bustle is a recipe for stress. Airports are insane and traffic on the highways can be a headache producing nightmare. If you desire a slower pace this holiday with more time to relax and share quality time with your loved ones, why not try train travel? Sit back, relax and enjoy the ride!

Traveling by train is easy and accessible. Starting with online booking, it takes only a few minutes to secure a reservation and tickets are downloaded right to your mobile phone. No need to arrive hours early only to stand in security lines: Arriving twenty minutes before departure is sufficient. Besides leisure there is the romantic quality of standing on the platform as it begins to rumble with the large engine approaching. All aboard!!

From the station in Mount Vernon, you can board a train bound for Vancouver BC or head south to Seattle, Portland, or Los Angeles, carrying you from one city center to the next in about the same amount of time as driving a car, minus the stress of course.

Do check details of each station before arriving, for some are terminals while others are outdoor platforms. Some smaller terminals are staffed by volunteers and cannot accept cash transactions.

Once aboard, enjoy the spacious seating with freedom to move about the cars. On the Cascade line, reserve a seat on the west side of the train for spectacular viewing of the Northwest shoreline. Witness landscapes not visible from the highway or simply gaze out the window and let your mind wander as the scenery passes by.

Unplug, unwind, enjoy conversations with family or make new friends as the engines chug along miles of track towards your destination. Take a stroll to the bistro car where there are many savory delights including dietary options such as vegan and gluten free. Pick from an assortment of Pacific Northwest beers, regional wines or local coffee roasters for your beverage. Stay there or take your food back to your seat.

Traveling by train offers the true luxury of freedom while also being an eco-friendly option to get from point A to point B. Commuting by rail means fewer cars on the road, less energy consumed and you save wear and tear on your vehicle. For an even greener way to go, ride your bike to the station and then store it on the train as you settle in for the ride.

Traveling by train this holiday season can certainly be one remedy to de-stress from the frantic pace this time of year, to slow down, breathe and appreciate the wonders of the season.