Comments on: A Great American Tradition at $1.75 a Gallon http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2009/02/12/a-great-american-tradition-at-175-a-gallon/ Online travel magazine dedicated to exploring travel in the 21st century. Offering travel news, compelling interviews, online travel tools, and more. Wed, 10 Mar 2010 20:24:02 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Brandon Wenerd http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2009/02/12/a-great-american-tradition-at-175-a-gallon/comment-page-1/#comment-85240 Brandon Wenerd Sat, 21 Feb 2009 21:32:25 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/?p=737#comment-85240 Meh. Sure, using a little restraint is always wise in anything in life, but I disagree. Amtrak and rail service is fantastic transportation alternative for people who live in cities like New York, Philadelphia, Boston, Chicago, D.C., New Orleans and need to commute or get around. It is simply the easiest way to get around if you like gridskipping from one metro area to another metro area. But it's expensive. Very expensive. And, if you live in a small town, it just isn't practical. There are thousands of great American places that simply aren't accessible by trains and regional rail. Gettysburg, Pennsylvania to Big Sur to Bryce Canyon Utah. Remember, once you leave California and the Eastern Seaboard, there's a lot of space - about 2500 some miles in particular - and some of us still enjoy seeing it without being slave to train schedules or getting herded on buses. Is that a romantic notion? I don't think so. It's just a personal disposition. Meh. Sure, using a little restraint is always wise in anything in life, but I disagree.

Amtrak and rail service is fantastic transportation alternative for people who live in cities like New York, Philadelphia, Boston, Chicago, D.C., New Orleans and need to commute or get around. It is simply the easiest way to get around if you like gridskipping from one metro area to another metro area. But it's expensive. Very expensive. And, if you live in a small town, it just isn't practical. There are thousands of great American places that simply aren't accessible by trains and regional rail. Gettysburg, Pennsylvania to Big Sur to Bryce Canyon Utah. Remember, once you leave California and the Eastern Seaboard, there's a lot of space – about 2500 some miles in particular – and some of us still enjoy seeing it without being slave to train schedules or getting herded on buses. Is that a romantic notion? I don't think so. It's just a personal disposition.

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]]> By: Andrew Farrand http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2009/02/12/a-great-american-tradition-at-175-a-gallon/comment-page-1/#comment-85142 Andrew Farrand Fri, 20 Feb 2009 03:42:36 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/?p=737#comment-85142 "Why do Americans insist on driving when we have Amtrak and cheap, characterless coast-to-coast budget flights?" Because of romantic notions (built up by American car commercials as much as American literature) about the thrill of the open road... environmental consequences be damned. I've read On The Road too, and I've felt that urge. But now that our society has started to see the effects of global warming, we should know better. Today, the responsible pursuit of life, liberty, and happiness is to be had on Amtrak, not the highway. "Why do Americans insist on driving when we have Amtrak and cheap, characterless coast-to-coast budget flights?"

Because of romantic notions (built up by American car commercials as much as American literature) about the thrill of the open road… environmental consequences be damned.

I've read On The Road too, and I've felt that urge. But now that our society has started to see the effects of global warming, we should know better. Today, the responsible pursuit of life, liberty, and happiness is to be had on Amtrak, not the highway.

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]]> By: Turner http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2009/02/12/a-great-american-tradition-at-175-a-gallon/comment-page-1/#comment-84844 Turner Tue, 17 Feb 2009 23:41:02 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/?p=737#comment-84844 You left out corndogs with mustard... good stuff. You left out corndogs with mustard… good stuff.

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]]> By: Rebecca http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2009/02/12/a-great-american-tradition-at-175-a-gallon/comment-page-1/#comment-84809 Rebecca Tue, 17 Feb 2009 17:54:28 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/?p=737#comment-84809 Great post...Road trips can be exciting...just remember to look in the rear view mirror from time to time... Great post…Road trips can be exciting…just remember to look in the rear view mirror from time to time…

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]]> By: Sarah_Menkedick http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2009/02/12/a-great-american-tradition-at-175-a-gallon/comment-page-1/#comment-84475 Sarah_Menkedick Fri, 13 Feb 2009 17:49:42 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/?p=737#comment-84475 Agreed---my sister was a master. She would hear the sirens and then say, "Ok, get ready!!" We had the plan all worked out. I'd curl up into as best a fetal position as I could muster and moan, and she would spontaneously burst into tears. Then she'd explain, through panicky sobs, how her little sis had an awful stomachache and we had to get home. Never failed. Then I got Dairy Queen for my participation in the whole affair. Agreed—my sister was a master. She would hear the sirens and then say, "Ok, get ready!!" We had the plan all worked out. I'd curl up into as best a fetal position as I could muster and moan, and she would spontaneously burst into tears. Then she'd explain, through panicky sobs, how her little sis had an awful stomachache and we had to get home. Never failed. Then I got Dairy Queen for my participation in the whole affair.

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]]> By: VagabonderZ http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2009/02/12/a-great-american-tradition-at-175-a-gallon/comment-page-1/#comment-84407 VagabonderZ Fri, 13 Feb 2009 03:56:50 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/?p=737#comment-84407 Very enjoyable post. I can't wait to hit the open road in Oz (not solo though). What happened to the pictures here? (Or is it just me...) Very enjoyable post. I can't wait to hit the open road in Oz (not solo though). What happened to the pictures here? (Or is it just me…)

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]]> By: Brandon Wenerd http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2009/02/12/a-great-american-tradition-at-175-a-gallon/comment-page-1/#comment-84397 Brandon Wenerd Fri, 13 Feb 2009 02:06:04 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/?p=737#comment-84397 Agree... though, stories of unique ways to get out of them are a dime a dozen! Agree… though, stories of unique ways to get out of them are a dime a dozen!

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]]> By: bwenerd http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2009/02/12/a-great-american-tradition-at-175-a-gallon/comment-page-1/#comment-84373 bwenerd Thu, 12 Feb 2009 20:27:23 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/?p=737#comment-84373 Radar detector, Tim! (just don't get caught using it in Virginia!) Radar detector, Tim! (just don't get caught using it in Virginia!)

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]]> By: Tim Patterson http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2009/02/12/a-great-american-tradition-at-175-a-gallon/comment-page-1/#comment-84352 Tim Patterson Thu, 12 Feb 2009 17:01:07 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/?p=737#comment-84352 Speeding tickets are a real bummer. Speeding tickets are a real bummer.

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