By Kathie Sutin, Healthy Planet Staff Writer
Not many people get to explore a good chunk of their state’s most interesting places by rail but lucky Missourians do.
Amtrak’s Missouri River Runner train slices across the state from St. Louis to Kansas City with stops along the way in eight other towns, each with its own attractions.
The eastern half of the 283-mile route mostly parallels the Missouri River offering stunning views of the river and quaint, sometimes historic, river towns along the way.
Stops include:
- Kirkwood, considered the first planned suburban community west of the Mississippi River.
- Washington, where Missouri Meerschaum Pipes have been manufactured since 1869 making the town known as the “Corncob Pipe Capital of the World.”
- Hermann, in the heart of what’s been called “Missouri Rhineland with 10 wineries, five distilleries and two breweries.
- Jefferson City, Missouri’s capital, where visitors can learn about the state’s history.
- Sedalia, a former cow town that’s home to the Scott Joplin International Ragtime Festival.
- Warrensburg, once known as the “Missouri Mule Capital” and home to the University of Central Missouri.
- Lee’s Summit, hometown of outlaw Cole Younger of the infamous James-Younger Gang and site of the Missouri Town Living History Museum.
- Independence, where one mile from the Amtrak station, you’ll find Clinton Drug Store where President Harry Truman once worked. Also nearby: Harry S Truman National Historic Site.
Rail travel has a lot going for it—relatively reasonable prices, a 50 percent discount for kids 2-12 — babies and toddlers under 2 ride free sitting on the lap of a paid adult and seniors get a 10 percent discount — a smooth ride and interesting scenery most of the way. In addition, no one gets stuck in a middle seat.
“Amtrak Missouri River Runner riders see what Lewis and Clark discovered on their journey: a mighty river that pulls the state together through cities large and small,” said Marc Magliari, Amtrak spokesman.”All of this twice daily between Kansas City and St. Louis without driving or any middle seats.”
And, train travel is good for Mother Earth. According to the website outworldindata.org, “taking a train instead of a car for medium-length distances would reduce emissions by about 80 percent.” Train travel instead of flying on domestic flights reduces emissions by about 86 percent, according to the website.