What to do at all 13 Borealis stops between Chicago and St. Paul with kids: upstairs seats, the Mississippi out the window for two hours, and the stops worth a night.

What to do at all 20 Gold Runner (the old San Joaquins) stops between Oakland, Sacramento and Bakersfield with kids: the Yosemite bus, the stops worth a day, and the ones to ride through.

What to do at all 30 Coast Starlight stops from Seattle to Los Angeles with kids: which stops are worth a night, which connect to a day train, and the ones you will sleep through.