Eventually, we reached "cruising altitude" and leveled off amongst the peaks. We were on the high plateau of the Continental Divide and sailed past the thick forests, craggy rocks and snow-covered fields. Strewn about these were the occasional ranch and tiny Colorado town. Not surprisingly, we even came across a ski resort (Winter Park).

As all of this shot past, I tried out the various Amtrak dining services. In the dining car, they seat unacquainted passengers together to maximize the space. This always leads to some interesting conversations. As for the food, well, it was top notch. I was pleasantly surprised at how good it was. Certainly another good reason to travel this way.

As for light dining, the train also featured a lounge car where one could buy microwaved meals, assorted snacks, and beverages (including alcohol). Having a drink on the train was quite a novelty the first few times I rode it. Later, though, the magic wore off and I went back to sodas.