I took a 35-hour train ride from Los Angeles to Seattle in a roomette. Here are 11 things that surprised me most.

I took my first scenic train ride in 2021, boarding Amtrak's California Zephyr in Chicago. By the time I arrived to my destination in California, I was already looking forward to booking my next overnight train.

So, I recently rode on Amtrak's Coast Starlight from Los Angeles to Seattle. After being on the California Zephyr for 52 hours, I felt ready for the 35-hour journey up the West Coast.

Here are the 11 things that surprised me the most during my trip.

I traveled on the Coast Starlight with my sister, which meant I had someone to pass the time with from start to finish. And because I'd been on the 52-hour ride first, spending only one night on this train was easy.

Still, bringing things to do and sitting in the train's observation car helped us stay entertained. I also found that taking advantage of the fresh-air stops along the way was a great way to stretch and catch some rays of California sunshine.

On the California Zephyr, I had to use my sea-nausea relief bands. This time around, we didn't travel through any mountains or tunnels, so I didn't need them.

If you're prone to nausea or motion sickness, I still recommend packing Dramamine and other remedies, just in case.

Traveling on the Coast Starlight without Wi-Fi wasn't a problem for me.

Even though 35 hours seems like a long time to go without an internet connection, it didn't hamper my experience.

I filled the time by reading books, writing, and having conversations. I also downloaded podcasts and music ahead of time to make sure I'd be occupied on the journey.

I've experienced major delays when I've ridden on Amtrak trains in the past.

On the Coast Starlight, the train was delayed only an hour or so, which is a minor holdup compared to the seven hours I had to wait on my first overnight rail trip.

I know that delays are an expected part of traveling by train, but I was grateful that we didn't have to wait too long.

In my experience, some train conversations can be hit or miss. Thankfully, all the interactions I had on the Coast Starlight were relaxing and light.

Passengers in the dining car were friendly and open. Some even gave us insight into other train routes and recommended new travel experiences to try in the future.

I traveled by myself the first time I took an overnight train. But on the Coast Starlight, I shared a roomette with my sister.

The room measured 6 feet and 6 inches long by 3 feet and 6 inches wide. It fit one to two adults and one to two suitcases. But with two adults staying there, it felt a bit cramped.

Be prepared to leave some of your bags on the luggage rack, which is located on the first floor, to clear up more room.

I can sleep pretty much anywhere. Because I'm 5-foot-1, I offered to take the top bunk, which is smaller than the roomette's bottom bunk.

However, I felt a lot more bumps when I was sleeping on the top bunk than I did when I took a turn on the bottom bunk.

The lack of space made it hard to sit up, and it felt uncomfortable at times.

Train rides can be bumpy, so having a safety strap to prevent passengers from falling off the bed is very necessary.

On the Coast Starlight, the straps hung on the outside of the top bunk bed. I could hook them to the top of the roomette on each side to make sure they would catch me.

I didn't fall, but it felt reassuring to know the straps were there.

I didn't know if the meals offered in Amtrak's dining cars varied based on the train route. It turns out that the traditional dining menu is available in the sleeper cars on Amtrak's Western lines, like the Empire Builder or the California Zephyr.

So, the food selection on the Coast Starlight was the same as the meals on my first overnight train. From breakfast to dessert, the dishes — which included omelets, salads, chili, burgers, and more — were identical.

On the first day of the journey, the train traveled up the California coast, putting us right into the heart of the action.

I recommend taking an earlier lunch to watch the views from the dining car and then moving to the observation car later.

Before I boarded the train, I didn't know how close, or how far away, it would be from the Pacific Ocean.

For some stretches of the journey, there was a separation between the train and the water. Other times, the train felt like it was directly above the sand and closer to the ocean.

A sense of calmness washed over me as the train glided up the California coast.

The experience on the Coast Starlight was so wonderful that I would definitely do it again. Next time, I'd try going in the opposite direction, leaving from Seattle and heading to Los Angeles.