I took my kids on their first Amtrak. Our $336 roundtrip train to NYC had significant delays, but I'd do it again.

I was excited to take my two kids on an Amtrak trip. Lauren Harkawik

• I took my two kids on the Amtrak for the first time to get from Albany to New York City.
• Being able to look out the window and walk around during the trip was huge for us.

My husband and I recently traveled with our two kids from Albany to New York City to visit family.

Although we could've hopped in the car, we decided it was the perfect opportunity for our kids to experience their first Amtrak train ride.

With over 30 routes across the country, Amtrak is probably the best-known train company in the US. In 2023 alone, its trains transported over 28 million passengers.

Here's what it was like taking two young children on a 300-mile round-trip train journey across New York and back — and why I'd choose it over sitting in traffic any day.