I took my first long-distance Amtrak trip. Here are 10 things that surprised me.

I traveled from Miami to Tampa and back aboard Amtrak. Kristine Villarroel/Business Insider I took Amtrak from Miami to Tampa for my first-ever train trip. Compared to air and car travel, my long-distance train ride was neither cheaper nor faster. There was more waiting than I expected, but I also experienced some surprising perks. I've traveled a lot between cities and have explored nearly all of Florida, yet I had never set foot on a long-distance train before last year. While I am famili...