I took a 52-hour Amtrak train ride from Chicago to California by myself. Here are 11 things that surprised me most.

I didn't know what to expect from such a long Amtrak ride, but it wasn't bad. Sojourner White I took a solo 52-hour Amtrak train ride from Chicago to Emeryville, California, for the first time. The ride didn't seem as long as I expected, and I didn't feel too lonely, even as a solo traveler. I was pleasantly surprised by the food options and how eating with strangers wasn't that awkward.  Even as an avid air traveler, I didn't know what to expect when I embarked on this 52-hour cross-countr...