>>The scenery go to SF is spectacular especially during the second and third days. The first is mostly through the plains. You do you a real good grip on how big this country really is then, BTW. And, yeah, it was the San Francisco Zeypher (sp?). I've heard the same thing about the trip to New Orleans. Used to be called "The City of New Orleans" as in the song by the late, great Steve Goodman. I don't think you can go directly to Atlanta from Chicago. You might have to take the trip to NO then to Atlanta. Going via DC might mean going first to Philadelphia, then to DC then to Atlanta.
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>The NO train still is the "The City of New Orleans", I couldn't remember the name although it has been in the news lately, unfortunately. What is the scenery like from NO to Atlanta? Or, from NO to Orlando. We might take the train with our kids in the next few years. It's either that or haul the trailer down and camping along the way. Gotta take the kids to see the Mouse, ya know.

Been there (seeing the Mouse, that is).< s > Unfortunately, I haven't traveled the route between Atlanta and NO or NO and Orlando. I can tell you that Atlanta to Florida is pretty much like Indiana once you get south of Atlanta. IOW, flat. Florida isn't all that scenic (at least IMO) either. From here, Orlando's about a 6 hour drive (480 miles). Keep in mind too that Orlando isn't really on the ocean. Daytona is and isn't that far away. It's been awhile, but I'd say it was an hour to hour and a half drive.