The best way to travel is by train -- really

I have driven from here to the Quad Cities only once. It was December and the weather was awful -- snowy and icy.

Somewhere along the way we spun out, and during the agonizing turns of the car, I had time to wonder how we would be when the spinning stopped. Amazingly, we were OK. Stuck, but OK.

That awful trip isn't the only reason I was happy to hear Amtrak may add a route through Naperville to the Quad Cities (Moline, Davenport, Bettendorf and Rock Island). Mostly it's because it's another chance for Napervillians to use something too few of us take advantage of: Amtrak.

Particularly in Naperville, where Amtrak stops for the California Zephyr and the Southwest Chief, too many of us have no idea how easy, convenient, relaxing, economical and safe it is to take the train.

Whenever I mention it to people, I invariably get a puzzled, almost incredulous response to my enthusiasm. "Amtrak? Come on!"

Others simply don't realize Amtrak trains stop here, just minutes from your home.

Remember the commercial that years ago urged us to "try it, you'll like it?" That should be Amtrak's slogan.

I was urged to do so by neighbors, and at first was skeptical, too. It sounded a little grubby, a little smelly or something. I don't know what I was thinking.

Since our first trip from Naperville to Fraser, Colo., one spring break more than 10 years ago, taking the train has become somewhat of a well-loved family tradition.

The hours we've spent zipping along the plains toward the Colorado mountains, relaxing, reading, playing games, looking out the window and hanging out, could never be replicated by airplane flights or even -- though I love them, too -- car trips.

How often do you hear anyone discussing the joys of airplane travel? Try, instead, to ask people about their train trips.

But it's not all fun and games or about making memories. Train travel makes sense.

Last summer, when my son and a friend were traveling for a camp to a small town farther south in Illinois and Amtrak was given as a travel option, we jumped on it. We wouldn't have to drive him four hours each way or -- just as off-putting -- let the two of them drive there. Instead, we could drop them at the Naperville train station and they get off four hours later.

That way, they could sleep along the way -- always a plus for any teen. That way, we could relax instead of spending the better parts of two days either worrying or driving.

Amtrak similarly saved us a couple of summers ago when the same kid needed to get to the middle of Wisconsin later than the rest of us. A little research found that Amtrak could help us out there, too.

The kid was dropped off at the Naperville station, took Metra to Union Station and negotiated the few steps from Metra to Amtrak. He got on the right train (hardest part!) and ended up in Columbus, Wis., a few hours later, just a half-hour from where we were.

Amtrak is a great solution for older parents when their adult children don't want them to drive for a visit, for young parents whose children hate car seats, for meeting people who already have a car somewhere. Try it, you'll like it.

On our last Amtrak trip, just a few weeks ago, we noticed many of the train cars had recently been renovated and upgraded -- nothing remotely grubby or smelly about them.

News stories about the proposed route to the Quad Cities note that perhaps the route later would be extended to Iowa City. Amtrak planners, wake up! Go directly to Iowa City.

Can you imagine the number of Naperville college students headed to University of Iowa who would take advantage of that easy trip between home and school?

Some news stories focused on the Quad Cities casinos' hope that the proposed route would bring gamblers from the Chicago area to their casinos.

Maybe. But the surest bet is that more Amtrak routes through Naperville is a winning idea for Napervillians.