Travel Dispatch: How Accessible Is Traveling by Amtrak?
Plus: How to Spend 36 Hours in Jackson Hole, Wyo.
Travel Dispatch
August 16, 2025
A stagecoach passing Million Dollar Cowboy Bar on Town Square in Jackson, Wyo. Ryan Dorgan for The New York Times

Dear Travel Fan,

Many disabled travelers, especially those who use wheelchairs, rely on trains to get around the United States, because flying can be so challenging. But using Amtrak can also be difficult and, as a new report revealed, the train system has made little progress in meeting the accessibility requirements laid out by the Americans with Disabilities Act. The reporter Gabe Castro-Root assessed the situation (and made this video, as well).

Summer is the season of destination weddings, and in many places it’s also the season of thunderstorms. The answer for some couples planning pricey resort weddings: add in a shaman to perform a rain-stopping ceremony.

Taking your children to visit a castle when you’re on a European vacation seems like it would be a no-brainer. But, in fact, many castle tours involve long lines of opulently decorated rooms. We’ve put together a list of castles that specifically tailor their offerings for children.

The rewards credit card race keeps getting more complicated. We’ve got the details on Citi’s new Strata Elite card.

We also visit two wild places this week. Our 36 Hours column travels to Jackson Hole, Wyo., where you can hike, bike and swim in nearby Grand Teton National Park. And we follow in the footsteps of the poet Dylan Thomas in Donegal, Ireland, where he found creative enrichment in the summer of 1935.

Finally, as I write, Air Canada is canceling many of its flights in anticipation of a strike by its flight attendants. We’ve got the latest information on how travelers might be affected.

Wishing you safe and happy travels,
Amy Virshup

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