For affordable day-trips to Alton and St. Louis, take the train

Passenger rail may have seen its heyday come and go, but 21,000 miles of train track still crisscross America. Ten of Amtrak’s routes wind through Illinois and can connect those looking for summer fun with several destinations throughout the Midwest. Of all the options in the region, Amtrak’s Texas Eagle provides one of the best ways to explore many parts of Illinois, Missouri and beyond.

The Texas Eagle, which passes daily through Springfield, runs from Chicago to San Antonio, stopping in 25 cities along the way. While the entire trip lasts a whopping 32.5 hours, smaller sections make perfect (and affordable) day trips from central Illinois.

From Springfield, the Eagle heads 80 miles southwest into Alton, home of Miles Davis and host to the seventh Lincoln- Douglas debate on Oct. 15, 1858. The surprising river town offers plenty of options for family fun — from museums, to trails, to golf courses, to water activities. The Lincoln and Civil War Legacy Trail, one of Alton’s newest attractions, features a selfguided tour that connects 10 Lincoln-related sites in the area, including Lincoln-Douglas Square, Lovejoy Monument, Confederate Cemetery and the site of Lincoln’s infamous near-duel with James Shields.

Several companies in Alton rent tourists Segways, scooters and canoes. Whichever method of transit you choose, steer yourself over to Alton’s National Great Rivers Museum, and learn how the Mighty Mississippi plays an important role in the region’s communities. Visitors can steer a replica barge, tour the museum’s aquarium and calculate their own water usage.

For those who prefer to get out on the water and play, there are countless ways to do just that. Alton is home to a riverboat casino, ferry tours, kayak rentals and other outlets for riverfront fun. If water parks seem more enticing, Raging Rivers is just 20 miles downriver in Grafton.

En route to Grafton (if you’re traveling by car), you’ll pass through “The New England of the Midwest,” Elsah, Ill. The