trains and vacations

Some people plan vacations around holidays, specific locations to visit, anniversaries/birthdays, and so on; however, some plan vacations around trains. I have done that on several occasions. Three times I have gone to Pennsylvania and Maryland with no other purpose than to chase and watch trains. On most other vacations I have partially based my vacations on trains. We have taken several vacations to specific locations but have hunted out trains or train related activities during those vacations.
A lot of people find trains to be nothing more that a big headache when they're trying to get someplace (and I suppose I have found that to be true from time to time as well); however, trains for me are a pleasant hobby, such as those who find fishing relaxing, or those who go out and hit-and-chase that little white ball around for hours on end.
Trains are full of history having built or helped build most of this country. They carry/haul nearly anything that needs to be carried/hauled from one point to another...short distances or from one end of the country to the other. Trains are big and powerful, colorful, clean, dirty, loud, but most of all they're wonderful.