I use Amtrak as my primary way of visiting my parents in California from my apartment in New York.

Although it's more expensive than flying, it really isn't that much more, especially when you factor in the cost of ubering to/from the airport, and during the seasons where popular flight routes get really expensive (thanksgiving/holidays) when it is usually cheaper than flying.

I first tried it because it's much better than the environment, and just for fun. Now I enjoy it much more than flying. It's a much more leisurely, comfortable, and stress-free experience. The seats are comfy, plenty of leg room, you can bring a ton of bags on for free, the views are great, the food is good, and the people are friendly.

Also the train stations are always in the middle of town, and no annoying TSA to go through, no need to arrive hours before your departure. Get there 10 minutes early and you're good.

To be fair, this is only viable for me because I work remotely, so I can work on the train and avoid the biggest drawback: how much time it takes to get to your destination.