From the towering Empire State Building to sunny Miami, I spent 28 hours aboard Amtrak’s Silver Meteor in a private first-class sleeper complete with my own bed, shower, and endless dining car visits.

TAMPA, Fla. — There’s nothing like a Cuban sandwich in Tampa. While it’s on many menus around town, for years now, one of the original favorite spots in the city to get one hasn’t been there. The ...