There's something magical about choosing to pass through instead of over the so-called flyover states.

Why it matters: Train ridership is increasing across the U.S., particularly in areas with new or faster Amtrak service.

• Ridership on the Texas Eagle — which travels from San Antonio to Chicago, through Austin and Dallas — jumped about 14% last fiscal year from fiscal year 2024.

Driving the news: Amtrak typically sees an increase in train travel when fuel prices rise. Summer airfares are on track to be costlier than last year, in part due to the Iran war.

• "It's still too early to isolate the impact, but we do know Amtrak continues to be an important mobility option for travelers, businesses and communities," Amtrak spokesperson Marc Magliari tells Axios.

State of play: The Texas Eagle has been running since 1981, linking South Texas to the Midwest.

• The train runs daily between San Antonio and Chicago and connects three days a week to the Sunset Limited, which starts in Los Angeles and ends in New Orleans.

How it works: We opted to take the Eagle from Dallas to Chicago — a roughly 21-hour journey — instead of flying, to see what the long-distance route is like.

• Riders can choose a coach seat or a sleeper, which includes a roomette or a bedroom. We opted for a roomette, which has two seats that transition into bunk beds at night.

What it's like: There are no long TSA lines or cramped airports. The seating is more comfortable than in an airplane, and it's easy to get up and walk around.

Sleep check: Taller travelers may not enjoy the train bed as much, but overall it was cozy. The rocking of the railcar, the sound of the wheels on the tracks, and the occasional train horn provided a soothing white-noise backdrop.

• Quiet hours are 10pm-7am.

The bottom line: Without high-speed rail, it's still faster to fly. The trip from Dallas to Chicago via train took as long as the flight route to Africa.

• But the train offers a view of the U.S. travelers simply can't get from the air.

Listen to the lulling rhythm of boogie woogie and you'll hear both the sound of locomotion and the basis for modern rock-and-roll.

Why it matters: The sound of trains chugging along the tracks among the pines of East Texas in the 1870s birthed boogie woogie.

• A historical marker was installed in 2013 at the Marshall train depot recognizing the city as the birthplace of boogie woogie.

Flashback: In the late 1800s, Harrison County was a locomotive hub. Texas & Pacific Railway was based in Marshall, where emancipated Black people worked in logging camps and were entertained in the evening by untrained piano players.

• The players would ride the rails, spreading the music into Louisiana, south to Houston and eventually into Black neighborhoods in St. Louis and Chicago.

Zoom in: Huddie "Lead Belly" Ledbetter is one of the most famous examples of boogie woogie and early blues.

• The 12-string guitar player lived in Harrison County in his youth before moving to Dallas, where he played in Deep Ellum.

The intrigue: Nirvana's Kurt Cobain called Lead Belly his "favorite performer" before playing "Where Did You Sleep Last Night" on MTV Unplugged in 1993.

Kylie Kelce has faith in her daughters' choices when they grow up, as long as they never date someone from Dallas.

• "I'm hoping that I've raised my children better than that," the die-hard Philadelphia Eagles fan said recently on her podcast.

Context: Kelce takes her Eagles loyalty seriously. She refuses to wear other teams' gear, even when she goes to Kansas City Chiefs games to support her brother-in-law, Travis.

What they're saying: Jason Kelce, who played for the Eagles for 13 seasons, may be more willing to accept a Cowboys fan if they seem like a good person, Kylie Kelce says.

• But, she says, "Immediately no. Guys, I literally bond with Giants fans by saying, 'At least we can agree on one thing: Dallas sucks.'"

Yes, but: She would consider accepting someone who comes from a Cowboys family but isn't a fan of the team.

• "To me, that says that we could infiltrate a Dallas house by converting their child," Kelce says.

⚖️ A business court judge sided with the Dallas Mavericks in their lawsuit against the Dallas Stars over which team should control the American Airlines Center. (WFAA)

🎒 A Fort Worth school formerly named after César Chávez will be called Esperanza Elementary starting next year, evoking a message of hope. (Fort Worth Report)

🧳 Around 3.7 million Texans are projected to travel out of town for Memorial Day weekend. (NBC5)

🚆 The 27-mile Trinity Metro TEXRail will be extended by 2.1 miles, thanks to an increase in ridership. Construction is expected to begin in December. (DMN)

Choochoo to Chicago to chug some classic cocktails.

• Here's a look at some of the bars and restaurants our Axios Chicago colleagues recommended for our visit.

What we did: Visit Cindy's (pic above) for rooftop views of Millennium Park and Lake Michigan. The cocktails are good but pricey. It's more about the experience.

• 🌴 Try tiki at Three Dots and a Dash (pic below). Expect a lot of rum, tropical decor and a wait at the popular bar.

• 💰 Save money at Gus' Sip & Dip, just around the corner from Three Dots. All cocktails are $12. Expect well-prepared bar classics at a price you can swallow.
• 🍕 Get real Chicago pizza that's cracker thin at Pizz'amici. The pizzas are divine and don't weigh you down like deep dish. Plus, the drinks are great.
• 🇲🇽 You can get great Mexican food and margaritas outside Texas. Diego Restaurant y Bar (pic below) serves up Baja cuisine.

Bonus: If you love dive bars and great jukeboxes, don't skip Old Town Ale House. Bring cash and don't expect a fancy cocktail. Drink a beer.