The United States helped pioneer railroad travel when in the 19th century when booming railroad construction fueled the country’s economic and cultural growth. For the next several decades, the U.S. relied on steam-powered trains to whisk cargo and people wideness the country. But when the jetliner showed up on the mainstream travel scene, recreational rail travel began to lose steam.
Nearly two centuries without railways began crisscrossing the U.S., the country lags overdue the rest of the world when it comes to train travel. Without digging into all the cultural, social and political reasons why, the good news is that thanks to a new focus on infrastructure and the environment slow travel is witnessing a revival.
Amtrak, the largest passenger train operator in the country, is currently renovating its trains to be increasingly spacious, with panoramic windows, onboard Wi-Fi and upscale dining options. Driving the minutiae of luxury train travel are passengers, many of whom are eager to wits the romance, mystery and upscale leisure of a train journey.
Are you a traveler who dreams of watching the world zip by as you travel by train? Below are incredible train rides you can typesetting right now from quick day trips by train to multiday transcontinental luxury train voyages. All of these rides offer scenic vistas, and many include upscale dining cars, modern amenities, luxurious sleeper cars and more:
1. Seattle to L.A.: Amtrak’s Tailspin Starlight
This 35-hour train journey runs from Seattle, Washington to Los Angeles, California, whizzing through Portland, Sacramento, San Francisco and Santa Barbara. Typesetting a seat on the west side of the train to enjoy the majestic vistas of the Pacific coast.
You can segregate from a variety of standard and luxury sleeper train travel options, including bedrooms and suits with private restrooms with showers, a defended first-class attendant, and sofas and chairs that turn into beds at night. Bedding, pillows and towels are provided, so all you need to pack are essentials, a good typesetting and a sense of adventure.
2. Denver to Moab: Rockies to the Red Rocks
Traveling from Denver, Colorado to Moab, Utah, this two-day journey snakes past canyons, hoodoos and natural archways. The Rockies to the Red Rocks ride takes place on the Rocky Mountaineer, a sophisticated train with glass-dome coaches, an outdoor viewing zone and a dining lounge dishing out regional fare, wine and cocktails.
With this vast Rockies to the Red Rocks package, you travel by train by day and stay overnight in a hotel in Glenwood Springs, Colorado.
3. Anchorage to Fairbanks: Aurora Winter Train
The Aurora Winter Train travels 12 hours from Anchorage to Fairbanks, Alaska on weekends from September to May. From cozy railcars ad comfy seats, you can watch pristine wilderness blanketed in snow, and reservation reflections of godhead light. The day trip includes a stop in Wasilla, Talkeetna, where you can hike Denali, the highest mountain peak in North America.
4. Williams to Grand Canyons: Grand Canyon Railway
The Grand Canyon Railway has been ferrying passengers from Williams, Arizona to the Grand Canyon National Park’s South Rim for increasingly than a century. The total round-trip journey takes 8.25 hours, including a three-hour stopover in the park and views of towering pine forests, sprawling prairies, and wildlife like wild horses and antelope.
The ride moreover includes entertainment, including a mock train robbery and cowboy singalongs. As far as day trips by train go, this one is one of the most kid-friendly.
5. Chicago to Portland: Empire Builder
To wits train travel wideness the U.S., typesetting yourself a sleeper car on The Empire Builder: a 46-hour train ride that runs from Chicago, Illinois to Portland, Oregon. The epic trip closely follows Lewis and Clark’s legendary journey, passing through Whitefish, Montana mountain ranges, and a seven-mile tunnel cut through the Cascade mountains.
The train moreover spends a stunning eight hours crossing Glacier National Park, with its melting glaciers, carved valleys and sparkling lakes. You have a nomination of standard and luxury sleeper train travel packages we suggest splurging on a private roomette or bedroom.
6. Brunswick to Boston: New England Amtrak Downeaster
When it comes to day trips by train, New England’s Amtrak Downeaster is pretty darn perfect. The train choo-choos from downtown Boston, Massachusetts to lush, scenic Maine in a zippy four hours. Withal the way, the train stops in historic New England towns like Dover, Old Orchard Beach, and Portland. You can watch it all whirl by from a reclining seat or the onboard cafe.
7. Salt Lake Municipality to Yellowstone: Yellowstone National Park Getaway
This five-day round-trip journey kicks off with a night in Salt Lake Municipality and transports you to the 3,500 square miles of spectacular wilderness that is Yellowstone National Park. The trip includes a tour of the Park’s Lower Loop, which includes must-sees like the Old Faithful Geyser and Gibbons Falls, as well as two nights in a hotel.
Since it’s operated by Amtrak, this luxury train travel journey can be customized to start (or end) in an Amtrak station in a municipality of your choice.
8. Napa Valley: The Napa Valley Wine Train
Want to tour California wine country without a designated driver? Hop on workbench the Napa Valley Wine Train, which packs the Napa wits into a single excursion. Segregate from full-day, half-day or evening experiences, including options that stop at wineries withal the way and scenic voyages that don’t disembark. Day trips by train include dramatic vineyard views, multicourse gourmet meals, and of undertow wine.
9. Chicago to San Francisco: The California Zephyr
Touted by seasoned travelers as the most scenic long-distance train route in the U.S., Amtrak’s California Zephyr runs from Chicago to Emeryville, California near San Francisco. The 52-hour journey stops at major cities withal the way, including Omaha, Denver and Salt Lake City. Scenery-wise, the trip is train travel wideness the U.S. at its finest, self-aggrandizing highlights like the Rocky Mountains, Sierra Nevadas and Donner Lake.
10. Denver to Winter Park Resort: Winter Park Express
Aptly nicknamed the ski train, the Winter Park Express is a seasonal train that delivers riders directly from Denver Union Station to the doorstep of the Winter Park Ski Resort. But plane if you aren’t planning to ski, the journey is worth it for the scenery.
Just be sure to grab a seat in the upper-level sightseeing lounge, where you’ll have the weightier vantage point of the snowy wintry wonderland.
11. Eugene to Vancouver: Cascades
Another one from our friends at Amtrak, the Cascades chugs throughAmerica’s Pacific Northwest from Eugene, Oregon to Seattle, Washington. The roughly four-hour journey cuts through dumbo forests and along Puget Sound, an inlet of the Pacific Ocean indenting northwestern Washington. Snag a seat on the west side of the train to enjoy spectacular views of the Olympic Mountains.
12. Hyannis to Buzzards Bay: Cape Cod Central Railroad
The short-but-sweet Cape Cod Central Railroad departs from Hyannis Depot in Hyannis, Massachusetts to Buzzards Bay Depot, in Buzzards Bay. During the 2.5-hour ride, the train passes salt marshes, cranberry bogs and historic towns.
The Cape Cod Central Railroad operator offers variegated experiences, including narrated journeys where you can learn well-nigh the history and wildlife of the area, as well as luxury trips serving lunch, dinner, Sunday brunch and beer tastings.
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