NORTH AMERICA’S SPECTACULAR TRAIN JOURNEY

There are clicking sounds. Whistling steam. conducting staff wearing dungarees. Why wouldn't you love taking the train? In a society that values quick satisfaction, embracing a slower pace of travel might be a welcome change of pace. You'll experience immediate nostalgia with one of these wonderful North American railway adventures, whether it's a day trip or a long distance travel.

Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad

It makes sense to travel to the Rocky Mountains because of their evergreen forests, breathtaking valleys, and craggy peaks. Even better would be to travel in a coal-fired steam engine. The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, a National Historic Landmark, is the first thing that will take you back in time to the 1880s. Not to add, the 64-mile journey will take you through inaccessible areas of Colorado and New Mexico that are secluded. The wildflowers and rocky canyons won't be a blur because the top speed is 12 mph. Every day, the train leaves from Antonito, Colorado, and Chama, New Mexico. The best part: No cell service is available along the route. You can't help but to unwind. Adult tickets begin at $115.

The Broadmoor Manitou & Pikes Peak Cog Railway

There's a reason Katharine Lee Bates composed "America the Beautiful" at the peak of Colorado's Pikes Peak: the view from 14,115 feet above sea level is breathtaking. We're talking cliffs blanketed in snow, mountain views, and the Garden of the Gods, a group of surreal rock formations. Take the Broadmoor Manitou & Pikes Peak Cog Railway (adult tickets are $58.50) for a simple method to reach the top. One of only two cog railways in the nation, it is the tallest railway in the Northern Hemisphere. When you reach the summit, stop by the tourist centre to try their 700-per-hour robotic machine-produced high-altitude doughnuts. Hike your way up this 14er for the glory. You can always take the train down. Afterward, the Broadmoor’s Cloud Camp offers hot-tub time and s’mores. The outdoorsy-ness can be continued the next day by signing up for hiking, archery and stargazing.

Grand Canyon Railway & Hotel

Not up for trekking from rim to rim or paddling down the mighty Colorado River? The Grand Canyon Railway ride is another way to experience the thrills of the Wild West, at a leisurely pace. Since 1901, travellers (including Theodore Roosevelt, Clark Gable and Bill Gates) have ridden the Grand Canyon Railway to take in dreamy views of Grand Canyon National Park. Even the train depots are national historic landmarks themselves. A hop aboard in Williams, Arizona ends up in the South Rim’s Historic Village a few hours later with plenty of time to explore the canyon. It’s especially ideal for families with young kids thanks to the lively musicians and cowboy characters. A stay at the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel bumps up the nostalgia. Tickets start at $67 for adults.

Via Rail Canada

On this well-known Canadian highway that transports travellers from Toronto to Vancouver, keep a watch out for grizzly bears, mountain goats, bison, and coyotes as you speed past the Canadian Shield, grasslands, and Rocky Mountains. The Canadian at Via Rail has drawn tourists for 60 years, so they must be doing something right. The journey is made even more enjoyable by the daily menu changes and the opportunity to sample Canadian drinks. Choose between art-deco dining cars or domed lounge cars for the 4-night journey. The cost of a sleeper car begins at $1,111 CDN ($875).

Rocky Mountaineer’s Rockies to Red Rocks

Oversized windows on the Rocky Mountaineer’s Rockies to Red Rocks route allow travellers to soak up the scenery. The two-day luxury trip takes passengers through a series of canyons with steep, rugged rock walls. The route between Glenwood Springs, Colorado, and Moab, Utah, is full of mountain vistas, desert cliffs and rock formations. You may or may not see wildlife like deer, pronghorns and eagles. But one thing is certain: The gourmet food served by executive chefs is as exquisite as the views. Tickets start at $1,375.

Denali Star Train

Make your way to the Denali National Park & Preserve on Alaska Railroad’s Denali Star Train. On a clear day you’ll see the star of the show: Denali, the tallest peak in North America, which is reason enough alone to make the journey. The GoldStar Service is certainly worth the splurge thanks to the glass-domed windows. Besides the national park, other pitstops include Wasilla, Talkeetna and Fairbanks. Once you get to Denali, you can visit the sled dogs, take a ranger-led hike or sign up for a flightseeing tour (if you’re lucky you’ll spot moose and bears). Tickets start at $259 for adults. Or take the Hurricane Turn, which has summer and winter routes. It’s one of the last trains in the U.S. to offer flagstop service. Simply wave your arm to hop off or on the train at any time.

Cascades

Glacier bays and rain forests. Check. Waterfalls and volcanoes. Check. There’s a lot to love about the Pacific Northwest. In about 11 hours, you’ll go from Vancouver, B.C. to Eugene, Oregon aboard the Amtrak Cascades train. Watch seaplanes land on Coal Harbour in Vancouver. In Seattle, stop by the Experience Music Project Museum. In Tacoma, witness glass blowers at work in the Museum of Glass. And when you arrive in Portland, make a beeline for the world’s largest bookstore. Prices vary throughout the year.

Coast Starlight

Amtrak’s Coast Starlight is a 35-hour rail journey between LA and Seattle. Along the way, you’ll see Santa Barbara, the San Francisco Bay Area, Sacramento and Portland. At the San Luis Obispo stop, it’s worth hiring a local sommelier and driver to take you to a winery; after all, there are 30 to choose from. In Chico, California, sample craft brews. And don’t forget to have your camera ready when you get to Crater Lake, where you travel through the Cascades at 5,000 feet above sea level. Other photo ops include Mt. Shasta, Mt. Hood, Mt. St. Helens and Mt. Rainier and long stretches of the Pacific. Ticket prices vary throughout the year.

California Zephyr

If you’ve got time on your hands – 51 hours and 20 minutes to be exact – Amtrak’s California Zephyr route from Emeryville, California, to Chicago is a lovely way to take in Sierra Nevada and the Rockies. At the Truckee, California stop, take a hike in the Tahoe National Forest. In Salt Lake City, Utah, leave time for bobsledding at Olympic Park. Prices vary according to travel dates.

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