By Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure
There's a romance to train travel — the leisurely pace of a rail trip compared to the hustle of an airport or a crowded highway encourages you to relax. There are the historic train stations and roomy seats, plus the chance to get up and walk around, visit the dining car, or just sit and take in the scenery passing by.
There are many train journeys you can take across the United States, with stops in exciting cities, historic landmarks, and national parks along the way. From Napa Valley to New England, here are 10 of the best train travel routes in the country.
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There are many train journeys you can take across the United States, with stops in exciting cities, historic landmarks, and national parks along the way. From Napa Valley to New England, here are 10 of the best train travel routes in the country.
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The Napa Valley Wine Train
The Napa Valley Wine Train takes riders through the picturesque wine country northeast of the Bay Area. The route follows a rail line originally built in 1864 that goes north to the resort town of Calistoga. Visitors can now take a three-hour, 36-mile round-trip journey from downtown Napa to St. Helena and back. After boarding the train at the McKinstry Street Station, travel through the old industrial section of Napa, then head into the scenery of wine country. You can hop on and off the train along the way and stay overnight at one of the great hotels in Napa Valley.
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The Pacific Surfliner
Travel along the ocean on this Amtrak train that travels 351 miles through southern California. Start in San Diego and head north, stopping along the way in quaint ocean towns like Encinitas, Carpinteria, San Juan Capistrano, and Ventura. Be sure to leave some time to explore Santa Barbara, or head all the way to the end of the line at San Luis Obispo and then head back.
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The Coast Starlight
Ride up the edge of the West Coast on Amtrak's Coast Starlight, which goes all the way from Los Angeles to Seattle, passing through Santa Barbara, the San Francisco Bay Area, Sacramento and Portland. The scenery along the way includes snow-covered peaks of the Cascade Range and Mount Shasta, forests and valleys, and long stretches of Pacific Ocean shoreline.
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The Grand Canyon Railway
The Grand Canyon Railway, which dates back to 1901, offers riders a lesson in history from the Wild West and the opportunity to see the beautiful scenery of one of the U.S.'s most famous regions. Ride in the restored cars, hear folklore and tales from the crew, and be entertained by authentic characters and musicians who bring the Old West to life. You can ride the railway to the South Rim in a 65-mile trip across the high desert plateau.
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Amtrak Cascades
Cross over the United States’ northern border on Amtrak Cascades, stretching from Vancouver, Canada to Eugene, Oregon, passing through Portland and Seattle along the way. Stop in cities for day trips or overnight stays, and then hop back on a train to pass by Mount St. Helens and across the Columbia River Gorge.
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The White Pass Yukon Route
Ride this historic railway across the Yukon on this train trip that travels from Alaska into Canada. The 67.5-mile trip takes you between Skagway, Alaska, and Carcross, Canada, along the same route that the Klondike stampeders traveled more than 100 years ago. Stop along the way to tour the historic Bennett Station and museum.
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Colorado Rail Adventure
Traveling to summits of more than 14,000 feet, this trip takes you across the Colorado Rockies aboard five standard and narrow gauge railroads: Georgetown Loop Railroad, Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, Rio Grande Scenic Railroad, Royal Gorge Route Railroad. Additional highlights include visits to Great Sand Dunes National Park, Garden of the Gods and Royal Gorge Bridge and Park.
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America's Great National Parks
Discover five of America’s national parks on one 14-day rail tour, including two overnight rail trips on Amtrak’s Empire Builder and California Zephyr trains. Along the way you will get a chance to tour Glacier, Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Arches, and Canyonlands national parks.09
An Autumn Tour in New England
Take an eight-day escorted rail tour through New England in the fall to take in all the leaf colors. The trip includes three scenic rail excursions aboard the Conway Scenic Railroad, Green Mountain Flyer Fall Foliage Express and Cape Cod Central Railroad. Additional highlights include Boston city sightseeing, a visit to Plimoth Plantation, excursions to Mystic Seaport, Hildene, the Norman Rockwell Museum and Newport Mansion.
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The Maple Leaf Train
Take a train trip that starts at Niagara Falls and ends in New York on Amtrak’s Maple Leaf train. Along the way, you'll travel through the scenic Hudson River Valley, New York's wine country, and the gorges of the Finger Lakes region. While at Niagra Falls, stop for a cruise on The Hornblower to the rushing falls or take a Journey Behind the Falls tour, which brings you 150 feet below ground to tunnels that lead to observation spots at the foot of the Falls.
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