It’s the Hogwarts Express, of course. It was on the Polar Express. The train named Thomas the Tank Engine. Despite the fact that these and other scenic train rides are made up, they frequently lead children to fantasize about taking train vacations. Amtrak vacations and other scenic train rides in North America can be just as enchanted for families as the fictional Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, despite the fact that you won’t actually be traveling to Hogwarts on your train vacation.
“A rail vacation offers families the opportunity to unplug from their day-to-day routines, slow down, and reconnect with each other,” says Heather Leisman, President of Vacations by Rail. “Unplugging from your day-to-day routines is one of the best ways to spend quality time with your loved ones,” says Heather Leisman. Train vacations offer a number of benefits, one of which is the opportunity for all members of the family to take in the scenery while someone else is in charge of driving. “Families can relax in their seat or private cabin, spread out in one of the lounge cars for a different perspective on the passing scenery, and enjoy delicious meals in the dining cars,” Leisman adds. “The dining cars offer a variety of cuisines, from traditional American to international cuisines.”
North American vacations aboard Amtrak trains
Amtrak provides all-inclusive vacation packages for families on rail lines across North America, appealing to families who enjoy taking scenic train rides. The following is a list of the best train vacations that Amtrak has to offer families.
1. The Pacific Surfliner, operated by Amtrak
Vacations aboard the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner wind their way over 351 miles of the beautiful coastline of Southern California. During one of these Amtrak vacations, passengers have the opportunity to see ocean views, beaches, mountains, vineyards, and nearly two dozen towns while traveling from San Diego (one of the best places in the country for family beach vacations) all the way up to San Luis Obispo in the central coast of California.
Stop down in Anaheim to see the illustrious Disneyland Resort, and don’t miss out on all the glitz and glamour Hollywood has to offer by making your way to Los Angeles. The final leg of this beautiful train journey takes you from Santa Barbara to San Luis Obispo, where you can get off and explore the ancient missions along the way.
2. The Ethan Allen Express, which is operated by Amtrak
Amtrak’s Ethan Allen Express provides passengers with a picturesque journey along the Hudson River Valley on their way from Gotham to the Green Mountains. When autumn arrives, it is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful train journeys of the fall foliage season anywhere in the United States. The trip heads in a northern direction, beginning at Penn Station in New York City and ending in Burlington, Vermont.
Croton-Harmon is the Amtrak station that is closest to Sleepy Hollow, New York, which is a popular destination for Halloween, and Saratoga Springs, New York, is another noteworthy stop along the trip (home of the oldest horse racing track in the country).
The Ethan Allen Express used to come to a stop in Rutland, Vermont. This is where families taking Amtrak vacations can catch a shuttle to the ski resorts of Killington and Pico Mountain, or they can hike the Long Trail, which follows the spine of the Green Mountains the entire length of the state of Vermont. The construction of the train line extension from Rutland all the way north to Burlington (on the shores of Lake Champlain) was finished in July of 2022. The extension included a station in Middlebury, which is a picturesque residential college town.
3. Amtrak’a Auto Train
Are you thinking of taking a trip to the theme parks in Orlando? Do you want to reduce the amount you have to spend on a rental car when you get there? Your family and your automobile will be transported approximately 900 miles from Lorton, Virginia to Sanford, Florida by Amtrak’s Auto Train. Once you arrive in Sanford, Florida, you will be within walking distance of Walt Disney World and its resort hotels.
The direct route leaves Virginia around four in the afternoon and arrives in Florida at nine in the morning the following day. The Auto Train is equipped with bi-level Superliner Sleeping Cars that have a choice of accommodations, including a family bedroom that is large enough to sleep two adults in addition to two children. Families that have booked private rooms receive a complimentary dinner and breakfast each morning of their stay.
4. The California Zephyr, operated by Amtrak
Amtrak’s California Zephyr, which travels 2,400 miles from Chicago, Illinois, to Emeryville, California, is not only one of the most popular overnight train journeys in the United States but also one of the most epic Amtrak vacations. The journey begins in Chicago, Illinois, and ends in Emeryville, California (across the bay from San Francisco). The journey takes a total of three days and two nights to complete; families have the option of embarking or disembarking at either end of the route or at any of the thirty or more stations that are located along the way.
During the journey, you will see those golden waves of grain as well as the majestic purple mountains, all of which will come before you reach the glistening sea. The Zephyr features an observation car that is equipped with a Sightseer Lounge, allowing passengers to take in breathtaking views of the Rocky Mountains, Colorado‘s Gore, Byers, and Glenwood Canyons, and other points of interest along the route. The elegant dining car on the train provides complimentary three-course dinners each day for passengers who have booked private accommodations.
Additional Train Rides Through Beautiful Scenery in North America
The following are some of the most breathtakingly beautiful train rides in North America that would make for fantastic vacations for the whole family on a train.
5. The Grand Canyon Railway (in Numerals)
In 1901, the Grand Canyon Railway began transporting passengers and supplies from Williams, Arizona, to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon for the first time. Since then, a great number of notable people, including celebrities and dignitaries, have traveled along the Grand Canyon Railway’s 65-mile scenic route. Families still leave on rail vacations from the old Williams Depot, and they arrive at the Grand Canyon Depot barely 200 yards from the edge of the canyon, close to the El Tovar Hotel, which is widely regarded as one of the most gorgeous national park lodges in the United States.
You will catch a glimpse of Old West country along the trip, including high desert plains, little arroyos, and ponderosa pine woodland. The Cataract Creek Gang, the Railway Marshal, and wandering western singers aboard the train are some of the entertaining characters you’ll encounter during the trip’s highlights, which also include a daily Wild West shootout. There are a few different levels of service that can be selected for the about two-hour trip in one direction. The whole travel time is roughly eight hours, which includes a layover at the Grand Canyon South Rim for a period of four hours.
Additionally, families have the option to spend the night (or numerous nights) at the Grand Canyon and then make their way back to Williams on the train that runs on a regular schedule at a later time.
6. Rocky Mountaineer: The First Train to Cross the Continental Divide
Terrific train vacations across the Canadian Rockies may be found on the Rocky Mountaineer First Passage to the West, which is a great option for families wishing to travel with teenagers, tweens, or in multigenerational family groupings. Families should check into this option. The First Passage to the West is a journey that takes place between Vancouver, British Columbia and Banff, Alberta, and it includes a sumptuous train ride that lasts for two days.
The spectacular train journey goes through the legendary Spiral Tunnels, over mountain passes, and through canyons with breathtaking scenery. It also goes across the Continental Divide. Along the ancient rail route that initially united Canada’s East and West, this particular passenger train holiday service is the only one of its kind.
7. Ride on the Rocky Mountaineer through the Rockies and on to the Red Rocks
The Rocky Mountaineer Rockies to the Red Rocks route is a spectacular train excursion that spans two days and connects Denver, Colorado, and Moab, Utah. Along the way, the train stops in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, for the night. Along the route from Denver to Glenwood Springs, visitors will pass by the Colorado River and make their way through a number of steep and dangerous rock canyons. The drive from Glenwood Springs to Moab passes through a number of different landscapes, some of which include mountain views, desert cliffs, and rock formations.
Glenwood Springs is a town in Colorado that is famous for its natural hot springs as well as its proximity to the confluence of the Colorado River and the Roaring Fork River. The railroad’s SilverLeaf Plus service features panoramic glass dome cars, onboard storytelling, and local food in addition to other amenities. Train vacation packages give families the opportunity to see more of the area, including cities like Salt Lake City and Las Vegas.
8. Alaska Railroad
The main line of the Alaska Railroad runs nearly 500 miles from the port of Seward in the state’s south to the city of Fairbanks in the state’s interior. Traveling along this route is an excellent way to experience the picture-perfect scenery and abundant wildlife that Alaska has to offer throughout the entire year.
The Adventure Class and the Gold Star Class are the two different levels of service offered by the Alaska Railroad. Both have dome carriages and panoramic windows so passengers may take in the breathtaking views. In contrast, the Gold Star Class features glass dome ceilings over each seat, an upper-level outdoor viewing platform, complimentary meals served in a dining area with full service, and two complimentary alcoholic beverages for each journey (for passengers 21 and over). In addition, an Alaska tour guide is included on each excursion to provide insight into the region’s history, highlight prominent scenery, and keep an eye out for wildlife along the way.
9. The Cass Scenic Railroad (Locomotive)
The Cass Scenic Railroad in West Virginia is a steam-driven historic locomotive that was built in 1901. It travels the same same route into the Appalachian Mountains that lumberjacks did more than a century ago. Families board the train at the Cass terminal and ride to the top of Bald Knob, which is 4,842 feet high and the state’s second highest peak.
Mountain vistas, old mill towns, and opportunities to see wild animals are some of the things that riders get to see along the trip. The Bald Knob Observation Deck is located at the top of the mountain and has views that extend into two different states as well as the valley below. It takes around four and a half hours to complete the round trip of 11 miles, and families have the option of spending the night in cabins that were originally company houses.
10.Great Smoky Mountains Railroad
The Great Smoky Mountain Railroad provides passengers with a variety of travel options through the Smoky Mountains. You can choose between two different historic heritage railroad journeys if you go to Bryson City in North Carolina. The Tuckasegee River Excursion makes use of the 16-mile line that runs from Bryson City to Dillsboro, North Carolina. Along the journey, passengers will travel by the set used in the film “The Fugitive,” starring Harrison Ford. The train makes its way back to the station after stopping for an hour and a half in Dillsboro by traveling over old bridges and through verdant valleys.
The Nantahala Gorge Excursion travels the 22-mile line from Bryson City to Nantahala, North Carolina, along the Tennessee and Nantahala Rivers, across the Fontana Trestle bridge over Fontana Lake, and into the gorge. The Nantahala Gorge Excursion focuses more on the scenery and less on the history of the area. Whitewater rafting, canopy and zipline excursions, as well as hiking, are some of the activities that can be included in vacation packages that combine a ride on a train with a trip to the area with your family.
11. The Canadian Railroad Company VIA
The Canadian is a transcontinental railway that is run by VIA Rail that connects Toronto, Ontario to Vancouver, British Columbia. Along the trip, you will get to experience the beautiful terrain of Canada. The whole duration of the train journey from beginning to end is close to four days. Families can reach the Canadian Rockies by traveling west from Toronto along the Great Western Way, which takes them through woods and across prairies. The journey on the train offers breathtaking views of Pyramid Falls and Mount Robson, which is the highest point in the Canadian Rockies. The journey follows the north bank of Jasper Lake.
The Prestige class of service provided by VIA Rail features a spacious sleeper compartment, an individual bathroom equipped with a shower, and elaborate meals served in the dining car. You don’t feel like splurging on the Prestige model? Train holidays that include the Sleeper Plus class experience also provide passengers access to a private cabin as well as the dining car.
12. The route that goes through White Pass and Yukon
The White Pass and Yukon Route lives up to its billing as the “most scenic train trip in the world,” and it does not let riders down. During the Yukon Gold Rush in Alaska in 1898, construction began on a small gauge railroad that would eventually rise 3,000 feet in height over the course of 20 miles. The scenic train route was initially constructed to transport gold prospectors to the gold fields of the Yukon. These days, however, it is used to transport tourists who are interested in viewing the natural wonders of the region, such as glaciers, waterfalls, mountains, and gorges, as well as wildlife.
Skagway, the port of call for many Alaska cruises, and the source of a significant number of the train’s passengers (the train depot is a short walk from the cruise ship port). The railroad provides a number of excursions, one of which is the well-known round trip excursion to White Pass Summit, which is forty miles long and travels by Bridal Veil Falls, Inspiration Point, and Dead Horse Gulch before arriving at White Pass Summit (elevation 2,888 feet).
Families can even go into Canada all the way to Carcross, which is located in the Yukon Territory, via rail for holidays that are longer in duration (passport required). The voyage, which covers a total distance of 120 miles and takes around eight hours to complete, is not for those who are faint of heart. The train travels across a number of trestles that are quite high and have steep drops on either side. Local history is discussed, important locations are outlined, and wildlife is pointed out by guides who travel aboard the vehicle.
How to Have a Stress-Free Vacation on a Train in North America
Make use of these suggestions to ensure that your train holidays go off without a hitch.
o Prior to your trip, create a travel packing checklist that includes vital goods such as identification, prescription prescriptions, and other needs for travel. This will ensure that your beautiful train rides go as smoothly as possible.
o If you are going on a trip that will last for a while, be sure to carry your favorite book, some family board games, and movies or shows that you have downloaded on your electronic device.
o Many trains and stations provide free assistance with luggage, which can be beneficial to busy families when they are arriving at or departing from their destination.
o The recognizable “choo-choo” sound is an integral part of the allure of train excursions. Children enjoy listening to the train horns, while railway engineers enjoy sounding them. Prepare younger children with the trip’s auditory environment before they board the vehicle. Finding it will soon turn into an entertaining game for you to play.