My mom and I took a trip to Maui together back in 2021. I am trying to do nice trips with her so she gets to experience some nice trips and we get to spend quality time together as I know I don’t have many more years left with her. I figured a train trip would be nice, easy, and scenic. I know there are several scenic trips within the US. I have never been on a train in my life so I know nothing about it. I have heard there is a very scenic train trip in Canada. I would love to hear feedback of suggestions on great train trips. You guys helped me out so much with tips when we went to Maui. Thanks in advance!!

Granted, this was a long time ago. In 1980 took the train from Seattle-Denver-Chicago-New York. Few days later train from New York-Miami. Returning home train from Miami-Chicago-Seattle. It was okay but the scenery was a lot of messy backyards of rundown homes.

In 1983 took the Canadian train from Vancouver BC to Banff and return back to Vancouver BC. The Canadian train ride was much smoother and the scenery was gorgeous !

I have not taken the trip via train. But I have seen the train station in Jasper, Canada. I spoke to someone at the train station. The fellow told me you can take the train from Vancouver, BC to Banff, Canada. Then proceed to Jasper, Canada (both in Alberta, Canada). Both provinces are nice to visit during Spring and Fall. I have been to both Banff and Jasper. But not by train.

That is very nice of you to think about spending time with your mom. I tried to do the same with my mom (in our RV). But she don't enjoy the trip as much, as she can no longer walk like she used to. Enjoy the trip with your mom. Take lots of pictures. I highly recommend both Jasper and Banff.


I found this via Google.

https://www.rockymountaineer.c...e=a754R0000008iELQAY

quote:

Originally posted by StorminNormin:
My mom and I took a trip to Maui together back in 2021. I am trying to do nice trips with her so she gets to experience some nice trips and we get to spend quality time together as I know I don’t have many more years left with her. I figured a train trip would be nice, easy, and scenic. I know there are several scenic trips within the US. I have never been on a train in my life so I know nothing about it. I have heard there is a very scenic train trip in Canada. I would love to hear feedback of suggestions on great train trips. You guys helped me out so much with tips when we went to Maui. Thanks in advance!!

In North America, it's likely this Canadian rail trip will be tops.
The Banff-Jasper area is the most beautiful country I've ever seen, including Switzerland, Alaska--and Maui. There are some grand hotels to stay at in that area too; very expensive but in stunning settings e.g. Chateau Lake Louise.

Is the Durango-Silverton (Colorado) railroad still in business? (No experience, it just popped into my head first.)

We rode the train to Silverton many yers ago. It is very scenic. I would recommend riding in one of the enclosed cars. You will get lots of coal soot on you otherwise.

https://www.durangotrain.com/?...LZEIqtEaAqaeEALw_wcB

My top 2:
#1 - Anchorage, AK, to Seward, AK. Mountains, Cook Inlet, Eagles, mountain goats, glaciers, etc.
#2 - Fairbanks, AK, to Anchorage, AK. Goes through Denali National Park.

Rhein Valley Railway Bingen to Koblenz, if you like castles and great scenery,and of course the glacier express Zermatt to St Moritz. Done both, also the railway into Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland

quote:

Originally posted by fischtown7:
Rhein Valley Railway Bingen to Koblenz, if you like castles and great scenery,and of course the glacier express Zermatt to St Moritz. Done both, also the railway into Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland

^^^^^^^^^^^^^
These are spectacular my dad says.

In my early teens my family rode the train up the Pacific Northwest from Los Angeles. Even as a child not given to such observations, I was fascinated by how beautiful the scenery was. That was many moons ago though.

quote:

Originally posted by coloradohunter44:
We rode the train to Silverton many yers ago. It is very scenic. I would recommend riding in one of the enclosed cars. You will get lots of coal soot on you otherwise.

https://www.durangotrain.com/?...LZEIqtEaAqaeEALw_wcB

The Cumbres and Toltec is as (if not more) scenic than the Durango and Silverton. That said it’s still just a day trip.

The only notable overnight trips in North America are going to be limited to Amtrak (just don’t), Alaskan Railway (good to great) and Rocky Mountaineer (great).

I have a few I can comment on.
2013 AMTRAK Chicago to Seattle, with 4 days in Glacier NP (an AMTRAK tour): https://www.flickr.com/photos/...s/72157635037593408/. This was a fun trip with nice accommodations on the train. The 4 days in GNP were superb. At the end I took a shuttle bus to Vancouver, BC and did this one:

2013 Canada Rail from Vancouver, BC to Halifax, NS: https://www.flickr.com/photos/...s/72157635052196955/ (including the Rocky Mountaineer at the start). Wow! The Canadian Rockies by train are great, and there were wonderful day trips as part of the tour. The eastern locations were also very nice.

Those are the only extended rail journeys I've done, but I have made a few day trips by train.

2012 Leadville, Colorado: https://www.flickr.com/photos/...s/72157631039816880/. The town is more interesting than the train ride, I confess.

2012 Durango to Silverton, Colorado: https://www.flickr.com/photos/...57631543439819/page2. On this trip I chose to go by rail to Silverton and return by coach--one does see different views on both legs. I had done a shorter ride from Durango to the "Y" and back some years ago, but it was not as interesting as this one.

2014 Fraser, BC to Skagway, Alaska: https://www.flickr.com/photos/...m-72157648958889855/. This was a very interesting and scenic ride. One does have to have a passport to do it, of course.

2010 Great Smoky Mountains RR: https://www.flickr.com/photos/...s/72157624656807650/. A pleasant day's ride along the Nantahala and Tuckasegee Rivers. Trains leave from Bryson City, NC.

I've done the rail journey between Fairbanks, AK and Denali NP, AK twice. Went south in 2007 and north in 2014. It's a pleasant enough ride and scenic in its own way (Alaska is big).
2007: https://www.flickr.com/photos/...s/72157602374123398/
2014: https://www.flickr.com/photos/...s/72157646606320824/

I've never ridden the train along the Rhine River in Germany, but the tracks are on the shore on both sides of the river. I've done boat tours on the Rhine several times and it's very scenic. I suspect that the views from the trains are very similar to those afforded from the boats. Here are my photos from those river cruises:
1977: https://www.flickr.com/photos/...s/72157646606320824/
1978: https://www.flickr.com/photos/...s/72157633063384485/
1979: https://www.flickr.com/photos/...s/72157637434865915/

I hope you get some ideas from all this, and have a wonderful trip with your mother.

flashguy

Thanks for all the info so far!!!!

An excellent tour, 17 days, but don't know your budget.

Vancouver to Halifax.

Ok, now this is downright strange. I watch a few different channels on YouTube. Mostly interview/interrogation stuff. I have never seen any channels in my feed about travel before and I never even did a Google search about train trips before making this post. Well just a while ago I open YouTube and right there suggested for me is a guy’s channel who reviews train, plane, and boat trips!! What the heck? I ended up watching it and he gives great reviews, but what the heck?

The Ghan Distance: 2,979km Where: Adelaide-Darwin ..

When family and I lived in Australia in the 1980s

if you have not taken the cog railway to Pike's Peak, stop what you are doing right now and go there

The Coast Starlight from San Jose to LA is very nice. Lots of coast scenery toward the end of the trip. As I recall, some of the trip was at night, so make sure you're on the train where you go by the scenic stuff during the day.

quote:

Originally posted by Johnny 3eagles:
An excellent tour, 17 days, but don't know your budget.

Vancouver to Halifax.

That's my second tour in 2013, but I don't remember it being that expensive then. It was a great tour, though.

flashguy

Man, some of these train trips are freaking expensive!!!!! I might have to think of a different trip. Just thought a train would be cool.

Not sure if you have seen the Grand Canyon, There is a train from Williams up to it and back. I haven't been on it, been in Williams several times, nice town. I've heard no complaints about the train ride, something that I will do sometime.

Just came across this website ... looks promising :

https://www.timeout.com/usa/th...ain-rides-in-america