The clackety-clack of the railroad track provides an appropriately soothing soundtrack for this time-honored, stress-free style of travel. No traffic. No worries about the weather forecast. No need to stop for gas. These featured trains have sightseeing cars, dining cars and sleeper cars with private accommodations. So sit back and enjoy this classic experience while some of North America’s most wondrous scenery ticks by.
1. Alaska: Anchorage to Seward on Alaska Railroad
Why stare at a strip of asphalt when you can be gawking out the clear glass dome of a sightseeing car at some of America’s most stunning scenery? Of the more than 500 miles of Alaska Railroad routes, the 4.5-hour trip from Anchorage to Seward may well be its most scenic.
The Coastal Classic train route quickly leaves the city of Anchorage behind, traversing the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge, where moose often browse in Potter’s Marsh. Soon, the track hugs Turnagain Arm, a narrow sliver of water branching off of Cook Inlet. Beluga whales frequent the waters, feeding on salmon. On the train’s other side, Dall sheep often browse on the cliffs alongside the track.
After passing through the wildlife-rich Placer River Valley, the Coastal Classic swings south into the heart of the Kenai Peninsula. You’ll roll through a mountainous region inaccessible by car, passing through tunnels, over river gorges and below the blue-ice tongues of glaciers.
Descending out of the Kenai Mountains, the train passes the brilliant turquoise waters of Kenai Lake and weaves through thick forests of Sitka spruce. Soon it arrives in Seward, a fishing port perched at the head of Resurrection Bay. Explore the historic downtown and the Alaska SeaLife Center. You can return to Anchorage the same day or get out on Resurrection Bay the next day with a wildlife cruise or to tour Kenai Fjords National Park.
NEA member travel benefits: Search for airfare tickets to Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC) via NEA Travel: Flights for the best prices. In Anchorage, the train leaves from the charming Anchorage Depot. If you spend some time in Anchorage before departing, you can find a well-priced hotel room at NEA Travel: Hotels, like the basic but clean Puffin Inn, which includes breakfast and averages $88 a night. On the other end, in Seward, the family-owned Spruce Lodge averages $137 a night, and is surrounded by eight forested acres.
Plan your trip: Visit Anchorage | Visit Seward | Travel Alaska
2. Canada: Vancouver to Jasper National Park on VIA Rail
Stretching from Vancouver 2,775 miles to Toronto, the views along the route of VIA Rail’s The Canadian are like a national portrait: glacier-caked mountains, tumbling rivers, boreal forests, vast prairies and cosmopolitan cities. Instead of going all the way to Toronto, in this 18-hour trip, you’ll experience some of the most magnificent views in Western Canada.
Your voyage begins in Vancouver, British Columbia. Set between the Coast Mountains and the Pacific Ocean’s Strait of Georgia, the city is rich in both cosmopolitan culture and natural beauty. Embark in early evening at Pacific Central Station, Vancouver’s grand Neoclassical depot.
The Canadian arrives in Kamloops near daybreak and begins the earnest climb into the mountains. As you travel northeast, the Canadian Rockies become increasingly dramatic, chiseled into sharp spires, jagged pyramids and canted blocks, many of them crowned with the blue ice of glaciers. Don’t miss the 12,972-foot Mount Robson, the highest peak in the Rockies.
As the Canadian crests Yellowhead Pass, you’ve crossed the Continental Divide and the provincial border from British Columbia into Alberta. In another 18 miles, the train pulls into Jasper, one of Canada’s most renowned mountain towns and the gateway to Jasper National Park. Given the recent wildfires, check to see which parts of the park are open, and if things are clear, rent a car or sign on with an outfitter to explore the park’s vast array of trails, scenic drives and other outdoorsy opportunities. The Icefields Parkway is a highlight.
NEA member travel benefits: You’ll need to start by flying into Vancouver International Airport (YVR). For the best prices, and to earn NEA Travel Dollars, visit NEA Travel: Flights. To catch the train, go to the grand Pacific Central Station near Chinatown and Olympic Village. In Vancouver, you can find a room via NEA Travel: Hotels, to spend some time in the city before departing on the train. The Residence Inn by Marriott Vancouver Downtown has a central location and large, contemporary rooms with kitchenettes for an average of $166 per night, or for a boutique hotel experience, the Victoria Hotel is in the Gastown neighborhood and averages $124 per night. In Jasper, the cozy Chateau Jasper averages $100 per night for a chic, Alpine-style lodge with a restaurant and indoor pool and hot tub.
Plan your trip: Destination Vancouver |Tourism Jasper | Destination Canada
3. Eastern Seaboard: New York City to Savannah on Amtrak
Delve deep into the Deep South on the Amtrak’s Palmetto, which goes from New York all the way to Miami. The train transports you from the frenetic Northeast Corridor to somnolent Southern cities filled with grand old homes and moss-draped oaks. You’ll travel through history too, seeing places that have played a role in the American Revolution and Civil War.
Depart from New York City’s Penn Station, and in a few hours, you’ll already have whisked through some of America’s most historic cities: Philadelphia, birthplace of the American Revolution; Baltimore with its lively Inner Harbor that you can see from the train; and Washington, D.C., where you’ll be treated to excellent views of our nation’s capital.
The scenery and culture grow distinctly Southern as the train rolls through the Carolinas. Once a region largely devoted to cotton and tobacco production, today North Carolina is a high-tech research hub, especially around Raleigh. In South Carolina, Charleston draws visitors to its downtown filled with 18th-century architecture and historical tours. You can exit the Palmetto at another Southern charmer: Savannah, Georgia, where shady squares welcome you to linger.
In Savannah, go for a stroll in Forsyth Park, which occupies 30 acres of the city’s historic district, and if you’re an art lover, the Telfair Museum and SCAD are a must. For a dose of history, the Pin Point Heritage Museum shares the culture of the Gullah-Geechee community, and if you like fright, the city is famous for its ghost tours.
NEA member travel benefits: You’ll need to start by flying into New York City to catch the train, which leaves from Moynihan Station in Manhattan. New York City has three area airports: John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), LaGuardia International Airport (LGA), and Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR). You’ll find deals on flights to any of those through the NEA Travel Program. For a hotel in New York City, check NEA Travel: Hotels for deals like an average of $264/night at the Cambria Hotel New York - Chelsea, which is a short walk from Moynihan Station. In Savannah, the Kimpton Brice Hotel, an IHG Hotel, averages $173/night for design-forward rooms close to the Riverwalk.
Plan your trip: NYC Tourism + Conventions | I Love New York | Visit Savannah | Discover South Carolina
