am planning, actually toying with the idea right now, a trip to Denver by air, then hopping the Zephyr the next morning and traveling to Salt Lake. From Salt Lake I will rent a car and tour the National Parks, returning to SLC, back to Denver on the Zephyr and return to Cleveland by air from there.

I'd like ideas about where to stay in Denver the night before and after the train segment. Also, I am looking for a place in Salt Lake for at least the first night and then it is wide open but I'd like to head south to visit Bryce and Zion. I am saving a real Denver visit for when my sister returns from South Africa next year and I visit her in Colorado Springs and we tour Colorado.

Oh, I am a cardiac rehab patient who has had to give up my passion for wilderness canoeing so I am limited to easy walks with little elevation gain.

Thanks,
David

Just curious, but why fly to Denver and take Amtrak to SLC when you could just fly to Las Vegas? It's closer to Zion than SLC.

There are quite a few hotels in the downtown Denver area close to the train station. What are you looking for?

Bryce is at 8-9000 feet of elevation. You'll be limited to walks along the rim - go below and I think the altitude plus elevation change will be tough for you. Zion has a few easy walks (Riverside Walk is one) but in general, there's some elevation gain even on the short walks.

Hi David,

I was wondering the same thing as Weasle. Why add 2 days of travel for really no reason?

I once did that train trip (it was in the early Spring and everything was brown, muddy and dead) and it was so horrible that I haven't been on a train since! It was supposed to be 9 hours, but actually took 16 hours!

Even during the summer only a short portion of the trip will be pretty. The rest really isn't worth the time - and this is from someone who lives in UT and loves it.

JUST FLY TO VEGAS.

In Salt Lake City - try the Little America Hotel - a nice facility - just a block up from the free "tram" system that services the downtown/Temple Square area and with shuttle service to the airport so you can pick up the rental car...

Do you have a problem only while walking with changing elevation, or with elevation in general? I have a co-worker who's mom couldn't stay in Denver because of high elevation of the city.

Denver-SLC on Zephyr is beautiful! I took the same train Chicago-San Francisco. You know Amtrak can be late... up to 10 hours late! On the train there was a couple who missed their B&B reservation.

As the train is alway late, maybe you can fly to your destination, and take the train home?

My original reply got lost so I'll try again. Why fly to Denver and take Amtrak to SLC and why not just fly to Las Vegas? I've taken the Zephyr twice before and I just want to skip the Cleveland to Denver leg of Amtrak which is not my favorite portion of their system.

The section of the Zephyr from Denver west through the mountains, tunnels, basins, canyons such as Gore and Glenwood are terrific and for someone to write off the train due to other areas can be short sighted.

Why not fly to Las Vegas and skip what others think is a waste of 2 days? I don't want to go to Las Vegas nor do I want to skip the drive from SLC south.

Thanks for the follow up question on altitude. I find that I can adjust to the altitude but I do have to be cautious. The climbing itself is what triggers my heart reactions so I do have to limit the trails to those that are easy. Hopefully, that will not always be the case, but the reason I no longer join my friends on wilderness canoe trips is the portage trails that change elevation. I can paddle all day but can no longer carry the loads on those trails.

Thanks.

-Jester

I agree--fly into Las Vegas.

If you have not taken Amtrak, be warned that many find it an unpleasant way to travel--me included. If you know you like Amtrak, ignore the preceding sentence.

Hi again dg,

Oh, so you are a train enthusiast. Well, if you've done the trip before and like it, good for you!

You don't say when you are going or how much time you have, but if you haven't already visited the national parks in the Moab area, how about returning to Denver via Moab?

Just a thought!

Quote"I agree--fly into Las Vegas.

If you have not taken Amtrak, be warned that many find it an unpleasant way to travel--me included. If you know you like Amtrak, ignore the preceding sentence."

As stated earlier I have taken 3 cross country Amtrak trips. There may be plenty of reasons to bash Amtrak but if that is all people have to offer, please don't post a reply.

I have the core of my trip laid out so don't tell me to fly to Las Vegas or tell me I am wasting 2 days.

If you have no recommendations on pleasant places to stay in either Denver or Salt Lake step aside and let others share.

Also, I am not really a train buff but love the change of pace with my Blackberry turned off and left on the night stand far away. The conversations possible in the dining car make up for Amtrak food and the lounge car encounters can be wonderful. Since I don't have to be anywhere at any particular time sitting on a siding waiting for a freight train is no big deal for me.

-Jester

No need to scold people trying to help you. Have you used the search feature to check for previous recommendations for Salt Lake City and Denver? There are plenty of posts. Also, you have given us no information about your budget to give a good hotel recommendation.

Check out the Oxford Hotel in Denver. It across the street from Union Station.

www.theoxfordhotel.com

My parents love Amtrak for all the reasons you stated.

BarbaraS, I did not mention budget as it is not a factor. I have searched but I like to request current information. Things change with construction, new management, even new employees.

-Jester

Also - don't know where the train station is in Denver but I recently found what I hope will be decent rooms at both the Residence Inn City Center and the Hampton Inn Airport in Denver - we haven't been yet; that is next month.
We took the train from San Fransico to Portland several years ago with our teenagers...it was a great experience - so different from traveling by air or car... and brought back memories of my traveling by train with my parents as a small child.

Nope nothing's changed. The nicest hotel in Salt Lake is the Grand America. The Little America across the street is nice as well, and less expensive.

"The conversations possible in the dining car make up for Amtrak food" - oh, no, I found the food much better then expected!

That is, till we ran out of it, first the desserts, and on the last day one seating only with the leftovers!

Jester,

If you might like to try a very nice, boutique style hotel, check out Hotel Monaco in downtown SLC. There is also an outstanding restaurant on their first floor, Bambara.

Dayle, the next time I pass through SLC, I'll have to try Bambara.

I can also recommend the Hotel Monaco in Denver, which also has a great restaurant Panzano.

On the Zephyr twice and the Empire Builder once, the meals were adequate. Those who say breakfast is the best are right. The group with whom I ate lunch and supper thought the food was mixed and on par with those establishments that you may still visit but don't call your favorite places.

Thanks again, everyone, for the overnight suggestions.

-Jester