SIX NATIONAL TREASURES BY TRAIN Americabyrail.com
Oct 25th, 2011, 11:50 AM
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SIX NATIONAL TREASURES BY TRAIN Americabyrail.com
Has anyone taken America by rail train to the Grand Canyon, Zion, Bryce Canyon, Grand Teton, Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks. The round trip is 14days, meals, and Hotels are included. Meski and Sheski (my wife and I) are quite excited with the prospect of seeing the sights without the hassle of driving, parking and finding a place to eat. No arguments over wrong turns, being able to see the sights rather than watching the road, and not having to find accommodations. Almost too good to be true. Is it as good as it sounds? Help! Been there Done that let us know.
Oct 25th, 2011, 12:09 PM
#3
They seem to hype the rail portion that is provided by Amtrak but don't talk much about the deluxe motorcoach (bus) that meets you at the train station. If the Amtrak train is late, you could miss out on some of the places to eat.
I have got off the train in Whitefish to visit Glacier NP.
Yellowstone is pretty far from the nearest Amtrak station.
I have also got off an Amtrak train in Fresno and rented a car to go see Yellowstone.
The Amtrak station that is closest to Grand Canyon (Williams) has a train that arrives in the middle of the night. For the Grand Canyon, the best bet is to fly to Las Vegas and rent a car.
I have also visited Canadian National parks using Jasper as a destination on ViaRail.
Check the prices for a USA Railpass on amtrak.com
That way you can pick your own dates for your own trip.
I have got off the train in Whitefish to visit Glacier NP.
Yellowstone is pretty far from the nearest Amtrak station.
I have also got off an Amtrak train in Fresno and rented a car to go see Yellowstone.
The Amtrak station that is closest to Grand Canyon (Williams) has a train that arrives in the middle of the night. For the Grand Canyon, the best bet is to fly to Las Vegas and rent a car.
I have also visited Canadian National parks using Jasper as a destination on ViaRail.
Check the prices for a USA Railpass on amtrak.com
That way you can pick your own dates for your own trip.
Oct 25th, 2011, 12:24 PM
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The cost of this tour is $2800 PER PERSON, and that includes two nights when you'll be sleeping on a chair.
If I'm allowed to spend $400 a day for lodging, meals, and transportation, I and my spouse can do a LOT better than that by driving to those locations.
> without the hassle of ... finding a place to eat
That's never been a problem for me -- I'm usually able to find a restaurant or a grocery store on my own. And I prefer a tour guide NOT telling me exactly where and when I MUST eat, irrespective of my personal preferences.
> not having to find accommodations
Which takes fifteen minutes online. If I save $100 a night by doing this miniscule amount of work, I'm in effect earning $400 an hour to do an Internet search. I'll GLADLY sit in front of a computer if I get paid that salary!
If you have money to burn and are physically unable to drive, I'd consider it. Otherwise I'll spend my money on something else.
If I'm allowed to spend $400 a day for lodging, meals, and transportation, I and my spouse can do a LOT better than that by driving to those locations.
> without the hassle of ... finding a place to eat
That's never been a problem for me -- I'm usually able to find a restaurant or a grocery store on my own. And I prefer a tour guide NOT telling me exactly where and when I MUST eat, irrespective of my personal preferences.
> not having to find accommodations
Which takes fifteen minutes online. If I save $100 a night by doing this miniscule amount of work, I'm in effect earning $400 an hour to do an Internet search. I'll GLADLY sit in front of a computer if I get paid that salary!
If you have money to burn and are physically unable to drive, I'd consider it. Otherwise I'll spend my money on something else.
Oct 25th, 2011, 01:22 PM
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Is it as good as it sounds? Help! Been there Done that let us know.
Dunno about most of these but the Grand Canyon by train is one of the biggest tourist rip-offs in Arizona. Much cheaper and faster to do it yourself by car (or even bus) and you are not at the GC at the wrong time of day, as with the day trippers on the train.
No arguments over wrong turns
For the places mentioned usually there are few roads and hence few chances to make wrong turns and get lost.
being able to see the sights rather than watching the road
There are few sights to see from the train, unfortunately.
Dunno about most of these but the Grand Canyon by train is one of the biggest tourist rip-offs in Arizona. Much cheaper and faster to do it yourself by car (or even bus) and you are not at the GC at the wrong time of day, as with the day trippers on the train.
No arguments over wrong turns
For the places mentioned usually there are few roads and hence few chances to make wrong turns and get lost.
being able to see the sights rather than watching the road
There are few sights to see from the train, unfortunately.
Oct 25th, 2011, 01:22 PM
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If you have never seen these sights, I wouldn't do it by train.
If you have used other rail systems in other countries, you will likely be very disappointed in ours.
If you are retired, don't want to drive at all, don't care what or where you eat(usually they limit you to only a few items on the menu or your eating from a buffet), don't mind being delayed, don't want to do any hiking, horseback riding, rafting, boating, etc. then it might be for you.
If you have used other rail systems in other countries, you will likely be very disappointed in ours.
If you are retired, don't want to drive at all, don't care what or where you eat(usually they limit you to only a few items on the menu or your eating from a buffet), don't mind being delayed, don't want to do any hiking, horseback riding, rafting, boating, etc. then it might be for you.
Oct 25th, 2011, 01:26 PM
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PaulRabe:
WE FIGURED IT THIS WAY...$100 per day for food our avg. 100 per night for a room, although I usually spend closer to $200. Add in $50 a day for car rental (we live in Rhode island do not want to make the drive nor put six thousand miles on either car). That leaves $150 for incidentals, entrance tickets, gasoline and the like. Now I'm sure we left out expenses cause I'm doing this off the top of my head and that's another point, it will also take planning time. Agreed it will cost less if we DIY and we would have more time for the things we like but it takes time and energy to plan. I kinda liked the idea of doing it ourselves so I talked to Sheski and said "I did the last road trip (Wash state, California and Oregon) how about you do this one? Ans H---! no. Too much work. I guess that says something about us but it is what it is. Thanks for your words!
WE FIGURED IT THIS WAY...$100 per day for food our avg. 100 per night for a room, although I usually spend closer to $200. Add in $50 a day for car rental (we live in Rhode island do not want to make the drive nor put six thousand miles on either car). That leaves $150 for incidentals, entrance tickets, gasoline and the like. Now I'm sure we left out expenses cause I'm doing this off the top of my head and that's another point, it will also take planning time. Agreed it will cost less if we DIY and we would have more time for the things we like but it takes time and energy to plan. I kinda liked the idea of doing it ourselves so I talked to Sheski and said "I did the last road trip (Wash state, California and Oregon) how about you do this one? Ans H---! no. Too much work. I guess that says something about us but it is what it is. Thanks for your words!
Oct 25th, 2011, 01:39 PM
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What are these triangles? Did I do this? How? Sorry!
I'm getting kinda down on this trip. I figured we could just go. Sounds like we would be better off doing the research than relying on the rail people.
I'm getting kinda down on this trip. I figured we could just go. Sounds like we would be better off doing the research than relying on the rail people.
Oct 25th, 2011, 01:48 PM
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Meski, IF you are not a spammer for the rr, then yes do your research and find out about the many companies that do tours of the parks and compare what is offered, how much time is spent in the parks, how good the reputation of the suppliers are and what will mesh best with your sytle/wants/needs.
Oct 25th, 2011, 01:56 PM
#11
This isn't spam (Meski, don't worry about the triangles. That is how to report abuse. gb944 mistakenly thought you were advertising/working for americabyrail.com because your post was so 'gushy')
Instead of driving all the way out west you can fly into Las Vegas, Phoenix, Denver or some other 'gateway' and then do the loop by rental car.
One major problem, other than cost, is few rail routes pass through the scenic bits.
Instead of driving all the way out west you can fly into Las Vegas, Phoenix, Denver or some other 'gateway' and then do the loop by rental car.
One major problem, other than cost, is few rail routes pass through the scenic bits.
Oct 25th, 2011, 03:53 PM
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This is NOT a train tour. Trains do not go to most of these places. this is a bus tour with some segments by train. the train segments are likely to be late (since tracks are owned by freight companies and freight trains take priority over the one passenger train per day).
The way to see these parks is by car - that you drive yourself and see what you want - not spend possibly interminable hours in stopped trains - or those moving at 40 mph - while your vacation time wastes away.
If you don;t want to drive then pick a bus tour that tells you what it is - and provides a realistic schedule of activities.
The way to see these parks is by car - that you drive yourself and see what you want - not spend possibly interminable hours in stopped trains - or those moving at 40 mph - while your vacation time wastes away.
If you don;t want to drive then pick a bus tour that tells you what it is - and provides a realistic schedule of activities.
Oct 25th, 2011, 07:01 PM
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Okay! Got it. Not a train tour, best to fly/drive. Bus tour probably has the same drawbacks as the 'train'. Guess I've got some work to do. Thanks for the help. I'll pick a jump off point, probably Phoenix or Denver, work out an itinerary. Sorry I was so 'gushy'.
Oct 25th, 2011, 08:54 PM
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I was confused by the thought of a train tour going north from Grand Canyon to Glacier. I know there certainly no passenger tracks that go that direction.....If I want to go from SLC to Glacier by train I'd have to go to San Franciso, then north to Portland or Seattle and then east to Glacier.
So even though you have it figured out I went to the website and looked. While not given in the description the accompanying map shows that the train ride is from Chicago to Grand Canyon. At which point you would get on a bus for a "motor coach tour" to see all six parks and stay in hotels. Then get back on the train at Whitefish to return by train to Chicago.
That is one way for people from the east to get out to the parks without the longer bus tour across the prairies.
So even though you have it figured out I went to the website and looked. While not given in the description the accompanying map shows that the train ride is from Chicago to Grand Canyon. At which point you would get on a bus for a "motor coach tour" to see all six parks and stay in hotels. Then get back on the train at Whitefish to return by train to Chicago.
That is one way for people from the east to get out to the parks without the longer bus tour across the prairies.
Oct 26th, 2011, 03:26 AM
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I would suggest either the Utah Parks/Grand Canyon or
Yellowstone/Tetons/Glacier and you could couple Yellowstone with Mount Rushmore/Black Hills area too.
I think trying to see all of that in one trip is probably to much for just about anyone. Each place really needs a few days. It just depends on how much you want to see of each place. I have been to all of the parks in Utah(most of them twice) and stayed at each one for 2 or 3 days on each occasion.
Yellowstone/Tetons/Glacier and you could couple Yellowstone with Mount Rushmore/Black Hills area too.
I think trying to see all of that in one trip is probably to much for just about anyone. Each place really needs a few days. It just depends on how much you want to see of each place. I have been to all of the parks in Utah(most of them twice) and stayed at each one for 2 or 3 days on each occasion.
Oct 26th, 2011, 03:51 AM
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When you do your planning, look at the cost of car rentals as well as air fare and include starting points like Las Vegas, Salt Lake City and Albuquerque as well as Denver and Phoenix. You will need to figure in driving times also. This allows you to pace your trip as you see fit.
If you really don't like to drive, then some combination of train or plane to the west, and then a bus trip to the parks might work for you. There are several companies that do these trips and have very different options as to parks visited, size of group, length of stay in the parks, quality of accommodations etc. This might give you a taste of the parks and let you figure out where you would like to re visit on your own.
If you really don't like to drive, then some combination of train or plane to the west, and then a bus trip to the parks might work for you. There are several companies that do these trips and have very different options as to parks visited, size of group, length of stay in the parks, quality of accommodations etc. This might give you a taste of the parks and let you figure out where you would like to re visit on your own.
Oct 27th, 2011, 01:07 PM
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spirobulldog:
This trip started with Sheski. She wanted to see Zion, Bryce, Yosemite and the Grand Canyon. She allowed two weeks for the trip. We could extend that to three weeks. We did Yellowstone forty-five some odd years ago. A trip to Teton/Glacier would be nice. You are right, it sounds like a lot to do hence the train/bus. We are still planning but we began with the Grand circle road trip...Not so interested in Canyon lands and added Yosemite. Texasbookworm asked (How many western National Parks CAN we see in 2 weeks?) 7/10-25/09. The trip report said: "we are gone 15 nights and 15.5 days; travel over 5000 miles; take over 5000 pictures; visit 12 states, 12 National Parks Service sites, and 2 state parks; drive about 90 hours; and live to tell the tales!" And that included the drive out from Texas.Guess it can be done.
PS Thanks Texasbookworm.
emalloy: Think we are going to fly to California, rent a car and drop it in Las Vegas. Still working out the details. Thanks for the tips.
This trip started with Sheski. She wanted to see Zion, Bryce, Yosemite and the Grand Canyon. She allowed two weeks for the trip. We could extend that to three weeks. We did Yellowstone forty-five some odd years ago. A trip to Teton/Glacier would be nice. You are right, it sounds like a lot to do hence the train/bus. We are still planning but we began with the Grand circle road trip...Not so interested in Canyon lands and added Yosemite. Texasbookworm asked (How many western National Parks CAN we see in 2 weeks?) 7/10-25/09. The trip report said: "we are gone 15 nights and 15.5 days; travel over 5000 miles; take over 5000 pictures; visit 12 states, 12 National Parks Service sites, and 2 state parks; drive about 90 hours; and live to tell the tales!" And that included the drive out from Texas.Guess it can be done.
PS Thanks Texasbookworm.
emalloy: Think we are going to fly to California, rent a car and drop it in Las Vegas. Still working out the details. Thanks for the tips.
Oct 27th, 2011, 04:18 PM
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We did Yellowstone forty-five some odd years ago.
The trip report said: "we are gone 15 nights and 15.5 days; travel over 5000 miles; take over 5000 pictures; visit 12 states, 12 National Parks Service sites, and 2 state parks; drive about 90 hours; and live to tell the tales!" And that included the drive out from Texas.Guess it can be done.
There may be an age difference in the travelers that could play a role.
The trip report said: "we are gone 15 nights and 15.5 days; travel over 5000 miles; take over 5000 pictures; visit 12 states, 12 National Parks Service sites, and 2 state parks; drive about 90 hours; and live to tell the tales!" And that included the drive out from Texas.Guess it can be done.
There may be an age difference in the travelers that could play a role.
