Maps can be deceiving. North America never looks small per se, but people can forget just how big it really is. Until that is, it’s time to start travelling between one city and another.
Those convenient internal flights may be the fastest way of getting to your destination, but the journey is the part to savour when the diversity of landscape is as dramatic as it is here. A real authentic American adventure takes place by train.
Speed through the wilds, watch the scenery change dramatically within the space of just a few hours and explore a host of all-American towns along the route should you choose to linger for a while. Put simply: enjoy the perks of the rails.
From sea to shining sea, the New York to San Francisco route will get you from the Big Apple to the Golden Gate Bridge. But the real treat is what you’ll encounter in between.
Start your journey in Penn Station, NYC, and follow the Great Lakes up to the metropolis by the shore, Chicago town. From the East Coast to the Midwest you’ll pass stunning lakes, rivers and forests, then explore the Windy City herself before hopping back on board.
Coming from the leafy countryside of upstate New York and the Midwest, the Rocky Mountains will feel like a foreign land before you arrive in Denver, Colorado, a man-made city in the shadow of nature at its most dramatic. Catch your breath in Mile High City before coming down the other side again en route for California.
From the Empire State Building and the Statue of Liberty, via Lake Michigan and the Rockies, you’ll have already explored almost every type of countryside US geography can offer.
But before you round off your journey by setting foot in San Fran, the final jewel in the crown is the wineries of Napa Valley. Raise a glass to the journey of a lifetime before kicking back the laid back feel of Frisco.
Book your Great American Landscapes rail journey today.
A short and sweet 36-hour journey takes you along the length of the West Coast.
From the beautiful, bustling Seattle, perfectly placed between the mountains and the sea, along the coast to Portland, a town built on two rivers, America’s Pacific Northwest has the perfect balance. It is an outdoorsy paradise and a haven of sophistication with cosmopolitan restaurants and plenty of shopping spaces to keep you entertained, whatever your tastes.
As you follow the coast to the sun-drenched urban jungle of Los Angeles, you’ll see waterfalls, forests, mountains and endless ocean waves as the landscape changes before your eyes through Washington state, Oregon and California.
With the desert to the east and the ocean to the west, in between you’ll find cities and national parks to explore and beaches to relax on. And if you want to extend the pleasure of the journey, continue on down to San Diego near the Mexican border and end your trip by the world-famous marina.
Learn more about the L.A To Seattle Coast Starlight – Los Angeles to Seattle Coast Starlight rail journey.
This is one for the real connoisseurs.
It’s all about the love of the journey on the New York to San Francisco loop, where your destination is the same as your starting point. On a magical 17-day tour, The Great American Rail Adventure explores almost everything America has to offer and never have your view obscured by clouds! Hop on a train in New York City and head down south to the mythical New Orleans.
With its food, its history and its sweet jazz music, the Big Easy is a world away from the bustle of the Big Apple. Make sure you explore all the French Quarter and Jackson Square have to offer as well as the “Cities of the Dead” in the famous, spooky graveyards
Just a few hours after leaving New Orleans, the scenery changes again as you whizz through the desert with its cacti and tumbleweed, crossing the wild West before coming to a stop in LA. The sunshine in San Francisco and the relaxation of the coast after a stop-off in the City of Angels will be much needed.
Then it’s back on the rails for the home leg – through the majestic Rockies, the Great Lakes and the back straight through the forests and silver streams all the way into New York City.
USA Rail holidays by Freedom Destinations
New York | Chicago | Denver | Rocky Mountain National Park | San Francisco | Napa Valley
New York City | New Orleans | San Francisco | Denver | Chicago | New York City
Chicago | Salt Lake City | West Yellowstone | San Francisco | Yosemite National Park
New York | Chicago | Denver | Rocky Mountain National Park | San Francisco | Napa Valley
New York City | New Orleans | San Francisco | Denver | Chicago | New York City
Chicago | Salt Lake City | West Yellowstone | San Francisco | Yosemite National Park
Every year, visitors from all over the world flock to the Grand Canyon: a stunning sight and a reminder of the power of nature. Tours from Las Vegas are the most obvious way to explore the Grand Canyon, but getting there by the tracks of the Grand Canyon Railway are by far the most satisfying.
Once again, the travelling is all part of the fun as you work your way to the canyon itself. Glide cross expansive pine forests and acres of prairie land packed with wild horses and antelope in the historic carriages of an old-time railway.
This is a unique experience transporting you back to a simpler time and treating you to spectacular views – and all of that before you even get to the Grand Canyon!
This is journey is only an hour-long but it might well be the most stunning.
You have to time your trip as the railroad is open only during the spring, summer and early autumn, but it’s well worth the wait – a rail trip is the most rewarding way of taking in the unique Alaskan scenery.
Following the Turnagain Arm coastal tracks where mountains meet the ocean, you’ll spend the journey on the look-out for all kinds of incredible wildlife: beluga whales, moose and even bears are common in the wilderness around the tracks.
If you are lucky enough to see come across the local population of the animal kingdom on your travels, the driver will slow down to give you the chance to get the perfect Insta-opportunity!
Beyond that, marvel at the glaciers and snow-capped peaks. Explore the coast on a guided boat tour in Seward, take Alaskan dog-sled safaris and glacier treks – explore a part of the world that’s unlike any other.
The US boasts unparalleled diversity in its landscapes and unrivalled beauty from state to state. On your North American trip, you can hop on a plane and take in all the cities but this is one of those times when savouring the journey is definitely worth it.
On a train, you’ll see all the continent has to offer and take the chance to explore some of the wildly different cities in between.
Don’t miss the real America stuck above the clouds! Discover more America Rail Journeys today.
