While it's become popular in recent years to tour Alaska by cruise ship, see Alaska up close with your family on a tour of national parks in Alaska by train. The Alaska Railroad offers a six-day, five-night tour of Alaska's National Parks that takes visitors through Anchorage and Denali, making stops at the Kenai Fjords and Spencer Glacier. It even includes a cruise of the fjords, a float tour through the icebergs, and a dinner show.
If your family is already visiting Arizona, the Grand Canyon Railway is a fascinating and scenic way to take a side trip to the glorious canyon. The train departs daily from the historic Williams Depot in Williams, Arizona, and arrives within four hours at the Grand Canyon. Along the way riders learn about the history of the rail line, as well as experience what it was like to ride on a 19th century train. The tour also tells about the native people and the Grand Canyon itself, and the trip provides opportunities for catching glimpses of the abundant Arizona wildlife, including mountain lions and pronghorn.
Take your family on a train tour unlike any other on the Royal Gorge Route Railroad in Canon City, Colorado. This train takes visitors through the spectacular Royal Gorge in a historical 1950s-style rail car. There are several options when traveling the railroad, including coach class, the vista dome---which offers visitors a glass-domed roof---and the lunch room. Dinner tours, murder mystery tours and seasonal events also are available.
