Amtrak, the largest passenger train company in the United States, features rail travel to popular areas throughout many of the 50 states. Amtrak also offers trains that run along historic rail routes, making them ideal travel destinations for people wishing to recapture the feeling of yesteryear. Some popular routes include Seattle, Washington to Chicago, Illinois; Los Angeles, California to San Francisco, California or through the Rocky Mountains. Amtrak is a reliable way for train travel, especially for those who wish to spend some time in another city.
While Amtrak may be the most commonly used rail system in the United States, there are several independent railroads throughout the country. These rail lines often run specialized tours to popular and historic destinations including Durango and Silverton, Colorado and Pennsylvania's Amish Country. Both the Strasburg Rail Road in Pennsylvania and the Durango line in Colorado utilize historic trains, perfect destinations for train enthusiasts and history buffs. Other independent rail lines allow people to design custom travel itineraries with stop-and-go packages. Contact a local travel agency to locate independent railroads with customizable packages throughout the United States.
For travelers who wish to have a more structured tour should purchase vacation packages from an escorted train tour, accompanied by travel guides. Typically, escorted tours explore a specific region. A major benefit of escorted train tours is that they provide hotel accommodations, meals in restaurants and other comforts at an all-inclusive price. Travelers are able to sit back and enjoy their vacation without having to worry about planning all the details. Escorted tours function much like a vacation at an all-inclusive resort, but they travel throughout an area. Some popular train tour destinations include New England, the Grand Canyon and Colorado.
Travelers who wish to return to an age where railroad travel placed passengers in the lap of luxury should consider booking a vacation aboard a luxury train line. Speak with a travel agent or do an online search to find luxury trains with interesting destinations.
