Amtrak's "Adirondack" passenger train provides spectacular views as you travel through the Catskill Mountains and along the western shore of Lake Champlain. Hop off on stops between the destinations for a tour of West Point, or a night in Saratoga Springs or historic Ticonderoga, a small town noted for its lighted ski trails in winter and spectacular foliage in autumn. There are 25 bike trails near the small town and Amtrak does allow transport of bicycles if prearranged. At your end-point destination--Montreal's Central Station--in the heart of Quebec, explore an historic city with a lively night life and museums.
If you want to take a rail vacation but aren't sure you want to commit hours to train travel, consider the Napa Valley Wine Train as part of a weekend getaway to Napa. Take the train for a tour of the area's wineries. The train travels on rails first laid in the early 1800s, 36 miles through beautiful wine valleys to St. Helena, a small town considered by many to be the "heart of Napa Valley." The wine train is a four-star restaurant and the winery tour includes a gourmet lunch prepared by nationally known executive chef Kelly Macdonald. The Wine Train also offers a variety of events from murder mystery games to special wedding packages. Packages like the "Napa's Deals Without Wheels" -- including travel from San Francisco and one or two nights' stay at the Napa Valley River Inn -- make the trip a relaxing experience that requires no driving.
If you want to enjoy the spectacular landscape along California's coast, take a trip from San Diego to San Luis Obispo. Amtrak's "Pacific Surfliner" takes you through Santa Barbara, Gaviota State Beach, Jalama Beach, Santa Maria and Pismo Beach. The 350-mile coastal trip takes about eight hours and offers views of pristine beaches and surfers as you travel. One of the most popular train routes, according to Amtrak, the Surfliner makes stops along the way, allowing you to explore some of California's small historic coastal communities and larger urban areas.
Amtrak's "Capitol Limited" takes passengers from Chicago to New York City in a little less than a day (about 20 hours). Spend one or more days in the Big Apple, shopping and taking in a Broadway show before jumping on the second leg of the journey (3 hours) to Washington, D.C., where you can visit national historic monuments and enjoy countless hours at the free Smithsonian museums. You can end your Amtrak trip in New York, or jump on a 125 mile-per-hour metroliner between New York and the Capitol. Direct routes from Washington, D.C. to Chicago are available and take about 24 hours at the slower Amtrak speed.
While train travel to your destination might not always be practical--or available-- train enthusiasts can include rail as part of any vacation. In Hawaii, check out Maui's Lahaina Kaanapali Railroad, also known as the Sugar Cane Train. You take a 40-minute, six-mile journey--part of it on a 325-foot curved wooden trestle--and enjoy breath-taking views between Lahaina and Puukolii. The Alaska Railroad extends 450 miles from Seward to Whittier in southern Alaska. The train provides one and two day tours.
