Nowadays, travelers choose vacations by train because it can be a wonderfully relaxing way to get from one destination to another. Also, train tracks can go where cars can't, so the views of pristine scenery from a rail car are utterly spectacular.
Marvelous vistas from a glass-domed coach
Indeed, I fell in love
with luxurious train travel while on board Canada's Rocky
Mountaineer GoldLeaf Service coach from the cosmopolitan coastal city
of Vancouver to the stunning mountain enclave of Banff. My "First
Passage of the West" trip, which includes two full days of train
travel and an overnight in Kamloops, is just one of four scenic
itineraries offered by Rocky Mountaineer, a seasoned company that has
been providing dynamic vacations on Canada's historic train tracks
for 20 years.
While seated comfortably in a wide, reclining seat on board a glass-domed coach, I gazed at varied, panoramic landscapes as we made our way west. We passed clear, glacier-fed lakes and rushing rivers, as well as long stretches of farmland, arid mesas and the jagged, snowcapped peaks of the Canadian Rockies. Along the way, I'd scoot outside to the covered vestibule between coaches -- a perfect spot not only for stretching my legs and enjoying fresh air, but also capturing clear photos of the pretty scenery.
Spotting animals in the wilderness
Another highlight of
our trip: we spotted two black bears from the train! Though the Rocky
Mountaineer's Onboard Attendants can't ensure such a fabulous
wildlife sighting on every trip, they do their best to keep a lookout
for the creatures that make their home in the wilderness alongside
the train tracks. We also saw spawning salmon, majestic eagles,
graceful osprey and a herd of bighorn sheep.
Outstanding service and excellent food
My favorite parts of
our Rocky Mountaineer adventure? The outstanding service and the
incredible food. On board the bi-level GoldLeaf Service coaches,
gourmet breakfast and lunch are served "downstairs" on
white-linen table cloths with fine china. A la carte meals include
such delectable options as scrambled eggs with smoked salmon in the
morning and pork tenderloin with garlic whipped potatoes in the
afternoon. If two filling meals weren't enough, we also indulged on
flaky scones, locally made cheese and freshly baked cookies!
The Rocky Mountaineer's Onboard Attendants go out of their way to ensure a wonderful vacation experience for all passengers. Whether they are pouring drinks, pointing out wildlife or telling fascinating stories about the Western Canada's history and folklore, the of the Rocky Mountaineer staff is specially trained to cater to guest on this magnificent trip of a lifetime.
