The Railroad Industry
The railroad industry has seen it’s share of ups and downs in recent years. With natural gas and coal prices constantly fluctuating, and more stringent environmental and safety regulations being put on railroads themselves and power plants run by fossil fuels, it puts the railroad industry at an uncertain precipice. Although, recent trends have been hopeful, and it seems that the railroad industry is headed for a comeback with more money being put into upgrading and modifying older railways, tracks, and trains. USA River Cruises wants to keep the spirit of travel by railroad alive by featuring trips with train travel. We want to revive and keep alive the rich history of railroad travel and support this sector of our economy.
The Experience of Train Travel
Traveling by train has old world charm that has all but disappeared from modern day travel. Alas, fine china, silver, and luxurious accommodations can still be found on certain railroads today. On overnight trains you can find dining cars with full-service meals and uniformed waitstaff. The comfort of riding by train provides passengers with a bounty of relaxing free time, time to read books, play cards, or enjoy all the scenery that train travel provides. Trains are one of the least stressful forms of transportation. When you ride a train, you have no obligations, more legroom, and you can move around at will, not when the captain turns the fasten seatbelt light off.
Two Partners in Train Travel: Uncommon Journeys and Rocky Mountaineer
At USA River Cruises, we work with two companies that are still offering travel by train today. Uncommon Journeys is one of the few travel companies that still specializes in travel by rail. Offering myriad destination travel packages by train, this unique company has the most elegant and opulent private railway carriages available. They operate more private and special trains than any other travel company in North America. Their railway cars have won acclaim in such prestigious publications as Gourmet, Town & Country, and Sunset magazines. We are proud to partner with Uncommon Journeys for two amazing destination trips: one to the Grand Canyon, and another through the Great Smoky Mountains.
Another great company that we work with is Rocky Mountaineer. This company offers over 65 unique Canadian vacation packages and four distinctive rail routes across British Columbia and Alberta. Their destinations and tours are rich with history and natural beauty. This luxurious train is world-renowned and travels by daylight through the majestic landscape of Canada’s West and the Canadian Rockies. Over the past 25 years, Rocky Mountaineer has grown to become the largest privately held luxurious train travel company in the world. We are proud to work alongside this prestigious train travel company with international acclaim.
Our Train Travel Packages
Our New Year’s at the Grand Canyon Trip is a magical journey filled with amazing sites and picturesque locations like the Painted Desert and the Petrified Desert. Usher in a New Year in the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. Relax on the morning of the New Year in the Grand Canyon. Soon after you will be off to the “City of Lights” for a very different type of magic in Las Vegas, Nevada. You’ll check into the five-star Bellagio Hotel for a 3-night stay in all out luxury with a never-ending array of things to do. The Bellagio has over 18 restaurants and lounges for you to choose from, or visit the spa to treat yourself and usher in the New Year!
Our Autumn in the Great Smokies Rail & Sail Trip is another amazing trip featuring travel by railroad and a luxurious 7-day cruise. Take in the Great Smoky Mountains cloaked in the brilliant colors of Fall in the crisp Autumn weather. Beginning in Atlanta, enjoy a stay in Asheville before boarding the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad. Get ready for a scenic and relaxing tour by rail of Nantaha Gorge, Horseshoe Curve, and Fontana Lake Trestle. Your luxurious hotel accommodations in Gatlinburg will give you a wonderful place to call home while you explore the Great Smoky Mountains National Park for 2 days, including a tour of Cades Cove. You will have one night in Nashville before getting aboard the brand new luxury cruiseliner Louisiane for your 7-night cruise to Memphis, TN.
We partner with Rocky Mountaineer to offer over 22 different variations of trips through Canada which feature many of the highlights of Western Canada including UNESCO World Heritage sites of Banff and Jasper, iconic Lake Louise, and Whistler: home of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. We offer destination railroad vacations through the Canadian Rockies, with variations on the theme going from Alaska to the Pacific Northwest. Some tours even feature helicopter tours of the Rockie’s legendary crags or riding the Banff Gondola. With an expansive range of natural wonders from coastal creatures to the highest altitudes of the Canadian Rockies, take it all in on one of our tours along this legendary route on the Canadian Pacific Track.
Are you wanting to go on a wonderfully scenic tour of the Rockies or the Grand Canyon? Want to top off your trip with a destination like Las Vegas or Memphis? Want to do all of this aboard a train for ultimate relaxation and comfort? Want to revisit a time when travel was based around railroads and rail stations? Come, sit back and relax on one of our luxurious train rides while you take in the scenery and we will take you to some of the most amazing sites North America has to offer! Contact our friendly, experienced, and helpful travel agents at USA River Cruises today to get booked on one of these popular trips by train!