| I'm not sure why on scenic train rides you can | | | | descends some streches of track caboose-first. |
| have a beer, but you can't on a bus. In any case, | | | | There's a lunch stop in one of the small mountain |
| this is one of the reasons to take a train ride. | | | | towns. When we took the train (May 2004), it |
| Another reason is that they go where the roads | | | | was limited to 40 passengers, and tickets sold out |
| don't, so you'll see scenery you miss when driving. | | | | quickly.Agawa Canyon RailroadOne of the more |
| Trains don't have to stop at traffic lights, and you | | | | scenic train rides in the north, starts and ends in |
| can get up and walk around. Finally, trains are | | | | Sault Saint Marie, Ontario, Canada, just over the |
| relaxing for all the reasons above AND the | | | | border from Sault Saint Marie, Michigan. It's an |
| rythym of the rails.Amtrak has scenic sections, | | | | all-day trip that goes through a rocky and |
| and there are also numerous dinner trains | | | | heavily-wooded wilderness, along the Agawa |
| operating around the United States now. | | | | River, to Agawa Canyon. At the canyon, you can |
| However, the most scenic train rides are the | | | | have a picnic in a beautiful meadow, or just relax |
| classics. Below are a few to whet your | | | | and enjoy the scenery, before reboarding for the |
| appetite.The Silverton-Durango Narrow GageI first | | | | return trip.Autumn, when the maples have all |
| caught this train far from any road. I was in the | | | | changed color, is the most beautiful time to take |
| Weminuche Wilderness Area, next to a footbridge | | | | the train. It's also the most difficult time to get |
| over the Animas river, where they stop if | | | | tickets, so plan far ahead. The route is also run as |
| backpackers there flag them down. More | | | | the scenic "Snow Train," in winter.The Thunder |
| recently, my wife and I took the train from | | | | Mountain LineThunder Mountain Line has scenic |
| Silverton to Durango. Wherever you catch this | | | | train rides that take several routes in Idaho, |
| train, it will be an experience you won't forget.It is | | | | starting from Horseshoe Bend and Cascade. |
| a classic steam locomotive that goes through | | | | Depending on the route you choose, you'll travel |
| Colorado's San Juan Mountains, along the Animas | | | | through dramatic narrow canyons, |
| river. At times you'll look out the window, over | | | | sagebrush-covered hills, mountain meadows, or |
| the edge, to the water hundreds of feet below. | | | | pristine evergreen forests. The tracks follow the |
| In Silverton you can eat good food, buy | | | | mountain trails settlers used a hundred years |
| souvenirs, and see an old-west mining town that | | | | before. You may see deer, fox, elk, blue herons, |
| hasn't much with time.La Nariz Del DiabloTrain | | | | osprey, and bald eagles. Rides vary from three to |
| rides on this line, which goes from Riobamba to | | | | five hours, depending on the route.Amtrak's |
| Alausi, Ecuador, are scenic and adventurous. On | | | | Scenic Train RidesThe California Zephyr, Amtrak's |
| our recent trip, my wife stayed inside, but I rode | | | | train from Chicago to San Francisco, passes |
| on the roof for the first half of the ride. Despite | | | | through the Rocky Mountains and the more |
| the occasional rain, there were twenty other | | | | beautiful (in my opinion) Sierra Nevadas. The |
| travelers up there. I highly recommend you pay | | | | Coast Starlight goes from Seattle to Los Angeles, |
| the dollar to rent a pillow to sit on. Your final | | | | with views of snow-covered mountains, thick |
| destination is a valley with a view of a rock | | | | forests, and long stretches of Pacific Ocean |
| formation high above, called "La Nariz Del Diablo," | | | | shoreline. Amtrak's Auto Train is a unique scenic |
| or "The Devil's Nose."Be careful of tree branches | | | | train ride that allows you to take your car with |
| if you're on the roof, and be prepared for a | | | | you from Lorton, Viginia, to Florida.Steve Gillman |
| five-hour ride. It starts in downtown Riobamba, in | | | | hit the road at sixteen, and traveled the U.S. and |
| the highlands of the central Andes Mountains. You'll | | | | Mexico alone at 17. Now 40, he travels with his |
| travel through "cloud forests" and finally down to | | | | wife Ana, whom he met in Ecuador. |
| a much warmer climate. Interestingly, the train | | | | |