| Interested in a one-of-a-kind holiday idea that | | | | Another great journey must be the 9-day |
| travel industry experts say is the modern-day | | | | journey that visits four of the Pacific Northwest's |
| equivalent of a 20th century steamship cruise? | | | | most stunning national parks. For those who start |
| You might want to try rail cruising, which unites | | | | their journey with the the eastbound leg of the |
| eager travelers with vintage luxury trains cruising | | | | Great Northwestern National Parks tour, the trip |
| through some of America's most scenic | | | | begins in Seattle, Washington, and heads first to |
| countryside. Taking anywhere from just a few | | | | Mt. Rainier National Park, where train passengers |
| days to more than a week, these train trips offer | | | | can enjoy a breathtaking view of the Cascade |
| well-appointed surroundings, gourmet dining and | | | | Range's highest peak (14,410 feet). From there it's |
| personalized service to a small clientele that in | | | | on to the Columbia River Gorge, beautiful Coeur |
| most cases is limited to only a hundred or so | | | | D'Alene, Idaho, pristine Glacier National Park, |
| passengers. | | | | Helena, Montana, and finally Yellowstone and |
| You may already be familiar with the idea of rail | | | | Grand Teton National Parks. Westbound travelers |
| cruising from a travel show frequently broadcast | | | | start at Grand Teton and finish their trip in the |
| on TV's Travel Channel about the American | | | | Emerald City of Seattle. |
| Orient Express (AOE). Now re-christened the | | | | Remember, these are high-end tours that offer |
| GrandLuxe Express (AOE's parent company | | | | outstanding comfort and five-star cuisine in a truly |
| changed its name to GrandLuxe Rail Journeys in | | | | unique environment, so expect to pay accordingly. |
| April 2006), this train is made up of graceful | | | | Fares for the 2008 season, which includes eight |
| streamlined lounge and dining cars hailing from the | | | | different departure dates between early May and |
| 1940s and 1950s. Inside the train has a stylish | | | | late June, start at 5,250 dollars per person for the |
| art-deco flair accentuated by mahogany and brass | | | | National Parks of the West Tour. The |
| fittings that strongly echo the Golden Age of train | | | | Northwestern National Parks tour starts at 4,710 |
| travel. | | | | dollars per person. Included in the fare is the cost |
| GrandLuxe Rail Journeys sends its trains on | | | | of travel, some of the best food on rails and on |
| itineraries that offer passengers views and | | | | board sleeping accommodations in two-person, |
| experiences never dreamed of by 20th century | | | | original Pullman sleeper cars. Taking advantage of |
| patrons of steamship cruisers. One of the most | | | | early booking can cut the cost of the trip by an |
| breathtaking must be National Parks of the West, | | | | average of about 250 dollars. |
| a 10-day luxury pleasure trip that starts its | | | | If fares like these are just too steep for your |
| south-to-north leg in Albuquerque, New Mexico. | | | | wallet, you can still enjoy the luxury of rail cruising. |
| From there, the train winds its way to Santa Fe, | | | | GrandLuxe Rail Journeys also offers rail trips that |
| Sedona, the Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, a choice | | | | are significantly easier on the pocketbook. For |
| of Bryce Canyon or Zion National Parks, Salt Lake | | | | example, you can travel from Chicago to Los |
| City, Yellow Stone National Park and ultimately, | | | | Angeles for 1,599 dollars or take one of many |
| Wyoming's Grand Teton National Park. There's | | | | 789-dollar trips that link cities like Washington, D.C. |
| also a version of the excursion that starts in | | | | and Miami, Denver and San Francisco, Denver and |
| Wyoming and then moves south (instead of | | | | Chicago, and Chicago and Washington, D.C. |
| north) to finish up in Albuquerque. | | | | |