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