| DAY TO DAY |
DAY 1 |
Chicago Union Station |
D |
We gather our group in Chicago where we board the
Texas Eagle this afternoon and begin our journey to
San Antonio over the Union Pacific Railroad passing
the famed Arch in St. Louis tonight after dinner. The
train features an inviting café-lounge car, the perfect
spot to enjoy meeting new found friends.
|
DAY 2 |
San Antonio Texas |
B L D |
We speed across the Lone Star state today with an
evening arrival in San Antonio where superb accommodations
await and begin our two-night stay in this
enchanting city. |
DAY 3 |
San Antonio Texas |
B D |
Today we enjoy a guided tour of San Antonio that
includes the Alamo and our guests have the best
location in town to enjoy the lovely Riverwalk area.
And tonight, a special treat, our welcome dinner as
we board a sightseeing boat for a cruise through the
Riverwalk area. |
DAY 4 |
The Sunset Limited |
B L D |
We depart San Antonio bound for California over the
famed ‘Sunset Route’ of the Union Pacific, the last
transcontinental rail line completed in this country.
A highlight today is the Pecos River High Bridge as we
roll west. The Sunset Limited has a complete lounge
and dining car for added comfort. |
DAY 5 |
California’s Pacific Coast |
B D |
| Morning finds us arriving in the City of Angels where
we transfer to the COAST STARLIGHT for the stunning
trip north along the California Coast with the train
traveling right along the Ocean! You will want to
have your camera ready. Tonight is spent in
stunningly beautiful Pismo Beach overlooking the
Pacific, a two-night stay in this magnificent setting. |
DAY 6 |
Hearst Castle San Simeon |
B D |
Today is a day of superlatives with a visit to fabled
Hearst Castle, the most opulent private home ever
built in America, famously referred to by William
Randolph Hearst as ‘the ranch’. Words do not do
justice to Hearst Castle and after our tour, we will
visit one of the wineries the Central Coast is
well-known for, as well as charming Morro Bay
before returning to our hotel. |
DAY 7 |
Yosemite National Park |
B L |
This morning we drive east to another jewel in
California, magnificent Yosemite, another wonder
that is beyond descriptive language. On the way, we
stop at the Sugar Pine Narrow-Gauge Railroad for a
trip through the Redwoods before arrival for our
overnight stay at Yosemite.
|
DAY 8 |
Yosemite Valley |
B D |
We enjoy additional touring of the park today including
viewing El Capitan and Half Dome which are
glorious in Spring. After Yosemite we drive north to
Oakland where we enjoy a special dinner before
boarding the ‘COAST STARLIGHT’ for Portland. |
DAY 9 |
Portland Oregon |
B L R |
We arrive in Portland this afternoon and enjoy a brief
visit to the famed Rose Garden on our way to the
hotel, a perfect introduction to ‘The Rose City’. Our
hotel tonight is the amazingly restored Hotel
Multnomah-Embassy Suites, the grandest hotel in town, where suite accommodations await. |
Day 10 |
Portland Oregon |
B D |
Another beautiful day with a special treat, we drive
east to the beautiful Columbia River Gorge, enjoying
a cruise through the Gorge by Sternwheeler
riverboat, an excursion many of our guests rate the
highlight of their holiday. Later today, free time to
enjoy Portland with a special dinner at one of the
most historic and acclaimed restaurants in Portland,
Huber’s, often touted as having the best turkey in the
country. We concur. |
Day 11 |
Seattle Washington |
B L R |
We depart Portland this afternoon for Seattle on the
sleek new ‘Talgo’ train, a short 3.5 hour journey past
Mt. St. Helens and along the Puget Sound and upon
arrival in Seattle, transfer to the Homewood Suites
Hotel where suite accommodations await! |
Day 12 |
The Empire Builder |
B D |
This morning we tour the massive Boeing facility where the jetliners are made followed by a visit to
colorful Pikes Market with its open-air food stalls and
great views of Elliott Bay. There is even time this
afternoon to visit the flagship Nordstrom store or
ride the Monorail before we board the ‘EMPIRE
BUILDER’ in late afternoon bound forGlacier National
Park and the passage out of Seattle is remarkable
with running along the Puget Sound followed by a
daytime passage through the Cascade Mountains
alongside the rushing Skykomish River. |
Day 13 |
The Empire Builder |
B L |
Saving the best for last, after breakfast our train passes through the Glacier National Park and we disembark for a fully day tour
over the continental Divide i the Famed red-open air 'jammer buses' that are an iconic symbol of this great National Park.You will Want Your Camera ready.Later today, an afternooncruise on Lake McDonald with an overnight stay at
the historic Glacier Park Lodge, originally built by the
Great Northern Railroad and the largest log building
in the world. |
| Day 14 |
The Empire Builder |
B L D |
| |
The Empire Builder makes a special stop right at the
hotel this morning and after boarding, we are soon
speeding across Montana and the prairies over the
Burlington Northern Railroad. All day to enjoy train
travel at its best. |
| Day 15 |
The Empire Builder |
B L D |
| |
Morning finds us along the Mississippi River passing
through St. Paul and we arrive at Union Station this
afternoon, with new found friends and memories to
last a lifetime. |
