2007 ITINERARY
Day 1 – Denver, Colorado
Step into a luxe world of adventure and excitement. Fly into the Mile High city of Denver—enjoying the city’s sights if you arrive early. Board your GrandLuxe train in the late afternoon and toast the days to come during your first dinner in the Dining Car. (D)
NEW BONUS FOR EASTBOUND DEPARTURES!
A tour of Colorado Railcar Manufacturing's Plant
Click here for more details.
Day 2 – Rail through the Colorado Rockies
A daylight ride through the incomparable Rocky Mountains. After your first breakfast aboard your GrandLuxe train, sit back and enjoy the show as we take you through some of the country’s most stunning mountain scenery. Climb the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains to the Moffat Tunnel, one of the most famous railroad tunnels in America, whose six mile length through the Continental Divide enables trains to bypass 27 miles of difficult railroad. With average daily progress of just 21 feet, the tunnel took four years to bore and was completed in 1928. You’ll emerge in Winter Park in the Fraser Valley and follow the Colorado River through the renowned Glenwood Canyon—a sight that inspired the creation of the first glass-domed railcars. Roll down the Western Slope of the Rocky Mountains into Grand Junction, where you’ll be served dinner and overnight on the train. (B,L,D)
Day 3 – Arches & Canyonlands National Parks
Some of the most inspiring landscapes on earth. That’s how Arches and Canyonlands National Parks have been described. And today you’ll see why. After breakfast on the train, depart in motorcoaches for a day in these two natural red rock wonderlands, home to the largest concentration of natural sandstone arches in the world—more than 2,000 of them. Highlights include Grandview Point, one of the most scenic and frequently photographed spots in Canyonlands, and Balanced Rock, a precarious-looking 128-foot tower estimated to weigh more than 3,500 tons. After your day in the park, return to the train for dinner and overnight en route to Salt Lake City. (B,L,D)
Day 4 Salt Lake City, Utah
Discover the many sides of Salt Lake City. Your visit to Salt Lake City gives you a chance to tour Olympic venues and perhaps even listen to a recital by an organist for the world-famous Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Or you may choose to tour some of the surrounding mountain communities, including Robert Redford’s famous Sundance Resort. Re-board the train in the late afternoon for dinner and a trip through the Great Salt Lake Desert en route to our jumping off point for Lake Tahoe: Reno, Nevada. (B,L,D)
Day 5 Lake Tahoe, Nevada and the Sierra Nevada Mountains
Spend the day with one of the world’s most beautiful lakes. Wake up in Nevada and enjoy breakfast on board the train before heading to spectacular Lake Tahoe for a day of touring. A boat cruise provides the perfect vantage point for taking in the mountains that surround the 1,685-foot deep lake, the eighth deepest in the world. In the afternoon, re-board the train and take a seat by the window for the spectacular ride over Donner Pass and the descent through the Sierras into California’s historic Gold Rush country. (B,L,D)
Day 6 Napa Valley, California
Enjoy a taste of America’s culinary heartland. The endless rows of grape arbors passing by your window leave no doubt—you’re in wine country. Lunch is served in the Cask Room Cellar at Merryvale Winery, where long tables are elegantly set with vine covered candelabras and shimmering crystal glasses in a cobblestone hall lined with wine casks. Your three-course luncheon is paired with some of Merryvale’s best wines. Then spend the afternoon touring the area, including a visit to Copia, the American Center for Wine Food and the Arts. Conceived by Robert Mondavi with assistance from Julia Child, Eleanor Coppola, Martha Stewart, Alice Waters, and Wayne Thiebaud, Copia highlights everything that Napa Valley has to offer. Part of your comprehensive tour of the facility and its exhibits will be a lecture from a local sommelier or chef on wine or food. This evening your Farewell Dinner is served in the elegant dining cars on board the train. (B,L,D)
Day 7 Oakland, California
A week of fabulous adventures. After breakfast, your GrandLuxe train arrives in Oakland, the final stop of your rail tour. Stay longer for additional sightseeing in the San Francisco Bay Area, or head to the airport to fly home. (B,L,D)
Optional Tour packages
Enjoy one of our optional extensions or additional hotel nights before or after your journey. Contact our reservations office for more details.
