Tag Archives: Family Travel

5 Unbelievable U.S. Train Routes

When I was a small chi!d my family used to take the train from Missouri to Arizona for vacation. I loved watching the world go by as we glided down the train track, and sleeping on the train was an adventure. Now in 2022, I am receiving requests from clients who want to travel by train so they can slow down and enjoy the beauty of the U.S.

Trains are making a comeback and it’s easy to see why. Ease of travel, inexpensive rates, and gorgeous scenery makes traveling the rails incredibly attractive. And while European train routes get all the attention, there are a few routes closer to home that you should definitely check out. Skip your next road trip and check out these five unbelievable train routes through the U.S. instead.

Amtrak Coast Starlight Train

This 35-hour ride travels between Seattle and Los Angeles. Traversing down the coast opens with the dramatic snow covered peaks of the Cascade Mountains, as the land flattens, bountiful forests and sprawling seas present themselves through the floor-to-ceiling windows in the Sightseer Lounge Car. This two-day trek is mercifully taken on the country’s only sleeper train, complete with the luxuries you’d expect on the Orient Express, including free food, champagne room service, private bathrooms, and a daily turn-down service.

Enjoy three-course meals are served, and in the confined spaces (where the wifi is spotty and the cell service is spottier) strike up conversations with other travelers. You will discover interesting conversation pops up between young adventurers headed to a hiking trip in Oregon and retired nomads breathing in the awe-inspiring views that may have been overlooked in their younger years.

Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad

The 1879 gold rush birthed the necessity for industrial transportation capable of hauling mounds of precious metal out of California — thus the Denver and Rio Grande Railway. It didn’t take long for passengers to spread word that gold wasn’t the only precious thing about this railway. Spectacular views of Colorado’s luscious peaks and rivers ensured that the train stayed in operation long after the gold veins ran dry. The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gorge route features steep drop-offs that are so awe-inspiring they have served as a muse to multiple artists, including C.W. Mcall, who dedicated an entire song to the Silverton.

“Well now listen to the whistle in the rockwood cut on the high line to Silverton Town

And you’re gonna get a shiver when you check out the river

Which is four hundred feet straight down.”

Pick up a round-trip ticket for a day of adventure. The 3.5-hour trek to Silverton winds across the river five times before dropping you off to explore Silverton. Grab some lunch and roam around the town before boarding and enjoying a relaxing trip back to Durango.

Cape Cod Central Railroad

The luxurious Cape Cod railway offers stunning coastal views and posh upgrade packages. Salt marshes, sand dunes and woodlands are just a few of The Cape’s natural wonders that a trip in this cranberry-colored car offers. If you’re especially interested in the area’s ecosystem, purchase a ticket on the ecology car for a truly educational experience. If fine dining is your thing, opt for the platinum class dining car, where a five-course meal is served in a vintage dining car. If you prefer unadulterated views of the passing landscape, the diamond class excursion car is for you, featuring panoramic windows in an elevated car.

Grand Canyon Railway

In 1901, the Grand Canyon Railway began carrying passengers through Arizona’s wonder of the world. Cowboys and musicians entertain guests in restored locomotive cars as you wind through prairies, deserts and pine forests. This trip is shorter — 2 hours and 15 minutes — so you can easily make a day trip of it, or extend the experience and stay at the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel. Despite its length, this railway also offers different classes of service depending on your budget and personal preferences. Additionally, they offer different “time period” cars that will transport you to a different decade in the canyon.

We recommend the observation dome for those interested in getting the full effect of the jaw-dropping landscape. This car features a full glass enclosure perched above the other cars, and serves drinks and snacks to boot. The luxury parlor is another great option if the train experience is as interesting to you as the views, enjoy the back deck for some fresh air and cozy lounge seating for optimum relaxation.  

Amtrak Empire Builder

Following the old trail of Lewis and Clark, the Empire Builder is a 46-hour journey through the heart of the midwest. Departing from Chicago, take in the gorgeous amber waves of grain, tunnels, deserts and jagged cliffs. Like the Coast Starlight Train, the Empire Builder is run by Amtrak and offers sleeper cars, making the trip infinitely more comfortable. Seeing Minneapolis glow in the night sky is an awe-inspiring juxtaposition to the mountains of Glacier National Park. Make the ride your own by heading on to the Portland or Seattle for an urban ending to the “big sky Montana” leg of your journey!

Do you want to go on a cross-country adventure aboard a Train or go to an All-inclusive Resort, Plan a Destination Wedding, Book an Unforgettable Honeymoon, or take that Cruise you have been dreaming of?

I am always here to help you with your next travel adventure. Please contact me via email at mary@vacationstoanywhere.com to chat about the travel experience you have been waiting to take! A quick reminder, I can book you anywhere in the world!

Travel Planning Mistakes You Don’t Know You’re Making

So you are ready to head out and go on a new adventure…you have contacted me to book your hotel or resort, transportation, and anything else you might want to do or need to make your trip unforgettable, but have you considered a few extra fine details? Below I have listed a few things that you might overlook while traveling.

Not Trying Out Your New Gear

You’ve bought all the gear you need for your trip, and you’ve tried on the new hiking shoes, backpack, and rain jacket. But just trying it on isn’t enough — have you tried it out? Before you can determine whether your gear is truly good, you need to test it in the real world. Find a way to simulate what you’ll be doing on the trip so you can use your new gear before you leave. If you’re planning to spend your vacation walking around a European city, go for a long walk around your city wearing your new shoes to ensure you don’t get blisters. If you’ll be hiking in South America, suit up with your new backpack (plus everything you’re planning to carry) and do a test hike on a local trail. You’ll thank yourself when you arrive at your destination.

Not Learning About the Local Culture

It’s essential to be respectful of local cultures while traveling, but you can’t respect traditions if you don’t know what they are. Do research or talk to someone from the country you’ll be traveling. This can help you figure out how you’ll be expected to behave when you arrive. Is it respectful to cover your knees in the local landmarks? Is coming a few minutes late considered rude? What about tipping? It would help if you asked these questions before you leave, as the answers might affect how you pack.

Not Strategically Packing Your Carry-on

A change of clothes, prescription medicines, and any valuable or valuable-to-you items need to be in your carry-on, not your checked luggage. Airlines are 70% less likely to lose suitcases than they were 10 years ago, but still, you don’t want to be part of the small percentage who suffers. Being caught in a foreign city without medicines you need is a recipe for disaster, so put anything in your carry-on that you might need.

Not Alerting Your Bank You’ll Be Traveling

If you begin using your debit or credit card as soon as you land, your bank might see the charges racking up in a foreign city and freeze your account. To prevent this from happening, let your bank know that you’ll be traveling before you leave. Most banks make it easy to notify them with an online system, and you’ll be able to shop in peace.

Do you want to go to an All-inclusive Resort, Plan a Destination Wedding, Book an Unforgettable Honeymoon, or take that Cruise you have been dreaming of?

I am always here to help you with your next travel adventure. Please contact me via email at mary@vacationstoanywhere.com to chat about the travel experience you have been waiting to take! A quick reminder, I can book you anywhere in the world!

COVID-19 Updates: US to drop COVID testing requirement for International Flyers Sunday, June 12th, 2022

Yes, you are reading this right! Starting Sunday, June 12th, US travelers are no longer required to test for Covid before returning to the US. Several people I have spoken with about international travel have been waiting for this day to come, and it is here! Do you want to go to an All-inclusive Resort, Plan a Destination Wedding, Book an Unforgettable Honeymoon, or take that Cruise you have been dreaming of? Please contact me via email at mary@vacationstoanywhere.com to chat about the travel experience you have been waiting to take! A quick reminder, I can book you anywhere in the world! 🙂

According to the CDC, as of Sunday, June 12, 2022, air passengers entering the U.S. will no longer be required to present documentation of a negative COVID-19 viral test (called a Qualifying Test) to return to the U.S.

Please note that COVID-19 testing requirements vary by country. It is important to stay up-to-date with Covid-19 testing policies that may impact your vacation to destinations outside of the U.S.

For more information regarding COVID-19 testing updates, please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Additional Information:

Family Travel Trends

Multigenerational Travel

Multigenerational travel is still one of the fastest-growing segments of the travel industry and will undoubtedly continue to be popular after extended families have been apart for so long and are eager to be together again. A survey conducted by Marriott Bonvoy found that spending time together and creating memories are the top reasons why families go on trips together. It also found that 93% of grandparents take at least one multi-generational trip per year and that 89% of parents said they are planning on taking a family vacation this year. Needless to say, family travel isn’t going anywhere.

Sound like fun? Cruises are a great way to explore with the whole family.

Domestic Family Travel

Many aspects of family travel have remained unchanged, despite the pandemic. However, domestic travel remains much more prevalent than international travel. In a 2021 survey conducted by the Family Travel Association (FTA), 83% of respondents plan to take a multi-day vacation in the U.S. within the next year.

Beach vacations are what 61% of families are planning, according to FTA’s survey. Theme parks, water parks and national parks are trending too, with 51% and 46% of responding families interested in taking these kinds of trips. Lucky for them, theme parks are open and national parks are free to visit a few days every year, with multiple pass options on the non-free days.

Use of Travel Advisors

It’s no joke that the state of travel is much different now than it was pre-pandemic. Cancellation and safety protocols are more important than ever before to travelers. Lucky for them, travel advisors are the experts. According to FTA’s 2021 survey, 65% of respondents say they would consider using a travel advisor in the next two years. Many said that the pandemic has increased their likelihood of using a travel advisor. From peace of mind, many family travelers are leaning towards travel advisors for their destination expertise and in-depth product knowledge.”

Families are here to make memories and travel advisors are here to make that happen!

Did you know…

little girl walking holding her parents hands
  • The most popular vacation types for families are beach vacations, visiting theme parks and visiting national parks. Millennial and Gen Z families tend to take city vacations or visit water parks.
  • Family travelers’ main sources for travel inspiration are family travel-related social media content.
  • When family travelers who used a travel advisor to book in the past were asked why they used one, 48% said travel advisors have in-depth knowledge and 43% said they have better rates and prices. See, you advisors really are the best!
  • Kids are now decision makers, too! Sure, the adults hold the purse strings, but kids have more influence than ever on their vacation’s destinations and activities.

Family Travel Facts

Top U.S. Destinations for Family Travel:

united states of america
  1. Orlando
  2. Maui
  3. Fort Myers
  4. Oahu
  5. Tampa  
  6. Fort Lauderdale
  7. Phoenix
  8. Destin
  9. Clearwater
  10. Denver
chart
What types of destinations are families planning to travel to?

Domestic – 83%
International – 19%
Source: Family Travel Association 2021 Family Travel Survey

Let me help you plan your Dream Vacation, Destination Wedding, Honeymoon, Family Reunion, or Cruise! Please reach out to me with any questions you may have!