There’s nothing like watching snow fall – although most would agree, it’s from the warmth behind a big window. Wintertime is an eternally popular time to travel, bringing families together from faraway places, or bringing adventurers to new parts of the world for a taste of their traditions.
A plane can take you from point A to point Z. But what about all of the points in between?
The train is becoming an increasingly bypassed and forgotten method of transportation – and in the wintertime, that’s quite a tragedy. As you glide through new cities and the old Earth resting between them, there is tons to see. Especially in the fresh snowfall of winter.
Check out these 5 magical train routes that can totally upgrade your winter vacation:
1. Alaska’s Aurora Winter
This 12-hour train ride from Anchorage to Fairbanks gives you plenty of time to see all of the mountains, lakes, and uninhibited wildlife (such as moose, caribou and bears) that the still untreaded region has to offer.
2. Amtrak Yellowstone
Yellowstone is already called the most beautiful national park in the United States, almost unanimously. But while most people visit it during its summer months for hikes and camping, the winter months have their own magical appeal that fewer people know about – and this train ride was designed for its enjoyment.
3. Coastal Starlight
The Pacific Northwest, or as its inhabitants like to call it, “The West Coast,” is one of the most beautiful – and continuously long – coastlines in the world. Yet, the scenery changes drastically from top to bottom, through barren beaches, lush rainforests, and jagged coastal mountains and cliffs. With one train showing you all the faces of its beauty, this trip will make you rep the West Coast like a local for the rest of your days to follow.
