Winter Train Trips

There are two types of winter vacations in the U.S.: those that take place in warmer destinations where the woes of winter fade into memory and those that intensify the season's offerings and embrace fluffy snow and chilly temperatures. Whichever front you land on, a winter rail vacation is your ticket to the trip of a lifetime.

Winter vacations with snow are most prevalent, beginning in December through January and February. Wintry itineraries may take you to places like Chicago, where lake-effect snow creates a magical scene amongst the towering buildings. From Chicago, perhaps join Amtrak's Empire Builder for a trek through the white expanses of the northern prairies to Seattle or board the California Zephyr to ride through the snow-capped Colorado Rockies and the Sierra Nevada Mountains in pursuit of milder weather in San Francisco. Alaska also tops the list of the country's most popular places to travel in winter, thanks to its winter wonderland atmosphere. Of course, Alaska is also a prime place to view the northern lights, and there are few better places to see them in America than from the remote comforts of Bettles Lodge or Chena Hot Springs.

Join voyagers that appreciate sunny skies and sandals by traveling to one of the warm places to visit in winter. The bright blue waters of the Pacific welcome winter travelers to California's coast. One of the easiest ways to see the state's great cities is to board Amtrak's Coast Starlight. Tour packages featuring this train venture to San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego, highlighting beautiful views as the vacation unfolds. Warm winter vacations in the USA may also feature the Southwest, where the Grand Canyon reigns supreme, or the deep South, including New Orleans, where the temperature rarely dips below the 60s during the day. Begin your year refreshed and recharged in any one of these wintertime destinations.