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2023 Tour code: RM-BWPA-23
About the tour
Train rides, mountain scenery and national parks highlight this rail tour of America's West. Begin with an overnight rail journey aboard the legendary California Zephyr into the Colorado Rockies to Grand Junction. From here, we travel the scenic route to Midway, UT, for two nights at the relaxing Homestead Resort in the Heber Valley. There are plenty of ways to unwind while at the resort, and the surrounding scenes are breathtaking. We immerse ourselves in the regional beauty with a ride on the Heber Valley Railroad into Provo Canyon. Our travels continue to Jackson, WY, stopping en route at the National Oregon/California Trail Center to learn the plights of those that traveled the Oregon Trail. Upon arrival in Jackson, Old West vibes become immediately apparent. From the wooden sidewalks to the antler arch, and from the saloons to the wood-front buildings, this town is an attraction in and of itself. A guided tour through Grand Teton National Park is a highlight of our time here before departing for yet another national treasure: Yellowstone National Park. Two days of touring present some of the most majestic sites in the park, including the Paint Pots and Old Faithful. On the road again, we travel to Kalispell, MT, where the Crown of the Continent awaits our discovery: Glacier National Park. We take in the vistas of this awe-inspiring land from the seats of a vintage Red Jammer Bus as we tour the famous Going-to-the-Sun Road. Eleven days of adventures, three national parks and beloved destinations throughout the Wild West: These are the makings of a rail tour to remember!
Highlights
Activity level Natural Explorer
You don’t mind spending the day on your feet. You enjoy sightseeing that includes walking, standing or stair climbing. You’re okay with longer days that are more active, such as multiple sightseeing stops, longer motorcoach journeys and getting on and off ships and trains.
What’s included
Itinerary
Arrive at Chicago Union Station and board the California Zephyr. Settle into your onboard accommodations and prepare for your overnight rail journey. Travelers may elect to travel from San Francisco or points in between and meet your tour manager in Grand Junction. Overnight train.
Additional information
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Reviews
4.2 / 5 · 12 reviews
KAREN NUSSBAUM
Submitted 12/Sep
Great trip we plan on another trip next year
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MALINDA PAULINE VALDEZ
Submitted 5/Sep
This was a great trip. The train ride overnight was not comfortable for the money we paid for overnight accommodations. The food was not good and the dining car people were unorganized. The 3 days at Yellowstone was too much. No TV and AC was challenging. The food at Yellowstine was not good. The walk to get to the food was too long and not worth it. I shopped at the grocery store and ate that food instead. The rest of the trip was amazing. Good hotels and great food.
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Ivorysview
Submitted 5/Sep
This was our first escorted tour. We are hooked! Grand Teton, Yellowstone, and Glacier National Park in one trip. Our tour director (Dewi) and driver (Francey) really made this vacation special. They took us to several places not on the schedule because they wanted to share their special places. They went well beyond what anyone expected. We stopped for a relaxing glass of wine on our way to Yellowstone. I loved the hike thru the Geyser Basin. We even managed to get to the grand prismatic due to the heroic effects of our tour directed us into the parking lot. On the way out of Yellowstone we saw our first bear. It was so quick no one got a picture. Thinking quicky our driver saw a chance to circle back, and we followed the bear as it for foraged for food along the road. While the places we saw were incredible it was the VRB team that made this vacation beyond all expectations. I will be traveling with VBR again. I will also say the hotel in Midway was subpar. The grounds were beautiful, but the rooms needed renovation and the staff was not friendly. VBR needs to use a different hotel. The Farwell dinner was a disaster. Bees everywhere several guess were sting. The host did not use a mic and shouted his stories which made him sound angry and not funny. He was very rude to our tour director. We had to take the bus down a very narrow gravel drive which was very difficult for the driver. We decided to leave early, headed back to the hotel and had a great time chatting in the lobby. I suggest VBR find another sight for this event.
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ANTHONY JEDLINSKI
Submitted 5/Sep
A wonderful "right paced" tour of some of America's greatest scenery.
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JOSEPH V PETRONIE III
Submitted 19/Aug
During our stays in Midway and Yellowstone it was quite a distance for the older travelers to walk to dinner. Weren't any dinner options either. I would have preferred to stay in Jackson 2 nights and maybe skip Midway. Attractions were in easy walking distance and many choices for things to do during our downtime. Edgar was a great tour guide!! Enjoyed him very much.
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MONICA SANDRA PINETTE
Submitted 5/Aug
Well they charge unreasonable prices for the roomettes on the train, which we found out would have been less booked through Amtrak. So we didn't get one. Which made the 1st part of the trip hell. The guide was awesome but yeah id book my own trip next time not through vacations by rail .
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