
Colorful views of New England in the Fall
Oct 14, 2025 · By Rob Payne
Experience New England’s colorful fall foliage with Vacations by Rail’s great range of escorted tours, exploring the White Mountains, Cape Cod and Maine.
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America's national parks were born of the idea to protect the country's natural wonders for all to enjoy. The country's first national park, Yellowstone, was established in 1872; today, the United States is home to 63 national parks, each showcasing spectacular treasures. Vacations By Rail offers nearly 50 vacation packages that highlight these fantastic destinations, allowing you to visit one or more national parks on a well-connected route.
A visit to Yellowstone brings fumaroles, geysers and sparkling lakes, whereas in Yosemite, towering ancient trees paint a lush scene against stoic mountains. Arches National Park brings soaring sandstone arches and colorful rock formations, while Grand Canyon National Park offers breathtaking vistas of one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. See the tallest mountain in the United States, Denali, in Alaska's Denali National Park, or the sprawling scenes from Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park. Whether traveling by train on one of our escorted tours, embarking on a rail-drive expedition, or joining a cruise vacation, each itinerary reveals America's many natural wonders.




The "Crown of the Continent" - located in Montana's Big Sky Country - was the 10th declared national park to conserve the beauty of the ice glaciers.

This Alaskan National Park boasts plenty of outdoor activites throughout the year from dog sledding to hiking to river rafting.

Sandstone arches and burnished red rocks across 119 square miles make Arches the Southwest's most beautiful and popular national park.

The largest canyon in the world with UNESCO World Heritage Site distinction, located in Arizona and stretching over 277 miles.

Yellowstone became the first national park in 1872 after rumors spread of a place where boiling water erupts from the ground.

Known for its iconic waterfalls, Yosemite National Park is located in California and offers a variety of activities from fishing to horseback riding.

Located in Utah, Bryce Canyon National Park covers almost 36,000 acres of land and is known for its rock formations called "hoodoos."







The classic ambiance of an overnight rail journey meets the splendors of one of America's top natural attractions on this rail vacation to Arizona. Join Amtrak's Southwest Chief on its cross-country route from Chicago to Flagstaff, and then board the 120-year-old Grand Canyon Railway on its route to the Grand Canyon. Uncover iconic views and top...





The Old West's rugged frontier towns and renowned national historic sites are hallmarks of this 11-day escorted tour. We begin our journey across America's Western frontier by joining modern technology with nostalgic travel methods, riding Amtrak's California Zephyr from Chicago to Provo, Utah. The route takes us across the Rocky Mountains and...





Nine unforgettable days take you deep into Alaska's wild beauty on this expertly guided adventure. Your journey begins in Fairbanks, where a riverboat cruise introduces you to the region's scenic waterways, and a visit to Trail Breaker Kennel lets you experience the thrill of dog sledding. From Fairbanks, board the legendary Alaska Railroad's...





Discover five of America's beloved national parks on this rail tour to America's West. Start your tour with a classic overnight rail adventure aboard the Empire Builder, following the pioneer route into Big Sky Country. Here, we visit the first national park of the itinerary, Glacier National Park, surrounded by glorious natural spectacles. Moving...





Discover the natural wonders and rugged wilderness of the Southwest on this scenic rail tour through Canyon Country. This tour has it all: amazing national parks, classic train journeys, and spectacular sightseeing and excursions. Your adventure begins in Chicago with a classic rail journey aboard the legendary California Zephyr to Grand Junction...





Discover the beauty of the Southwest in autumn on this 9-day escorted adventure featuring national parks, historic rail journeys, and the world-famous International Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque. Travel on the iconic California Zephyr to Grand Junction. View the breathtaking landscapes of Arches and Mesa Verde national parks, before riding the...





Seek the magical aurora borealis on a sensational winter journey from Fairbanks to Anchorage, riding the amazing Aurora Winter Train in the shadow of Denali. An evening in the wilderness provides a great chance to catch the Northern Lights, while an exciting dog-sled ride through the snow-covered tundra and a curling lesson help uncover the...

Set your sights on amazing scenes of America's wilderness with visits to six national parks on this unforgettable 14-day tour of the West. The journey begins on Amtrak's Southwest Chief, aboard which beautiful vistas of pueblos, deserts, mountains and cities come to life en route to Flagstaff. Our first glimpse at the sheer majesty of nature is...







A UNESCO-listed attraction and one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, the Grand Canyon beckons on this wintertime vacation. Find yourself transported back to the golden age of train travel as you join Amtrak's Southwest Chief on its overnight journey from Chicago to Arizona. The rail adventures continue aboard the 120-year-old Grand...







Beginning in Los Angeles, board Amtrak's Southwest Chief for the overnight journey to Flagstaff, Arizona, where you will catch the historic Grand Canyon Railway for the ride to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. This 4-day rail vacation includes travel aboard two iconic trains, hotel accommodations in Flagstaff and Grand Canyon National Park,...







Venture into the heart of Alaska on this seven-day independent rail journey. Uncover scenic landscapes as the Denali Star rolls past a showcase of quintessential Alaskan sights, starting in vibrant Anchorage. Enjoy time in historic Talkeetna, enjoying a jetboat ride along the Talkeetna and Susitna rivers. Embark on a tundra wilderness tour of the...





California is a land of possibilities, and this unforgettable tour displays some of its greatest offerings. Over eight days, soak up the modern and historic sides of San Francisco and travel into nature, where towering redwood trees surround us on the Redwood Forest Steam Train. We also admire the mountain and waterfall panoramas of Yosemite...
America's national parks were born of the idea to protect the country's natural wonders for all to enjoy. The country's first national park, Yellowstone, was established in 1872, and today, the United States is home to 63 national parks, each showcasing spectacular treasures. A visit to Yellowstone brings fumaroles, geysers, and sparkling lakes. At Yosemite in California, towering ancient trees paint a lush scene against stoic mountains. Arches National Park brings amazing sandstone arches and colorful rock formations, while Grand Canyon National Park offers breathtaking vistas of sweeping red canyon plunging deep into the earth. The tallest mountain in the United States, Mt. Denali, sits proudly amongst the vast landscape of Denali National Park. And this is just a sampling of the best national parks; each park brings its own splendor and vast expanses of land that are home to hundreds of species of flora and fauna.
For a unique vacation in the USA, visit one or more of these national parks by train. Some of the country's most popular parks, such as Glacier National Park and Grand Canyon National Park, are situated along iconic rail routes that offer daily service to these must-see destinations. Other parks, including Yellowstone, Yosemite, Grand Teton, and Arches, are easily accessible by bus, car or motorcoach.
Vacations By Rail offers nearly 50 vacation packages that highlight these fantastic destinations. Perfect for families, for seniors and for adventurers of all walks of life, national park vacations take many forms. Select from escorted tours that are guided by tour managers brimming with information about the railroads and parks that lie ahead, or embark on a rail-drive expedition that combines the romance of rail travel with a self-guided road trip. Select packages even include cruise segments that present protected lands and scenic waterways from a floating vantage point.