Photo by Rocky Mountaineer
Some of the most widely traveled people on earth were recently polled about what they considered the world’s most exciting and scenic train rides. Here, in order, are the top 10 rides chosen by members of the Society of American Travel Writers, along with the organization’s descriptions.
1. The Rocky Mountaineer (www.rockymountaineer.com), which offers spectacular two-day journeys through the Canadian Rocky Mountains from Vancouver to Banff or Jasper.
2. The Glacier Express (www.glacierexpress.ch), the famous Swiss mountain railway from St. Moritz to Zermatt. This 7 1/2-hour journey crosses 291 bridges and burrows through 91 tunnels.
3. The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad (www.durangotrain.com), which winds through rugged canyons in the remote wilderness of Colorado’s two-million-acre San Juan National Forest.
4. The Bernina Express (www.rhb.ch), which runs from Chur, Switzerland to Tirano, Italy, and makes the highest rail crossing of the Alps, passing from icy glaciers to palm-shaded piazzas in just a few hours.
5. Peru Rail Cusco to Machu Picchu (www.perurail.com), which carries passengers on a dramatic journey through the high Andes. There are three levels of service, from backpacker trains to Vistadome cars to the luxurious blue and gold Hiram Bingham train.
6. The Coastal Classic Train on the Alaska Railroad (www.akrr.com), which winds through the wilderness between Anchorage and Seward. Massive glaciers are visible from the track as the train climbs into the Kenai Mountains and travels to the shores of Resurrection Bay for connection to Kenai Fjords National Park, offering whale watching, sea kayaking, tidewater glacier viewing, fishing, and dog sled rides.
7. The Royal Scotsman (www.royalscotsman.com), which rolls through sweeping glens, towering peaks and mirror-calm lochs as the train weaves through wild countryside and along virgin stretches of coast on two- to seven- night journeys in the Scottish highlands.
8. The Whistler Mountaineer (www.whistlermountaineer.com) in Canada, a three-hour ride along the magnificent coast of British Columbia, from Vancouver to Whistler, famous for its views of cities, old-growth forests, deep valleys, snowcapped peaks and seascapes.
9. Mexico’s El Chepe (www.chepe.com.mx), which ventures into the imposing landscapes of the Sierra Tarahumara and into Mexico’s Copper Canyon, passing through 87 tunnels and crossing 37 bridges. The Copper Canyon is four times the size of the Grand Canyon – and deeper.
10. The Flam Railway (www.norwaynutshell.com) is regarded as one of the highlights of the “Norway in a Nutshell” tour. The 20-kilometer-long journey from the mountain station of Myrdal takes 55 minutes and presents views of some of the most magnificent mountain scenery in Norway.
For more about the Society of American Travel Writers, visit www.satw.org.
Worth quoting
“There isn't a train I wouldn't take, No matter where it's going.”
-- Edna St. Vincent Millay
In search of savings in Britain
Britain on the Cheap is a new website that seeks out bargains in B&Bs, hotels, restaurants, shops, theaters and attractions. Recent savings included 25 percent off Historic House Hotels stays; 20% off the Original Bus Open-Top Tour; and free upgrades on the Heathrow Express.
Visit www.britainonthecheap.com. For savings in other cities, check out www.citiesonthecheap.com.
How’s that again?
Sign spotted at a zoo in Japan: “Do Not Feed Your Hand.”
Cruisegoers can see an original Declaration
A rare, original copy of the Declaration of Independence will be aboard Princess Cruises’ Alaska-based based ships the week of July 4. The Declaration will be on display aboard the vessels for about two hours while each ship is docked in Juneau. The document, valued at more than $8 million, will be shown aboard Diamond Princess and Star Princess on July 1; Coral Princess on July 2; Island Princess on July 3; Pacific Princess and Golden Princess on July 6, and Sapphire Princess and Sea Princess on July 8.
For full details, click here.
Got the pink slip? You may get a free getaway
In 1992, when Leslie and Brian Mulcahy came to the Rabbit Hill Inn in Lower Waterford, Vt., Brian’s middle management job was being eliminated. So they went from being guests to embarking on a new career as innkeepers at the inn two years later. And now they have launched the Pink Slip Getaway Giveaway Each month through April, 2010 (except September and October 2009), the Rabbit Hill Inn will give away at least one two-night getaway to a couple who has been unemployed for six months or more if their letter explaining their situation is chosen.
For complete details, visit www.rabbithillinn.com.
Answer to Wednesday’s trivia question
The International Bridge links Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., and Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. The bridge spans the St. Marys River. (The Michigan city, incidentally, is the birthplace of a notable journalist: Peter C. Hotton, the Boston Globe’s "Handyman on Call.")
The best food and the least rude
Singapore Airlines has the best food and the most polite flight attendants, according to a survey by SeatGuru.Com, which tells you all about your airline seat. Coming in second in the food category was British Airlines, followed by Continental and Air France. For the worst food, American Airlines came in first, followed by United, US Airways and Delta. As for the best flight attendants, Singapore was followed by British Airways and Southwest Airlines. United had the rudest, according to the 1,600 people who participated in the survey, followed closely by American and US Airways.
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