Historic train trips make a memorable family vacation!
Trains and train rides are exotic and pure adventure for children, especially if they have never had the chance to step aboard one. The fact of the matter though, is that train lines have been running for across the country and world for a long time, and many of the lines follow historic trails that wagons, horses and people originally blazed. Rediscovering some of these historic trails with children, on the train, is a great way to put together an exciting and memorable vacation.
Most of these train trips wind their way through North America, but there are a couple international destinations that are historic enough and still appeal to families with children.
Once a lot of settlers reached Oregon, they either boarded a boat bound for the Klondike or decided to set up somewhere along the Pacific Coast. Many headed north, through the Northwest Passage into Canada, and this is the same route the Amtrak Cascade Line runs. Watch as you ride through majestic mountain passes, watch for marine animals off the coast and head into the cities of the Northwest. Seattle sits along this line, where you can catch a whale watching boat to get up close to the same marine animals you might have spied aboard the train.
The Copper Canyon Train Tour is one of the more fabled train trips in the world, leaving Chihuahua and heading to the Gulf of California. Though this train trip only lasts four hours, it is a voyage well worth taking because you pass through some of the most difficult to reach terrain in Mexico. The line hugs mountains, passes through tight tunnels and crosses gorges on jaw dropping engineering marvels. On this trip, you can see the best of Mexico’s countryside, and explore two vastly different, environments and cultural sides of the country. To put together the best family vacation, fly into Chihuahua, ride the train to the coast and book a resort stay on the beach.
Follow the same trail thousands of daring pioneers used to reach the westernmost coast of the country. Starting in Chicago, the California Zephyr crosses the Mississippi River, the Continental Divide, passes through the Rockies, and the Sierra Nevada Mountains. This is one of the longest train rides offered by Amtrak, taking just under 52 hours to reach your destination, in California. Kids will be delighted by the mountain passes, tight tunnel runs, painted cliffs and wildlife viewing from train windows. Guides are on hand to tell them more about what they are seeing as you go.
Transcantábrico Gran Lujo, Spain
To travel the route of the pilgrims, a pilgrimage trail that has been used for centuries and winds its way along the beautiful northern Spanish coast, take the Transcantábrico Gran Lujo. This Grand Train ride takes place aboard a luxury train where every last thing is seen to. Kids will enjoy the view out over cliffs and hidden beaches, through tiny mountain villages and on to Santiago de Compostela. A children’s version of Canterbury Tales makes the perfect prep reading for the storied journey.
Pam Buttikofer is a co-founder of Imperfect Women. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband of 37 years and enjoys spending time with her husband, sons and her lovable pups.
I would love to go on one of those train rides someday. We have lots of old steam engines around here in New England, but they are mostly dinner trains now.
I’ve always been fascinated with historical trains. They were an important mode of transportation at one point and just looked regal and majestic.
The Amtrak Cascades seems like it would make for a great family trip. Family fun and education. Win/Win.
I would love to do this. We have taken train trips on the Oil Creek Tittusville railroad. It was only a couple hours there and back, but it was a lot of fun. We had a ton of kids with us and they had an open cart you could stand out on after the train was in motion. It’s amazing to see all the wildlife along the path.
Wow! I loved this one! As an avid traveler I usually drive but what a terrific change of pace to take a train instead. These are some great trips and I can already see one I am dying to go on. Pinned this for future reference, thanks for sharing!
Wow now this sounds like something that all train buffs should try doing!
wow these are awesome trips. we are considering taking a train next summer to new York for fun.
We did the Smoky Mountain Railway through North Carolina when I was in Junior High School! It was great!
That would be so much fun! My kids would adore it.
I’m always looking for new places to visit with my family, also my daughter totally loves trains. Thank you so much for another amazing post as always 😀
I’d love to hop on an Amtrak and head somewhere new! I have never gone on a train before.
I think a cross-country train ride would be really neat! I’ve taken the train to Canada and that was fun for us as a family!
My granddaughter and I took a train from Sacramento to Omaha. If you do cross-country, I recommend you do the roomettes rather than the sleeper cars or if you do the sleeper cars, do not get the ones with the private bathroom. Every time the train stops, the sewage pipes slosh from one end of the car to the other and it smells bad. Go first class. That way all of your meals are provided in the dining car. The menu is excellent and they give you a decent choice. All you do is sign for it with your room number. There is no extra charge. Depending on where you live, you might also enjoy the fall foliage trip through New England or the Coast Starlight, which is routed along the Pacific Ocean as you go north. It goes through cheese and wine country and they do tasting sessions for first class adults. With the rooms you will also get full use of the observation cars. if you take photos from the train, put the lens against the window glass to shoot that way you don’t get the glare from the window. Above all else, have a great time.
The California Zephyr sounds delightful. We’ve been wanting to take the kids on a train ride, but I’m not sure if a 52 hour ride would be a good way to start.
I remember going on steam trains as a child – I used to find them so exciting and magical – I would love to take some time and ride some of these. x
Now that would be very interesting to do, just like the good old days.
We’re hoping to go out west one day. I’ll have to look up one of these trips. I’d LOVE to take a train trip and have never done so!
We have never been on a train trip, but we do like to visit the Hesston Steam museum. They have a lot of old Steam Trains, and a few are still in working order!
These train trips sound fascinating. I’ll have to add one or two or all of them to my travel bucket list. Thanks for sharing
I have never taken a train trip either – I’d like to do so someday. My only concern is whether I’d get motion sickness – as much as I’d be interested in the views, on a long train ride I’d like to be able to read without getting nauseated!
Those trips look like so much fun! It would be a unique vacation experience to see the country that way!
I think it would be so much fun to take a train trip! I’ve been on modern trains, like subways and the bullet train in Japan, but never an old-fashioned one!
This is very interesting. I would love to take a train ride just looking at great scenery. Come to think of it, I have only rode the train a handful of times, all in London and Paris.
I would love to go on a train ride someday. Every time we watch a movie with trains in it, my son asks when we’ll be able to ride one. I’ll have to look into pricing for the California Zephyr because it’s the closest starting point for us. Thanks!
We use to go visit the Tweetsie Rail road in Boone, NC. I need to take my kids there soon!