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By admin, January 10, 2010 7:44 am

Redwood National Park was created in 1968 to protect land adjacent to the California state redwood parks that were formed in the 1920s.  Currently the combined state and federal lands are administered under a joint agreement between the National Park Service and the California Department of Parks and Recreation.  The combined parks cover over 110,000 acres including 37 miles of pristine California coastline. 

Since Delta is the only commercial airline into the local airport, it is expensive to fly into the area.  Although not close to an Amtrak train line, there is bus service from Amtrak stations to the Redwood area, which may be the cheapest way to travel to the park.  Here are three tips/hints for effectively traveling to/from Redwood by land:

One:  Martinez, California is your Amtrak connection to Redwood National Park.  The San Joaquin line from Bakersfield (with connecting service from San Diego and Los Angeles) and Oakland (with connecting service from San Francisco) stops there.  Martinez is also on the Capitol Corridor line from San Jose, Oakland and Sacramento (with connecting service from Reno.)  From Martinez, there are two Amtrak Thruway Motorcoaches departing at 10:25 am and 3:25 pm for the six to seven hour ride to the Redwood area. 

Two:  Since there is no shuttle service at Redwood National Park, you must rent a car to see the entire park.  Therefore, the McKinleyville stop at the Arcata Airport is the destination for your bus ride.  If you arrive before the rental car counters close in the early evening, you have a choice of companies from which to rent.  If you arrive when the rental car counters are closed, you can take a complementary shuttle bus to your hotel for the night and come back to the airport in the morning to rent your car.  There are a number of hotels in the area that will provide this service.  The motorcoaches back to Martinez leave McKinleyville at 6:15 am and 10:30 am.

Three:  The need to make reservations for the train portion of your trip depends on the service you take.  Although the Capitol Corridor trains are unreserved, the San Joaquins are all-reserved trains.  Although you do not need reservations for the Thruway Motorcoach Connection service, you may be able to receive discounted advance purchase fares or special fares for students and seniors by buying both your train and bus ticket in advance.

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By admin, January 7, 2010 7:37 pm

Vancouver, British Columbia is an ideal location for the Olympic Winter Games.  It is a major metropolitan area with significant infrastructure, close to world-class mountains and in a country that loves winter sports.  The city’s international culture embodies strong elements from both the East and West.

Another feature of this location is its proximity to the United States.  Situated approximately 40 miles from the US/Canada border, Vancouver will be easy to reach by land.  You may wish to consider rail travel as a relaxing and affordable method to travel to the Games.  Given the elevated demand for airline seats into Vancouver around the time of the Olympics, a land alternative may be the most enjoyable way to get to Vancouver.

Here are five tips/hints for effectively traveling to/from the Vancouver Winter Olympics by Amtrak:

One:  You must first decide your gateway city.  Seattle and Portland, Oregon are the logical choices.  Although both cities enjoy great air service, you may wish to take the Empire Builder from Chicago or Minneapolis/St. Paul to either gateway city.  You will experience the vast Northern plains and the scenic Rocky Mountains (including Glacier National Park) along the way.  Alternatively, you can fly into California and take the Coast Starlight north from Los Angeles or Oakland.  Like the Empire Builder, this train has Superliner sleeper accommodations.  Finally, there is Amtrak Cascades service five times a day between Portland and Seattle. 

Two:  Once you reach Seattle, you have multiple means of transportation north to the Olympic Games.  You can travel on one of two Amtrak Cascades trains that include a stop in Bellingham, Washington before arriving in Vancouver.  Alternatively, you can connect to an Amtrak Thruway Motorcoach that only stops in Surrey and Richmond, British Columbia before its arrival in Vancouver.  If you really want to explore numerous modes of transportation, you can take the Victoria Clipper high-speed catamaran from Seattle to Victoria, BC and the Pacific Coast Lines bus service from Victoria to Vancouver.

Three:  The next decision is where to stay.  Most people will elect to find lodging in Vancouver.  The Pacific Central Station, Amtrak’s depot in Vancouver, is two blocks from the Main Street – Science World station on TransLink’s SkyTrain service.  Four TransLink and two Coast Mountain bus lines run close to the train station.  You will want your hotel to be close to a transit lines since there will not be any private automobile parking at the Olympic venues.  The good news is that your Olympic event ticket gives you unlimited, free access to the TransLink system on the day of that event and the early morning of the next day.

Four:  Two alternative bases for the Olympic Games are Bellingham, WA and the Whistler, British Columbia areas.  Bellingham is about sixty miles from Vancouver.  Both Amtrak Cascades and Greyhound bus service are available to Vancouver many times a day.  If mountain sports are the focus of your visit, you may wish to stay in the Whistler area.  There is Greyhound Canada Thruway service from Vancouver’s Pacific Central Station to the Pemberton/Whistler area.

Five:  It will be extremely important to make advanced reservations for transportation and lodging to see the Olympic Winter Games.  By buying your transportation tickets and reserving your lodging in advance, you may be able to receive discounted advanced purchase fares or fares for students and seniors.  Finally, US citizens should remember that they will need to present their passports to cross back into the United States from Canada.

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By admin, January 3, 2010 7:46 am

Yosemite National Park is one of United States’ first national parks.  It received that designation in 1890 with the prodding of naturalist John Muir.  Today over 3.5 million people visit the 1200 acres of the park annually.

Fortunately, Yosemite National Park has Amtrak service close by on the San Joaquin service.  From Merced, CA, you have automobile and bus alternatives to the park.  Here are five tips/hints for effectively traveling to/from Yosemite by land:

One:  There are three or four Amtrak trains northbound from Bakersfield and southbound from Sacramento or Oakland each day that have connecting service to Yosemite.  At Merced, connect to the Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System (YARTS) bus right at the Amtrak station.  The YARTS bus stops in Catheys Valley, Mariposa, Midpines and El Portal on its way to/from Yosemite.  In the park itself, the bus stops at the Yosemite Lodge, Valley Visitor Center, Ahwahnee Hotel and Curry Village.  The same bus will get you back to the Amtrak Merced station in time to board your outbound train.

Two:  From the Visitor Center, you can connect with another YARTS bus to the rest of Yosemite and beyond to Mammoth Lakes.  This service runs only when the Tioga Pass is open, which is typically from June to September.  The bus goes to Crane Flat, White Wolf, Tuolumne Meadows, Lee Vining, June Lake and Mammoth Lakes.

Three:  You may wish to reserve a rental car for maximum flexibility.  Most of the car rental facilities are on 13th or 16th Streets in Merced, at least one mile away from the train station.  Therefore you should check with your rental car agency to see whether they can pick you up at the train station or if you will need to take a taxi to get there.

Four:  If it is more convenient to start your trip in San Francisco or Southern California, Amtrak has connecting service.  There are six locations in San Francisco where travelers can connect to an Amtrak Thruway bus to Oakland.  In Los Angeles, there is connecting train or bus service from San Diego, Oceanside, and Santa Ana.  From Los Angeles, there is dedicated bus service to Bakersfield.  For all of these services, there is through ticketing that allows you to travel the various buses and trains on one ticket!

Five:  The San Joaquins are all-reserved trains.  To experience Amtrak coach service, you must make advanced reservations.  By buying your tickets in advance for both Amtrak and connecting services to Yosemite, you may be able to receive discounted advance purchase fares or special fares for students and seniors.

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By admin, December 16, 2009 7:35 am

The Canadian Rockies are known for scenic splendor in a pristine environment, where nature remains unspoiled and opportunities for wildlife viewing abound. The best means of enjoying the panoramic sights of the Canadian Rockies is to travel to the famed national parks by luxury rail which combines the best in first-class service with phenomenal scenery. Once there, stay at a first-class resort to experience the Canadian Rockies up close and personal.
Each major mountain range of the world is known for its scenic splendor and the Canadian Rockies are no exception. The Canadian Rockies are a must-see location for travelers who enjoy the majesty of mountain ranges or for anyone who desires to be counted among the well-traveled world explorers. For over 125 years, savvy travelers have taken advantage of the superior opportunities to view the panoramic scenery of the Canadian Rockies through luxury train excursions.
The historic trains of Royal Canadian Pacific (RCP) offer a luxury travel experience like no other. At the 2006 World Travel Awards ceremony RCP won the “World’s Leading Luxury Train” award, winning over such notable train experiences such as the famed European Orient Express and The Blue Train of South Africa. RCP guests can be assured of five-star luxury service in an intimate atmosphere as only 32 guests are onboard each rail excursion. Chartered individual tours can be arranged for the ultimate in privacy and service.
The fully restored railcars hail from the 1920’s, the era of luxury travel of such notable society names as Rockefeller, Carnegie, Churchill and the British Royal Family. Wealthy individuals traveled to the famed lodge on Lake Louise to spend the summer season in the cool natural beauty of the Canadian Rockies. Travelers seeking the best in luxury travel can relive the elegant lifestyle of the pre-war American and British elite, admiring the unchanged scenery of this majestic part of the world.
The Royal Canadian Pacific train originates in Calgary in the province of Alberta. The tour package includes limousine service between the airport, hotel and train locations as well as gourmet dining experiences in Calgary before and after the tour. RCP provides first-class amities and service from beginning to end.
Another well-known train service to the highlights of the Canadian Rockies, the Rocky Mountaineer, travels between Vancouver, British Columbia on the west coast, to Calgary with stops at the popular tourist destinations of Whistler, British Columbia, and Jasper or Banff in Alberta. Travelers originating or terminating at Vancouver can easily extend their scenic experience with an Alaskan cruise which includes whale watching and spectacular views of Alaska’s famed glaciers.
The Rocky Mountaineer takes a 2-day journey to the national parks at Jasper and Banff and features glass domed bi-level rail cars. Travelers enjoy the panoramic views from the second storey. Gold Leaf Service provides seated first-class dining en-route. Overnight accommodations and dinner are provided at a moderate hotel. While not the award-winning luxury trip of RCP, the Rocky Mountaineer provides an alternate means of reaching the famed tourist spots of the Canadian Rockies from the west coast of Canada.
A knowledgeable travel consultant can combine the train trip with a stay at a luxury resort nestled in the pristine forests of the Canadian Rockies. There are any number of modern first-class premier resorts that provide tourists with upscale accommodations and service nestled in the stunning forests near the numerous clear lakes of the area. Anyone seeking an eco-friendly luxury travel experience in a peaceful and private spot in the world need look no further than a Canadian Rockies adventure.