Luxurious rail journey isn’t normally the very first thing households discover when planning a trip. Street journeys, theme parks, or metropolis breaks have a tendency to return up first. However a multi-day, all-daylight rail journey via mountains, canyons, and nationwide park landscapes is usually a surprisingly stress-free, screen-free, and bonding different.
Rocky Mountaineer, North America’s premier scenic rail operator, isn’t explicitly marketed as a “household trip.” The expertise is high-end and finest suited to older youngsters, teenagers, and multi-generational teams fairly than toddlers. Nonetheless, for households who can sit comfortably and respect a slower tempo, the journey may be unforgettable.
Having traveled each the Journey By the Clouds route (from Vancouver to Jasper via the Canadian Rockies) and the Rockies to the Purple Rocks route (between Colorado and Utah aboard a Canyon Spirit prepare), I discovered the 2 itineraries provide very completely different experiences.
They every have their perks, and each provide loads of enjoyable for touring households.
The Onboard Expertise: Calm, Consolation, and Dialog
Each routes share Rocky Mountaineer’s hallmark service: glass-domed coaches, educated hosts, multi-course meals, and storytelling that brings the landscapes to life. Whereas there’s no kid-specific programming, the slower tempo naturally encourages connection and shared experiences.
Kids have to be sufficiently old to take a seat safely on their very own, as infants can’t sit on laps and Rocky Mountaineer doesn’t accommodate automotive seats. SilverLeaf vehicles have a small out of doors area, whereas GoldLeaf vehicles (obtainable on Canadian routes solely) provide a two-level dome and enormous viewing platform — a success with teenagers.
On the U.S. Rockies to the Purple Rocks route, households can select a Premier improve, which offers entry to a lounge automotive with board video games and a participant piano, making a enjoyable, social area. For older youngsters and youths, lengthy stretches of surroundings, wildlife recognizing, and narration is usually a welcome break from screens.
Diner’s delight on the Journey By the Clouds route
Canadian Rockies Benefit: Motion By the Home windows
On the Journey By the Clouds, the primary a part of the tour winds via suburban and forested areas earlier than climbing into the mountains, constructing anticipation with each mile. As soon as within the Rockies, the surroundings turns into dramatic. Highlights embody Hell’s Gate, Rainbow Canyon, Pyramid Falls, Mount Robson, Cisco Crossing, Jaws of Loss of life Gorge, and Albreda Glacier, with wildlife sightings to get pleasure from alongside the best way.
From a household perspective, the mixture of pure landmarks and wildlife retains youngsters engaged and fills the lengthy daylight journey with memorable “moments,” even whereas seated.
Pyramid Falls on the Journey By the Clouds route
Colorado-to-Utah Benefit: Desert Drama and Relaxed Vibes
The Canyon Spirit route begins with breakfast onboard because the prepare departs Denver, regularly leaving the town behind. Crossing the Continental Divide, the prepare gives rugged mountain and canyon views earlier than arriving in Glenwood Springs for an in a single day keep. The city’s sizzling springs and walkable downtown make it an ideal break for multi-generational teams.
The second day sees a dramatic shift in surroundings towards crimson sandstone landscapes, rust-colored cliffs, and weird rock formations close to Moab, the gateway to Arches and Canyonlands Nationwide Parks. The distinction between lush river canyons and desert vistas gives a visually stimulating expertise for teenagers, aspiring photographers, and nature lovers.
Moab rock formations on the Rockies to the Purple Rocks route
Actions and Overnights: What Households Do Off the Practice
Each routes embody lodge nights, providing probabilities to stretch, discover, and luxuriate in. On the Canadian route, households keep in Kamloops mid-journey, then proceed to Jasper, typically lodging on the iconic Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge. From right here, non-compulsory day journeys to Lake Louise and Banff present additional journey: gondolas, sizzling springs, wildlife excursions, canoeing, and straightforward alpine hikes like Bow Falls or Tunnel Mountain. These experiences are particularly interesting to older youngsters who get pleasure from out of doors journey.
In Colorado and Utah, in a single day stops in Glenwood Springs and Moab permit households to discover cities, soak in sizzling springs, or get pleasure from rafting, biking, and mountain climbing. The shift from river canyons to crimson rock desert creates a way of selection and discovery. Lodge nights additionally permit grandparents to calm down whereas dad and mom and youngsters discover earlier than regrouping for dinner.
On all routes, Rocky Mountaineer takes care of bags dealing with from prepare to lodge, making journey with youngsters a bit simpler and fewer demanding.
Scenic sights from Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge (left) / In a single day in Glenwood Springs on the Rockies to the Purple Rocks route (proper)
Worth for Households: Which Route Delivers Extra?
Rocky Mountaineer’s Journey By the Clouds route
Journey By the Clouds: The Canadian Rockies ship basic bucket-list surroundings, towering peaks, turquoise rivers, glaciers, and waterfalls that resonate throughout generations. Whether or not they’re recognizing wildlife from the prepare or having fun with panoramic mountain vistas, dad and mom, teenagers, and grandparents will all discover moments to marvel. Non-obligatory day journeys to Banff and Lake Louise add flexibility and journey, whereas lodge stays in Kamloops and Jasper present consolation and comfort. Rocky Mountaineer additionally gives different Canadian routes, together with First Passage to the West, Passage to the Peaks, and Rainforest to Gold Rush, every with distinctive landscapes.
Rocky Mountaineer’s Rockies to the Purple Rocks route
Rockies to the Purple Rocks: This U.S. route gives a really completely different sort of journey. As a substitute of immersive mountain vistas, households transfer from river canyons to crimson sandstone cliffs and open desert skies. Visitors cross the Continental Divide and cease in a single day in Glenwood Springs. The second day’s dramatic crimson rock vistas lead into Moab, with entry to Arches and Canyonlands Nationwide Parks. The distinction between overnights and surroundings offers each pleasure and manageable pacing.
The Canadian route emphasizes steady awe-inspiring surroundings, whereas the U.S. route gives distinction, selection, and a way of discovery. Each ship memorable experiences in numerous methods.
Backside Line: Which Route Ought to Your Household Select?
Each Rocky Mountaineer routes are finest for older youngsters, teenagers, and multi-generational teams and aren’t appropriate for infants or toddlers.
Select Journey By the Clouds if you need:
- Basic Canadian Rockies surroundings together with peaks, rivers, forests.
- Dramatic “wow” moments for youths and adults.
- Wildlife sightings and postcard-perfect landscapes.
- Non-obligatory day journeys to Lake Louise, Banff, and close by alpine highlights.
- The choice to improve to GoldLeaf for a two-level dome automotive, bigger viewing platform, and premium service — notably appropriate for teenagers and vacationers after probably the most immersive expertise.
Surroundings on the Journey By the Clouds route
Select Rockies to the Purple Rocks if you need:
- A U.S. route showcasing lush river canyons and crimson sandstone landscapes.
- Nationwide-park-style desert surroundings distinctive to Colorado and Utah.
- In a single day stays in Glenwood Springs and Moab, permitting exploration and downtime.
- Premier improve choice with lounge automotive, board video games, and participant piano for additional household enjoyable.
- A special visible expertise for households concerned with a U.S.-based journey.
Arriving in Moab on the Rockies to the Purple Rocks route
The magic of prepare journey lies in its sluggish, immersive tempo. Households watch landscapes unfold collectively, share meals, hear tales, and step off every night having really traveled, not rushed. For households with older youngsters, it may be unforgettable.
Household Rail Ideas
Tasty treats and smiles galore on the Journey By the Clouds route
No matter your best route, make sure you’re ready forward of time with these fast issues.
- Select GoldLeaf if funds permits: Solely obtainable on Canadian routes, together with the two-level dome vehicles and out of doors platforms.
- Pack layers: One facet of the prepare could also be sunny whereas the opposite is shaded.
- Convey binoculars: Nice for recognizing wildlife or distant hikers and rock climbers.
- Prep youngsters for no wifi: Plan forward, and incorporate offline actions as a part of the general enchantment.
- Embrace the sluggish tempo: Rocky Mountaineer is about savoring the journey.
Photographs by Fiona Tapp. Try the gallery beneath for extra:
—
