Getting there is half the fun! Enhance your trip to the Grand Canyon with a train ride on the historic Grand Canyon Railway, which departs daily from the Williams Depot. The scenic train features cozy vintage rail cars, Wild West entertainment and packages that include a stay at the AAA three-diamond Grand Canyon Railway Hotel. Every holiday season, the train transforms into The Polar Express, where passengers can enjoy seasonal treats and a visit from Santa. Below are 10 reasons to book your train adventure this winter. thetrain.com.
1. Experience a living piece of history.
Learn about the Grand Canyon Railway’s storied past from knowledgeable Passenger Service Attendants as you traverse the train route that’s been operating since 1901.
2. Choose your own adventure.
Enjoy your journey from a selection of six tiered classes: a 1920s open-air Pullman car, air-conditioned coach class, first class (with snacks and bar), 1950s luxury parlor class (includes Champagne toast), and dome class and luxury dome class, which offer unobstructed views via glass domes.
3. Enjoy onboard entertainment.
Roaming guitar and banjo players provide the soundtrack to your sojourn, while the Cataract Creek Gang reenacts a good, old-fashioned train robbery.
4. Watch the scenery change through panoramic windows.
Passengers can observe the scenery shift from desert to prairie to pine forest, and finally to the awe-inspiring Grand Canyon itself, from anywhere on the train.
5. Celebrate a time-honored Christmas tradition.
Every November and December, The Polar Express Train Ride offers passengers a spirited holiday excursion with cookies, hot chocolate, visits from Polar Express characters and an appearance from St. Nick himself.
6. Personalize your experience with private charters.
Rail Baron Charters allows guests to book their own private carriage for family reunions, weddings, birthday parties, corporate gatherings and more. The Ultimate Polar Express offers private charters to the North Pole with a private onboard show and one-on-one with Santa. Private charters include a personalized rail concierge.
7. Support sustainability efforts.
Sustainable practices are a core value at Grand Canyon Railway’s parent company, Xanterra Travel Collection. In 2009, it converted its 1920s-era No. 4960 steam locomotive to run on recycled waste vegetable oil, cutting its emissions in half. Plans are also in the works to concert one of its diesel-electric train engines into a fully battery-powered locomotive.
8. Stay at a historical hotel steps away from the train depot.
The Grand Canyon Railway Hotel in Williams allows guests to stay right by the Williams Depot, where the Grand Canyon Railway embarks. Enjoy an elegant early railroad aesthetic with modern amenities in its 298 rooms.
9. Feast on railroad-inspired fare.
The Grand Canyon Railway Hotel features two dining destinations: Fred Harvey Restaurant, where guests can enjoy a buffet featuring a cook-to-order pasta station, and Spenser’s Pub, which boasts a handcrafted 19th-century mahogany bar.”
10. Discover Williams’ other wonders.
Dubbed “the Gateway to the Grand Canyon,” Williams is a classic Route 66 town that hosts frequent car shows, rodeos and other annual entertainment, plus year-round restaurants, shopping and more.
