The Advantage of Discovering America by Rail

As a destination for travellers and tourists, the United States of America is one of the most popular countries to visit. With a multitude of captivating cities and breathtaking natural beauty, every corner of the country has something unique to offer.

With so many places and regions to explore, it is an unfortunate consequence of such an expansive country, that tourists are only able to visit a few particular places during the relatively short tenure of their holiday. However, this ceases to be a problem if you explore America via its vast train network; this method of travelling will allow you to fully discover everything that The Land of Opportunity has to offer.

What’s more, tour operators such as Great Rail Journeys make these unique experiences even easier.

Advantages to train travel:

With 30 years of industry experience, Great Rail Journeys are well aware of the benefits that travelling by train bring. Here are just a few:

• Comfort. Unless you can afford business or first class, air travel can be an uncomfortable experience. With little to no legroom and fellow travellers pushed up against you either side, it is rarely an enjoyable journey. Long-haul train travel is a much more spacious and comfortable experience.

•  Stress-free. The extensive queues at airport security and immigration can be a trying experience. In most instances, you’ll also have to organise flights, transfers, accommodation and everything else associated with your holiday. However, boarding a train is a simple and hassle-free process that will often only take a couple of minutes. Every Great Rail Journeys holiday also has a dedicated Tour Manager to escort you throughout your trip, taking care of arrangements and excursions.

• Convenience. With centrally located stops, several destinations and frequent departure times, travelling by train is much more convenient than the alternatives.

• Environmentally friendly. Producing fewer CO2 emissions per person compared to the alternatives and eliminating the need to use additional forms of transport, train travel is an eco-friendly way of getting around.

• Great views. Wherever possible, try to get a window seat, as you’ll be able to witness some fantastic scenery. The ever-changing landscape of America is a truly breathtaking sight to behold.

Destinations:

As the world's fourth largest nation by total area, consisting of 50 unique and intriguing states, there is a vast array of destinations to visit. With Great Rail Journeys US coast-to-coast holidays, it’s possible to explore more locations than you might have initially thought.

One of the most comprehensive options is a two or three week trip from the Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean. Starting in Los Angeles, on the west coast, this impressive tour takes in San Francisco, Denver and Chicago, before finishing on the east coast in New York City.

Other notable destinations include the musical cities of Memphis and New Orleans in the Deep South, a Trans-America tour, visiting Las Vegas, the Grand Canyon and Niagara Falls, and a Rockies and Alaskan cruise, which takes in the spectacular mountain scenery of the Canadian border.