Dear Arizona Travel:

We are traveling from London 1 adult, 3 children- I do not want to drive. We would like to head for the Grand Canyon in late October -  maybe fly into Flagstaff and take the train. Then stay at a lodge, take a scenic flight and take the overnight mule trip. We then need to go back to Tucson where we plan to stay on a dude ranch. Can you help me build an itinerary?
Thanks,
Anne

Hi, Anne. I believe you’re in a position in which many potential Arizona visitors find themselves. It’s easy to misunderstand the geography of the area and be confounded by the array of available tours available at the Grand Canyon.  I’ll be honest and tell you that driving yourself yourself at least some of the trip is the most sensible way to go, but if you’re dead set against driving yourself, it’s not impossible to do it your way.

The Grand Canyon Railway does not depart Flagstaff; it leaves from Williams, which is 39 miles west of Flagstaff. Most people drive from Flagstaff to Williams, but you could take a taxi (try www.afriendlycab.com).  You can certainly stay in a lodge at the Grand Canyon rim, using the free shuttles to explore the South Rim itself, and take your scenic helicopter flight over the Grand Canyon from the South Rim area (flights depart from the airport near the Village of Tusayan. You’ll need a cab from the lodges at the Rim to go about 8 miles to the Grand Canyon airport helicopter pad for your flight.)

You will take the mule trip from the South Rim. Call Xanterra Parks & Resorts at (303) 297-2757 to reserve as soon as possible. Reservations can be made up to 13 months in advance and they fill up very, very quickly.

You may take the train back to Williams on a different day than your train trip up to the Grand Canyon rim, I believe up to 2 nights, 3 days between trips. If the Grand Canyon Railway folks give you the go ahead, note that the train goes back to Williams in the afternoon… just be sure to ask the mule trip folks if you’ll back back up at the Rim in time to catch the train back to Williams.

You’ll need to drive or take a cab back from Williams to Flagstaff and board your flight from Flagstaff, connecting through Phoenix to Tucson. As for transportation to the dude ranch in Tucson, I can only speculate that you’ll be able to take a cab from the airport to your final destination.

Thus, your itinerary might look something like this:

• Day 1:
  • Flight from (or connecting through) Phoenix to Flagstaff
  • Cab ride to Williams
  • Stay overnight in Williams (For your itinerary, I recommend the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel)
• Day 2:
  • Train ride up to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon
  • Explore Rim by shuttle and on foot
  • Cab ride to Grand Canyon Airport for a helicopter tour
  • Cab ride back to Grand Canyon Village at the Rim
  • Stay overnight in one of the Lodges (book up to 13 months in advance)
• Day 3:
  • Depart on Mule Trip from the South Rim
  • Stay overnight at Phantom Ranch at the bottom of the Canyon (book at least 13 months in advance)
• Day 4:
  • Return from the Mule Trip, back up the Rim
  • Take the afternoon train back to Williams
  • Cab ride to Flagstaff
  • Stay overnight in Flagstaff
• Day 5:
  • Flight from Flagstaff through Phoenix to Tucson
  • Cab ride to Dude Ranch (theoretically)

Hope this helps! Take care and enjoy this very full and exciting-sounding trip!

–ChristinaToo

Tickets are now available for the Grand Canyon Railway’s enormously popular The Polar Express for its ninth season.  Based on the classic children’s book by Chris Van Allsburg, this Christmastime attraction will run in 2009 and early 2010 on selected dates from November 13, 2009 through January 9, 2010.  Tickets for The Polar Express sell out quickly, so be sure to reserve your tickets for 2009 now, available exclusively at 1-800-THE-TRAIN  or on the Grand Canyon Railway website, www.thetrain.com.

• November 13-15, 19-23, 25, 27-30, 2009
• December 2-7, 9-14, 16-23, 2009
• January 2-3, 8-9, 2010
  

  Santa visits with those who Believe on the Polar Express. Photo credit: Philms on flickr.com

I had never met a railroad enthusiast until my sister began dating and became engaged to my now brother-in-law. Last year, they came from their home in Salt Lake City to visit us in Scottsdale and were excited (I mean… REALLY excited) to visit the McCormick Stillman Railroad Park and Museum in my neighborhood.

I can only imagine how thrilled he would be to see the newly renovated John Bell Railroad Museum at the Verde Canyon Railroad depot in Clarkdale, Arizona. With its own new home in a fully restored WWII-era boxcar, the new-and-improved museum features artifacts, photographs and expert docents to treat visitors… and die-hard railroad lovers like my brother-in-law… to a first-hand look at what the for the nearly 100 year-old rail line and historic Verde Canyon Railroad has meant to the Verde Valley, the State of Arizona and the Town of Clarkdale.

Clarkdale, AZ – The Verde Canyon Railroad announces the expansion and renovation of the John Bell Railroad Museum. Since the train depot opened in 1996, history has been displayed inside the depot. Now, the museum has its own home, track side, just outside the depot doors. A fully renovated 1940’s boxcar, once used to haul ammunition for the U.S. Army, has been set upon track and wheel bed to honor its railroad history.
“We have a few artifacts from the original museum that have survived nearly a century, including a passenger bench and luggage carrier,” said general manager Robin Brean. She added, “Especially worth viewing are photos of the original livery of each of our rare FP7 engines, thanks to Alan Miller, who went to Alaska three times to capture these engines on their life-long journey. As a railroad enthusiast he felt the fate of these engines should be preserved for future generations.”

The museum is dedicated to John Bell, a long-time Clarkdale resident and great amateur historian long before donating time with the Verde Canyon Railroad. Bell accumulated, preserved and documented photographs that would be lost today if not for his efforts and love of the Railroad. Continuing Bell’s legacy, the Railroad is committed to keeping history alive with a historian available to speak to visitors at the museum prior to daily excursions. However, the museum artifacts may be viewed daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The current rail route has been in place since 1911, and is a bit of “living history” that passengers aboard the Verde Canyon Railroad still experience. The new museum has opened in time to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the rail line, the founding of Clarkdale, and the State of Arizona, itself, as well as the 20th anniversary of the Verde Canyon Railroad. The Railroad understands the importance of preserving and sharing the history of mining and railroading in the Verde Valley for all who come to experience this precious ecosystem of Arizona.

Verde Canyon Railroad is one of Arizona Travel’s favorite things to do in Arizona. Check out this article about the Railroad and if you’re a Dish Network subscriber or local Flagstaff resident, be sure to check out the student news special and take a virtual ride on this Clarkdale, Arizona family-favorite experience.

(Clarkdale, Arizona) The Verde Canyon Railroad had the pleasure of hosting three young film students from The Netherlands NHTV Breda University of Professional Education on Friday, May 30, 2008.
The trio is participating in a Northern Arizona University video production workshop presented by the school’s Electronic Media and Film Program.

“Eighty students will take part in two three-week workshops,” according to NAU professor Charlie Hicks.
In addition to the team assigned to the Verde Canyon Railroad, students fanned out across Northern Arizona attractions to gather material for a one-hour, magazine-style television program which will be broadcast on channels 4 and 59 in Northern Arizona, cablecast on UTV channel 62 (NAU’s student-run television station) and satellite delivered via the Dish Network on the Universityhouse channel. The program will consist of three shows, each made up of four 4-minute stories.

Aboard the Verde Canyon Railroad, the students looked for bald eagles, cliff dwellings and the amazing assortment of wildlife that live in this lush riparian habitat.

The Railroad’s Lisa O’Neill reports, “The students were excited to highlight the Verde Canyon Railroad experience for their audience. They asked great questions and were charming. We were delighted to welcome them aboard.”

Less than two hours from Phoenix and minutes away from Sedona, a ride aboard the luxurious Verde Canyon Railroad is a world away from pavement, parking and the searing Arizona heat. Slow the pace and appreciate the journey aboard the Verde Canyon Railroad!

The 2007-2008 run of the Grand Canyon Railway’s popular Polar Express has come to a close. If you missed it, don’t make the same mistake twice – book your 2008 tickets now. Grand Canyon Railway has made very-advance tickets available for the 2008 production of this classic holiday tale come to life.

2008 Polar Express dates:

• Nov 6-10
• Nov 12-17
• Nov 19-27
• Nov 30-Dec 1
• Dec 3-8
• Dec 10-15
• Dec 17-22

For reservations and more information, please visit
www.thetrain.com

A classic Christmas story comes to life on the Grand Canyon Railway’s Polar Express. Here, we’ve collected information about the Polar Express into a handy fact sheet. (Information source: www.thetrain.com)

What is The Polar Express?

Experience the magic of The Polar Express™, the classic children’s book by Chris Van Allsburg. The Polar Express comes to life when the train departs the Williams Depot for a journey through the dark and quiet wilderness for a special visit to the “North Pole.” Enjoy hot chocolate and cookies while listening to the magical story. Watch the joy on the children’s faces when the train arrives at the North Pole, where Santa Claus and his reindeer are waiting! Santa will board The Polar Express and hand each child their own special gift.

2007 Polar Express Schedule:

The Polar Express runs twice per evening – at 6:30pm and 8:00pm – on these 2007-2008 season dates:

November: 2, 3, 8 – 12, 14 – 19, 25, 26, 28 – 30
December: 1 – 3, 5 – 10, 12 – 22
January 2008: 4 – 6, 11, 12

Tickets – Pricing, Availability and How to Purchase

Pricing
Individual Tickets*
Adults: $26 Children (2 – 16): $14

*Individual tickets are available only after packages sell out for the requested evening. Please call 1-800-THE-TRAIN to check the status of packages and individual ticket sales. Please have multiple travel dates in mind, in case your first choice is not available.

Polar Express Package – Starting at $289 for two adults and two children includes:

• Polar Express train trip from Williams, Arizona to the North Pole
• One night at the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel in Williams next to the train depot
• Dinner and breakfast for each person at the Railway’s Max & Thelma’s Restaurant
• $10 retail certificate per adult (maximum $20 per package) for use in Railway Gift Shops

The package is $309 for two adults and two children on Fridays and Saturdays in November and December and from December 15 – 22.
Price is based on adult double occupancy and does not include tax. Options available for all family sizes!

Grand Canyon Railway Daily Ride Combination Package Discounts
Grand Canyon Railway is offering Polar Express package customers 50% off Coach Class or 50% off the cost to upgrade any class of service. This special offer is valid for travel December through February, excluding 2/15 and 16.

Availabilty – Tickets are still available for selected 2007 dates. Tickets sell out very quickly. TIP: Weekends closest to Christmas are the most popular dates. Weeknight and January dates are a good bet. Please call 1-800-THE-TRAIN to check availability. Please have multiple travel dates in mind, in case your first choice is not available.
2008-2009 Availability – Can’t get your desired 2007 dates? Advance reservations for the 2008 Polar Express season if paid in full. Click here for the 2008-2009 Polar Express schedule.

How to Purchase Tickets
Reservations can be made by calling 1-800-THE-TRAIN.

Where Does The Polar Express Start?

The Polar Express departs from the Grand Canyon Railway Depot in Williams, Arizona. Williams is located 32 miles west of Flagstaff off of Interstate 40. Take Exit 163 and drive south 1/2 mile to the Train Depot.

Where Does The Polar Express End?

Closely following The Polar Express book, this nighttime trip from Williams through the starlit wilderness to the “North Pole” features a special reading of The Polar Express while passengers enjoy hot chocolate and chocolate chip cookies. After arriving at the “North Pole” – a Christmas light village featuring an Aurora Borealis – Santa Claus and his reindeer welcome passengers before boarding the Polar Express for the return trip to Williams. Santa then boards the train and makes his way through the historic Pullman passenger cars, greeting every child and presenting each one with a special gift – a jingle bell signifying their belief in Santa Claus. The round trip journey is a little more than an hour in length.

What Should We Wear?
Why, warm, snuggly pajamas and bathrobes, of course! TIP: Dress warmly for Grand Canyon winter weather, as the evening low temperatures are often in the 20s.

Anything Else We Should Know?
You can help the Grand Canyon Railway give back to the community and make the holidays special for a less-fortunate child.

[Bring] a new, unwrapped toy to the Grand Canyon Railway Depot when you come to ride The Polar Express. All items collected are donated to Northern Arizona Law Enforcement.

More Information
is available at www.thetrain.com

Source: www.travelvideo.tv
Nov 03, 06 | 1:40 pm

Tickets for Grand Canyon Railway’s 2006 presentation of The Polar Express are still available. As of Nov. 1, 85 percent of the available tickets for The Polar Express have been sold. Approximately 10,000 tickets are still available and evenings with the most availability, include Nov. 13 – 16, 27 and 29, Jan. 5 – 7 and Jan. 12 – 13.

This is the sixth year that Grand Canyon Railway will bring the magic of the classic children’s book by Chris Van Allsburg to life. What began as a weekend adventure with 5,600 people has grown into one of Arizona’s most treasured holiday traditions with an anticipated 75,000 people traveling aboard The Polar Express in 2006.

“We’ve ended up expanding our dates into January to accommodate demand,” said Robert LaCivita, Polar Express committee chair and executive vice president of Grand Canyon Railway.”We weren’t sure how popular they’d be initially, but found last year that parents got really creative with the gift giving – often wrapping the tickets for The Polar Express and then putting them under the tree as a special invitation from Santa to visit his home at the North Pole.”

The Railway’s journey is a nighttime trip from Williams through the starlit wilderness to the “North Pole.” Along the way, passengers are treated to a special reading of The Polar Express while enjoying hot chocolate and chocolate chip cookies.

Once at the “North Pole” – a Christmas light village featuring an Aurora Borealis – Santa Claus and his reindeer welcome passengers before boarding the Polar Express for the return trip to Williams. After boarding the train, Santa makes his way through the historic Pullman passenger cars, greeting every child and presenting each one with a special gift – a jingle bell signifying their belief in Santa Claus.

Grand Canyon Railway’s The Polar Express kicks off Nov. 9, 2006 and continues select evenings through Jan. 13, 2007. The round trip journey is approximately an hour in length. Most evenings, Grand Canyon Railway offers two trains, with one departing Williams Depot at 6:30 p.m. and a second train departing at 8 p.m.

Approximately 10,000 tickets are still available for the 2006 season. Tickets are $24 for adults and $12 for children. Packages start as low as $269 for two adults and two children, and include the trip The Polar Express, one-night stay at the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel, breakfast and dinner at Max and Thelma’s Restaurant and a $10 retail gift certificate per adult. Reservations can be made by calling 1-800-THE-TRAIN.

Families can also add a wintertime Grand Canyon experience aboard Grand Canyon Railway, which returns well in advance of the 6:30 p.m. The Polar Expres train. Recreating the historic trip by rail to the South Rim, Grand Canyon Railway covers 65 miles of classic Old West territory, including high desert plains with endless vistas, small arroyos and portions of the world’s largest ponderosa pine forest.

Grand Canyon Railway operates daily train service between Williams, Ariz. and the Grand Canyon. The Railway offers five distinct classes of service, as well as money-saving packages featuring the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel in Williams. Overnight stays at the Grand Canyon also can be included in the packages. Grand Canyon Railway is an authorized concessioner of the National Park Service and the Kaibab National Forest. For more information, visit www.thetrain.com or call 1-800-THE-TRAIN (1-800-843-8724).

Update: Come see our recent 2009 post for updated fall events!

It’s nearly October in Arizona and along with fall foliage, Halloween tricks and treats and cooler temperatures, there are lots of family-friendly activities happening all over the state. Here’s a list of the best fall activities for families in Arizona:

1. Prescott-area: Young’s Farm Annual Pumpkin Festival…October 7-9, 14-16 and 21-23 in Dewey – Young’s Farm Young’s Farm is closing–don’t miss this final year’s fall event! Pick your very own Halloween pumpkin right out of the patch. Hayrides and activities start around 9:00 a.m. and go until 4:00 p.m. The restaurant will be open until 8:00 p.m. on Friday and 4:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Kids can enjoy games, wagon and train rides, pumpkin bounce, pony rides, a petting zoo and so much more. Dozens of beautiful craft booths for your shopping convenience, home-cooked meals of BBQ chicken, and beef, plus our oven-baked pies, breads and desserts. Stroll around our Produce Stand while you listen to live music and sample some of our fresh apple cider. $4 per person. (928) 632-7272; www.youngsfarminc.com/Events/PumpkinFestival

2. Sedona – The Annual Safe and Fun Trick or Treat…October 31 from 5:00 to 8:00 pm – This annual event is held on Halloween along Sedona’s Main Street. Uptown Merchants welcome all good ghouls and ghosts to visit their stores along Hwy 89A in Uptown for little tricks and great treats! These merchants have a seventeen-year tradition of good will, providing this safe and free Halloween tradition for the entire community.

3. In Clarkdale, between Sedona and Prescott – Haunted Halloween Express on the Verde Canyon Railroad…October 31 at 12:00 pm – Ghosts and goblins, witches and warlocks – pint sized and full grown – are invited to join in the Verde Canyon Railroad’s frighteningly good fun. In addition to the specatcular fall foliage, a costume contest will be featured. Prizes will be awarded for the best, funniest and scariest costumes worn by a child and adult. Special Tuesday train ride! For more information: (800) 293-7245; www.verdecanyonrr.com

4. Phoenix-area – Fall Starlight Concert Series…October 1-31 – Arizona is known both for its stunning night skies and as a great venue for outdoor concerts. Stop by Arrowhead Meadows Park to take in songs and starlight. (480) 782-2735; www.chandleraz.gov

5. Phoenix-area in Scottsdale – Mariposa Monarca…October 1-November 1 - Come meet some monarchs…butterflies, that is. Monarch butterflies, arguably the most recognized, studied and loved of all insects; command attention from scientists and naturalists alike. Learn more about these inspiring insects at this exhibition featuring live monarch butterflies, tagging demonstrations and interpretive displays about the life cycle, migration patterns, environmental threats and conservation of monarchs. Desert Botanical Gardens (480) 941-1225; www.dbg.org

6. Phoenix-area in Queen Creek – 11th Annual Schnepp Farms Pumpkin and Chili Party…October 1-31 – Join the fun at one of Arizona’s best family festivals while helping out local charitable clubs and organizations. This five-weekend festival features live entertainment, outdoor family movie nights, hayrides, marshmallow roasts, scarecrow creations, a roller coaster, petting barn, chili and chicken dinners and the famous Hillbilly Bob’s pig races. (480) 987-3100; www.pumpkinandchiliparty.com

7. Between Prescott and Sedona in Jerome – 4th Annual Jerome Ghost Walk…October 7 – Jerome airs its dirty—or spooky—laundry in this walk through haunted brothels, a murder on “spook hill” and more in a reveling nod to its one-time reputation as the “Wickedest Town in the West.” Bring a flashlight along on this tour suited for older children and adults. (928) 634-1066; www.jeromehistoricalsociety.org

8. In the Prescott-area in Chino Valley – Chino Valley Haunted House…October 12-14, 19-21 and 26-28 – Old Home Manor Haunted house, live music, concessions stand and spooky photo booth (have your picture taken with the actors). Admission: $6, discount coupons available at Fry’s grocery stores and www.cvhaunt.com

9. In Prescott – Eighth Annual Ghost Walk…October 28 – Sharlot Hall Museum Guided trips through tales from Prescott’s folklore, told by costumed storytellers. Co-sponsored by West Yavapai Guidance Clinic and the Prescott Fine Arts Association. Tickets are for walks beginning at 6, 7, 8 and 9 pm. 928-445-3122; www.sharlot.org

10. In the Prescott-area in Chino Valley – Trick or Treat Tailgate Party and Fall Fest…October 31 from 5:00 to 8:00 pm – Old Home Manor Photo booth, Dr. Ooze Slime Laboratory, wacky maze, treasure hunt and haunted hay ride. Event is free to public; www.chinoaz.net

A Colorado company operating concessions in the Grand Canyon National Park and in other states has agreed to buy the historic railway between the canyon and the town of Williams on Interstate 40.

Xanterra Parks and Resorts of Greenwood, Colo., Thursday signed a letter of intent to buy the 65-mile Grand Canyon Railway from owners Max and Thelma Biegert of Paradise Valley.

The purchase price was not disclosed.

When the Biegerts bought the railway in 1988 for about $15 million, it had been closed for about 20 years. The railroad dates to the late 1800s, when it was started to haul copper ore from a mine north of Williams. It later was extended to the Grand Canyon when Santa Fe Railroad and the Fred Harvey Co. opened El Tovar Lodge in 1905.

“We’re hoping by October to have signed a formal sales agreement that will be much more extensive than the letter of intent,” said Grand Canyon Railway President W. David Chambers.

At that time, the sales agreement goes to the National Park Service for review.

Xanterra President and Chief Executive Andrew N. Todd, in a prepared statement, said, “Our purchase of the Grand Canyon Railway is a logical progression as both companies are already in the business of helping to create unforgettable experiences for visitors to the Grand Canyon.”

The railway, its hotel, restaurant, gift shops and other facilities have nearly 500 employees. The railway’s annual ridership is more than 225,000.

Because of the potential for expansion of the railway’s business in Williams, Chambers said there is the likelihood for more employees, and there is no hint of any layoffs as a result of the pending sale. “Xanterra’s plans and our plans include continuing growth in the business, and I think that’s going to create more jobs, not eliminate jobs,” Chambers said.

Chambers called Xanterra “the largest national park concession operation in the United States.”

Xanterra has park concessions in several states besides Arizona, including Ohio, South Dakota, New York, Utah, Wyoming, Oregon and California.

When the Biegerts decided in March to sell their railway, about 200 potential buyers were contacted by their Phoenix investment bankers, Peacock, Hislop, Staley and Given.

That list was culled to Xanterra and two others, which the Biegerts and Chambers declined to name.

For more: Grand Canyon Railway 1-800-843-8724, www.thetrain.com, www.xanterra.com.

From The Business Journal of Phoenix – September 21, 2006

by Mike Padgett, Contributing Writer

Grand Canyon Railway

This line has been in existence since 1901 as a passenger route to the Grand Canyon, a significant improvement over the two-day stagecoach ride.

William “Bucky” O’Neill, a former mayor of Prescott who had mining claims at the Canyon, had initiated the building of the railway but died at the hands of a Spanish sniper with Teddy Roosevelt’s Rough Riders in 1898. For most of the line’s working life, it was owned by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe.

It was shut down in 1968 as increased automobile travel made trains seem obsolete.

“It stopped running, and no one seemed to notice or care,” says Heather Gearhart, public relations manager for the railway.

Max and Thelma Biegert cared. Two of the train line’s investors, the Biegerts put millions into refurbishing the cars and the locomotive and rebuilding the line. Passenger service was reinstated Sept. 17, 1989, 88 years to the day after the train first hit the rails.

“It’s been gaining momentum ever since,” Gearhart says.

Last year, 222,277 people, or 7 percent of the South Rim visitor population, rode the Grand Canyon Railway.

Late May through Labor Day, trains run twice a day: going north from Williams at 9 and 10:30 a.m., and returning at 3 and 4:30 p.m. The rest of the year, there is a once-a-day schedule. Each way takes two hours and 15 minutes. Train rides can be a day trip or combined with an overnight stay in Williams or at the Canyon.

High- and low-end fares

There are five classes of travel on the Grand Canyon Railway. Most affordable are Pullman coach fares at $60 for adults, $35 for ages 11-16, $25 for ages 2-10. A new coach class has been added: Budd coach adds $20 per fare for an air-conditioned car during the summer. The Pullman cars are 1920s vintage; the Budd cars were built in the ’40s and ’50s.

Top of the line is the Luxury Parlor class, which offers lounge seating, continental breakfast on the way north, and champagne and snacks on the return run. Parlor fares are $155 for adults and $130 for students ages 16 and older. Children ages 10 and younger are not allowed.

AAA offers member discounts.

Free soft drinks are included on all cars. There also is a café car that sells chocolates, snacks and minipizzas. On day trips, reserved box lunches are available for $8.88.

Special events

• One of the most popular events is the Polar Express, which runs Nov. 9 through Jan. 13. December weekends already are sold out, but weekdays and other weekends are not.

The Polar Express is a 30-minute trip to the North Pole from Williams, where Santa takes a break from work to greet young passengers. He boards the train and gives each child a jingle bell, hot cocoa and chocolate-chip cookies, then gets back to work at his toy factory. The return trip is a songfest of Christmas carols.

Single fares are $24 for adults, $12 for ages 2 to 16 and free for children younger than 2.

Packages are available at $269 for a family of four, including one night at the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel in Williams, dinner and breakfast at the hotel’s Max and Thelma’s Restaurant and a $10 gift certificate for each adult, good in the hotel gift shop.

• New this year is the Sunset Limited, which offers exclusive – only 150 passengers – evening tours to the Grand Canyon during September and October. The train leaves Williams in the afternoon and arrives at the Canyon in time for a motor coach to whisk passengers off for a spectacular view of the sunset.

The trip back includes musical entertainment, dancing, appetizers and a full bar with wine. Because the train arrives late into Williams, a package that includes an overnight stay is available for $249 per person. The train ride alone is $179.

Although the Grand Canyon Railway is up for sale, Gearhart says the owners are promising the quality will remain the same.

“The line will definitely continue,” she says.

Verde Canyon Railroad

The open-air train car almost is listing to one side as passengers scramble to see the bald-eagle nest clinging to the side of the canyon wall, a chick popping its head through the feathers of its mother’s wing. The little bird is barely a speck, but it commands the attention of everyone riding the Verde Canyon Railroad.

The scene is repeated as someone spots another eagle’s nest, then a blue heron fishing in the stream, and then again when those onboard strain to see signs of river otters.

On other days, passengers might be treated to the sight of brown bears, hawks, javelinas, 70 different waterfowl, or elk lumbering along the banks of the Verde River.

No matter how many times you ride these rails, there’s something different to see. And there’s always a new group of guests eager to explore another area of the state.

Whichever train you choose, you’ll enjoy a few hours of unequaled relaxation as you let the rails lull you into tranquillity while Arizona’s landscape flickers outside your window. Who needs television?

- Barbara Yost, Arizona Republic – June 18, 2006