Travel

All Aboard the Rocky Mountaineer "The most spectacular train trip in the world" boasts the brochure and it's hard not to agree after experiencing it first hand. This 2-day trip from Vancouver to Calgary, via Banff or up to Jasper, has luxury and adventure written all over it. The journey begins at Vancouver's Central Station where this 5 star train is ready and waiting. There are two types of service on the Rocky Mountaineer, depending upon our preference. Redleaf service is the 'classic' style where guests admire the view from huge picture windows and dine in the comfort of their reclining seats, airline style. A Redleaf coach holds around thirty, with one attendant serving meals and snacks as well as providing the informative commentary and displaying souvenirs. Redleaf is a casual and fun trip where people meet and mingle with fellow passengers from all over the world. Goldleaf, or the dome car, is a different package. These cars have two levels and the upper level is the observation area, with 180 degree windows wrapping over your head, large reclining seats, and pillows and blankets for all. Two attendants entertain us with funny anecdotes and interesting information about everything we see while serving us snacks and beverages. Downstairs, two more friendly, uniformed servers wait to offer us 4 star cuisine prepared on board by the talented chefs. To board we simply find our coach and special golf carts cruise u and down the platform to help anyone who needs assistance. Once we mount the stairs we are met by attendants and for the next two days every detail is looked after. Once on board and comfortably seated, the Guest Service manager welcomes us with the traditional toast and away we go! The first day the train winds its way through the fertile Fraser Valley, into the Coastal Mountain Range at Hope, and then into the Fraser Canyon. Here stories of gold rush trails, Hells gate, salmon spawns and Chinese railway workers, bring the surrounding cliffs to life and history unfolds around us. We see wildlife such as mountain goats, bighorn sheep, ospreys, bald eagles, and the occasional black bear. Conductors and attendants watch carefully and their shouts of "Bear on the left" or "Eagle on the right!" get everyone out of their seats and sharing the excitement. It is wonderful fun to see Canada through the eyes of visitors from Britain and Germany, Japan and America. We take it so much for granted, but they really appreciate all that the journey shows them. When we feel the need to stretch our legs we can stroll down to the souvenir displays and browse through the catalogues. Here there is a wonderful selection of embroidered fleece jackets, jade jewelry, children's' puzzles, etc. if you place an order on day one, when you board the train on day two your parcels will be waiting for you on your seat! To keep our energy up we need fuel, and what fuel it is! For breakfast in Goldleaf we can choose from the bison sausage and scrambled eggs, the banana pancakes, or the lobster and caviar eggs benedict. Lunch is just ass wonderful. A few of the choices might be fresh BC pickerel, roast venison, pumpkin crusted chicken breast or seafood pasta. The chefs will also create special dishes for any dietary restrictions which are equally as delicious. The desserts can't be described, they must be tasted! Our final destination on day one is Kamloops and buses are waiting to take us to our hotel. Our evening is free to relax, to sample some of the fine restaurants, or to enjoy a fun, interactive evening of food and entertainment at the "Two River Junction" dinner theatre. This hilarious and energetic show extols the life and exploits of the infamous, turn-of-the-century train robber, Billy Miner. The morning of day two we are picked up at our hotel and taken back to our coaches where breakfast is waiting. Underway again, we quickly leave behind the semi-arid desert of the Okanagan and head into the Purcell Mountains, the Rocky mountain Trench and finally the majestic Rocky mountains themselves. Today's highlights include mountain views and anecdotes of Lady Agnes MacDonald, wife of Canada's first Prime Minister, riding the cowcatcher. Soon we come to the engineering marvel, the famous Spiral Tunnels. These tunnels are so remarkable that vehicles will stop on the highway and wait for hours to watch trains go through them. Waving happily form the dome cars it is our turn to be a tourist attraction. When we arrive in the scenic city of Banff some passengers are dr dropped off to continue their journey as they see fit. The train continues through Banff National Park, past Lake Louise and Castle Mountain, finally pulling into the Stampede city of Calgary. Here guests have many choices. Some fly home, others take the bus tour up the Icefield Parkway to Jasper and then catch the westbound tain back to Vancouver. Still others spend time in Calgary before hopping back on the train to return to the coast. This is a special journey, one to remember, that cannot be made by car or by plane. A journey of a lifetime. The season runs from May to mid October, with two special trains running in December. by Lisa Michelle ARCHIVES of PAST ARTICLES Roatan Snorkeling Canal Boats in England and Wales

 

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