Train Vacations to Washington
Travelers who want a fresh perspective on the mountain and coastal scenery of Washington State can book a journey on one of the rail lines serving the area. Whether visitors want to explore Mt. Rainier on a vintage train or see miles of forests and prairie in the northern portion of the state, trains can often venture places cars cannot--enabling adventure-seekers to see some of the more remote parts of the state.
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Chehalis-Centralia Railroad & Museum
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A journey on this steam train travels through the scenic Chehalis River Valley. Travelers can choose from a 13-mile round-trip itinerary, stopping in Milburn, or an 18-mile trip that visits Ruth. In addition to regularly-scheduled weekend departures, the train offers themed events, such as Mother's Day brunch, Easter egg hunts, murder mystery dinners and holiday excursions.
Chehalis-Centralia Railroad Association
1101 Sylvenus Street
Chehalis, WA 98532
360-748-9593
steamtrainride.com/index.html
Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad
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Travelers can journey on a vintage train through the forests and glens of Mt. Rainier. The train travels between Elbe, the location of the depot and gift ship, and Mineral, on the shores of Mineral Lake. Volunteer operators run the trains on regularly scheduled excursions from Memorial Day to October, with diesel operation on Thursdays and steam trains on the weekends. Special events include a Father's Day BBQ dinner train, Mother's Day Brunch, Pumpkin Express and Santa Express.
Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad
P.O. Box 250
Mineral, WA 98355
360-492-5588
mrsr.com/index.html -
Amtrak's Coast Starlight or Cascades
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Amtrak, also known as National Railroad Passenger Corporation of the United States, offers numerous options for exploring Washington State. Some of the best known routes through the area include the Coast Starlight, which runs between San Diego, California and Seattle, Washington, and the Cascades, which hits the major Pacific-Northwest cities between Vancouver, British Columbia and Eugene-Springfield, Oregon. Whether travelers stay on the trains for the entire journey or simply the portions that go through Washington, both routes allow them to explore the region's natural attractions. Both itineraries follow the same route through the Cascade Mountains in the Washington-Oregon part of the trip, including a journey through the seven-mile Cascade Tunnel.
Amtrak
60 Massachusetts Ave. NE
Washington, DC 20002
1-800-872-7245
amtrak.com
Chelatchie Prairie Railroad
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This train sets on a 10-mile trip through northern Washington State logging country. The train passes through a 330-feet-long tunnel en route from Yacolt to Lucia and includes an hour-and-a-half stopover at the Moulton Falls State Park. This line, which has operated continuously since 1889, enables visitors to see a less-visited part of the state. The trains run several weekends throughout the year, with special Mother's Day, Father's Day, October and Christmas excursions.
Chelatchie Prairie Railroad
207 North Railroad Ave.
Yacolt, WA 98675
360-686-3559
bycx.com
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References
- Photo Credit mt rainier image by Lisa Hendrickson from Fotolia.com
