We have a wonderful trip highlighting three of the great steam train trips in the West, including a rare journey over the Grand Canyon Railway to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon behind steam. After this, we travel to the mining town of Ely, NV, for a ride on the historic Nevada Northern Railway before another steam trip over the storied Virginia & Truckee Railroad. All in a brilliant holiday with fine hotels, a leisurely pace, travel over the original Route 66, some exceptional dining, and non-train sightseeing like the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, a cruise on shimmering Lake Tahoe, and a visit to the National Automobile Collection in Reno. We even include a ride on the California Zephyr train from Reno to Sacramento for a daylight crossing of the Sierra Nevada.

Starting in Phoenix, we have a short scenic drive through Oak Creek Canyon to Williams, AZ, stopping for lunch and a visit to Sedona en route. The next day is a treat, from Williams to the Grand Canyon by steam with a sightseeing tour of the South Rim before returning to Williams, a day to remember. We then travel west over the most interesting part of Route 66 through towns like Ash Fork and Seligman on this historic roadway, complete with a 1940s-era road signs for Burma Shave, a wonderful journey back in time while on the way to Las Vegas. In Las Vegas, we have included a fine hotel stay on the Strip with time to take in a show or a great restaurant.

From Las Vegas, a scenic drive north to historic Ely, NV, with a ghost town visit on the way, for a ride on the Nevada Northern Railroad through this ruggedly beautiful terrain. This is a warm-up for our drive over Highway 50, the “Loneliest Road in America’ with waypoints like Austin and Eureka to Reno, where a three-night stay awaits. In Reno, we enjoy a full day visit to staggeringly beautiful Lake Tahoe, along with a lake cruise, and the next day, a steam train ride on the storied Virginia & Truckee Railroad with Virginia City, the most fabled Comstock Lode town of all. More beautiful sights await the next day when we board the California Zephyr for the pretty day trip over the Sierra Nevada from Reno to Sacramento, a journey of great sights and history over the original transcontinental railroad.

In Sacramento, we visit the acclaimed California State Railroad Museum and enjoy a farewell dinner before our holiday concludes.

With a professional tour manager, superb, included sightseeing, fine hotels, enjoyable dining with many meals included, and the luxury of a small group, this nicely paced holiday is certain to sell out. We invite you to join us. All Aboard!

We depart Phoenix Sky Harbor airport or the adjacent Crowne Plaza Hotel this morning at 10am, bound for Williams and the Grand Canyon. We have a pretty ride north through Oak Creek Canyon, stopping in Sedona with its famed Red Cliffs for lunch and time to sightsee before continuing on to Williams, on historic Route 66 for our two-night stay. L (For guests who would like to arrive the night before, we have a special rate at the Crowne Plaza of $220 per night, including breakfast.

The big day. We depart Williams this morning on a special steam train bound for the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. This is a lovely 2.5-hour trip each way with great photo opportunities. We enjoy almost four hours in this amazing setting and have included a coach tour of the South Rim, which offers many great vantage points to sightsee and take pictures, including Maricopa Point and Ooh-ah Point. Later this afternoon, another ride behind steam back to Williams, where a special dinner is included tonight.

This morning, we depart for Las Vegas, stopping first at Bearizona, a remarkable wildlife and safari park in Williams featuring wolves, bears, bison, and mountain goats, most of which we drive through. This is always a highlight for our guests. Then we travel over the original Route 66 for the most interesting part of the road through Arizona, viewing small towns like Ash Fork and Seligman that have been all but forgotten. The road is complete with 1940’s era road signs and captures a now vanished America famously described by John Steinbeck as “The Mother Road”. Later this afternoon we arrive in Las Vegas & begin our overnight stay on the Strip with all evening free.

A scenic day with a drive north through the rugged landscapes of the Silver State. As the day unfolds, soak in the dramatic vistas along the Extraterrestrial Highway, a route famed for its mysterious allure. This afternoon we have a visit to Cherry Creek ghost town before an overnight stay in Ely, a historic town of great charm.

This morning, we board the Nevada Northern Railway for a trip through this ruggedly beautiful scenery, again behind steam. Later, a magnificent drive on Highway 50, the famed Loneliest Road in America passing through historic towns like Austin and Eureka en route to Reno. Upon arrival, we enjoy the ultimate luxury when traveling, a three-night hotel stay at the superb Silver Legacy Hotel. The evening is free to relax.

All morning to sleep in with a 10 am departure for one of the most stunning sights in North America, shimmering cobalt blue Lake Tahoe with its mountain backdrop. We sightsee around the Lake, with free time before boarding the sternwheeler boat MS Dixie for a beautiful Lake cruise that takes in Emerald Bay. No matter how many times you have been there, Lake Tahoe always inspires. We return to Reno in the late afternoon.

We depart after breakfast for Virginia City NV with a ride, behind steam, on the Virginia & Truckee Railroad, the most fabled of all mining railroads. After our ride, we have three hours to enjoy Virginia City with time to visit a mine, enjoy a drink in the Delta Saloon or the Bucket of Blood Saloon. On our way back to Reno with visit the National Automobile Collection, a dream for those that love cars and considered the best car museum in the country. For those not as keen on cars, we offer a trip to the downtown Arts district of Reno along the Truckee River.

Another great train ride today, this one aboard Amtrak’s California Zephyr on the amazing day trip over the Sierra Nevada between Reno and Sacramento over the original transcontinental railroad. The names read like the pages out of America history: Stanford Curve, Donner Lake, Cape Horn, Blue Canyon, Auburn and finally Sacramento. Here we disembark after and stay overnight with a special Farewell dinner this evening.

Perhaps saving the best for last, this morning we tour the acclaimed California State Railroad Museum in Old Sacramento, considered the best train museum in North America if not in the world. There are full size locomotives, dining cars, sleeping cars and exhibits highlighting the Sierra crossing and its construction. We provide a transfer to the train station and airport after 1pm for those traveling home today. Guests may also extend their stay in Sacramento or do the speedy two-hour train ride to San Francisco for a stay in “Everybody’s Favorite City’ taking advantage of our special package.