10 Best Train Trips for Families

Almost every morning in summer, the Whistler Sea to Sky Climb leaves from Vancouver promptly at 8:00 am. It's a monumental feat to get my teenagers up this early and, of course, they complain. But once we're sitting in the Glacier Dome seats of the train, staring up at the mountain vistas through the glass ceiling, they seem content. Even more so when a hot breakfast arrives and the train hugs the shoreline of Howe Sound. This glorious body of deep blue Pacific Ocean water, with rarely a boat in sight, is backed by the Coast Mountains.

The finest train rides for families do indeed slow down so you can snap that perfect photograph of a waterfall. They're in no rush to get you to the next destination because the journey is the most important part. Family-friendly train rides offer meals in a dining compartment, bunk beds to sleep in overnight, movies to watch, naturalists and train historians to listen to, and many a splendid view. They're a great way to slow down, relax, and spend time with the family.

1. Ethan Allen Express, New York to Rutland, Vermont
The Ethan Allen Express leaves from New Yorks Penn Station and follows the Hudson River, making stops in upstate New York and southern Vermont, arriving in Rutland close to six hours later. A favorite stop for families is Saratoga, home to a Revolutionary War battlefield, the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, and the Saratoga Racetrack. And in Fort Edwards, you can take a short bus ride to Lake George Village, the honky-tonk town that sits on the southern edge of this 30-mile long lake in Adirondacks. On arriving in Rutland, a biking outfitter called Country Inns Along the Trail will meet you with bikes for the start of a self-guided inn-to-inn biking trip. Depending on your family's ability, the outfitter provides detailed maps, emergency roadside assistance, lodging, dinners, breakfasts, and transport of your luggage from one inn to the next. In winter, a shuttle from Rutland brings skiers to nearby Killington Ski Area.

2. Glacier and Chocolate Trains, Switzerland
Stunning mountain scenery coupled with stops at villages known for their homemade chocolate and cheese, and buoyed by one of the finest train networks in the world (after all, the Swiss are known for their punctuality), is the reason why Switzerland is one of the premier train destinations. The 8-hour Glacier Express (one-way) connects the Alps resorts of Zermatt and St. Moritz. Only a 180-mile ride, the train has to slow down to go through 91 tunnels and across 291 bridges, all at an altitude over 6,500 feet. The close to 10-hour Chocolate Trail (round-trip) brings you from the jazz festival town of Montreux to Broc. Along the way, you'll stop at the cheese town of Gruyeres and take a short bus ride to the Cailler-Nestle chocolate factory, nestled between lakes and towering peaks.

3. Grand Canyon Railway
Return to the Wild West on this 8-hour round-trip train ride from Williams, Arizona, to the Grand Canyon. The Cataract Creek Gang keep kids entertained with music and staged train robberies aboard a train ride that first originated in 1901. Thankfully, the train has been updated with an observation dome and main dining car. You'll want to be near one of the windows to see the 12,000-foot San Francisco Peaks. Once you reach the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, you have four hours to play before the return trip. Or choose to spend a night or two at the Canyon before heading back.

4. Harry Potter Train, Scotland
The 84-mile train ride from Fort William to Mallaig in the Scottish Highlands is only two hours long, yet staring at the majestic scenery in awe, you wish it would never end. In fact, the terrain is so breathtaking that the Hogwarts Express seen in many Harry Potter films took the same route. You'll be aboard The Jacobite, a steam train that leads you past Scotland's highest mountain and deepest loch before arriving at the country's most westerly train station. Once you arrive in Mallaig, you can walk around this fishing port known for its herring catch, before taking the return jaunt. Or, continue your travels by ferry to the Isle of Skye, to visit the 13th-century Dunvegan Castle. Just be on the lookout for Potter's arch-nemesis, Voldemort.

5. Hiram Bingham, Machu Picchu
Children grow up quickly so it's time to stop putting off those must-see sites. Start with the The Lost Citadel of Machu Picchu, the last stronghold of the Incas. From the Andean city of Cuzco, 50 miles to the southeast, the luxurious Hiram Bingham, one of the Orient-Express trains, will lead you through a jungle thick with leafy trees, alongside the tumultuous waters of the Urubamba River, and across two 13,000-feet high mountain passes. Eventually, you'll reach Machu Picchu, whose glorious history will be disclosed in its entirety by your guides, many who are descendents. The train ride is a little over three hours, leaving you at Machu Picchu for five hours, before making the descent home. You'll dine on a four-course dinner that night inspired by Andean recipes, all washed down with that Peruvian signature cocktail, the pisco sour.

6. London to Euro Disney, France
Many families traveling to Europe connect London to Paris on the speedy Eurostar Train through the Chunnel. Yet, for younger children with a love for Disney%2525252C the better choice might be the 2.5-hour train from London to Euro Disney. The train departs from St. Pancras Station in London at 9 am. Kids can entertain themselves with a complimentary Disney-themed activity pack. When they arrive, Goofy, Mickey, and Minnie are there to escort families off the train and walk them over to the park. The last train leaves Euro Disney at 7:30 pm, but it might be wise to simply continue on the Eurostar to Paris, a mere 40-minute train ride away.

7. Northwest Passage, Eugene to Seattle
A 7-hour ride that's a pleasure to take in the afternoon is the Amtrak Cascades train from Eugene, Oregon to Seattle, Washington. Starting at the University of Oregon campus, you'll pass Mount St. Helens and go across the Columbia River Gorge before spotting the snowcapped peak of Mount Rainier in the distance. Almost halfway is the city of Portland, worthy of at least a one to two-night stay before continuing onward. At the Cascades Bistro, try the clam chowder washed down with one of the local microbrews. Then sit back and relax in the wide seats in the cars, inspired by European train travel.

8. The Polar Express, Sweden
The seventeen-hour Veolia overnight train from Stockholm to Kiruna, Sweden, brings you above the Arctic Circle to Lapland. Not only is it a great way to see the Swedish countryside, but you also sleep in comfort and dine in style. Upon arrival in Kiruna in summer, the sun never sets. Winter, however, is preferable if you can brave the cold. There are dogsled trips, an overnight stay in a hotel made out of ice and even a trip to see Santa's Workshop. Regardless of the time of year, everyone takes a nice hot sauna after a day of activity. No doubt, you'll find many men with long beards and big bellies that look like Santa.

9. VIA Rail, Jasper to Vancouver
Another Canadian favorite is the 20-hour overnight jaunt on the VIA Rail from Jasper, Alberta, to Vancouver, British Columbia. Within an hour of leaving Jasper, you pass the snowcapped peaks of the Canadian Rockies, large and virtually uninhabited Moose Lake, and the stream of water tumbling down Thunder Falls, all best seen from the glass-enclosed Panorama Car. When it starts to get dark, stroll over to the Dining Car for a dinner of stuffed chicken breast, and then watch a movie in the Activity Car. Families of four can book adjoining rooms, each with a set of bunk beds and private bathroom. The shower is just down the hall. If you want to connect the Canadian Rockies with the Pacific coast, this is the best way to do it.

10. Whistler Sea to Sky Climb (formerly Whistler Mountaineer, Vancouver to Whistler
As the Sea to Sky Climb heads north away from the ocean high into old-growth forest, passengers make their way to the open-air compartment to watch rock climbers scurry up the cliffs outside of Squamish and to spot the white dome atop 8,787-foot Mount Garibaldi. Then the train slows near two impressive waterfalls, Shannon and Brandywine, before making its final ascent to the lofty peaks of Whistler. If you're not outside, make sure you have a good view as the Sea to Sky climbs a steep grade through Cheakamus Canyon, where a foamy river tumbles below through the craggy gorge. Most people spend a day or two in the town of Whistler, hiking, biking, canoeing, and zip lining, before making their descent back to Vancouver.

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