Tentative itinerary for the travel portion of the course. Trials and Rails Sunday March 9 Day 1 5:38 pm – Depart Galesburg aboard Amtrak’s Southwest Chief Board Amtrak’s Southwest Chief and departure for Williams Junction, Arizona. Make the most of your time on the train, meeting your fellow travelers and ensuring a visit to the Sightseer Lounge with its floor-to-ceiling windows offering impressive views of the picture-perfect scenery passing before you. As your train crosses the mighty Mississippi, cutting across Illinois, briefly into Iowa, and then onto Missouri, enjoy a hot meal in the Dining Car before retiring for the evening. Overnight train. (D Sleeping Car passengers only) Monday March 10 Day 2 – Southwest Chief to Williams Junction, Arizona The sun rises as you leave Kansas and travel through southern Colorado. Start your day with breakfast in the Dining Car followed by a series of presentations from volunteer park rangers as part of the Trails & Rails program (seasonal). Enjoy hearing stories and viewing artifacts from the region as your travel through Colorado and New Mexico. Your train arrives in Williams Junction, Arizona around 9:30 this evening. A shuttle will transfer you from the rail station to your hotel. OvernightGrand Canyon Railway Hotel. (B, L, D Sleeping Car Passengers only) Tuesday March 11 Day 3 – Historic Grand Canyon Railway Train Wake-up early and enjoy a hearty breakfast buffet at the Grand Depot Cafe. Then board the vintage rail cars of the Grand Canyon Railway for a 9:30 am departure to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. Travel the same route as other notable Railway passengers before you including William Howard Taft, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Clark Gable, Jimmy Durante, and Doris Day. Upon arrival you will be met by tour buses waiting to take you on a Freedom Tour of the Grand Canyon. This narrated motorcoach tour of the South Rim visits the most scenic overlooks of the canyon, with stops at breathtaking vistas including Mohave Point, Pima Point, the Abyss, and Hermits Rest. Overnight Maswik Lodge. (B) Wednesday March 12 Day 4 – Grand Canyon at Your Leisure Spend the morning exploring the South Rim on your own or take another guided tour. There are several historical buildings worth visiting including Buckey O’Neill’s Cabin, the longest continually standing structure in the South Rim; Desert View Watchtower with one of the few views of the bottom of the Canyon and the Colorado River; and Bright Angel Lodge with its small museum honoring Fred Harvey, who played a prominent role in popularizing the Grand Canyon. Board the Grand Canyon Railway southbound to Williams at 3:30 pm. Dinner this evening is at the Grand Depot Cafe. Overnight Grand Canyon Railway Hotel. (D) Thursday March 13 Day 5 – Southwest Chief Chicago-bound Wake-up early and transfer to Williams Junction to board Amtrak’s Southwest Chief to Chicago. Nap, read a book, or spend the day marveling at the canyons, deserts, mountains, missions, pueblos, and ranches that comprise the colorful scenery and getting to know your fellow travelers. Overnight train Friday March 14 Day 6 – Arrive at Galesburg Awake to the wheat fields of the Midwest this morning. Leisurely prepare for your arrival in Galesburg a little after 12:08 pm.
Posted on: Sun, 29 Sep 2013 03:52:36 +0000
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