When I was offered a scenic train ride in Arizona, I jumped at the chance. After all, it’s pretty rare to travel by train in some parts of the United States. I have lived in New York and visited Washington DC and Boston throughout my life, and have taken the train in each of these cities. But I have never taken the train in the West.

My kids get a week off from their schools in Arizona every year in October, so this year I decided to take them on a Grand Canyon train vacation adventure with the Grand Canyon Railway. Leaving Williams, Arizona, a town known as the “Gateway to the Grand Canyon,” we boarded a train that took us to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. And what an adventure we had!

In the interest of journalistic integrity, we disclose that the author of this article was invited on this trip to the Grand Canyon by Grand Canyon Railway and Percepture PR, with expenses covered. However, all opinions and thoughts expressed in this article are their own.

First, the night before our train ride was spent at the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel in Williams, which was built in 1995 to resemble the original property, the Fray Marcos Hotel. After checking in at the front desk, we walked across the courtyard to the Williams Depot to collect our reserved tickets. There were a few old fashioned ticket booths, a large gift shop with all kinds of trinkets and souvenirs, and a cafe inside. My son and daughter were excited to explore while I waited in a short queue for our train tickets.

The Grand Canyon Railway has been in operation since 1901. The station in Williams, Arizona, was built in 1908 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The historic nature of the railroad helped make our train-themed vacation even more memorable than expected.

After dropping off our bags in the room, we spent some time at the hotel pool before having dinner at Restaurant du Pays des Pins in downtown Williams. The food and service was excellent and apparently this local restaurant is known for its pies, but we were all too full after dinner to try a slice. Maybe next time!

Back in our comfortable hotel room, we went to bed early to rest up for the next day’s train excursion. In the morning, we had a quick breakfast at the station and then headed to the pre-boarding show. As part of the experience, the Grand Canyon Railway puts on a show in its makeshift Old West town, complete with actors and a re-enactment of a gunfight. After the show, it was time to board.

We had first class tickets for the Yavapai car and a woman named Mary Ellen was our car hostess. Once we boarded our car, she gave us some information about herself and the Grand Canyon Railway, as well as what to expect during the ride. The train ride from Williams to the Grand Canyon takes just over two hours and the train travels between 38 and 41 mph.

The scenery is beautiful along the way, but there’s so much more to do than just looking out the window all the time. On the way to the Grand Canyon, a musician arrived with a guitar and sang a few cowboy and country songs before moving on to the next car. Our car attendant and the train driver were jumping on the intercom to inform us of the points of interest we were passing. And, at one point, a photographer came to take photos of individual groups on board – a great way to commemorate the trip!

Each group of seats had a small table and newspapers offering further information about the train. My children enjoyed reading the story of the train and how it all began.

The train has several classes of service, including Pullman Class, Coach Class, First Class, Observation Dome, Deluxe Dome, and Deluxe Lounge. As I said before, we had first class tickets, and in first class snacks, soft drinks, coffee, tea and water were included. Cocktails were also available for purchase in our car.

When we arrived at the national park, we were able to see the historic Grand Canyon Repository. It was built between 1909 and 1910 and is listed as a National Historic Landmark. It is located in the historic district of Grand Canyon National Park, an unspoilt village that is also home to the famous El Tovar Hotel.

Speaking of El Tovar, that’s where we went for lunch. The Tovar First opened in 1905, it is a beautifully constructed hotel, as well as a National Historic Landmark. Although we’d love to spend the night here someday, we were happy to at least have lunch in its elegant dining room with wood-beamed ceilings, wood-paneled walls, and dimly lit chandeliers that make the space feel cozy. My son ordered the Traditional Navajo Taco (fried bread with ground beef, tomatoes, lettuce, and other fresh toppings), while my daughter and I shared a charcuterie board. Everything was delicious and I highly recommend dining here when visiting the South Shore.

After lunch, it was time to take a walk and marvel at the Grand Canyon! We had visited it before but were still in awe of this natural wonder of the world. Nearly three hours before we had to board the train for the return trip, we took a walk, entered several historic buildings in the village and took hundreds of photos, as one does when visiting this world-famous national park .

Aside from the train ride and the Grand Canyon review, my favorite part was being able to share this extraordinary experience with my son and daughter. What an incredible way to create family memories that will last a lifetime!

There’s something so seductive about taking the train, especially in this country. It’s no wonder train travel is so romanticized! While it’s a part of daily life in other parts of the world, like Asia and Europe, it’s become a novelty here in the Western United States. And I will take the train whenever I get the chance, no matter where I am in the world. . My kids and I had a wonderful time riding the train to and from the Grand Canyon, dining at El Tovar, and exploring the park. I am so grateful that we had this opportunity.

If you haven’t yet experienced a Grand Canyon train vacation, I urge you to put it at the top of your list. Arizona Bucket List. To book your train tickets to the Grand Canyon or a ticket package with an overnight stay at the hotel, go to Grand Canyon Railway website.

Taking a road trip to Williams, Arizona to explore the city and take a ride on the Grand Canyon Railway? Check out our Ultimate Road Trip Packing List for everything you need before hitting the road!