Sunday October 5: (D) This afternoon meet the private car manager at Chicago's Union Station and board our exclusive private railcars dome lounge "Vista Dome" and sleeper "Birch Grove". champagne reception in the dome lounge as we depart Chicago, attached to Amtrak's "California Zephyr". Travel across Illinois farmlands, over the mighty Mississippi River into Iowa. Evening 4-course meal with complimentary wines, then relax in the either the dome or the bar/lounge downstairs over complimentary drinks.
Monday October 6: (B-D) Arrive Denver's Union Station. After breakfast there is a private sightseeing tour of downtown Denver the "mile high city" before driving into the Rockies visiting the Red Rocks Park, Creek Canyon and a historic Gold Mine. Return to our private cars for dinner with complimentary wines and overnight.
Tuesday October 7: (B-L-D) Today sit back as the train climbs out of Denver and enjoy the dramatic and spectacular Rockies scenery. Passing the Great Divide at an altitude of over 9,000ft and through the 6 mile Moffat Tunnel. From here onwards to Glenwood Springs traveling through the Gore, Byers and Glenwood Canyons.
Wednesday October 8: (B-L-D) The train continues through most of the flat Nevada plains in the dark. After Reno the line climbs over the 7000ft Donner Pass in the High Sierras with spectacular views of Donner Lake before descending through Sacramento, across the immense Martinez Bridge where you can see the mothballed US Navy fleet and along the shores of San Pablo Bay to arrive at Emeryville (Oakland), private coach transfer over the Bay Bridge into downtown San Francisco for two nights stay at the 4-star Handlery Hotel, Union Square.
Thursday October 9: Enjoy a private guided sightseeing tour of the sights of San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge including a cruise to Sausalito where there is a break for lunch. The rest of the day is at leisure perhaps ride one of the famous cable cars, visit Fisherman's Wharf or Chinatown, the choice is yours.
Friday October 10: Continue to enjoy the many delights that San Francisco has to offer before transferring to Oakland where we reboard our private cars for an evening departure With the cars coupled to the rear of Amtrak's northbound "Coast Starlight" Evening complimentary drinks in the lounge before retiring to our bedrooms.
Saturday October 11: (B-L-D) Leisurely breakfast as we pass the dormant volcano of Mt. Shasta then past the lakes and forests of Oregon and the Cascade Mountain Range that includes infamous Mount St. Helens.. Evening arrival into Seattle, stay two nights in de-luxe lake view rooms at the superb Hotel 1000 in the very heart of the city.
Sunday October 12: Today we cross the border into Canada on a full day excursion by fast ferry to Victoria on Vancouver Island, a town that still retains much of its British Heritage. Time to stroll and shop, perhaps visit the excellent museum or take a double deck bus tour to the world famous Butchart Gardens - a truly remarkable site of the Butchart family's vision in creating spectacular gardens from what was once a quarry., Afternoon tea in the magnificent Empress Hotel. Return later in the day by fast ferry to Seattle.
Monday October 13: (D) A leisurely start with most of the day free in Seattle. The hotel is near the waterfront with its tramway and the Pike Place Market where you can browse around the antique shops or the amazing food stalls. Why not take the monorail to the "Space Needle" tower, relax in a coffee shop, (Seattle is the home of Starbucks). Depart late afternoon on board our private cars couple to Amtrak's "Empire Builder" for the onward journey along the shores of Puget Sound then turning inland over Stevens Pass into the night.
Tuesday October 14: (B-L-D) Breakfast in the dome lounge as the train passes through the Glacier National Park and over Marias Pass, the continental divide. The route continues through the wide open spaces and cattle ranches of Montana and North Dakota.
Wednesday October 15: (B-L) This morning the train crosses and recrosses the Mississippi River and through scenic Wisconsin Dells to arrive Chicago mid afternoon.
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