Come on Ride the Train to the Grand Canyon
The United States is filled with so much beauty, but one of the most majestic is the Grand Canyon. At 277 miles long, up to 18 miles wide, and more than one (1) mile deep this icon is considered one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. Will you be one of the nearly six (6) million annual visitors to this great wonder? My family took the opportunity to check off a bucket list item to see the Grand Canyon while visiting other sites around the Southwest. We decided to make our visit by rail. It seemed like a fun, unique, and also relaxing away to get to the Grand Canyon.
Located about 63 miles away in Williams, Arizona the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel offers a variety of accommodations from standard rooms to spacious family suites. The best part is the Hotel is located at the train depot and packages ranging from 1-night to 5-nights are available. Train tickets are included with each package and options to add breakfast and dinner as well as stays at the in-park lodges are available.
We opted for a 2-night stay at the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel in the family suite– The Yavapai Suite. The room was spacious for everyone to spread out and featured a room with two queen beds, a pull-out sofabed, and a kitchenette. Personally, I also loved the robes in the room too!
Adding dining to our stay was incredibly convenient. We had the pleasure of enjoying breakfast and dinner at the Fred Harvey Restaurant, conveniently situated just outside the hotel and adjacent to the train depot. Each meal was served buffet-style, providing a wide selection of dishes. The dinner menu each evening was offering something new and enticing to look forward. We particularly enjoyed the meat carving station, where a selection of delectable meats awaited us. Additionally, the pasta station offered made-to-order pasta dishes, freshly prepared according to our preferences. Dessert was offered by the waitstaff and available in unlimited quantities.
Breakfast options were pretty standard: fruits, cereals, bacon, sausage, pancakes, and breakfast potatoes, but the prior evening’s pasta station transformed into an omelet station.
After breakfast and just before the train begins boarding, a fun and comedic wild west show takes place with cowboys, a marshall, and some audience participation. The quirky jokes start off a fun-filled day. After the show, guests will board the train northbound to the Grand Canyon. It’s a relaxing and scenic ride. Various seating classes are available, but I highly recommend First Class in beautifully refurbished passenger train cars with air conditioning, plush seating, and snacks and soft drinks included during your ride. Passengers riding in the Observation Dome will have 360-degree views during the ride and access to refreshments as well.
Our train car attendant, Rob, was fantastic. He knew so many facts about the area, the Grand Canyon, the wildlife along the ride, and more. He provided us with history, jokes, and of course, tips to maximize our few hours at the Grand Canyon. We had booked the Freedom Tour to guide us around while onsite. It turned out perfectly. We were driven in an air-conditioned bus to different viewing points along the Rim. It was perfect to give us glimpses of the vast Canyon. After the tour there was time for shopping and lunch before heading back to the train.
The train ride back gets a little wild! The cowboys from the morning show had boarded the train and caused a big commotion as we made our return to Williams. Luckily the Marshall caught up with them to restore order onboard just in time to arrive back at the station to enjoy dinner.
A visit to the Grand Canyon and Grand Canyon Railway Hotel is perfect for guests of all ages! Come On Ride the Train to the Grand Canyon!
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