West Coast USA

ITINERARY

Day 1 – Flight to Seattle

Scheduled flight from London to Seattle for a 3-night stay in the historic Pioneer Square district.

Days 2 & 3 – At Leisure in Seattle

Free days to explore. A monorail links the shopping area to the Space Needle. Take an elevator to the top for superb views of the city and surrounding coastline. Another worthy experience is a 'Beneath the Streets' tour which takes you along the underground pathways of Pioneer Square, as they existed in the 1890s. No visit is complete without a visit to the famous Pikes Market.

Day 4 – Coastal Scenery to Portland

After a leisurely morning, we take an early afternoon train down the scenic Pacific coast to Portland for a 2-night stay. This Amtrak route is the only one to use a European trainset and bistro car.

Day 5 – Mount Hood Railroad

Leaving Portland by private coach, we drive up the famous Columbia River Gorge, visiting the spectacular Multnomah Falls, before a return journey on the Mount Hood Railroad from Hood River to Pine Grove. Continue by road to the Timberline Lodge Resort, located 6,000ft on the slopes of Mount Hood. Evening return to Portland.

Day 6 – The Coast Starlight

Enjoy a free morning before we join Amtrak’s Coast Starlight as it journeys south through the Cascade Ranges. Overnight accommodation on the train is in comfortable two berth roomettes or, for a supplementary charge, two berth bedrooms with private facilities. Our evening meal is included on the train and its comfortable lounge and bar cars will ensure that you can enjoy the panoramic views.

Day 7 – Sacramento

Morning arrival into Sacramento for a 2-night stay. We have the rest of the day to relax and perhaps visit one of the nearby museums or art galleries.

Day 8 – California State Railroad Museum

A whole day dedicated to exploring this museum which comprehensively illustrates railroad history in California and the West. It is home to 225,000 square-feet of exhibits and beautifully restored railroad cars and locomotives, so there is plenty to see! As our visit falls on a weekend, excursion trains should also be running along the Sacramento River.

Day 9 – San Francisco

Enjoy a leisurely morning before boarding a lunchtime train to Emeryville. From here, we transfer by road to the lively Fisherman's Wharf district for a 5-night stay.

Days 10 & 11 – Free Time to Explore

Two full days in this lovely coastal city, with public transport passes included to aid our exploration. Our hotel is close to the terminus of one of the famous cable car lines, and also the Fisherman’s Wharf terminus of streetcar line F, which still runs vintage trams from all over the USA and even Europe. The ferry terminals for cruises to the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz are only a short walk away (please note, advance booking for Alcatraz is strongly recommended).

Day 12 – Roaring Camp Railroads

We now head south by coach to visit Roaring Camp and two more of California’s independent railways. Firstly we take a round trip on the Redwood Forest Steam Train, where we find an 1890 “Shay” logging locomotive in action on the steepest gradient of any narrow gauge line in the USA. Return in time for lunch in the old logging town and then take the afternoon train on the Santa Cruz Big Trees & Pacific Railway through the San Lorenzo River Gorge and down to the Pacific Coast. After returning to Roaring Camp, our coach meets us and transfers us back to our hotel in San Francisco.

Day 13 – The Napa Valley Wine Train

Most of the day is at leisure before an early evening transfer to the Napa Valley Wine Train. Here we enjoy a unique dining experience in an antique Pullman rail car. Enjoy a gourmet meal whilst travelling through California’s historic wine country – local wines and other beverages are available to purchase individually.

Days 14 & 15 – San Francisco & Home

Morning at leisure before a transfer to the airport for an overnight flight home, arriving the following morning.