Page 9 - AAA Central Penn – AAA Now! – November/December 2016

WITH YOU ON
THE ROAD OF LIFETM
AAA
Crossing the Canadian Rockies Aboard Rocky Mountaineer Travel by Train is Deluxe and Delightful Again
“All Aboard!” calls the conductor of Rocky Mountaineer as you step on board for a rail journey like no other. Crossing the Canadian Rockies by train continues to be a classic travel experience featuring spectacular scenery and now is superbly enhanced by Rocky Mountaineer’s unique deluxe glass-dome railcars and unparalleled service.
Daytime-only travel through the Canadian Rockies is an important distinction of riding aboard the privately operated Rocky Mountaineer. In contrast, regularly scheduled public
passenger trains traverse some of this
magnificent mountain route during
the dark of night. Rocky Mountaineer
does not have sleeper cars on its
trains; instead, you are treated to
comfortable hotel rooms along the
routes of their two- or three-day
rail journeys.
ferry across the Georgia Strait to the nearby pretty, provincial capital of Victoria for an overnight stay or high tea at the elegant Empress Hotel and a visit to the famous Butchart Gardens.
When departing Vancouver, Rocky Mountaineer rolls out the red carpet for you at their private train station with morning beverages served before
the locomotive horn blows. Crisply-uniformed
and smiling hosts direct you to your shiny double- decker, glass-dome car in an impressive lineup of
custom-built luxury railcars. On the upper level is your preassigned seat, which resembles
a business class airline seat, but with extra legroom that allows you to stand comfortably at your seat – perfect for
taking photos. Most of your days on board Rocky Mountaineer are enjoyed here under the dome, which provides
360-degree views that wrap you
in non-stop scenery. The onboard hosts are well-trained guides who enthusiastically share their extensive
knowledge about the Canadian Rockies and the towns, villages,
outposts and middle-of-nowhere sites along the tracks and beyond. They alert you of upcoming outstanding photo-ops
eagles. The Canadian Rockies’ mountains, peaks, valleys and rivers appear never-ending along this rail route, which enables you to pass through some especially remote regions inaccessible by public roads.
Each day on board Rocky Mountaineer features a bountiful breakfast and luscious lunch served in the comfortable restaurant in your railcar’s lower level. Large picture windows line the restaurant’s walls,
so you never miss a view or chance to click another photo or create another video. Complimentary beverages and snacks also are included at your seat.
On this eastbound route of Rocky Mountaineer, the first day’s scenery evolves from verdant fields of the Fraser River Valley to sparkling lakes and dense forests. Farther along the tracks are deep gorges with rushing rivers surmounted by peaks of the Coast and Cascade mountains. Then, the landscape opens to Kamloops Lake and the town of Kamloops where you stay overnight and enjoy dinner. Your suitcase is transported by truck and delivered to your hotel room in Kamloops and again in Jasper. Your train and crew also rest tonight in Kamloops and are refreshed and ready for you to take your same seat for a second day of extraordinary train travel. Heading northeast toward Jasper, you enter the Province of Alberta as Rocky Mountaineer climbs to cross the Continental Divide. This
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Let’s take a look at one
special vacation with Rocky Mountaineer that features stars
of the Canadian Rockies along a
rail route between Vancouver and Jasper National Park, followed by
a deluxe motorcoach tour to Banff. Begin in British Columbia’s charismatic Vancouver, a showcase of welcoming waterfronts, parks and islands. Hop on a
and always are on the look-out for wildlife, including bear, elk, bighorn sheep, osprey and
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Farther
along the tracks are deep gorges with rushing rivers surmounted by peaks of the Coast and Cascade mountains.
Now!