Page 16 - AAA Every Day – AAA Hudson Valley – May/June 2019

Amtrak offers a variety of plans and packages to build your perfect trip. You can create a package with tours of various cities and sites as well as hotel stays included, or work with your AAA Travel Agent to build your vacation, using Amtrak’s USA Rail Pass. The USA Rail Pass can be as short as 15 days with eight segments or as long as 45 days with 18 segments. And the fare for children ages
2-12 is 50 percent of an adult’s ticket when traveling with a full-fare paying adult. Amtrak also offers senior, military and group discounts. Speak with your Travel Agent to find the best deal for you. You’ll also want to look into various accommodations onboard your journey, which could vary depending on the route you choose.
Exploring our national parks by rail is an excellent alternative to traditional travel options, and Amtrak provides a personal adventure for travelers looking to check off these destinations off of their bucket lists.
Spenser F. Barnes is a freelance writer based in California.
16 I MAY/JUNE 2019
Photo: © Grand Canyon Railway
GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK
Start making your plans to visit during its centennial celebration to take full advantage of everything the park has to offer. From hiking down into the canyon or just enjoying the view from the rim, the park provides something for those who love the outdoors.
The Grand Canyon Railway started taking visitors
to the Grand Canyon before it was even a national park, back in 1901. Now, you can travel from Williams, Arizona, into the park and also spend the night at the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel. Be sure to ask about the AAA “Rails to the Rim” package. Amtrak’s Southwest Chief runs daily from Chicago to Williams, Arizona.
side” of the Grand Canyon by paying a
visit to the North Rim, which is typically only open from May 15 through Oct. 15 because of snow. It also features lodging, restaurants and shops but is only frequented by 10 percent of the guests who visit the Grand Canyon.
For a different experience, you can see the “other
Photo: IStock
Photo: © Grand Canyon Railway
Photo: IStock