Great Train Journeys – The California Zephyr

One of the world’s longest train journeys at 2,438 miles, the California Zephyr is also one of the most amazing. This train ride cuts right across the US, through the dusty and dry Nevada plains, through the Rocky Mountains, to the gorgeous cliffs and sunshine of California’s coastline.

To help you make the most of this adventurous journey, here are some of the highlights along the way in the California Zephyr – showing you what you can’t miss at every stop according to global travelers.*

Skyline, Chicago

Chicago isn’t just a super good-looking city. Its diverse population has cultivated an innovative and rich cuisine that’s moved away from the deep-dish pizza stereotype to farm-to-table food, Mexican fusion, and much more. Chicago is also celebrated for its music, art, and architecture, with outdoor summer orchestra performances, Anish Kapoor’s giant Cloud Gate sculpture, and lots of galleries. The Sono Chicago is conveniently located in the Old Town neighborhood and its thick carpets, super king size beds, and velvet accents provide a relaxing retreat after a day exploring the city.

Markets, Omaha

A family-friendly, welcoming and cultural city, Omaha locals are known for their Midwestern hospitality. Hop off the train and explore the Old Market, a historic district with galleries, boutiques, horse-drawn carriages, red brick roads, and bars around every flower-filled street. The Residence Inn Omaha Old Market Area is the perfect spot to explore all of these attractions.

Sports, Denver

Approaching the Rocky Mountain landscape by train from the plains of Nebraska is a beautiful sight, and coming out of the train in Denver, at the foot of the Front Range of the Rockies, you’ll find there’s a lot to explore. Active travelers can get around by bike with a bike sharing program and the popular Cherry Creek Bike Trail, making it an easy and fun way to see the city.

Touring Denver’s many breweries is another great way to spend an afternoon, as well as experiencing acclaimed restaurant and market, Mercantile. Try out some of the cured meats, marinated seasonal vegetables, fine cheeses, and other artisanal dishes. The ART, a hotel within an eye-catching modern building in downtown Denver, is a showcase of the city’s fashionable, contemporary style, with fine dining, decor, and service.

Temples, Salt Lake City

Probably the most scenic stretch of the train journey is through the Rockies to Salt Lake City. Forests of Fir, Aspen, and Maple trees, snow-capped mountains, waterfalls, canyons and the Great Salt Lake, where the city gets its name from, are all within easy access of the city.

Temple Square is the cultural, historic, and geographic heart of the city, as well as the official headquarters of the Mormon Church. Visit Salt Lake Temple and its sculpted gardens, and try to time your visit with the regular free performances of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. The Grand America Hotel is a super plush hotel that looks a lot like Wes Anderson’s Grand Budapest – a beautiful, big building packed with lights, flags, and harps, plus four poster beds in the bedrooms.

Entertainment, Reno

Being reborn after its reputation for casinos and kitsch, Reno is emerging as a youthful and energetic city, totally worth hopping off the train to see. The revamped, downtown Riverwalk follows the banks of the Truckee River with galleries, restaurants, and specialty stores.

In the summer, you can take a guided kayak trip on the city’s flowing waters or go camping at the hot springs in the eastern Sierras. In fall, head to the nearby Burning Man festival and in winter, make your way up to the snow around Lake Tahoe. Reno’s casino hotels are the most highly reviewed property types in Reno on Booking.com, with the glitzy Peppermill Resort Spa Casino at the top of the list.

Culturally Diverse Food, Sacramento

Sacramento was once a farming town, nowadays it’s a sunny, charming, and friendly Californian city. The farm-to-table food movement is understandably big here, but there’s also a growing hunger for art and culture.

Public art installations, new spaces like the Warehouse Artist Lofts (combining artists’ studios with exhibition areas and retail), and a resurgence of traditional crafts and artisanry like cobbling are all boosting Sacramento’s image. Amber House Inn Of Midtown is a popular property found in two historic Sacramento buildings, beautifully decorated with antique furniture and Art Deco lamps.

Organic Food, San Francisco

San Francisco is a perfect final stop for this train adventure because it’s somewhere you’ll want to stay a while. A city known for its liberal, creative communities, and a trailblazing civil rights movement that paved the way for LGBT rights in the rest of the States, it’s full of excitement and drive – not to mention that beautiful big red bridge, the mysterious island prison of Alcatraz, and a great food culture (try some of the city’s famous seafood). Parker Guest House is a property set in a lemon yellow, traditional San Franciscan mansion, with old mahogany furniture, a sunroom for breakfast, and a big, flower-filled garden.

**Destinations featured were chosen as a selection of all the major destinations along the Chicago to San Francisco train route. Then the most popular feature of each city was calculated using internal endorsement data.