If you have ever wanted to see the heart of America without the stress of driving then the California Zephyr is basically your best bet. This famous train ride stretches all the way from the busy streets of Chicago to the sunny hills of the San Francisco Bay Area which is a massive 2,438-mile journey that takes about 51 hours. It is easily one of the most beautiful ways to travel across the country because you get a front row seat to landscapes that most people only see on postcards or in movies.
Chicago Start
The trip begins at the historic Union Station where you board the train right in the middle of one of the most iconic cities in the Midwest. As the train pulls away you get a great view of the tall skyscrapers before the landscape turns into the wide open flatlands of Illinois and Iowa.
Crossing The Mississippi
One of the first big highlights is when the train glides over the massive Mississippi River which always looks impressive from the high windows of the passenger cars. This crossing marks the beginning of your journey into the western half of the country as the rolling hills and green farms start to fill the view.
Denver Arrival
The train pulls into Denver and you see the tall city buildings standing right in front of the giant mountains. Travelers like this stop because it is the last big city you visit. Soon the tracks go high up into the quiet wild woods.
Into The Rockies
Everyone heads to the big windows when the train reaches the mountains. You will see deep canyons and the beautiful Colorado River. The train travels through a special tunnel built into the rock. It is a smart way to cross the high mountain peak.
The Glenwood Canyon
The tracks follow a winding river through a tiny gap between huge cliffs. These red rock walls are hundreds of feet tall and look amazing in the sun. It feels like a secret world where the water moves right beside your window every day.
Utah Deserts
Utah looks like a different planet because of the weird rocks and the big desert areas you see. The sunset makes the sky turn purple. Everything glows orange and it is a very cool thing to see from the train window.
Salt Lake City
The train arrives here during the night or early morning depending on which way you are going but the views of the Great Salt Lake are still a major highlight. You can see the water shimmering in the distance as the train heads toward the dry basins of Nevada.
Sierra Nevada Mountains
After the dry desert the train goes up into the green forests and snowy tops of the Sierra Nevada mountains. You will see the famous Donner Pass where you can really imagine the old travelers as the train moves through the tall trees.
Truckee River
The tracks follow this beautiful winding river as it flows down from the mountains and leads the train toward the lower valleys. It is a very peaceful stretch of the trip where you might spot some wildlife or people fishing in the clear mountain water.
California Coast
The journey finally ends in Emeryville which is just a short hop away from the famous sights of San Francisco and the Pacific Ocean. After traveling over two thousand miles you arrive feeling like you have truly seen the soul of the country from the ground up.
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