By Carolyn Orf, Education Manager
When you are in the travel industry, it’s so easy to forget about the beauty and opportunities that exist in our own backyard. I rediscovered the scenic American west when I traveled from Denver to Salt Lake City on a preview trip with Canyon Spirit, the elevated train experience offered by the Armstrong Collective, also known for Rocky Mountaineer train travel in Canada.
Here’s a look at my time onboard:
On Monday evening, I made my way from the suburbs of Denver to downtown where I spent the night at the Limelight Hotel located next to Union Station where the train would depart the following morning. The hotel, located in the heart of the city, was reminiscent of a mountain lodge, which fit perfectly with the feel of this trip.
After checking in at the hotel, I was able to check in with Canyon Spirit at the desk located in the lobby to receive my boarding pass and luggage tags for the following day. I was instructed to leave my luggage in the hotel room the following day and meet in the lobby at 8:30am for the train’s departure at 9am.
The following morning, after nervously leaving my luggage in my room, the group met in the lobby and walked next door to the Union Station Platform. We watched the train back up into the station where the team at Canyon Spirit promptly rolled out the literal red carpet for us, along with the United States and Colorado state flags.
I boarded the train, found my seat (next to the window) and pulled out the two menus located in the back of the seat for food and drinks. The drink menu had Colorado inspired cocktails, wines, and beers, and the dining menu featured local cuisine and offered treats from a local bakery. Before long, orders were taken for breakfast, and the train slowly made its way out of downtown Denver.
For the next several hours, we traveled through the downtown landscape and eventually into the foothills where we encountered a herd of elk before crossing our way through the mountains to Glenwood Springs. We enjoyed delicious food, beverages, and listened to the car staff who shared stories and history about the towns we passed through. (I had no idea we would pass through 28 tunnels throughout the journey!)
We arrived in Glenwood Springs around 5:30pm. As we pulled into the train station, the staff handed each of us a room key. I exited the train, walked through the station, across the street, and straight to my room where my luggage was waiting for me. (Now THIS was service!) After a quick walk through town, I made my way back to the hotel since our departure was early the next morning.
At 7:45am the following morning, I walked across the street, leaving my luggage once again in my hotel room. As I entered the train station, I was greeted with a warm welcome and the choice of coffee, tea, or hot chocolate. Within minutes I boarded the train again, found my seat, looked at the day’s menu, and we were off, headed towards Moab. I ventured to the lounge for cheese and honey tasting. The space was beautiful and a nice change from my comfortable coach seat. We learned about the Peek-A-Boo fence that triggers when rocks fall. Not only does this slow down the rock, but if it does land on the track, it also triggers the system to notify upcoming trains to slow down. (This is something cool about trains I did not know!)
We arrived in Moab around 4pm, a little later than anticipated. The group was separated into two, with some heading straight to Canyonlands National Park and then rest taking a coach to the hotel in Moab. I didn’t realize how hot it would be in Moab. Denver and Glenwood were comfortable, but in Moab, the temperatures were in the high 80’s, low 90’s…and I had not packed appropriately. Either way, I was determined to walk to town and have dinner. It was an easy but hot 1.5 miles.
The final morning of the journey I was picked up early and taken to Arches National Park. What a beautiful place! We had a little time to walk around and take pictures at three different locations throughout the park. It was early in the season, so the crowds were minimal. This made for breathtaking pictures.
Around 11am, we made our way to Thompson Springs where we picked up the train for the last leg into Salt Lake City. Once onboard, we enjoyed a tea service with a variety of tea sandwiches including lobster deviled egg, and little desserts to try as well. After everyone was served, they came around again and gave us the chance to have more. It was probably one of my favorite meals on the train. Because this was a preview trip, they decided to try something new. We could choose to participate in a local whiskey tasting in the lounge car. We tasted four different local whiskeys. (Not really my thing, but it was fun to participate in the experience.)
After another wonderful dinner, we arrived in Salt Lake City where we were given our keys to our final hotel room and transferred by motor coach to the hotel.
When I think about this experience, the words elevated, warmth, and hospitality come to mind. Canyon Spirit strives to provide a unique experience for those who are interested in experiencing train travel. This is a must-do for clients who are looking for a domestic, elevated experience that is different from other vacations they have enjoyed.
