Canyon Spirit train
It’s been a few days since I got home from the Canyon Spirit train journey, and I’m still thinking about the trip. It was really wonderful! I loved the scenery, the people I met, the food, the drinks, and the service. But the thing that surprised me most was who I kept thinking about while I was traveling. My parents and my in-laws.
I kept looking out the train window at the red rocks of Utah, the arches, the balanced rocks, the mountains of Colorado and the Continental Divide and thinking, “This is an amazing way to travel.” But I also know that a traditional road trip through this part of the country isn’t necessarily the easiest way for everyone to experience it. That’s what made Canyon Spirit so interesting to me.
The train journey took us from Salt Lake City through Moab and Glenwood Springs before ending in Denver, though the route goes both directions. Along the way, we got to see parts of Utah and Colorado that just aren’t accessible from the road. I sat in a comfortable train seat, looked out the window and actually enjoyed the scenery instead of worrying about driving. And trust me, I stress the word “worrying” here.
If you know me, you know I’m a beach gal. I have a love of the mountains, but they scare me. I’m deathly afraid of falling. I mean the take-medication-to-even-fly kind if fear. So, traveling on switchbacks up and down a mountain is the opposite idea of fun to me. But there was nothing to fear on this train trip. I sat back like it was nothing and really enjoyed the gradual climb and gradual decent. And there was a lot to enjoy.
The service onboard was wonderful, even though we found out that a couple of our servers were brand new (they were great!). We had good food, good drinks and a really fun group of people who started as strangers and quickly became friends (one of my favorite things about traveling!). There was something pretty special about spending the day watching the scenery roll by and sharing stories over a drink or a meal.
At night, we weren’t sleeping in a tiny room on a moving train. We stayed in comfortable hotels with air conditioning and the comforts of home. Our luggage was transported for us from one hotel room to the next, which made the journey incredibly easy. And that word kept coming back to me: easy. Not boring. Just easy. There’s a big difference between the two. You can still have an incredible adventure without every part of the trip requiring effort.
Steps to board train
If you’ve ever wanted to see places like Arches National Park, Canyonlands or the Continental Divide, but the thought of a grueling road trip through the Southwest doesn’t sound appealing, this is a really interesting way to experience it. You get to see the landscapes from a completely different perspective, and you aren’t responsible for getting yourself from one place to the next.
That’s not to say it’s right for everyone. There are some practical things to consider. You do need to climb a few fairly steep stairs to get on and off the train, though there are handles and people at both the top and the bottom of the stairs to help you. You also need to be steady enough to make your way to the restroom while the train is moving, though there are also handles in the restrooms and even an SOS button if you need help once you’re in there. There is some walking required in the train stations, but Canyon Spirit even helps with golf carts for those with the more limited abilities. But if you can manage those pieces, I think this trip could be a wonderful option for travelers who want to see the American West without committing to a traditional road trip.
And that’s why I kept thinking about my parents. I could picture them sitting in those comfortable seats, watching the scenery change outside the window, enjoying a beverage and letting someone else worry about the details. They wouldn’t have to spend hours behind the wheel, wouldn’t have to get their suitcases in and out of the hotel, and wouldn’t have to figure out how to navigate from one national park to the next. They could simply enjoy the journey.
I think that’s what I took away from Canyon Spirit more than anything else. Sometimes we’re so focused on getting to the destination that we forget the journey can be the experience, too. I’ve taken plenty of trips where the transportation was simply how I got from one place to another. This wasn’t one of those trips.
The train was a main character in the adventure. As was the scenery. As were the people I met along the way. And now that I’ve experienced it myself, I can look at a client and have a much better conversation about whether this kind of journey would actually fit the way they like to travel.
This is one of the reasons I love getting out from behind my desk every once in a while. Because I can research a destination all day long, read the reviews, study itineraries and look at pictures. But sometimes you just have to go sit in the seat and experience the service. When I do that, I get the chance to help you decide whether this is the right fit for your next journey.
