Amtrak's southwest chief - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

earl orchard · #1 01-09-2015, 02:41 PM

Hi All
been doing some thought on taking the family to the grand canyon on Amtrak's southwest chief any one do this? any suggestions ideas?

thanks

kenny

kerry · #2 01-09-2015, 02:52 PM

i've taken the Southwest Chief from Denver to LA. Which really means I took a bus from Denver to Raton, NM and then got on the train there. It won't get you directly to the Grand Canyon. It will get you to Flagstaff. I liked riding that train. Not as nice as the Denver to SFO train but still nice. It gets you into Flagstaff pretty late at night.

MTI · #3 01-09-2015, 02:58 PM

From Flag, you can get the GC Railway in nearby Williams to the canyon.

Grand Canyon Railway Schedule & Routes | Grand Canyon Railway & Hotel, Arizona

earl orchard · #4 01-09-2015, 03:00 PM

all the stops in arizona were around 1030 or so at night, how far is flagstaff from the canyon?

MTI · #5 01-09-2015, 03:01 PM

About 75 miles to the south rim

PARSHOOT1 · #6 01-09-2015, 09:06 PM

...between Flagstaff and the Canyon as I recall. Flagstaff is the jumping off point for the Canyon. If you're getting into Flagstaff that late, sounds like you'll be spending the night there and then head up to the Canyon the next day.

The Nat'l Park Service has lodging at the Canyon. A little rustic, but that's part of the charm I guess. It was reasonably priced for a family, but as I said rustic. The El Tovar Lodge is quite a building. Be sure to go in and have a drink. Didn't say if you had young kids or not. If so, have them go to the Park Ranger Center & earn a "Ranger Badge".

We went in March on Springbreak. First day was 40's-50's. Second day when we left in the afternoon to go back to Phoenix a helluva snow storm started. So bring your Winter coat as well as spring jacket. As I remember the Canyon has an elevation of 8000 feet.

t walgamuth · #7 01-09-2015, 10:52 PM

We went there with our youngest daughter when she was in high school. We stayed at a lodge at the edge of the canyon. In the morning we woke up to find a few inches of fresh snow and sunshine. The canyon only had snow partway down and looked marvelous. As we looked at it a small group of caribou moved through the small trees around the lodge. We walked over and watched them graze as they moved through. They were not afraid of us and allowed us to get pretty close without being spooked. It was one of those magical times which you seldom ever have with wild animals. The canyon is as close to a naturally religious experience as there is.

pj67coll · #8 01-10-2015, 01:24 AM

I suspect you'll need to have a pre-booked room waiting for you in Flag. There are a bunch of decent motel type places available. We usually stay at the comfort Inn at Beulah blvd. Nothing special but decent for the price. You'll need transport to the canyon and that's something I'm unfamiliar with as we always just drive up from Phoenix but I assume you can rent a vehicle somewhere in Flag. I'd suggest you need to make a booking at the Canyon itself there well in advance. There are four lodges right on or close by the south rim. El Tovar, Bright Angel, Kachina and Thunderbird. I'd suggest you try to get reservations at one of them. Makes experiencing the place a lot better if you don't have to travel to it every day but can just step our of your room and take a short walk. You might want to find out some number for a taxi or shuttle service in Flag as you probably don't want to be wandering around downtown Flagstaff around midnight looking for a ride.

- Peter.

Nate Stanley · #9 01-10-2015, 02:17 AM

Be sure to stop in at Salsa Brava. Food was excellent. We got there about 4:30PM after a 500 mile sprint from Clovis NM, and within the hour the place was packed..for good reason.

MTI · #10 01-10-2015, 08:17 AM

http://youtu.be/Zbui_X9BCgU

kerry · #11 01-10-2015, 09:20 AM

I'm pretty sure there are some cool historic hotels right across from the train station in Flagstaff. I'd be inclined to walk from the train to my hotel just for that experience and then catch a shuttle to the GC train or rent a car the next day after exploring downtown Flagstaff for the morning.

t walgamuth · #12 01-10-2015, 10:07 AM

There is a wonderful Historic hotel in Winslow. I think it may have been a train station before too. there is also a statue dedicated to the Eagles song about the flat bed ford girl near there.

MTI · #13 01-10-2015, 10:18 AM

In that hotel, La Posada, is one of the country's great restaurants, hidden away in Winslow, The Turquoise Room.

t walgamuth · #14 01-10-2015, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MTI

In that hotel, La Posada, is one of the country's great restaurants, hidden away in Winslow, The Turquoise Room.

We ate there and pretty much had the place to ourselves. I remember it being good.

pj67coll · #15 01-11-2015, 12:31 PM

The La Posada was one of the original Fred Harvey lodges. My wife and I have stayed there, and eaten in the Turquoise room. And done the photo with the eagles statue thing. It is a very nice hotel. We stayed there because it was fairly nearby to the Petrified Forest National park which we were visiting. And the Amtrack goes right by it. Not sure if it's a place you can embark/disembark from though. Might be worth checking out. From the OP's perspective though Winslow is kind of a long way away from the Canyon. Might not be a practical option to stay there as he would then have to find transportation from Winslow to the Canyon.

- Peter.