Kids like trains. Think the Little Engine That Could, Thomas the Tank Engine, the cool Hogwart Express from Harry Potter, and the Polar Express. Parents like trains too, because taking a train trip to a vacation destination can be a very relaxing way to travel for everyone. No need to pack movies, video games, or bribes to keep kids in line, the continually changing scenes and landscapes, as well as the speed and lulling motion, keeps everyone entertained. These ten railway journeys from around the world prove that the journey itself can be half the fun.
The California Zephyr
Amtrak’s California Zephyr allows passengers to see some of the most beautiful scenery in the West. The fifty-one-hour journey traverses through the Rocky Mountains to the snow-capped Sierra Nevada as it travels from Chicago to San Francisco. On the way you’ll pass through the 6.2 miles Moffat Tunnel, follow the Truckee River in Tahoe, and get a glimpse of Denver, Salt Lake City, and Sacramento.
Shanghai’s Maglev Train
This futuristic looking Shanghai train was the first commercial high speed maglev (magnetically levitating) line in the world. And the train is fast. The journey from Longyang Road station in Pudong to Pudong International Airport is 30 kilometers, and takes less than eight minutes. The train can reach speeds up to 431 kilometers per hour.
Train to Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu is an amazing place to visit, but trekking there might be hard for younger children. However, you can take the beautiful train ride from Cusco to Machu Picchu in one day. The ride goes through the sacred valley, the Andean foothills, and along the Urubamba River before its final destination at the Inca ruins. Spend the day cavorting around the ruins before heading back down.
Darjeeling Toy Train
The Indian hill trains, also known as toy trains, connect the scenic Himalayan hill stations to the lower altitudes. The trains are restored steam engines that skirt along narrow tracks as they climb their way up into the mountains. The journey from Siliguri to Darjeeling is 83 kilometers and takes about eight hours.
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