Calafornia Zepher

eleventy6 · 09-01-2017 2:42pm #1

Anyone ever do it?

Thought it looks great.

Would it be suitable with a 12 year old?

How best to get there? So many questions!

eleventy6 · 09-01-2017 3:23pm

We're based in Cork, so flights from here are limited.

May have to drive to Dublin

Yamanoto · 09-01-2017 6:34pm

Norwegian are planning US routes out of ORK, so keep an eye on that.

I took the California Zephyr solo in late August / early Sept 2007 and couldn't recommend it highly enough - epic stuff.

It crosses 8 states, encompassing fertile plains, deserts, spectacular canyons and lakes, before traversing the Rockies and Sierra Nevada mountains. Cost €102.00 euros for a ticket (I did it on the cheap in a coach seat!), incredible value and a real adventure. If you're flexible, it may be worth hopping off for a night or two in different places, as small town America looks mightily appealing as you pull into little stations along the way.

Another great thing about the trip was the ability to socialise with a bunch of interesting & friendly folks, then easily retreat away to a book or simply stare out the window as the States slipped by.

eleventy6 · 10-01-2017 11:04am

Yamanoto wrote: »

Norwegian are planning US routes out of ORK, so keep an eye on that.

I took the California Zephyr solo in late August / early Sept 2007 and couldn't recommend it highly enough - epic stuff.

It crosses 8 states, encompassing fertile plains, deserts, spectacular canyons and lakes, before traversing the Rockies and Sierra Nevada mountains. Cost €102.00 euros for a ticket (I did it on the cheap in a coach seat!), incredible value and a real adventure. If you're flexible, it may be worth hopping off for a night or two in different places, as small town America looks mightily appealing as you pull into little stations along the way.

Another great thing about the trip was the ability to socialise with a bunch of interesting & friendly folks, then easily retreat away to a book or simply stare out the window as the States slipped by.

Yeah, would love to visit Yellow Stone along the way for a night. Sounds brilliant.

lc180 · 10-01-2017 12:43pm

Yamanoto wrote: »

I took the California Zephyr solo in late August / early Sept 2007 and couldn't recommend it highly enough - epic stuff.

The California Zephyr has been on my bucket list for a few years now and very nearly booked it last year. I've been to 24 out of the 50 US states so this journey would help ticket off a few new ones.

One question for you Yamanoto, how did you find the 52 hour trek without a bed or shower facilities? I'd be tempted to do it in one go but I'm worried I'd would turn into an uncomfortable mess after the first day!

Yamanoto · 10-01-2017 2:26pm

lc180 wrote: »

One question for you Yamanoto, how did you find the 52 hour trek without a bed or shower facilities? I'd be tempted to do it in one go but I'm worried I'd would turn into an uncomfortable mess after the first day!

It was a concern of mine pre-trip too lc180.

The seats are big and comfortable though, the temperature and air con are well regulated & the ability to get up & stroll around, take dinner in the dining car & use the facilities to spruce up at points during the day all meant that I actually disembarked the Zephyr after 2 nights feeling significantly fresher than I would coming off a 8.5hr DUB-ORD flight in an economy seat.

You'll certainly appreciate a good scrub once you hit your hotel in San Francisco, but it was far from an unpleasant or sticky ordeal. As I alluded to above though, breaking up the journey affords you the opportunity to stop off en route for a night or two in either a small town or cities like Denver & Salt Lake City. Might be something worth considering & if I were doing the journey again, I'd definitely build it into my itinerary.

lc180 · 10-01-2017 3:14pm

Yamanoto wrote: »

As I alluded to above though, breaking up the journey affords you the opportunity to stop off en route for a night or two in either a small town or cities like Denver & Salt Lake City. Might be something worth considering & if I were doing the journey again, I'd definitely build it into my itinerary.

Great! Thanks for the advice. A gig at Red Rocks Amphitheatre is also on my bucket list so a stop in Denver is something I'll be looking into. Cheers!

bradolf pittler · 07-03-2017 9:33am

I did this trip myself last Sept and loved it.
The 1st day was unspectacular with the train passing through endless farmland.The 1 highlight was crossing the Mississippi river but waking up next morning just outside Denver was when the real trip began.Not more then 45 mins outside Denver is where you'll be climbing up into the Rockies,A good spot in the viewing car is a must for this leg of the journey.National park tour guides will narrate the scenery and was great.
I got off at Reno for a 2 day stop which was very welcome,I was in coach and although the seats were comfortable i needed a shower and a bed and a good stretch of the legs.
Back on the train for the last leg to Emeryville through the Seirra Nevadas,My tip is to sit on the right hand side of the train as the viewing car was at its most busiest and most crowded during this segment.Great views of Donner Lake.
Finally onto Emeryville where the only real downside of the journey was that passengers were made wait over an hour to be transported to San Fran by bus,There were taxis outside the station but were snapped up quickly.
Amazing trip,Met some lovely people from all walks of life.But if i was to do it again i'd skip from Chicago to Denver and start from Denver itself.

lc180 · 07-03-2017 10:11am

bradolf pittler wrote: »

I did this trip myself last Sept and loved it.

Really great post. Would you recommend Reno as an enroute a stop off destination?

bradolf pittler · 07-03-2017 1:20pm

lc180 wrote: »

Really great post. Would you recommend Reno as an enroute a stop off destination?

Reno is a lovely little town,Like a mini Las Vegas but not so much in your face.Lake Tahoe is nearby too and is beautiful.
The thing i remember most was stepping off the train at around 8:30am and breathing in that fresh mountain air.
Hotels are just around the corner from the amtrak station,I stayed in the Silver Legacy,Huge bedrooms and Casino,Sports bar and Resturants.They even let me check in at 9am.
2 nights was enough though,Just enough time to unwind and recharge the batteries before moving on.

solerina · 07-03-2017 6:22pm

bradolf pittler wrote: »

Reno is a lovely little town,Like a mini Las Vegas but not so much in your face.Lake Tahoe is nearby too and is beautiful.
The thing i remember most was stepping off the train at around 8:30am and breathing in that fresh mountain air.
Hotels are just around the corner from the amtrak station,I stayed in the Silver Legacy,Huge bedrooms and Casino,Sports bar and Resturants.They even let me check in at 9am.
2 nights was enough though,Just enough time to unwind and recharge the batteries before moving on.

Could you get off and on as you pleased or are there a max number of places you could get off, did it cost extra to stop a night or two along the way, it sounds amazing !!

bradolf pittler · 08-03-2017 8:07am

solerina wrote: »

Could you get off and on as you pleased or are there a max number of places you could get off, did it cost extra to stop a night or two along the way, it sounds amazing !!

I bought a ticket from Chicago to Reno then another for Reno to Emeryville.I think it was around $100 for the 1st leg and $50 for the 2nd.
Got 2 nights in a great hotel for $40 per night,Well worth it but i'd recommend timing a stop in Reno at the weekend.Midweek wouldn't be very busy at all.

Calafornia Zepher

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