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Join us on a unique 7-day luxury adventure tour of the beautiful sites in and around Denver, Colorado You'll travel on the Zephyr Route from the San Francisco Bay Area to Denver and back on four restored cars from the golden age of rail travel, including 2 Vista-Domes and a sleeper from the original California Zephyr. All guests will have sleeping car accommodations. Meals aboard the train will be prepared fresh by our chefs in our kitchen, and served on fine monogram china on California Zephyr table linens. When we arrive in Denver your luggage will be transferred to the Oxford Hotel, a historic hotel property that is in the center of Denver's Lo Do, or Lower Downtown. This fine hotel will be our home for the next 3 nights. On our fully escorted tours you'll visit Cripple Creek, descend into an actual gold mine, travel to the top of Pikes Peak, and enjoy lunch at one of the nation's premier resorts in Colorado Springs. You'll also visit Rocky Mountain National Park and see some of the historic railroad past that transported Colorado's mining wealth to the rest of the nation.
OUR VINTAGE PRIVATE RAILCARS
Colonial Crafts, a 1949 Pullman sleeper-lounge built for the Pennsylvania Railroad. In addition to an inviting and spacious lounge Colonial Crafts features 3 double bedrooms sleeping two, each room with an annex containing toilet and sink, and a drawing room accommodating up to 3 guests, again with annex containing toilet and sink. Guest amenities include a large shower, and beverage service in the lounge.
Silver Rapids, a 1948 Budd roomette-bedroom sleeper, also built for the Pennsylvania Railroad as its contribution to the California Zephyr equipment pool for transcontinental service. Silver Rapids features eight roomettes accommodating one person each, and six double bedrooms, each accommodating 2 persons. Bedrooms each have an annex containing a toilet and sink; roomettes have a sink in the room. If two couples or a family are traveling together two rooms may be opened ensuite. A shower room has been added. Limited hot and cold beverage service is available.
Silver Lariat, a 1948 Budd Vista-Dome coach built for the California Zephyr, converted to a diner-lounge. 24 deeply cushioned seats in the dome and 42 reclining chairs on the lower level provide a comfortable setting for meals aboard the train as well as for sightseeing.
Silver Solarium, a 1948 Budd Vista-Dome sleeper-lounge-observation car built for the California Zephyr. The observation lounge in the boat-tail of the car is a pleasant place to enjoy the passing scenery as we hurry on our way through the west. Silver Solarium accommodates 24 guests in its Vista-Dome. Sleeping accommodations include 3 double bedrooms, each accommodating 2 guests, and 1 drawing room, accommodating up to 3 guests. The drawing room and bedrooms each have an annex that includes toilet, sink and shower. Under the dome is a bar, which is an excellent spot to gather for a late-night libation.
Day 1 Saturday September 26: (B-L-D) Amtrak's California Zephyr originates across the bay from San Francisco in Emeryville, where we gather to await its appearance with our private cars on the rear. Amid the hustle and bustle of passengers seeking their assigned cars our professional staff greets our group and assists with luggage. A light breakfast will be served upon departure from Emeryville. Members of our group get acquainted with each other in the domes and lounges as the train meanders along the shore of San Francisco Bay, on its way to Martinez and Sacramento. Luncheon will be served as we begin the ascent of the Sierra, along the route of the Central Pacific, founded in 1863 as one of the two companies tasked to build the first Transcontinental Railroad. Our route over the Sierras takes about 4 hours to complete, and includes breathtaking scenery as the railroad follows a continuous ridge high above the American and Yuba Rivers. After Donner Summit is reached, at approximately 6,900 ft altitude, we emerge high above Donner Lake, and we begin the descent to the high desert of Nevada along the course of the Truckee and Humboldt Rivers. Hors d' Oeuvres and Dinner are served as we head east past Reno, Sparks, Fernley, Lovelock, and Winnemucca. Night owls may enjoy a libation in our two lounges, while those wishing to retire early will find that their rooms have been made down for the night by our attentive staff. Be sure to set your watches ahead one hour when you retire for the night.
Arriving in Reno, Nevada
After departing Reno and heading out across the Nevada Desert we serve a
gourmet 5 course dinner in the dome sections of the Silver Lariat and Silver Solarum.
During dinner your beds will be made up by our onboard staff
so that you can turn in for the night.
Day 2 Sunday September 27: (B-L-D) In the wee hours of the morning our train was serviced in Salt Lake City, and we continue our journey east through Provo, then on a spectacular climb over the Wasatch, cresting at Soldier Summit. Breakfast buffet will be served between 7 and 9 AM, so you may get up at your leisure. Our train follows the Price River Canyon through Castle Gate and the stop at Helper. Continuing eastward the train races across the desert toward Green River, where we reach the lowest altitude we'll see today as we cross the town's namesake river, the major tributary of the Colorado River. We pick up the Colorado River shortly before leaving Utah, and will follow it upstream for more than 200 miles and 5 major canyons. Our stop at Grand Junction, CO provides us with an opportunity to step off the train and to enjoy some fresh Colorado air. Our next stop is Glenwood Springs, at the west end of Glenwood Canyon, inspiration for the Vista-Dome concept in 1945. The best place yet to view this stunning canyon is from your seat in the vista-domes, where every seat is a window seat. Don't forget to look down at the river, too. Glenwood Canyon is a mecca for kayakers and rafters. We crest the Continental Divide while inside the Moffat Tunnel, which at 6.2 miles is the 4th longest railroad tunnel in North America. At a summit elevation of over 9,200 ft it is the highest railroad tunnel in active service in North America. After leaving the Moffat Tunnel we begin our crooked descent of the Front Range of the Rockies into Denver. When we pass Plainview we begin to see the lights of the city of Denver far below. We'll enjoy dinner aboard the train before we arrive at Denver Union Station, where our cars will be removed and held for the return trip. The downtown Denver area is a walker's delight and an after-dinner stroll completes a delightful day before we return to the train for the night.
STEPPING BACK IN TIME WE VIEW THE SCENERY ACROSS UTAH
AND COLORADO ON THE FORMER RIO GRANDE ROUTE.
MOVING FORWARD IN TIME TO PRESENT PASSENGER TRAIN OPERATIONS ACROSS UTAH AND COLORADO
Our train arrives in Denver a little after sunset.
Day 3 Monday September 28: (B) Today is a leisurely day, so feel free to sleep in a bit. A buffet breakfast will be served aboard the cars until 9 AM. We'll board our motorcoach which will take us on a tour of the Colorado Rail Museum and the Coors Brewery in Golden. While on the tour we'll arrange to transfer your luggage to your rooms at the Oxford Hotel. On our way back we'll make our way to Central City and Blackhawk for a little flavor of Colorado's mining past and to see how mining for money has progressed in the 21st century
First event of the day is to visit the vast Colorado Railroad Museun in Golden, Colorado
Next, we visit the Coors Brewery in Golden
As we climb into the Rockies we stop for a visit to Central City
Day 4 Tuesday September 29: (L) Today we head to Rocky Mountain National Park. On the way to the Park we take a short detour to Georgetown and Silver Plume, two semi-ghost towns that were connected by a remarkable narrow-gauge railway. The gradient was so steep that a loop and trestle had to be built in order to make it passable for trains. We'll enjoy lunch in the Park. Breakfast and dinner are on your own.
In the morning we will go visit Rocky Mountain National Park.
In the afternoon we will stop at colorful Georgetown to visit this historic town and ride the famous Georgetown Loop Railroad.
Day 5 Wednesday September 30: (L) Our motorcoach takes us to Cripple Creek, where we descend 1,000 feet into the ground in a restored gold mine that dates from the 1880's. Then it's on to the Broadmoor resort for lunch. After lunch we head to the Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway, which will take us to the summit of Pikes Peak, 14,110 ft above sea level. The trip takes a bit over an hour in each direction, and we will have 30-40 minutes at the summit to enjoy the breathtaking views from the roof of North America. We return to Denver for a leisurely evening in the Mile-high City.
First point of interest today is the mining town of Cripple Creek
In the afternoon we board the Mantou & Pikes Peak Cog Railway for a ride up to the summit of Pikes Peak at 14,110 feet.
We return to Denver and rest of the afternoon and evening on your own to explore the city.
Day 6 Thursday October 1: (B-L-D) We check out of the hotel by 7:00 AM and return to our waiting private railcars for the return to the Bay Area. The morning climb up the front range of the Rockies is spectacular as we dive in and out of the 40+ tunnels on the route, eventually crossing the Continental Divide once again inside the Moffat Tunnel, and emerging on the west side in Winter Park. Breakfast, luncheon, afternoon hors d' Oeuvres and dinner will be served today. Bars in the lounge cars will be open until midnight. Set your watch back one hour as you retire for the night.
Day 7 Friday October 2: (B-L) We awaken as the train is racing across the western Nevada high desert. Breakfast buffet will be served from 7 to 9 AM. Westward from Reno we follow the Truckee River Canyon and reach Donner Summit, about 20 minutes after our station stop at the town of Truckee. Today in anticipation of our 6:10 PM arrival in the Bay Area we'll have farewell cocktails and hors d' Oeuvres followed by an early dinner shortly before arrival in Emeryville.
PRICES ALL PRICES ARE PER PERSON
Double room occupancy....................................$3798
Single room supplement...................................$ 598
Silver Solarium Drawing room.............................$4798
One way Pullman Sleeper..................................$2098
Deposit to hold space....................................$1500
Final payment due by June 26, 2009
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