While the heyday of train travel may have come and gone, you can still experience this piece of American history with an overnight stay in a train car. Inns across the country have converted these collectible cabooses into cozy accommodations. Here’s a look at six great train car hotels.
Izaak Walton Inn
Nestled in Glacier National Park in Montana, the Izaak Walton Inn and its train car rooms sit right on Amtrak’s Empire Builder Line. You can stay in one of four color-coded cabooses overlooking the tracks or splurge on the luxury Great Northern 441, a rustic diesel locomotive where you can even slip into the engineer’s seat.
This family-oriented themed inn and restaurant offers a taste of American nostalgia in Strasburg, Penn., a city also known as “Train Town USA.” There are 38 fully restored cabooses in all.
The Northern Rail Traincar Inn sits on 160 acres just outside Duluth, Minn. The bed and breakfast is home to 17 train cars in all, all outfitted in themes like Victorian or safari.
The Antlers Hotel was built after railroads and a train depot came to Kingsland, Texas, and if you want to stay in one of the Antlers’ train cars, you can choose from the green, yellow or red caboose. The surrounding area is a historic railroad district, so you can get your fill of train tidbits and history during your stay.
The Red Caboose Getaway in Washington state features themed train cars, including the Grape Escape wine-themed caboose and The Orient Express.
Aurora Express Bed & Breakfast
Just outside Fairbanks, Alaska, the Aurora Express Bed and Breakfast is home to pristine, restored train cars where you can spend a night going back in time. The train car rooms offer views of nearby Tanana River and the Alaskan mountains.
(Main image: trams aux fils.)
