It wasn’t all that long ago when the train was considered the most sophisticated and luxurious mode of travel.
While it has, in many ways, been overtaken by flying, modern rail travel still retains a unique ability to evoke a sense of adventure, with the added bonus of a more relaxed experience and beautiful scenery thrown in for good measure.
Check out these memorable, stress-busting train journeys in New England.
For photographers – Mt. Washington Cog Railway
Running for more than 140 years, the Mt. Washington Cog Railway has the honor of being the steepest railroad track in North America. The line takes passengers all the way to the mountain’s 6,288-foot summit. From there, the panoramic views span the mountains and valleys of New Hampshire, Maine and Vermont, north into Canada, and east to the Atlantic Ocean.
For wine lovers – ‘Wine Wednesdays’
Wine tasting, Vermont style. Sip on five Vermont wines paired with award-winning Cabot Cheddar Cheese and Westminster Crackers (both also from Vermont). Peppermint Candy – from, you guessed it, Vermont – is on offer as a palette cleanser. For passengers 21 and older.
For fall color appreciators – Conway Scenic Railroad and Winnipesaukee Railroad
New Hampshire’s White Mountains serve up one of the most spectacular displays of fall foliage in the world. Capture some of New Hampshire’s most colorful scenery as you chug lazily though Crawford Notch on the Conway Scenic Railroad or past the picturesque Lake Winnipesaukee on the Winnipesaukee Railroad.
For those who appreciate the romance of steam – Essex River Steam Train & Riverboat
This is the only steam train and riverboat connection in the United States. Climb aboard a vintage coach in Essex, Conn. for a 12-mile trip through the picturesque Connecticut River Valley, then transfer to the Becky Thatcher steamboat and cruise along the river itself, taking in both historic sites including Gillette Castle and Goodspeed Opera House, and an array of wildlife along the way.
A shore thing – Amtrak’s New England seashore lines
Amtrak, the U.S. government-run rail system, runs some great routes along parts of New England’s quintessentially quaint shorelines. The Amtrak Downeaster runs five times a day from Boston to several points due north including the coast of Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Portland and Maine. In the other direction, Amtrak has routes through to the attractive colonial city of Providence in Rhode Island.
Written by insider city guide series Hg2 | A Hedonist’s guide to…
(Main image: Conway Scenic Railroad)
