Train Travel is the Perfect Family Getaway This Winter

In an era when gas prices are at record levels and the cost of an airline ticket buys you a bag of peanuts and little else, it's difficult to imagine taking any kind of family vacation.
Yet according to the Travel Experts Survey conducted at MLT University, the nation's largest travel agent education event, more than 750 travel professionals indicate a renewed interest in family travel this year. Agents predict that this trend is likely to continue throughout the holidays and the new year.
This December, no vacation kindles family togetherness more than a scenic rail journey through glacier-capped mountains and snow-filled valleys aptly labeled the "Land of a Million Christmas Trees."
Rocky Mountaineer Vacations' two-day "Winter Rail Journey" between the cosmopolitan city of Vancouver, British Columbia, and the ski resort town of Banff, Alberta, in the Canadian Rockies promises breathtaking views, entertaining stories about the region and a holiday filled with memory-making moments.
Festivities on every winter rail vacation include music and entertainment. Children enjoy a dedicated specialty coach that features an entertainer who leads the group in song, holiday crafts, board games and other activities. For adult guests, a second specialty coach features live jazz music and a bar serving holiday beverages such as mulled wine and eggnog.
With two levels of service, Rocky Mountaineer guests can choose how the family will see the Canadian landscape. Guests opting to stay in RedLeaf Service can anticipate spacious, reclining seats with large picture windows and warm meals served at their seats. The bi-level, glass-domed GoldLeaf Service car, however, features panoramic views on the upper level and an elegant dining room on the main floor.
And if two days doesn't seem like nearly enough of an escape, there are also seven different winter packages to choose from, ranging from four to 10 days.
So whether travelers seek a one-of-a-kind experience or just a different way to travel with the family, there are adventures just waiting to be discovered in Western Canada this winter.