Tailor Made Rail
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Tailor Made Rail · Self-guided rail holiday
USA Coast to Coast by Rail
Embark on an epic journey across the United States of America from New York on the Atlantic Coast to San Francisco on the Pacific. Along the way, you'll stop in Chicago and Denver, riding Amtrak's long-distance trains overnight between cities.
Day by day
- Day 1overnight: New York (Edison Hotel NYC or similar)
London to New York
Fly into New York (alternatives include starting via Washington DC and the East Coast, or skipping the flight for the Queen Mary II from Southampton).
- Day 2overnight: New York (Edison Hotel NYC or similar)
New York
Museums, a Circle Line sightseeing cruise, Macy's and Bloomingdales, or Ellis Island; views from the Empire State Building or Top of the Rock.
- Day 3overnight: New York (Edison Hotel NYC or similar)
New York
Second full day exploring the Big Apple.
- Day 4overnight: Aboard the Lake Shore Limited (Viewliner Roomette)
New York overnight to Chicago
A final morning of sightseeing before heading to Penn Station in the afternoon to board Amtrak's Lake Shore Limited overnight in a Viewliner Roomette - a private sleeping compartment that converts into bunk beds.
- Day 5overnight: Aboard the Lake Shore Limited (Viewliner Roomette)
Aboard the Lake Shore Limited to Chicago
Continue the overnight journey towards Chicago.
- Day 6overnight: Chicago (Kimpton Gray Hotel or similar)
Chicago
Arrive into the vibrant lakeside city of Chicago - shopping, art galleries, a baseball game at Wrigley Field, jazz or blues, and Chicago's famous deep dish pizza.
- Day 7overnight: Aboard the California Zephyr
Chicago overnight to Denver
A free morning - perhaps Frank Lloyd Wright's home and studio in Oak Park, or the Shedd Aquarium - before boarding the California Zephyr overnight towards Denver.
- Day 8overnight: Denver (The Rally Hotel or similar)
Aboard the California Zephyr to Denver
Arrive into Denver the following morning.
- Day 9overnight: Denver (The Rally Hotel or similar)
Denver
The state capital of Colorado, backed by the Rocky Mountains - museums including the Museum of Contemporary Art and the US Mint, and the historic LoDo district.
- Day 10overnight: Aboard the California Zephyr
Denver overnight to San Francisco
Reboard the California Zephyr for the last stage of the journey, across the Rockies to Salt Lake City, then through Nevada to Sacramento.
- Day 11overnight: San Francisco (Handlery Union Square or similar)
Arrive San Francisco
Arriving into Emeryville, a connecting Amtrak bus completes the journey to San Francisco.
- Day 12overnight: San Francisco (Handlery Union Square or similar)
San Francisco
Cable cars, the Palace of Fine Arts, clam chowder at Fisherman's Wharf, a Golden Gate Bridge harbour cruise, or a tour of Alcatraz.
- Day 13overnight: San Francisco (Handlery Union Square or similar)
San Francisco
Second full day exploring the City by the Bay.
- Day 14overnight: Overnight flight
San Francisco overnight to London
Time to explore further before an overnight flight home, depending on departure time.
- Day 15
Arrive London
Arrive back in London at the end of the trip.
Included
- Return flights in Economy Class from London to New York and San Francisco to London
- 3 overnight rail journeys in a private roomette
- 10 nights' central hotel accommodation
- Easy-to-follow travel documentation
- Despatch of tickets by email, post or collection from our London office
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