One of the most amazing sights in Colorado has to be the Royal Gorge. This breath-taking sight is sure to provide an unforgettable experience for the whole family. Even better, though, is the opportunity to see it from the bottom - in a train. The Royal Gorge Route Railroad in Canon City, CO provides a great way to see the Gorge.
The train takes passengers on a 24-mile ride through the Gorge. From there, they can get an incredible view of the Gorge and enjoy a great train ride, too. Different train rides offer different types of experiences, and some of them are sure to make your ride a very memorable experience.
The train rides that are available vary at different times of the year so riders will need to check the schedule to see what is available when they are in the area. The Dinner and Murder Mystery trains run on weekends and depart at 12:30 PM for a two-hour train ride.
Other train rides can be taken for lunch or for dinner. Lunch consists of three courses, which are prepared by their chef. Lunch can be ordered in the dining car or in the observation dome car. Meals come complete with white linen tablecloths and excellent service. The Lunch train ride lasts two hours, while the train rides for dinner last three hours.
Another ride with dinner is the Wine Dinners, which depart at 6:30 on certain evenings. Some of these are five course dinners with excellent wines on the train ride. These rides last for three hours and provide guests with unforgettable views of the Gorge. Oktoberfest rides travel during the lunch hours.
The Santa Express train ride is a popular ride that lets guests see the Royal Gorge in a winter wonderland. The train is decorated for the holidays and everyone can relax with hot cocoa and listen to stories read by some of Santa's elves. Kids are encouraged to dress in their pajamas. Santa comes for a visit and the kids have opportunity to present their wish list. They will also receive a special gift from him, too. Guests can upgrade to the Vista Dome car where entrees can be ordered. The Santa Fe Depot Christmas Gift Shop also sells toys of Thomas the Tank Engine and of the Polar Express.
A unique opportunity on the Royal Gorge Route Railroad will allow up to two people to ride in the cab with the engineers of the train. This enables these guests to be able to see what the engineer sees and to watch him work. There are a couple of requirements, though, and people who will ride up there must be at least 13 years old (13-17 requires an accompanying adult). In addition they cannot wear open toed or open heeled shoes, must be able to step up 34" to the first rung of the ladder, and then climb up seven feet on the ladder.
Riding on the Royal Gorge Route Railroad at Canon City has to be one of the best ways to see this unusually beautiful and spectacular sight. Special tickets are also available that allow guests to see it from the top, along with the train ride.
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