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Family Reunion

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Alaska

5 Reasons to Ride the Alaska Railroad

Take a ride on a train of the Alaska Railroad.

Well, cruise ships aren’t going to be sailing to Alaska this summer but that doesn’t mean that you still can’t visit Alaska. As I have said before, there is so much more in Alaska than what you see from a cruise ship. Let this be the year that you see more of the state of Alaska. And, traveling on the Alaska Railroad is the perfect way to do it. So, here are 5 reasons why your Alaska vacation should include a ride on the Alaska Railroad.

Hey! Alaska Residents, a ride on the Alaska Railroad is great for you too! The Railroad is a great way to have a family staycation.

Okay, now read on…

The journey is as great as the destination when you ride the Alaska Railroad!

#1 Gorgeous scenery

All along the road system in Alaska you will see beautiful scenery. From Seward to Fairbanks you will be delighted by all that you see from the roadway. BUT, the Alaska Railroad takes you away from the road system through the untouched wilds of Alaska. You will see even more stunning scenery you can only see by riding the rails.

#2 Everyone gets to enjoy the ride

Being stuffed into a car isn’t the most comfortable ride for anyone. The driver has to pay attention to the road and cannot see all beauty. The passengers are stuck sitting in one seat for hours. A ride on the Alaska Railroad is so much better for everyone. The driver gets to see everything. During the ride, everyone can get up and stretch their legs and visit other train cars along the way. No one is stuck in one seat for the whole trip. How wonderful is that!

#3 A better view

Car windows are quite small. You often have to crane your neck to see all the amazing mountains, wildlife and other scenery as you drive by. Now picture yourself in a train car with giant picture windows all along the sides. Then picture going up into the Vista Dome cars with sweeping panoramic views. You will get to see so much more of the breathtaking scenery you came to Alaska to see when you travel by train rather than a car.

#4 Dining in style

The Alaska Railroad has two different levels of luxury you can choose from as you travel on the train. Adventure Class provides dining and bar service for purchase at the Wilderness Cafe. Some trains even have some dining tables for Adventure Class.

But the true luxury comes with all-inclusive GoldStar Service available on the two major train routes. Instead of eating on your lap as you drive you can enjoy sitting down in the full-service dining car and being served a delicious meal. How luxurious to watch gorgeous scenery pass by as you sit comfortably eating great food and enjoying an adult beverage or two! You can ONLY do this on the Alaska Railroad!

#5 Great for a day trip or a multi-day vacation

The last great reason to ride the Alaska Railroad is you can be so flexible. Your ride on the rails can be just a day excursion, like heading down to Seward for the day, or a long, multi-day complete vacation experience.

One benefit of a vacation package with the Alaska Railroad is that you are only bound by the train schedule. The days that you are visiting the different towns and cities in Alaska are your own. You don’t have to be following the schedule of a tour group. All your activities can be tailored to what you want to do. Then you just make sure you are back to the train when you are scheduled to move on to the next exciting destination. Such great flexibility without having to worry about your transportation from place to place!

How is a ride on the Alaska Railroad great for a multi-family/generational vacation?

  • Everyone can ride together.
  • Seats can be easily switched up to let everyone have a chance to sit by everyone.
  • Kids (well, everyone) can easily get up and stretch their legs.
  • Comfortable seats all will enjoy. Some even turn so 4 can sit and chat together.
  • No driving coordination needed. Everyone gets there at the same time.
  • Once at the destination each family can pick their own activities or everyone can stick together. It’s up to you.

Would you like some more information about traveling on the Alaska Railroad? Contact me and let’s talk about the possibilities for your family!

Happy travels to you…until we meet again!

Here are some other articles you might like to read:

Disney Vacation

Best Disney World Resorts for Your Family Reunion

Best Disney World Resorts for your family reunion.

5 Disney World Resort Options for Your Family Reunion or Large Family

If you are planning a large family vacation or family reunion, Walt Disney World Resorts are one of the best locations to vacation in together. However, as with any vacation destination, finding accommodation to fit your whole family in can be tricky. While you can book multiple hotel rooms, sometimes multiple generations want to spend more time together in a shared unit.

Now I’m going to share with you some of my favorite resorts in Walt Disney World that

  • are ideal for larger families
  • offer accommodation options for groups of six or more.
  • offer options for different size families who want to stay near each other

Disney’s Art of Animation Resort – Family Suites

If you are vacationing on a budget, my top choice for larger families would be the Art of Animation Resort’s family suites. Up to six adults can stay in one unit, and it offers a separate master bedroom and two bathrooms in each unit. The family suites offer fun Disney theming based around The Lion King, Cars (my favorite), and Finding Nemo.

Kids of all ages will love the theming in these rooms and appreciate the three large onsite pools. A recent additional benefit to staying at this resort is Disney’s Skyliner transportation system, which will make traveling to Hollywood Studios and Epcot even easier.

Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground – Wilderness Cabins

For a unique vacation, consider staying at the cabins in Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort. Comparable to the amenities you’ll find at the other moderate resorts, these cabins can sleep up to six adults and have one queen bed, a set of bunk beds, and a double sleeper sofa in each unit. The kitchen facilities in the cabin can also be helpful for saving money on dining, as these costs can quickly add up for large groups.

You’ll be immersed in the woods of the resort, and the cabins afford more privacy and space than you would get from a typical hotel room. Kids and teens will love the facilities at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort, and there’s so much to keep you entertained here without even visiting the theme parks. The Hoop-De-Doo Revue is a terrific dinner show and buffet at Ft. Wilderness, perfect for large family get-togethers.

Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa

If you are looking for the ultimate family vacation accommodation, consider splurging on the three-bedroom Treehouse Villas at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa. They each have three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a kitchen. But the coolest thing is that they are suspended off the ground in the woods. They are one of the most unique accommodation options on Disney property and so they book up quite quickly due to the limited number of these treehouses.

Alternatively, this resort offers one, two, and three-bedroom units, so there’s plenty of options for different accommodation layouts to fit your family’s needs. One of my favorite things about staying at this resort is its close proximity to Disney Springs, which you can access by boat or even by walking directly from your resort. Put this on the list of possible Disney resorts for your next family reunion!

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge Resort

Split between two different buildings, you’ll get to choose between the original Jambo House or the newer Kidani Village when booking a stay at this resort. Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge is one of my all-time favorite Disney resorts, and the theming here is second to none. Kids and adults of all ages will love waking up to the animals on the savannah each morning, and grandparents will enjoy sitting out on the balcony and admiring the incredible views.

Offering villas with one, two, or three bedrooms, as well as standard hotel rooms, there’s an accommodation offering to suit every family’s needs. Don’t miss out on the resort’s fantastic onsite dining. Sanaa at Kidani Village has a bread service that is one of my favorite appetizers at Walt Disney World, and Boma at Jambo House has a buffet that will please the whole family for breakfast or dinner.

Disney’s Riviera Resort

As the newest resort at Walt Disney World, expect modern accommodation offerings at Disney’s Riviera Resort. Elegantly themed after the European Riviera, this resort offers studios, two-bedroom and three-bedroom accommodation options. The studios are ideal for couples in your family who may require a little more privacy but still want to stay nearby the rest of the family.

You’ll enjoy the beautiful grounds and pool that this resort offers, as well as Topolino’s Terrace restaurant, which serves breakfast and dinner daily. This resort benefits from Disney’s Skyliner transportation system and is located within walking distance of Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort.

Walt Disney World is one of the best vacation locations for families to gather, and regardless of your party size, there are plenty of accommodation options available to you.

For more Disney World family reunion planning tips see this post.

If you have any questions about your upcoming trip or need help choosing one of the Disney World Resorts for your next family reunion, don’t hesitate to contact me today.

Happy travels to you…until we meet again!