You won’t want to miss a moment of this unforgettable and luxurious Canadian train journey
Are you looking for a relaxing and mindful vacation? A rail trip might make living in the present easier than you think.
Mindfulness, or paying attention to the present moment, is more than just one of the year’s top travel trends. Being fully present enhances the way we see and experience new destinations. But if you’re like me, everyday life gets in the way of anything remotely resembling mindfulness. A ringing cell phone, frequently pinging email, the news on TV and the allure of social media all keep me in a constant “on” mode.
Even on vacation, there’s plenty to distract us from fully engaging in the experiences at hand. The freedom of a road trip can be exhilarating, but logistical concerns, traffic and the need to keep your eyes on the road can result in missing the views. In big cities, attempting to check off every top attraction from your list might leave you feeling rushed and exhausted. Even beach vacations can be chaotic, with crowds of fellow sun-seekers all angling for a prime spot by the pool.
Fortunately, as I recently discovered thanks to Canadian luxury rail operator Rocky Mountaineer, mindful travel doesn’t have to be a struggle. In Vancouver, even before I boarded the train in Vancouver bound for the Canadian Rockies, I knew I was in for something completely different: a bagpipe performance and a red carpet welcomed me to my thoroughly modern, bi-level GoldLeaf Service rail coach. As I settled into my generous seat beneath glass-dome windows, four onboard Hosts welcomed guests in my coach, explaining the cadence of the journey and pointing out features of the train, including reclining and heated seats, a lower-level dining room with adjacent kitchen, and an open-air viewing platform. From the moment I stepped on board, there was simply nothing to do but enjoy the ride.
Mindful trip considerations
When you have limited vacation time, it’s natural to want to experience the best of everything. Perhaps you love the offerings of a bustling city, but also crave the untamed beauty of wilderness. You want to see everything, but you also want to travel in laid-back comfort. It’s rare to find destinations and a mode of travel that check all the boxes, but a journey by this iconic train certainly does just that.
Each of Rocky Mountaineer’s four unique routes features comfortable rail coaches with roomy seats, spacious washrooms, and chef-prepared, locally sourced food. Its trains travel between bustling cities like Vancouver and Seattle and Canadian Rockies towns like Banff, Lake Louise and Jasper (with add-on transfers between Calgary and Edmonton if needed), so guests can choose to bookend their journey with time exploring one of these interesting destinations. Onboard the train, the romance of the rails takes over, and you’re able to see sights passing by from a unique vantage point, with absolutely no need to worry about organizing what comes next.
An ideal itinerary
A journey through Western Canada and the Canadian Rockies is truly something out of the ordinary. Mother Nature’s talent is everywhere you look, so it’s no wonder this region is at the top of many “must-visit” lists. However, getting to some of the most striking sites—Hell’s Gate at the narrowest part of the Fraser River, Rainbow Canyon, or the endless, glacier-covered mountain ranges between Kicking Horse Pass in British Columbia and Banff in Alberta, for example—can be challenging. Driving yourself could mean worrying about road conditions, gas station locations and weather. Experiencing this stunning part of Canada in this way doesn’t always facilitate mindful travel.
Since there isn't WiFi onboard, I switched my phone to airplane mode to truly unplug. I did pull it out often, but only to snap photos of mist-draped hills, unexpected wildlife, desert-like landscapes, waterfalls, rushing rivers, and the commanding snow-capped mountains of the Canadian Rockies.
Once you arrive in your destination, you can continue your mindful travel on the ground on your own, enjoying accessible trails, museums, galleries, cultural experiences, shopping and restaurants. But if you’d like help staying on track with your intention to stay present while off track, vacation consultants (or your travel agent) can help you customize your time with tours, excursions, car rentals or cruises that can supplement your Rocky Mountaineer rail experience.
For me, this remarkable journey represented an opportunity to take my mind off the things that normally consume it, even on vacation—how to get around, what to see, where to eat, etc... Aboard this train, all those important details are handled behind the scenes, so guests can fully relax and enjoy the ride. And that’s perhaps the greatest luxury of all.
