California Zephyr Experience

Your cross-country expedition begins today in Chicago. As you arrive in this city, framed by the Chicago River and Lake Michigan, transfer to your hotel on your own to check in for the night before joining a Chicago architecture cruise*.

Uncover more than 130 years of architectural innovation while cruising through the city on the Chicago River. Transfer independently to the docks at the heart of the Magnificent Mile, and then settle in for a relaxing 90-minute cruise. Highlights of this excursion include a look at the former largest commercial building in the world, the Wrigley Building and the Lyric Opera of Chicago. Should you wish to explore another way, you could instead book an alternative tour (additional charges may apply).

When it comes time for dinner, Chicago is rife with unique culinary options, with restaurants featuring everything from iconic deep-dish pizza and Italian beef sandwiches to excellent worldwide cuisine. Overnight Chicago.

*Please note: the architecture cruise operates only between mid-April and the end of October. Departures between November and early April will have the Hop-on/Hop-off Tour as the standard inclusion with no cruise option.

Alternative Excursions

Chicago Hop-on/Hop-off Tour - Stepping aboard the double-decker sightseeing bus, enjoy a route that features 11 stops throughout the city and includes looks at everything from Millennium Park to the Art Institute of Chicago and Navy Pier. When you are ready to get a better look at an attraction that piques your interest, hop off the bus and spend as much time as you would like exploring.

Chicago Walking Food Tour - Set out with a guide on this three-hour walking tour exploring some of Chicago's most famous culinary offerings. You will see landmarks such as Millennium Park and the Palmer House Hotel as you follow your one-and-a-half-mile route, and along the way, your guide will stop to allow you to taste deep-dish pizza, hot dogs, pastries and delicious chocolates. This journey captures all the senses.

With a free morning in Chicago, you can continue sightseeing independently. The Lake Michigan waterfront is breathtaking, and its paved walking path makes it easy to enjoy the views. You could also spend your morning wandering through one of the famous museums on its shores or shopping along the Magnificent Mile.

Make your own way to Chicago's historic Union Station around midday to join Amtrak's California Zephyr on its scenic journey across the nation. Step aboard and take your Coach* seat, and watch as the city's buildings unfold around the tracks. As the train courses west, urban scenes fade away, and eventually scenes of the mighty Mississippi River come into view as you cross into Iowa this evening. Light meals and drinks are available for purchase in the Café; however, you can speak with an onboard attendant to see if any seating is available in the Dining Car. Overnight train.

*Please note: upgrades are available to Sleeper Car Roomettes or Bedrooms, both of which offer complimentary meals in the Dining Car. Speak with a Rail Specialist for details.

This morning, you wake to a magnificent view of the Rocky Mountains on the horizon as the California Zephyr enters the colorful state of Colorado. The train climbs the Front Range of the Rockies after crossing through Denver and heads toward the Continental Divide with rugged peaks under endless blue skies.

Be sure to look for wildlife when passing through the ski resort town of Winter Park, Colorado, and sit in awe as the landscapes become increasingly arid, transforming from sky-high peaks to plunging canyons by late afternoon. The California Zephyr passes through the Utah desert around dinnertime and then continues north back toward the Wasatch Mountains as the sun goes down.

With such incredible scenery framing today's route, you could make your way up to the Sightseer Lounge to soak up the vistas from domed glass windows. Overnight train.

The final leg of your journey to the West Coast begins today as the Zephyr climbs from Nevada to California. By mid-morning, the train arrives in the "The Biggest Little City in the World" of Reno, Nevada, and then you continue across the border into the mountains of Northern California.

The train scales the legendary Donner Pass and passes through the railway town of Truckee, with views of the high Sierra Nevada Mountains. From here, the route starts venturing south through California, with cities like Sacramento dotting the varied terrain as you continue toward the final station. The train arrives in Emeryville in the early evening, and an Amtrak bus is waiting to transfer you to downtown San Francisco.

From here, you can transfer independently to your hotel before exploring the local restaurant scene. Famous for sourdough bread, fresh seafood and fantastic Chinese cuisine, San Francisco has much to offer. Overnight San Francisco.

Home to famous landmarks like Golden Gate Park, Fisherman's Wharf, Chinatown, Telegraph Hill, the Painted Ladies and Jackson Square, San Francisco is one of the most recognizable cities in the world and the end point for your 2,300-mile trip across the country.

You are welcome to spend the day exploring at your own pace, or you can make your way to San Francisco's airport for your return flight home.

There is so much to see and do in this cultural city and the surrounding areas. Speak with a Rail Specialist if you would like to add additional nights in California to visit Yosemite, go wine tasting in Napa or Sonoma, explore the Coastal Redwoods in Muir Woods, take a food tour, or sail on a catamaran in San Francisco Bay.