Planning a hastily put together vacation (hasty for me anyway). I thought the Royal Gorge Train ride thing out of Canon City CO, looked different. Anyone been on it and have opinions on whether to go with the Vista Dome option (and probably order something from the menu anyway) or go with the Lunch Car option and be in the dining car? Or even do the lunch and put down an extra $30 for the Lunch in the Observation car?
Or, is it one of those attractions that after you went on it, it, um,er, ah maybe perhaps wasn’t as great as perhaps you thought it might be.
We are not “rail fans”. We do not dislike them by any means, but other than they have engines and cabooses, do not really have much interest in the workings of the train itself. Mainly want something unique, with pleasant scenery. The missus and I like to be relaxed travelers, and do not often care for “dressing up”. Would that be a problem with any of these options?
Anything else in that area that we should see? (Royal Gorge, of course, but other stuff? )
I just went on this last week. We had fun, but it was overpriced.
I would get Vista Dome tickets and order lunch. There is no point in doing it if you can’t get the best view, since that’s all there is, really. The menu is small and expensive (think $11 hamburgers and no free refills) but I thought the food was actually good. I recommend the chicken panini.
You absolutely do not need to dress up.
If you’re in that area, I’d recommend driving to Colorado Springs and taking the cog railway up Pikes Peak. Now THAT was awesome. Just make sure to pee before you go and take a bottle of water or you may get headaches/altitude sickness. On that one, they actually let you off the train to wander around, too, though the seats are much less comfortable.
We took the Royal Gorge train a couple of years, and I would skip both the Dome care and the lunch car. If you can stand for the length of the trip, get on one of the open air flat cars (looks like you book as coach and can stand outside if you want). Went we rode it, there was a guide who gave info on the area, and the views with no roof over your head are great.
The ride is about 2 hrs total. I’d skip lunch on the train, and eat beforehand.
It’s supposed to be 3 hours. Ours was only 2 because there was snow at the top and they couldn’t go all the way up (they refunded part of the ticket). We had a blast anyway. The views are incredible. Try to get on the left side of the car (if you face forward going up) if you can.
The outdoor car on the Royal Gorge train is nice, but it was raining on and off when we went, so we avoided it. Colorado weather can change in an instant and the air is extremely dry and the sunlight very direct, so my eyes hurt a lot of the time and it was nice to be inside behind a window. Your mileage may vary.
I’ve been on that train multiple times as I live in CO Springs and I have to entertain folks when they visit. It’s actually quite a nice trip at least the evening ones.
If you can afford it, do the dome and the dinner trip. The dinner is actually decent. Not 4 star but they strive for it considering it’s on a small train. You can get a glass of wine and enjoy the view. I suggest Holy Cross Abbey chardonnay if they have it. The one and only very good Colorado wine I’ve had.
Be aware that depending when you get out here that it’s tradition for rafters to moon the train. I’ve even seen a “sunning”. I did not see anyone at anytime that did not just laugh at it. The views are very nice. You have to look hard for the Mtn. Goats.
Pikes Peak Cog is nice for visitors. If you are a flatlander be aware as mentioned the oxygen levels. If you get to the top (and you should by now), it can be rough on you. I would say the cog railroad is actually the more overprice of the 2 for what you get. However, you are going to the top of Pikes Peak.
Need more ideas, let me know. Official trip planner of the family visits…
