America's Best National Parks by Train: Yellowstone Adventure (Ep 1)

Journey to Yellowstone via Amtrak

• 🚆 The adventure begins in Chicago aboard Amtrak's California Zephyr, a scenic route heading towards Yellowstone National Park.
• ⚠️ The trip faced an initial indefinite delay due to HVAC issues requiring a coach replacement, highlighting potential challenges in train travel.
• 🛏️ The Amtrak bedroom accommodation is detailed, featuring a sofa bed, a pull-down bunk, and an en-suite sink, toilet, and shower.
• 🏞️ The journey traverses 11 states, covering over 4,000 miles, with a focus on experiencing national parks without planes or private cars.

Life on the California Zephyr

• 🌅 Mornings on the train are spent enjoying coffee and sunrises in the Sightseer Lounge, followed by breakfast.
• ⛰️ The route through Colorado offers stunning views, including the Big Ten curve and the 6.2-mile Moffat Tunnel.
• 🍽️ Dining car meals are included for sleeper car passengers, though an HVAC issue later affected the kitchen, leading to boxed meals.
• 🍑 A stop in Grand Junction allowed for the purchase of local Palisade peaches, a unique treat.
• 🏞️ The Ruby Canyon offers spectacular views accessible only by foot, raft, or rail.

The Salt Lake Express Bus Journey

• 🚌 The next leg involves an 8-hour journey on the Salt Lake Express bus to West Yellowstone, Montana.
• 🥪 Passengers are advised to bring their own food, as the bus does not offer meals, with a stop for sandwiches made from a "bread paradise" shop.
• 🗺️ The bus route covers 322 miles, taking significantly longer than Google Maps estimates, emphasizing the journey over speed.
• 🍦 Stops include a Dairy Queen for ice cream, a welcome break during the long bus ride.
• 🚐 A transfer to a smaller van in Rexburg, Idaho, continues the journey, offering views of the Tetons.

Arrival and Exploration of Yellowstone

• 🏕️ Accommodation is at Under Canvas in West Yellowstone, a unique glamping experience in a deluxe tent with basic amenities and a wood-burning stove.
• 🌲 Upon arrival at Yellowstone National Park, a private guide is hired due to the lack of shuttle buses within the vast park.
• ♨️ The park is highlighted as the world's first national park, boasting over half of the world's geysers and hydrothermal features, including the Grand Prismatic Spring.
• 🌊 Other natural wonders include the 200-foot Fairy Falls and the iconic Old Faithful geyser.
• 📍 The episode concludes with a preview of the next destination, Yosemite National Park, promising more train and bus travel.