What If You Took the Train Instead? Three Journeys Worth Exploring

Not every journey needs a boarding pass.

As travel becomes more complex, this is a reminder that there are still other ways to move through the world. Some slower. Some more scenic. Some that simply feel better.

This is the beginning of a new series where we explore traveling without flying or reducing how often you fly. That includes trains, cruises, road trips, and other options that are often overlooked but worth reconsidering.

We’re starting with trains.

Canadian Rockies: Rocky Mountaineer

If there is one train journey that feels like an experience in itself, it’s the Rocky Mountaineer.

Routes like First Passage to the West and Journey Through the Clouds are designed around the scenery, with daylight-only travel so you don’t miss a moment.

This is less transportation and more a curated journey through one of the most striking landscapes in North America.

Seattle to San Francisco: Coast Starlight

For a U.S.-based option, the Coast Starlight connects Seattle to Los Angeles, passing through the San Francisco Bay Area.

It’s one of the most scenic routes in the country, with ocean views, forests, and farmland unfolding over the course of the journey.

This is where train travel becomes accessible. Not just a luxury experience, but a practical alternative that still feels like a journey.

Paris to the Amalfi Coast: Venice Simplon-Orient-Express

A new journey now connects Paris to the Amalfi Coast aboard the legendary Venice Simplon-Orient-Express.

The experience begins in Paris, winds through the French and Italian Rivieras, and continues into southern Italy, blending iconic rail travel with time along the coast.

It’s a seamless way to move between regions while experiencing the landscape, culture, and rhythm of each place along the way.

It’s a reminder that sometimes the journey itself becomes part of the destination.

What We’ll Explore Next

This is just the beginning.

In the coming editions, we’ll go deeper into:

• Train routes that can fully replace flights or complement them

• Cruises that reframe how you move between destinations

• Road trips and regional routes that offer flexibility

• Creative combinations that reduce the need for air travel altogether

  
  

The goal is not to avoid flying entirely. It’s to expand the way we think about getting there.

A Small Shift

For your next trip, consider asking a different question.

Not just where you want to go, but how you want to arrive.

You may find that the journey becomes part of the reason to take the trip at all.