Riding the Rails: Experience Arizona's unique railway destinations

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Riding the Rails: Experience Arizona's unique railway destinations

Railroads bring back a certain sense of nostalgia from days gone by. These days, it can be difficult to escape the fast pace of life and experience those times again. The Grand Canyon State offers several o­ne-of-a-kind railway destinations for kids of all ages. Hop o­n board and visit:

Verde Canyon Railroad

Located in Arizona’s beautiful Verde Valley, this scenic ride is just a half-hour from Sedona. The four-hour tour takes passengers into the picturesque Verde Canyon, where they'll see elk, javelina, and maybe even "Black" and "Decker," the canyon's resident bald eagles. The canyon's walls rise high above the train o­n its journey through the canyon, providing breathtaking views for everyone aboard. Enjoy several seasonal events, including Oktoberfest, with beers and brats; and Santa Claus Express, which features cookies, candy canes and hot chocolate. www.verdecanyonrr.com

Grand Canyon Railway

Begin in the historic Route 66 town of Williams and get ready for the journey of a lifetime. This train travels through high desert, prairie, and pine before reaching the splendor of the Grand Canyon. o­nce there, stroll around Grand Canyon Village or take a leisurely motorcoach tour to some of the most popular viewpoints. Passengers have the option to overnight at the canyon if they'd like to spend more time savoring the views. o­n the way back, enjoy o­nboard Western entertainment. Five classes of transportation provide comfort for every need. And each holiday season, don't miss the Polar Express, where the train travels to the "North Pole" to visit Santa and his reindeer. www.thetrain.com

McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park

This park, located in the heart of Scottsdale, is o­ne of the best places to spend a relaxing afternoon with the family. Begin by taking a ride o­n a small-scale reproduction of an old train that travels o­n a o­ne-mile track. The train is so unique that at o­ne point, Walt Disney offered to buy it for o­ne of his theme parks. However, the owner insisted the train stay in Scottsdale. After your ride, stop by the general store for hot dogs and ice cream. And to cap off the day, take a spin o­n the park's carousel or just act like a kid o­n the playground. www.therailroadpark.com

Yuma Valley Railway

This two-hour ride along the banks of the Colorado River is a prime opportunity to view the southwestern Arizona's wildlife and agriculture. The train, a 1922 Pullman coach, was featured in the Paul Newman movie, The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean. Along the way, passengers will get sweeping views of the Arizona, California and Mexico landscapes. www.visityuma.com

Step back in time and ride the rails in Arizona. To plan your railroad trip to the Grand Canyon State, visit www.arizonaguide.com.