Whistler Mountaineer Train Ride
byThis morning we woke up at dawn to head to the Rocky Mountaineer / Whistler Mountaineer train station in North Vancouver.
I haven’t been on a big train since I took a commuter to Salem with my mom when I lived in Boston. Before that, I rode on the Royal Hudson when I was wee.
When we set out from the station we glided through the backyards of West Vancouver, spotting mega tree houses and unique views of the city.
A tradition on the train is to have a toast when we set out on our journey. Mimosas at 8:30am were followed by a fresh fruit plate and then a full breakfast, which was delicious.
Along the way our hosts highlighted points of interest and let us know when we could wander to the observation car (which was built in 1914).
Below the Sea to Sky and above Howe Sound, we slinked smoothly through tunnels, over bridges, and across roads.
The journey was so lovely and the hospitality was superb. I instantly fell in love with train travel.
The Whistler Mountaineer takes about 3 hours to get up to Creekside but it’s the most relaxing and scenic trip you’ll make between Vancouver and Whistler. You can book round trips, take the train one way (and fly or drive back), and day trips are also possible, giving you a few hours in the village before returning home.
From the station in Whistler we were whisked away by motorcoach directly to our hotel where we checked in and went exploring (I’ll have a seperate post about our afternoon adventures). I’m looking forward to our trip back home tomorrow but in the meantime, you can check out all of my photos from the train on Flickr and John has some amazing shots in a set as well.
I am pleased to announce that Whistler Mountaineer would like one of my readers to experience this as well. They’re offering 2 round trip passes in the Glacier Dome car (where we rode today) valid at the end of this season or next year. If you would like to see all this for yourself simply leave a comment on this post or re-tweet this link including @miss604 and @rmountaineer.
Update: There was such a great response to this contest, I’d like to thank all 167 participants however I have just drawn one winner…. and that is Coach T.I.A. – congratulations!
96 Comments — Comments Are Closed
I love trains, I have always wanted to try out the Whistler Mountaineer!
Those are some amazing pictures Rebecca! I’ve never taken the train myself, but have heard some unbelievably amazing reviews from friends and family who have! My Nikon D80 saw your pictures and wants to go too ๐
Awesome! I’ve been meaning to do this! Train travel in North America is dying but I’m glad to see that this is still running!
Looks like a fantastic way to spend the day…
Looks amazing! Thanks for sharing your experience and photos ๐
Please add me to the raffle. I havent tried the mountaineer and based on your photos, I’m sure it will be a memorable experience if I win the raffle. Thanks.
Oh wow, that looks beautiful! Winning this would make my entire life. I love trains but I have never been on the Whistler Mountaineer!
Consider me entered in the contest, please ๐
Now winning this train trip would make me even more blissful! ๐
Would love to ride the train! Please!
Great photos, and commentary. Thanks for sharing what looks like an amazing trip. Definitly one of those things that are on my list of things to do someday in Vancouver. Will W.M. be running additional trips during Olympics I wonder?
@Ashley Nice! John is just aching to get his Nikon D90 – I can’t even fathom how awesome his pics will be then.
wasn’t it just the BEST!!!!! even the ‘non-dome’ area was great and even more old school romantic!
wow. me please.
Breaky looks delish. Takes me back to that Twighlight (or Starlight) dinner train they used to run from North Van to Porteau Cove. That was one romantic Date train. Thanks for the pics and diary. :~)
What a gorgeous train ride, I would love to take that trip one day.
Aside from public transportation like our Skytrain and Hong Kong’s MTR, I’ve never ridden on a “real” train. I’d love to go for a quick jaunt to Whistler with these guys. Sounds like fun. ๐
That looks like an awesome day trip ๐ – thanks for the post!
I hope the weather was nice enough…I heard they have an outdoor observation car but don’t see it in the pictures?
Looks like a fun and romantic trip!
Always see the rmountaineer pulling into Kamloops all summer long – would luv to experience it myself!
We’ve been dreaming of taking this trip for a while now. How beautiful!
Oh! Wow, would this ever be fun!
PS – Terrific photos!!!!!
Wow what amazing photos of your trip. We’ve always wanted to take this trip, now we have to!
Wow, the views are amazing!
Always wanted to take this trip. Haven’t been on a train in years and years.
I’ll enter – I have a particular idea of who I’d like to take on such a fun journey, and his name ain’t Jordy.
Looks like a perfect romantic gift for her birthday!
I’ve always wanted to make this trip! I wish there were more regular train service to Whistler that wasn’t so expensive.
Have you taken the Amtrak train down to Oregon yet? Leave early morning, get there by early afternoon…
Just a few days before the long weekend, I heard on CanadaAM about the Rocky Mountaineer and how there were still seats available for the Vancouver-Jasper route for a cool $800. Then, to reinforce the link, you’re now blogging about your Vancouver-Whistler experience! Would love to be entered in the raffle – the Glacier Dome car sounds so fancy!
That’s simply awesome! A wicked train ride indeed!! I’d retweet even w/out prizes; as a matter of fact, I’m retweeting right now! (…and of course, I hope to win this round trip!)
Oh, wow. We were just up on Whistler; train was too pricey for us. We’d absolutely love to go!
Looks fantastic! That meal does not look like “train” food at all…then I guess it’s more than a “train” ride.
this is a fantastic trip. Have done it twice and the scenery and service is great.
I have always wanted to do this! This would be a great gift!
never done it before, sounds fun !
Amazing….Wow….What Views!
Perfect gift for our wedding anniversary!
The breaky looks yummy. The view superb! Tranquil elegance.
I would love to take this trip.
A day trip would not be enough for Whistler, sadly. Looks great though, I’ll throw my hat in this contest too. ๐
Oooh I’d love to take this train! Maybe for Cornucopia this year.
I’ve always wanted to do this trip and it looks and sounds even better after reading this post.
Me please!
thanks for the great description of your trip, I hope I can go one day ๐
What a beautiful romantic trip. I’m sure my wife (and I) would love to make this excursion on our upcoming anniversary. Please enter us in the contest. Thanks!
This is amazing! We were in Whistler on Friday & Saturday too, although we drove. Awesome pictures of the train ride! Would love to take the train next time! We did some hiking at Whistler and Blackcomb and it was beautiful, despite (or maybe because of) the rain!
Was going to comment on seeing the pictures anyway, but consider me in the contest as well! ๐
Count me in for the contest. Looks like you had a lovely day. Great photos too.
Looks amazing! I would love to go to Whistler for my first time by train!
tweeted! ๐ and hoping! Looks gorgeous.
Looks like an amazing time. Have always wanted to take a train through the mountains, heck I have just always wanted to take a train anywhere.
Nice post! The view was gorgeous and that looks like a wonderful experience to have. I saw the Mountaineer featured on the Bachelorette show and since then have wanted to give it a try. However the cost involved is just beyond my budget. It’ll be great to be picked to win a trip on the train!
That looks like plenty of fun! I’d definitely want to try that. ๐
I would LOVE to ride the Whistler Mountaineer. The views on the way up are gorgeous from the road and having the chance to see them from the train, without worrying about driving would be amazing ๐
I don’t want to miss this nice ride filled with memorable sceneries.
Wow! This looks like it would be an amazing ride! I’m all the way down here in Texas – it is HOT down here and those mountain scenes just gave me the nice cool down I needed! I’d love to be there in person some day!
Canada, trains, whistler, vacation…what else needs to be said?
Wow, what amazing photos! I would love the chance to check this out ๐ Thanks for running the contest.
Great pictures! Have always wanted to take the train myself, but I didn’t realize all the great perks that came with it. I wish you could ride the train in winter to ski.
Beautiful pictures! Looks like great service too. Reminds me of some train trips in Norway many years ago.
great post. looks like an amazing trip.
oooh – train to Whistler! Count me in!
I have heard so many great things about the train! The pictures are absolutely beautiful!
I live in Whistler and have always wanted to take my son on the train, I have heard so many wonderful people tell me all about it. I used to do yoga inside the train station in the winter time before the studio called “loka yoga and wellness” opened up beside the station! I have seen this train pass so many times and always wanted to be one of the people hanging over the railings with there cameras!
Looks like a great trip!
WOW! Looks fantastic. No wonder the Bachelorette took her potential bachelors there =)
Phenomenal views, and riding in style – what a way to travel to Whistler. Wouldn’t it be great if train travel was the norm again.
Amazing views! Never have been on a train. Since I have lived in Whistler I have always wanted to do this.
Sounds amazing! I would definitely down for some train fun!!!!
Great pics. Some of those views are amazing!
I’ve been wanting to take this train since I moved here (am saving pennies for it)!!!! Those photos are amazing!
Trains are definitely the way to travel in style.
Wow. Amazing views. I would love to see this in person!
This looks like a fantastic trip – entering the draw!
Us BC’ers are so fortunate to have these amazing views in our backyard! Trains just add a certain charm to the experience– I just want to pack my hat box and curl my hair.
Wow, looks like an amazing train ride…gorgeous views! I’d love to try this. ๐
Those are some great photos! So much nicer than the Cascades train.
75 comments already? Plus tweets!! Looks like everyone wants a ride on the train! Including me!
There is nothing more exciting that scenic vistas from a train! What a wonderful opportunity for one of your readers!
Thanks to you and Whistler Mountaineer!
Photos are incredible, I would love to have this experience, thanks!
Such a gorgeous trip – taking the train looks like an amazing way to see the scenery!
I would love to go on the Rocky Mountaineer! It looks like a wonderful experience. Thanks for sharing photos from your trip ๐
I just returned from Whistler on one of the more gorgeous days in Vancouver. It seems I only get up there when I have out of town guests! I would love to go on the mountaineer and enjoy a trip just for me (and a friend)for a change and become the tourist instead!! Thank you for the opportunity!!
Looks like an awesome trip! Those transparent roofs would really make this experience worthwhile
Since the Bachelorette this season, I’ve been meaning to look into the Rocky Mountain Railtour offering. Looks lovely!
Awesome trip, would love to do it.
Would love to win this trip. I’ve wanted to check the train out ever since I saw it on The Bachelorette!
Have always wanted to check them out!
So cool. I remember when I first moved to Van for university and I took the train home to Prince George (through Whistler). I’m so happy it’s back baby! Would love to do the trip to Whist and back!
I have been wanting to do this since I got to Canada last year! Please please pick me, I’ll blog, take pix, wear a T-shirt with their logo and anything (almost) else they (or you) want me to do ๐ I want to eat that breakfast, sit on those seats, see the amazing views .. heaven. Thanks! Tia
Remember that episode of Sex and the City where Carrie and Samantha take a train to California and it wasn’t what they expected? This totally looks more like the experience they were looking for ๐ would definitely like to experience this myself and will do just about anything if I were picked!
I’ve lived here my entire life and never knew this was available. I will be sharing this site with everyone i know in hopes that some one will want to come with me. I’ve never been on a train and its been on my list of things to do. was supposed to go this summer but circumstances prevented it :(. Thanks!
We took this http://www.flickr.com/photos/rebel_base/3321539967/in/set-72157613810988365/in Spain last summer and although very, very different I can’t get enough trains. In fact I’ll even ride the Canada Line to get me my fill. Hell that is 80% underground. I too used to ride the Royal Hudson and would love to take the Whistler Mountaineer
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