While writing some future posts in response to your great ideas, I got a sudden urge to throw even more prizes at you.
So here goes!
- Leave a comment on this post describing your best family train trip in 100 words or less.
- Share your story before midnight on May 31, 2009.
- Be automatically entered to win a $200 VIA Rail travel credit.
The winner will be announced June 3, 2009. Ready? Get set!… GO!
Read the full contest conditions.
I haven’t taken the train since I was a child, so I don’t really remember any of them, just that I loved watching the countryside going from Moncton, NB to Toronto, Ontario. I’m taking my son to Toronto this summer, and we are taking the train. He’s eleven now, and I figured it would be a good way for him to see what is around him.
1998
Camping along the coast lines of Newfoundland and standing on a cliff, what felt like to me, the edge of the earth. Watching, feeling, hearing, even hearing the power of the ocean crashing against the rocks and the mist hitting my face. I have never felt so small, yet so alive as that moment.
My best train trip was when I went to Quebec with my parents. They told me that train allows us to see things we don’t see in car. And they were right : we saw a moose. I don’t remember that first trip to Quebec city, but the moose, I surely do!
Last summer we took the train to Halifax from Toronto. When the train pulled out of Montreal, we learned that Natalie McMaster was on-board. She had missed her connection to Quebec City to play at a 400th anniversary party.
After she put her kids to bed, she pulled out her violin and gave about 10 of us a private concert in the dome car!
Truly a once in an lifetime experience!
Flat, boring, and very long (or it felt that way), but I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything in the world. I took the train across the Prairies. It was such a great way to explore Canada’s flat lands, and receive some well deserved “down time.”
I remember my first train trip when I was about seven from Couburg to Toronto to visit my Aunt. The rumble of the wheels and the speeding scenery flowing by made for some memories I’ll never forget. I don’t remember the visit, but I’ll always remember the trip.
We took the train from Windsor to Quebec City( 4 adults, 4 kids and a Grandma) a couple of years ago. It was an adventure. We used the family 4 seats on both sides of the aisle, and had a picnic while zooming across the land. Transfering trains with that crowd was easy in Toronto, due to a couple of wonderful employees. Our children enjoyed interacting with their peers and the generational trip was one to remember.
A wintertime trip, along the Skeena River, Northern BC. The most awesome scenery, and a highlight was the Seven Sister’s Mountain Range, in shades of lavender, peach, and underlying soft green, reflected in the Skeena.
Best trip was with my husband – we took Via 1 after the holidays, on our way home from the in-laws. It was relaxing, fun and we had a great time.
As dawn broke I could see my breath. Snowflakes fell before the train’s one giant headlight as it pulled into the little Washago station. My 8 year old anticipation was fierce but my manners kept me in check. I was actually going to ride the train!I held tight to my mother’s hand as we climbed aboard and I still remember how plush the burgundy velvet seats seemed.As the train finally pulled out, rocketing me away from all I knew into the great unknown, I embraced the sense of adventure. This first time left me with a life long secret love of train rides!
I took a trip with my sister and neice to visit relatives in the Interior. My little neice and I spent a wonderful time imaging we were seeing bear households + squirrel colonies. We did see some wildlife, which was fabulous!
My best train trip was from Ottawa to Montreal on VIA to attend a Madonna cocnert 3 years ago. The ride was comfrotable and we were full of excitement!!
My best family trip was when my whole brood decided to go camping back when they were all little ones! Our whole family of five slept in a crowded little tent but we had so much fun on our camping adventure that we did not mind int he least the cramped quarters for sleeping!
My best family trip on VIA was when we got a train from Truro N.S to Winnipeg. It was a great experience to travel and see everything and I meet so many people. I would Definitely do it again
To begin our honeymoon trip to PEI in 2004, my husband and I rode the train from London, ON to Moncton, NB. We felt so lucky to be able to enjoy our private sleeper room. We ate dinner and drank champagne in the dining car, and we watched through our window as we traveled through three beautiful provinces. When we arrived in Moncton, we were happy and relaxed. When telling people about our trip, I always mention how warm and comfortable the VIA blankets were! We would love to take another trip this year, to celebrate our fifth anniversary.
Unfortunately, our family always traveled together in a station wagon. I mean, it was great – we went to Nova Scotia every summer to visit our family and my brother and I would have to entertain ourselves for the whole 24 hour ride. But that means that the only family train trip I have isn’t mine – it was of being stuck in a sleeper car with a family of 3 – a father and his two boys. They were all really excited to be traveling and whispered to eachother all night. I was lonely and loved hearing them giggle and unwrap sandwiches all night.
My parents couldn’t stand me and my bothers incessant whining in our family car so we went VIA 1 class Toronto to Montreal. BOY were we every quiet happy campers. We got to sit in the lounge playing UNO while my parents stared out the window mesmerized by the scenery which none us ever saw between the tantrums in the car and stressful bathroom breaks. Bless my parents for putting up with us. But the ride was a blessing in disguise for my mom and dad
I took a train ride to Toronto with my Mom. It was very fast compared to driving and the train station in the city was very impressive.
The best train trip ever taken was the first time I ever purchases a VIA 1 class fare. It was just a trip to Ottawa, and I have since traveled VIA 1 several times, but I guess it was something about my first time. Relaxing, comfortable, surprisingly good food and hassle-free. I actually got off the train feeling more rejuvenated than when I got on.
THE best train ride would be the one that i would take if i where to win this I have never been on one it would be a great experience for me and the family. Thank you for the chance at this.
From Edmonton to Jasper we took a train. My kids were very young at the time but were in such awe of the scenery that they were the most well behaved that they have ever been up until that point and since. With young kids train travel is the way to go.
My best train ride was the one to Montreal in March to visit my son. We knew we couldn’t drive in case of the bad weather, so the train was perfect and we hadn’t seen him since Christmas – a great time was had by all.
My favourite train trip was going across Canada from Vancouver to Toronto in silver and blue class.
My favourite family train trip was my first train trip as a young child- travelling from Calgary to Winnipeg.
We took the scenic tour train up island on Vancouver Island. It mad a pleasant day. We stopped off at beach for fun and food. The train was rustic but everyone was relaxed. Very picturesque.
We went to Settler, Alberta for one of their rides. We had train robbers hold us up, toured a rustic country town and had the biggest cinnamon buns ever! There was live entertainment and we could move about, ever had a bar. Then it was topped off with a lobster supper. I would recommend it!
WHen I first moved to Toronto I took the train home on weekends to be with my parents in Kitchener. I have fond memories of those train trips. I loved the little station in Kitchener and waiting anxiously for the train to come from London to take me back to the big city to my friends and career..after spending an enjoyable weekend with my parents
I was coming back to Toronto from a trip Ottawa to visit my mum. I started chatting with the woman sitting next to me and she told me her story of coming to Canada in the 20s and how she only travels by train. We had a lovely 3.5 hour conversation over wine on the Via. When she got off in Peterborough, she invited me to stop by and visit her if I was ever in town. I love riding the rails, you never know who you are gonna meet.
For years we lived across the street from the tracks, my eldest son always clapped when the train came by; he went on a rail trip to Vancouver with his grandma and bugs us non-stop to go again. Every year our family partakes of the “Santa train” fundraiser ride sponsored by VIA. We would be so thrilled to win the GC and book a full length trip!
Going to Jasper from Edmonton was fantastic
Best memories are when Red Caps, Dining Cars, Lounge Cars, Lunch Counters were a prerequisite of hire by VIA
When ALL staff ensured any trip ..short or long .. was an experience and,
VIA .. was affordable
Improvements by VIA choosing the ‘modernization’
to sleek, aerodynamic cars
has detracted from those experiences
I choose VIA because I see the country from different eyes
Because it is Canadian, hopefully always
Most importantly, our environment should demand we choose public transit when possible.
Our environment needs protection and, should be a real concern to everyone.
My best family train trip was traveling with my daughter when she was 7 – from Southern Sweden up to the Mountain district in January. It was a joy watching her excitement as the bed appeared out of the wall and her laughter at how small the sink was. The landscape was beautiful and I didn’t have to worry about getting lost on the way.
Day trip with my mom, uncle and sisters when I was in Grade 2 to Montreal. I didn’t sleep much because of excitement! We got up at 6am and took the train there and back. All I remember is that we went to the Biodome and that it was my first time on a train!
My first ever train trip was on the Agawa Canyon tour as a youngster.It was thrilling , all those bridges and gourgeous scenery.Saw my first black bear from the observation platform in the canyon before we boarded for the return trip.This experience convinced me that I really do live in the most beautiful country in the world !
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It’s a tough one but I think the best trip so far was probably taking the Royal Hudson to Squamish when I was a child.
It was a beautiful day, the scenery was amazing and sharing that experience with family was thrilling.
We’ll be travelling by train again this summer for teh first time in many years and are very excited about it.
I just got married to a wonderful woman on May 16th. Our honeymoon was going to spend two nights in a fancy hotel in Toronto. We decided we’ve been to Toronto lots of times. Instead, plans to go to Niagara Falls for a week. Still undecided, we looked at taking a bus when we the thought about taking VIA rail to the Falls was a great romantic choice. Next to asking my wife to marry me, taking Via Rail to the Falls was the best choice I made
I was coming back to Toronto from a trip Ottawa to visit my mum. I started chatting with the woman sitting next to me and she told me her story of coming to Canada in the 20s and how she only travels by train. We had a lovely 3.5 hour conversation over wine on the Via. When she got off in Peterborough, she invited me to stop by and visit her if I was ever in town. I love riding the rails, you never know who you are gonna meet.
the best and only train trip I had was from calgary to vancouver in 1993. I remember how beautiful lake Louise was and what a thrill going through several tunnels carved through the mountains.last but not least was following the Fraser River as opposed by road way up high.
Friends I’ve met through music have always been the best family I could ask for and in the spring of 1999, the band I played tuba with took the overnight train from Ottawa to Halifax. Amidst my band mates’ search for mischief; climbing into luggage racks or flirting with minor league hockey players, for me, this trip marked the beginning of whirlwind romance that would linger in my heart for years. There’s something special and intimate about overnight trains. Lost together in their quiet darkness, people can find new bonds as thick as blood and stronger than lions. Regardless of geography, people can connect – wake up, wrapped in the arms of a new friend – watching our country speed by, lit by the golden light from an eastern sun.
Do we know who won?
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