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Private Railcar Excursions and Tours for 2013
including
Dinner at Hearst Castle,
National Parks of the West
and
Byways of California and Oregon
Dinner at Hearst Castle,
May 9-10 and October 3-4, 2013
Experience what it was like to be an honored guest of William Randolph Hearst! These exclusive overnight getaways includes travel from Los Angeles
to the region in vintage private railcar COLONIAL CRAFTS, a private catered dinner at Hearst Castle and special behind the
scenes tours personally conducted by the Museum Director. Also included is lodging in a deluxe ocean-front hotel in San Simeon, and a short wine-tasting tour prior to reboarding COLONIAL CRAFTS in Paso Robles. Aboard COLONIAL CRAFTS you'll be pampered by our professional staff who will provide luncheon, hors d'Oeurves and dinner prepared for you fresh in our kitchen, as well as our complimentary bar.
***This tour is limited to 20 guests***
Itinerary
Thursday, May 9 and October 3: Our steward will meet us in the main waiting room of Los Angeles Union Station and conduct us to private railcar Colonial Crafts waiting for us on the rear of the Amtrak's Coast Starlight departing at 10:25 AM. As the train leaves the depot, we enjoy a champagne toast to begin our journey to San Luis Obispo. Luncheon will be served around Noon following the sound of the dinner chimes.
As we sit down, the ongoing views of the Pacific shoreline provide a continually changing scene for our meal. The tables are set with crisp starched linens, fine china and glassware in the railroad tradition. Our meals are prepared fresh on board by our chef. Enjoy throughout the trip our complimentary bar including premium labels of beer, wines from the Central Coast and spirits.
After enjoying some mid-afternoon hors d'Oeuvres, we arrive in San Luis Obispo where we transfer to our waiting coach from Hearst Castle. Our coach brings us directly to the front door of the castle where we will be greeted by the Museum Director, and treated to a rare behind-the-scenes tour. As we tour the Castle, we notice that our group are the only guests. At the conclusion of the tour, we will sit down to a four-course dinner under the collonade of the Neptune pool with the surrounding mountains and the ocean far below.
We get a taste of what it must have been like as one of Mr. Hearst's guests as the Castle has been reserved for our
exclusive use. The Hearst family is still involved with the Central Coast. Our meal features beef grown here on the Hearst Ranch and wines from grapes grown in the Hearst Vineyards.
 After dinner, the Castle motorcoach will take us to our overnight accommodations at the Cavalier Ocean Front Resort.
Friday, May 10 and October 4: After breakfast, we board our trolley coach for a trip over the Coast Range and down into the Paso Robles wine region. We will enjoy a tour and tasting at two wineries with a light lunch before we reboard Colonial Crafts at 1:38 PM.
Heading south, we enjoy a glass of Central Coast wine as we head up and over Cuesta Pass. Hor d'Oeurves followed by dinner are served as we observe the golden sunset over the beach as we glide back to Los Angeles and a 9:00 PM arrival.
Part of the proceeds from this tour will be used to benefit Hearst Castle
Tours of Hearst Castle include climbing stairs. There are no elevators or ramps
For additional information and pricing
Download a Brochure
Testimonials
Wonderful service, food was superb, the entire two days were very memorable. The tour was extra special, the guide and his knowledge were the best and we got the feeling that we were special as well.
Dick and Sherry S.
Excellent. Food was absolutely delectable and the service could not have been more accommodating. Please thank your team again for us. Tour a bit short, but the trip to the archives was the highlight! Fantastic, Passionate, Knowledgeable Host.
Kelly L.
National Parks of the West,
October 17 - October 25, 2013
Save the Date! This unique 10-day Amtrak special train using vintage private cars is sure to please! On our journey we値l visit some of the most spectacular parks in the western United States. Our home base for this remarkable journey will be our sleeping cars, and our train will get as close to the parks we値l visit as it痴 presently possible to get by rail.
There are no ups or extras here. We値l provide it all from the moment you arrive at Union Station in LA until we return 10 days later. Nightly lodging will be aboard the train, so there痴 no packing and unpacking along the way.
We値l publish prices once the process advances a little bit more at Amtrak, and we値l publish a more detailed brochure at the same time, so stay tuned!
***This tour is limited to 45 guests***
Itinerary
Oct 17: We depart Los Angeles Union Station at 7:00 AM. The early start is necessary because we致e got a lot of ground to cover, and we want to do as much of it as possible in daylight! Travel via Las Vegas, NM to Milford, UT. Lay over at Milford.
Oct 18: Train lays over at Milford. Guests will depart by motorcoach for a tour of Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks. Guests return to the train for the night.
Oct 19: Depart Milford 6:00 AM for Provo, Helper and Green River, arriving Green River around 2:00 PM. Guests depart on motorcoach tour of Capitol Reef National Park, and return to train for the night.
Oct 20: Guests depart 7:00 AM for motorcoach tour of Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park and Colorado National Monument. Train proceeds deadhead to Grand Junction where it will turn and depart for Salt Lake City after guests have arrived.
Oct 21: Depart Salt Lake City 9:00 AM and proceed to Idaho Falls and Ashton via Ogden UT and Pocatello ID. Wye train in Ashton, park for the night.
Oct 22 28: Layover Ashton. Guests pack a small overnight bag and depart on motorcoach for West Yellowstone and Yellowstone National Park. Today guests will tour the north loop which includes the major thermal features. Overnight at Old Faithful Inn.
Oct 23: Layover Ashton. Guests continue their motorcoach tour of Yellowstone with a tour of the south loop, then exit to tour Grand Teton National Park. Motorcoach returns to Ashton.
Oct 24: Depart Ashton 8:00 AM. Return to Salt Lake City. Cars will add to Amtrak train #5 and depart Salt Lake City 11:30 PM, destined for Emeryville.
Oct 25: Arrive Emeryville 4:10 PM.
Oct 26: Add day cars to Amtrak train #11 for trip to Los Angeles, where our adventure ends. .
Byways of California and Oregon,
June 4-9, 2013
We will run a unique tour aboard a special train of vintage private cars that will appeal to all rail-oriented travelers. This trip will be limited to a maximum of 45 guests, all of whom will have deluxe overnight accommodations aboard our special train.
There are no ups or extras here. We値l provide it all from the moment you board the train in Emeryville until we return 6 days later. Nightly lodging will be aboard the train, so there痴 no packing and unpacking along the way.
***This tour is limited to 45 guests***
Itinerary
June 4: We値l depart Emeryville at approximately 8:00 AM. Stops as may be required at Martinez and Sacramento to board additional guests. From Sacramento we値l proceed on the former Western Pacific to Keddie. At Keddie, we値l take the left leg of the wye and head north to Westwood, where we値l tie up for the night. (B,L,D)
June 5: After breakfast, a motorcoach will take you to Lassen Volcanic National Park for a tour of its unique thermal features. Once back on the train, a late lunch will be served and we値l depart for Klamath Falls. (B, L, D)
June 6: Today we proceed to Chemult, then on to Bend. The afternoon is yours to explore Bend. (B, L, D)
June 7: We値l depart Bend approximately 8:00 AM and head up the Deschutes River canyon to its confluence with the Columbia. We値l turn west and head to Portland via the Union Pacific tracks on the south bank of the river. We値l tie up for the night at Portland Union Station. (B, L, D)
June 8: We depart Portland 7:00 AM, and proceed via the regular Amtrak route to Klamath Falls, arriving approximately 2:30 PM. We値l then take a motorcoach to Crater Lake Lodge where we値l enjoy farewell dinner and sunset over one of the world痴 deepest and clearest lakes far below us. After dinner our motorcoach returns us to the train. (B, L, D)
June 9: Our 7:00 AM departure will provide us with spectacular views of Mt Shasta, Castle Crags, and the pristine Sacramento River Canyon, as well as the Sacramento Valley agricultural powerhouse. All too soon we arrive Emeryville, and our adventure comes to an end. (B, L)
Please contact
California Zephyr Railcar Charters by clicking here or calling (714) 751-2032 for color brochures, additional information, reservations and booking of these exciting tours.
Click here for information on other popular trips aboard COLONIAL CRAFTS.
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