posted
I have always wanted to take a loop trip which would involve riding either the Zephyr or Empire Builder, to Chicago, then fly to Toronto to board the VIA back to Vancouver. From Vancouver, I could take the Cascade back to Portland for a flight back to Northern Calif.
The more I think of it, it might be better (and a more scenic trip) to fly to Portland, board the Builder, and ride the Builder to Minneapolis/St. Paul. I could then fly to either Toronto or Winnipeg. I kind of like the idea of flying to Winnipeg as the boarding time, for the VIA, is a more convenient time than it is in Toronoto (late evening boarding in Toronto vs. early afternoon boarding in Winnipeg). I have no idea what flights there are between Minneapolis/St. Paul and Winnipeg and if there are direct flights.
Another possibility would be the reverse. Take the Cascades from Portland to Vancouver, board the VIA, and get off in Winnipeg. Then a flight down to Minnesota to board the Builder. From there to Portland and a flight back to Northern Calif.
Any thoughts, comments, or suggestions?
Richard
Posts: 1909 | From: Santa Rosa | Registered: Jan 2004
| IP: Logged |
posted
I would take Via east then fly to Minnepolis the next morning. then take the Hiawatha Light Rail Line then a taxi to to the Amtrak Station. That way you have a whole day to look around the Twin Cities then board Amtrak that night.
Chris
Posts: 711 | From: Santa Ana | Registered: May 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
Six direct (non-stop) flights MSP-YWG on Delta on a random date. Might be low cost airlines too. Cheaper via a hub if you don't mind changing planes.
-------------------- Geoff M. Posts: 2426 | From: Apple Valley, CA | Registered: Sep 2000
| IP: Logged |
posted
The Winnipeg airport is surprisingly small and close enough to downtown that the cab fare is not outrageous.... My wife and I flew home out of Winnipeg in 2004 having arrived the day before from Vancouver on the Canadian.
Still one of the best trips we've made together.
-------------------- David Pressley
Advocating for passenger trains since 1973!
Climbing toward 5,000 posts like the Southwest Chief ascending Raton Pass. Cautiously, not nearly as fast as in the old days, and hoping to avoid premature reroutes. Posts: 4203 | From: Western North Carolina | Registered: Feb 2004
| IP: Logged |
posted
Winnipeg airport coast me 10 dollars from the Fort Garry Hotel across from the Via station.
flight is about an hour.
hiawatha light rail serves the airport and will easliy get you into downtown. then a cab right to the Amtrak Station.
Posts: 711 | From: Santa Ana | Registered: May 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
Thinking back to Winnipeg, I remember going through customs at the airport.... the examiner noted that we had entered Canada at the Vancouver railroad station and asked why we were leaving from the airport in Winnipeg.
The best answer I could come up with was something to the effect of "Because this is where we got off the train....."
-------------------- David Pressley
Advocating for passenger trains since 1973!
Climbing toward 5,000 posts like the Southwest Chief ascending Raton Pass. Cautiously, not nearly as fast as in the old days, and hoping to avoid premature reroutes. Posts: 4203 | From: Western North Carolina | Registered: Feb 2004
| IP: Logged |
posted
I believe you can also take a Greyhound bus from Winnepeg to Fargo, unless it's been done away with. You can get the Empire Builder in Fargo (in the middle of the night, but I have seen quite a few people getting on and off there sometimes).
Posts: 2642 | From: upstate New York | Registered: Mar 2004
| IP: Logged |
posted
According to the Amtrak EB timetable, Jefferson Lines operates a bus between Fargo and Winnipeg. The Jefferson Lines site timetables do not show a bus on that route -- only between U.S. points. But you can call Jeff Lines at 888-864-2852 for the schedule.
MapQuest shows 4 hours 9 minutes driving time between Fargo and Winnipeg. If the bus stops a couple of times it could be closer to 5 hours.
Me, I druther fly to Winnipeg from Minneapolis, but I'm no longer young and adventurous.
Posts: 2236 | From: Evanston, Ill. and Ontonagon, Mich. | Registered: Feb 2007
| IP: Logged |
posted
One of the trips I want to take sometime is a loop from Chicago to Detroit on the train, Detroit across the river to Windsor, Ont., on the bus, then VIA Windsor-Toronto-Vancouver and Amtrak Vancouver-Seattle-Chicago. With a day or two in Toronto, Vancouver, Seattle and either Whitefish or Essex.
Probably couldn't afford it, even using Guest Rewards points. But it's a nice dream. I took that loop route in 1989 for my newspaper's travel section when the Canadian was still operated by Canadian Pacific. What a ride that was.
Posts: 2236 | From: Evanston, Ill. and Ontonagon, Mich. | Registered: Feb 2007
| IP: Logged |
posted
If you take the Canadian only between Winnipeg and Vancouver, you will miss the (in my opinion) very beautiful "north woods" scenery in the Ontario Shield -- you travel through northern Ontario for a couple days, and the scenery is endless woods, interesting rock formations (well, to a geologist like me!), and pristine lakes, very very REMOTE locations (you don't even cross many roads in that part of the Province!). In my opinion, Ontario matches the Rockies for the best scenery on the Canadian.
Posts: 2428 | From: Grayling, MI | Registered: Mar 2002
| IP: Logged |
posted
As Rich says, when I was driving from Ontario into Manitoba, the scenery suddenly went from delightful rocky forest to uninteresting flat farmland. Unlike the US, the vast wilderness north of Lake Superior is more unpopulated than the west. This was the last portion of the Trans-Canada Highway to be paved (I believe in the 50's or 60's). A true wilderness to be explored by train where there are no roads.
Posts: 1572 | From: St. Paul, MN | Registered: Dec 2002
| IP: Logged |
Me, I druther fly to Winnipeg from Minneapolis, but I'm no longer young and adventurous.
I don't know about this Mr. Kisor.
Perhaps the threshold for what qualifies as an 'adventure' just gets lower as we mature.
Another thought about an item in your post that I did not quote - Why do you suppose it's so difficult to find timetables for intercity bus operations online?
Many sites will show you the schedule of a bus once you type in Point A and Point B on a specific date BUT I feel limited by that. I want to know what my options are. Maybe I'd prefer to travel in the opposite direction if the schedule was better..... or stop at some other point entirely that you don't learn about because you're so focused on points A and B.
-------------------- David Pressley
Advocating for passenger trains since 1973!
Climbing toward 5,000 posts like the Southwest Chief ascending Raton Pass. Cautiously, not nearly as fast as in the old days, and hoping to avoid premature reroutes. Posts: 4203 | From: Western North Carolina | Registered: Feb 2004
| IP: Logged |
posted
Chris: I would not mind a full day in Minneapolis/St. Paul and the Hiawatha Light Rail sounds like a good way to see some of the sights. I always wanted to see the James J. Hill House in St. Paul.
I have taken the Rocky Mountaineer, from Vancouver to Jasper, on at least 2 occasions. Because of that, I think I'm more interested in the other direction, taking the VIA from Toronto or Winnipeg west to Jasper and Vancouver. So, maybe I could board the Builder in Portland and travel east to Minneapolis/St. Paul, Milwaukee, or possibly Chicago. Then figure some way to get to Winnipeg. I will have to save a little $$$...I know that sleepers aboard the EB and VIA train do not come cheap.
David: I like the idea of telling the airport customs examiner that the airport is where you got off the train. Another answer to "why are you leaving the airport" might be "because it's there".
Sojourner and Henry: I think I will check into the possible bus servies between Fargo and Winnipeg. How about a bus from Grand Forks to Winnipeg? Another possiblity is getting of the Builder at Minot, renting a car, and driving to Winnipeg. Or, better yet, getting off at Grand Forks, staying the night, and a rental car from Grand Forks to Winnipeg. I don't know if Minot and Grand Forks have car rentals.
Rich/Twin Star Rocket: The North Woods scenery in the Ontario Shield sounds great. However, I don't know it it's worth the complete loop from Chicago to Toronto. I guess I could fly from Chicago or Milwaukee to Toronoto. I have always found the great plains area and farming land, in the Dakotas and nothern Canadian provinces, interesting but going all the way to Toronoto would make for a long train ride, on the VIA.
Checking Expedia.com, I see there are many flights from Minneapolis/St. Paul (MSP) to Winnnipeg (YWG). However, most are long flights with stops in Milwaukee, Chicago, and Toronto. There is a direct flight, on Delta, between Minneapolis/St. Paul and Winnipeg, of about 1.5 hours. That might be best, but it is kind of expensive.
Well, thanks for the input, I don't have any definite plans, yet, so plenty of time to sort of mull things over.
Richard
Posts: 1909 | From: Santa Rosa | Registered: Jan 2004
| IP: Logged |
Hiawatha Light Rail goes from downtown Minneapolis to the airport and Mall of America. The J.J. Hill House is on a hill across from the Cathedral overlooking downtown St. Paul, about 10 miles from Minneapolis. You can catch a 21 bus from the Lake Street LRT station that will take you to the Hill House, and it is a more pleasant ride than the University Ave 16 bus between downtowns that runs by Amtrak.
If a delightful large scenic city park is something you would enjoy, get off LRT at the Minnehaha Park Station and go see the beautiful falls and gorge that goes to the Mississippi. There is a good restaurant in the park pavilion with outdoor seating near the falls.
And yes, Delta really jacks up the price when they are your only non-stop option
Posts: 1572 | From: St. Paul, MN | Registered: Dec 2002
| IP: Logged |
posted
Spent a delightful half day in Minnehaha Park with my wife and daughter this past July. Spent time that same day riding the light rail to the Mall of America and visiting the delightful Twin Cities Model Railroad Club layout...... then went to Mickey's Diner in St. Paul where I had an omelot for dinner that was about the size of a basketball.....
Total tourist thing!
-------------------- David Pressley
Advocating for passenger trains since 1973!
Climbing toward 5,000 posts like the Southwest Chief ascending Raton Pass. Cautiously, not nearly as fast as in the old days, and hoping to avoid premature reroutes. Posts: 4203 | From: Western North Carolina | Registered: Feb 2004
| IP: Logged |
Printer-friendly view of this topic
