Author: Brenda Kennedy Muraski

The Pacific Northwest: Highlights From My Trip to Seattle, Vancouver, and Victoria

Have you ever had a place you’ve wanted to visit for years and finally made it happen? For me, that place was the Pacific Northwest—Seattle and Vancouver in particular. After thinking about it for so long, I finally went, and it was a trip I’ll always remember.

I started in Seattle, a city full of interesting things to see and do. One of my first stops was Chihuly Garden and Glass, which was unlike anything I’d seen before. I also spent time at the Seattle Art Museum, took in the views from the Space Needle, and wandered through Pike Place Market, where the mix of food, flowers, and local vendors made it a fun spot to explore. The Museum of Pop Culture was another highlight, especially if you enjoy music and film. Between sightseeing, I had great meals: fresh seafood along the waterfront and breakfasts in small, diverse restaurants around the city.

Getting to Vancouver was easy with a smooth border crossing. Vancouver felt like a big city but still close to nature. I visited Granville Island, checked out the Museum of Anthropology, and spent time at Capilano Suspension Bridge Park. That park was one of my favorite experiences. Walking through an old-growth rainforest with towering Douglas firs and western red cedars was incredible. Some of those trees have been standing for over 1,500 years. Even though it rained, the mist in the forest made it feel peaceful and quiet.

To finish the trip, I took a ferry to Vancouver Island. Butchart Gardens was beautiful, especially in the fall when the trees were full of color. I also explored Victoria, the capital city, which had a relaxed vibe and great views along the water.

Looking back, this trip was worth the wait. The Pacific Northwest has so much to offer: art, culture, nature, and good food. If you’ve ever thought about going, I’d say do it. Whether it’s sunny or raining, Seattle and Vancouver are places you’ll enjoy.

Ready to plan your own unforgettable journey? Let’s talk! Reach out to start designing your adventure today: 616.957.8113

Traveling In Europe By Train

Europe By Train

Have you ever decided to do something while traveling and then wondered if that was a good decision?

Recently, I planned a trip for my family to travel around Europe by train. We planned on visiting four countries during our vacation. After considering the pros and cons of renting a car or traveling by train, train travel stood out as the best choice for us. I have traveled by train in Europe without my family in the past and really enjoyed it, but that was years ago. What if traveling with a family was more difficult? What if I didn’t remember how to do it or screwed up and got on the wrong train or off at the wrong destination and lead my family astray? These questions swirled around in my mind.

Because we were going to several different destinations, I decided to purchase Eurail passes for each of us. Eurail offers quite a few options for passes, so you can pick the best-fitting one based on how many countries you will visit and how many days you want to travel. We purchased the Eurail Select Pass, which worked perfectly with our itinerary because it would allow us to travel throughout 4 bordering countries of our choice. Next, I looked at all of the train departure times and made reservations on the trains that required a reservation. I also downloaded the Eurail “Rail Planner” app on my phone. This app gave me access to rail schedules, made it easy to locate train stations, displayed city maps, and much more. We were well prepared before we left for Europe.

Salzburg Train Station
Waiting at the train platform in Salzburg, Austria

Once we arrived in Europe, we walked to the train station that was located right at the airport. By looking at the train arrival/departure monitors, we could see which track our train would come in on, as well as the exact time it was scheduled to depart. All we had to do was head to the platform and wait for the train. Once we loaded our luggage on the train, we were able to relax and enjoy the ride. After a long night of sitting cooped up on an airplane, it felt so nice to be on the train; we could get up and walk around as much as we wanted or enjoy the comfortable train seats. And the views out the windows were a great way to acclimate ourselves to our current location.

Train Travel in Europe
Enjoying the big windows and roomy seats on the train after a cramped overnight flight.

My family embraced riding on the train. Our teenagers were excited to discover that the “the train was just like the trains used in the Harry Potter movies.” They loved that there was a food car on most of the trains as well, and that we were served a meal on the long train rides. Traveling in Europe by train with my family was just as good as it had been when I traveled alone. The extensive rail network in Europe made it simple to transfer from one destination to the next, and getting on and off the train was much easier than I remembered. There was no reason for me to be worried at all and I will definitely plan to travel by train in Europe again.

If the ease, comfort, and convenience of train travel appeals to you, let us know and we can help you arrange rail tickets and passes for your next vacation. Witte Travel & Tours is the only agency in West Michigan that has a direct link to Rail Europe’s reservation system, so we can process rail passes quickly while avoiding costly shipping fees.

What has been your experience with traveling by train? Share your stories with us on Facebook, or let us know what you think in the comments!