The Contrarian
Traveler
Peter Greenberg
Great getaways,
insider strategies,
and irresistible deals
BACKGROUND: DAVID LANGDON. FROM TOP LEFT: RON ARIA (GREENBERG), PHOTOEUPHORIA@IPHOTO.COM (HAT); KEVIN ANDRUSIA; BUDDY MAYS/CORBIS; TREVOR HARRIS; DAVID ROBERTSON/ALAMY
The Rails Less Traveled WANT COMFORT AND SCENERY? CHOOSE THE TRAIN. HERE ARE FOUR OF THE WORLD’S MOST SCENIC (AND LITTLE-KNOWN) TRIPS GORGE-OUS The California Zephyr curls through Burns, Colorado. NORWAY Flåm Railway 13 miles MEXICO Chihuahua al Pacifico Railway 408 miles AUSTRALIA The Indian Pacific 2,704 miles UNI TED STATES The California Zephyr 2,438 miles
Descend from
Myrdal to the fjords
of Flåm and see
waterfalls and
farmhouses clinging to steep slopes
(011-47-57-63-14-
00; flaamsbana
.no; click on British
flag for English).
For a longer trek,
take the Norwegian State Railway
through glacier-filled Hardanger-vidda National
Park (011-47-815-
00-888; nsb.no).
Chug through 86
tunnels and over
37 bridges as you
travel along the
massive Copper
Canyon (which is
four times larger
than the Grand
Canyon). A good
stopping point:
the town of
Divisadero, which
has sweeping
views of the can-
yon (011-52-614-
439-7212; www
. chepe.com.mx).
This three-night
journey covers the
whole of Australia,
from the Pacific to
the Indian Ocean,
passing the Blue
Mountains and
historic mining
towns. Another
option: The Ghan
line features views
of the Outback’s
rusty-hued landscapes and
endless cattle
ranches (011-61-
8-8213-4592; rail
australia.com.au).
Traveling between
Chicago and Emeryville, California,
the Zephyr rolls
across the Rockies and the Sierra
Nevada, with
views of the Mississippi River and
Donner Lake. For
a good midroute
break, spend a
night in the spa
town of Glenwood
Springs, Colorado
(800-872-7245;
amtrak.com). ;
