Guess where I might be going this fall?
It's all still in the thinking/planning stage, but I might be going to Glenwood Springs, Colorado, which is about three hours west of Denver. It is another resort town known for its hot springs. The twist on this year's plan is to travel there by train--the California Zephyr to be exact. Apparently the scenery is something between Denver and Glenwood.
"The scenery changes dramatically departing Denver as the train climbs the Rocky Mountains. After going through the Tunnel District then crossing the Continental Divide via the 6.2 mile-long Moffat Tunnel under James Peak, the tracks follow the Colorado River for several hours. Passengers can see the transition from a narrow, whitewater river to a much wider stream past Glenwood Canyon and Interstate 70 toward Grand Junction."
Glenwood sounds like it might be a colorful town to visit. Colorado in general has such an interesting history.
"Glenwood Springs was originally known as "Defiance", a name sometimes still used by local teams or businesses. Defiance was established in 1883, a camp of tents, saloons, and brothels with an increasing amount of cabins and lodging establishments. It was populated with the expected crowd of gamblers, gunslingers, and prostitutes. Town Founder Isaac Cooper's wife Sarah was having a hard time adjusting to the frontier life and in an attempt to make her environment somewhat more comfortable, persuaded the founders to change the name to Glenwood Springs, Colorado, after her beloved hometown of Glenwood, Iowa."
It would be a short vacation, but a mostly relaxing one which I hope would include lots of walking, relaxing in the hot springs and many hours of reading!
Of course I'll have to look for books set in Colorado--one of my favorite standby authors is Sandra Dallas and while I won't be going to the Rockies this time, I really do need to read Isabelle Bird. I will have to revisit my list of books about Colorado here. And since I have never been on a US train (I have traveled by train abroad and loved it), it would be fun to read stories set on trains as well. I even have a list of novels dealing with train travel here.
Of course suggestions are always welcome--both for reading and traveling (I think a few of you might be Colorado residents who know Glenwood?). I will likely go in September so I have lots of time to think about it. It's always nice to have a change of scenery to look forward to, don't you think? Especially when the scenery is as nice as it is Colorado!
Your proposed train trip sounds delightful.
Posted by: Terra | June 26, 2015 at 10:00 PM
I really hope it works out--aside from the fact that I could use a vacation--it is nice having something diverting like this to look forward to!
Posted by: Danielle | June 26, 2015 at 10:05 PM
Sounds lovely, including the train. And you absolutely must read Isabella Bird -- amazing stuff.
Posted by: Harriet | June 27, 2015 at 01:32 AM
Colorado again. I still have your card on my shelf. It would be great to travel by train. At least I did a lot of train traveling through Europe and Always loved it. I'm so happy for you.
Posted by: cath | June 27, 2015 at 09:43 AM
Train travel is wonderful! We took the train from LA to SF a year ago and it was so nice; right beside the ocean, excellent meals, a comfortable compartment and we met some very interesting people, too. We enjoyed it so much that we are considering taking the train from Chicago to the west coast. Your book suggestions sound good, glad to know there is another Kate Morton to look forward to.
Posted by: cathy | June 27, 2015 at 10:27 AM
Woo, Danielle! This sounds wonderful! My dad's long-held travel plan, one he'll never do now, was to cross the Rockies by train. It does sound such a civilized way to travel. I'll have to think if I know any books set in that area!
Posted by: litlove | June 27, 2015 at 11:45 AM
Oh, I'd love to go on a long train trip, except the trains are so expensive now. Colorado books? CENTENNIAL by James Michener, of course!
Posted by: LindaY | June 27, 2015 at 01:41 PM
Lucky you! I look forward to hearing about your discoveries!
Posted by: Smithereens | June 28, 2015 at 07:35 AM
I read a quite interesting nonfiction book about Colorado
Nothing Daunted: The Unexpected Education of Two Society Girls in the West by Dorothy Wickenden.
Posted by: Janet | June 28, 2015 at 06:03 PM
Oh, you are going to enjoy Glenwood Springs and will get an exceptionally interesting point of view from the train. We spent a day there on a family vacation when our girls were young and they still talk about it, Danielle.
Posted by: Penny | June 28, 2015 at 09:26 PM
Oh, how fun! Both the trip and the contemplation of "westward" books. I recommend A Lady's Life in the Rocky Mountains--the only Isabella Bird book I've read, but it seems fitting here.
Posted by: Kathy | June 29, 2015 at 10:06 AM
So do you think the trip will really happen? Woohoo! You hadn't mentioned you'd go by train. That is so cool! I used to travel between Los Angeles and San Diego by train and that was fun but it was only 2 hours. I've always wanted to actually take a longer ride and get a sleeper room. Have fun planning!
Posted by: Stefanie | June 29, 2015 at 03:01 PM
I bought this little Penguin Journeys not too long ago--before I knew I might be going--I guess I was subconsciously hoping all along! ;)
Posted by: Danielle | June 30, 2015 at 10:34 PM
The nice thing about Colorado is it is relatively close and I don't have to fly and/or pay for a plane ticket. I would love to travel there by train--more than one person has told me how beautiful the ride there would be--particularly once we are in CO. I have never ridden a train in the US, but I did when I was living in Austria. I can't remember--when you were in the US did you get to the Midwest? I have lots of research to do--hopefully over my long weekend.
Posted by: Danielle | June 30, 2015 at 10:35 PM
I am not terribly fond of flying anymore, but a train ride--even a longish one like this sounds like such a fun time--space to move around and a dining car--and lots of beautiful scenery outside the window! How lovely to be able to take the train up the coast--I would love that--maybe someday! If you go from Chicago to the West coast I wonder if you would also take the Zephyr and then would travel through Nebraska! I am quite tempted to pick up something I have by Kate Morton right now and begin reading--I haven't picked up any of her later books but I think I must own almost all of them.
Posted by: Danielle | June 30, 2015 at 10:38 PM
I hope it works out--there is still lots of time to plan, but hopefully I will get to think about it over the long weekend and do a little research. My sister is all for it, but we are trying to talk our mom into going as well. If I go I will soak in the views for your dad! :) If you come up with any titles, do let me know. I wanted to read Isabella Bird in any case--surely there must be a mystery set there? Sandra Dallas lives in Denver and a few of her novels are set in CO, but I wouldn't mind coming up with a few other reading possibilities.
Posted by: Danielle | June 30, 2015 at 10:41 PM
Do you know I bought Centennial on your suggestion last summer but it is a chunky book and I couldn't manage to read it before going. Now I must go dig it out--I wonder where I put it???? The train goes through Omaha at 11:00pm so I would spend part of the night without being able to see much out of the window, but surely the sun would be up by the time we got to the western edge of the state and into CO. All those hours to fill with reading! :)
Posted by: Danielle | June 30, 2015 at 10:43 PM
Alas, it is not so far away as Boston but I am excited about it anyway. Fingers crossed it works out--I need something nice like this to look forward to!
Posted by: Danielle | June 30, 2015 at 10:43 PM
My library has that--I think I looked at it last year when I went to Estes Park, but I wasn't able to read it first. Maybe this year it will work out--it sounds like a good companion read with Isabella Bird!
Posted by: Danielle | June 30, 2015 at 10:45 PM
How exciting--I love to hear that! I am told the scenery is stunning and that stretch of landscape is really something to see from the train. I would love to go to Estes again, but it would be good, too, to see another part of the state. I think CO is such a lovely place--I could happily live there.
Posted by: Danielle | June 30, 2015 at 10:46 PM
I think reading Isabella Bird is going to be a requirement for me this year! She seems like such an intrepid, independent woman traveller--the little Penguin Journeys book I have it made up of letters!
Posted by: Danielle | June 30, 2015 at 10:47 PM
My sister is a definite--we just need to make set plans. Hopefully we can talk our mom into going, too--I am sure she would like it, but I know travel is hard on her these days. Still-much better than flying I think. What fun to have traveled between LA and San Diego by train--were you close enough to the coast to see the Pacific?! I think we almost could get a sleeper, but it would be much cheaper to just get reserved seats--we wil have to investigate. The train goes through Omaha at 11pm-ish and we would arrive around 1pm the next afternoon. I was a little disappointed that we would travel at night, but it will only be Nebraska--and we could sleep a few hours before the sun comes up and we can watch the countryside--what a nice thought! :)
Posted by: Danielle | June 30, 2015 at 10:51 PM
Oh yes, the train between LA and San Diego runs right along the coastline for most of the way. It's a nice trip and much better than sitting in traffic on the freeway!
Posted by: Stefanie | July 01, 2015 at 02:22 PM
No, I have never been to the Midwest.
I visited all coastal states from New York to Florida at that time.
Posted by: cath | July 02, 2015 at 10:40 AM
I would love to travel up and down the coast--both coasts actually. I did get to Charleston, South Carolina and loved it there--maybe you visited as well? By the way--a card just went out in todays mail to you! :)
To: literarycat@hotmail.com
Posted by: Danielle | July 02, 2015 at 10:49 AM
Danielle, you're going to have a lot of fun on this trip. The California Zephyr is my favorite Amtrak ride. Last year, when I loved from Boston to California, I asked my (bemused) new employer if I could spend my relocation allowance on a one-way train journey. They said yes, so my wife and I took the Lakeshore Limited from Boston to Chicago and then the California Zephyr to Emeryville.
There was still snow on the Continental Divide, which you encounter just after Denver. The scenery, as you have correctly heard, is absolutely gorgeous. Just stay in the viewing car for about 4-5 hours after you leave Denver, and you will not regret it.
If you book ahead of time, you might be able to get a roomette at a not-too-ridiculous price. If you factor in the cost of meals which are free with the roomette, it may turn out to be quite affordable.
An interesting aspect of the journey was the community seating. Every day, for breakfast,lunch and dinner, we met a different set of people and had lovely conversations.
Posted by: Polaris | July 03, 2015 at 07:23 PM
Whoops: "When I loved from Boston to California" should be "When I moved from Boston to California" :-) .
Posted by: Polaris | July 03, 2015 at 07:24 PM
If you like Sandra Dallas you must read 'Tallgrass' and also 'The Diary of Mattie Spenser' both brilliant. I am always interested in books set in Colorado; my interest comes comes from a love of music by John Denver . A little off kilter I know.
Posted by: Jennifer Dee | July 04, 2015 at 09:54 AM
Thanks for the suggestions! Last year I read Fallen Women and liked it very much--would love it if she ever revisited those characters. I read Mattie Spenser years ago but I think I could happily reread it now. I am thinking Tallgrass is a good possibility this year. Isn't it funny how we sometimes very circuitously fall in love with certain things or places? I knew a lady who loved John Denver--and she named her dog Denver--it was not meant in any way jokingly--she just admired him. I love CO and want to read more books set there.
Posted by: Danielle | July 06, 2015 at 09:30 PM
That sounds like great fun and quite an undertaking--so glad you were able to do it! I have googled images of the Zephyr and it looks like it could be a nice little trip. I am convinced I will like it and am ready to make my reservations and just need now to get my sister and mom motivated to come along! It's such a cool way to see the countryside--I wish there were more opportunities like this to take trains!
Posted by: Danielle | July 06, 2015 at 09:33 PM
Gotcha! So nice to hear from you again Polaris, by the way!
Posted by: Danielle | July 06, 2015 at 09:33 PM
This does sound like a delightful plan. You know, it's weird but in Europe it's cheaper to fly than take a train.
Posted by: Caroline | July 11, 2015 at 08:09 AM
I am making plans but my sister is not being very helpful in replying to my emails....I may have to just go by myself--I could do it if I went by train as Glenwood is very small and walkable and the train station there is right in their downtown. It is actually probably cheaper to fly most places here in the US, too, but Glenwood is a direct destination from Omaha. Most people do not take the trains here--I am surprised, however, that it is cheaper in Europe to fly--I just assumed trains were pretty economical--maybe it depends too on distance?
Posted by: Danielle | July 11, 2015 at 01:35 PM