written by Lauren Dana Ellman, freelance writer and contributor to Travel + Leisure, Conde Nast Traveler, The Knot, ShermansTravel, Time Out, and more.
Train travel is having a major moment—and there’s no better place to embrace it than the Pacific Northwest. As travelers increasingly lean into the “slow travel” trend, trains offer a chance to truly savor the journey: no security lines and no traffic jams. Instead, you can sit back, sip a local brew, and watch as snow-capped peaks, lush valleys, and dramatic coastlines glide by your window. These scenic rail routes make the journey just as memorable as the destination itself. Even better, they stop directly in—or within easy reach of—some of the region’s most captivating cities, including Portland, Seattle, and Tacoma, to name a few. That means you can step off the train and settle into a stylish stay, all without the stress of a long transfer.