While you are making your plans to visit Sedona, Arizona this winter you are going to want to make sure to check out the excursion train “Eagle Watch” at the Verde Canyon Railroad.

Verde Canyon Railroad’s Eagle Watch is more than just an excursion train. It’s more than an expedition filled with scenic wonders, more than a stress-free escape. It’s a journey to the very heart of America. Searching for the ultimate American symbol while riding on a treasured symbol of freedom makes for a stirring, memorable adventure. These are the experiences meant to be shared with family and friends.

The Verde Canyon Railroad travels through untamed country. It’s a landscape that seems to have been created just to bring trains and eagles together: a narrow high-walled canyon carved by one of the last free-flowing rivers in Arizona. Dramatic and isolated, Verde Canyon remains an unspoiled holdover from the frontier. Passengers relax in grand comfort as the train rumbles into stunning terrain where bald and golden eagles swoop from wind-gnawed cliffs, Great Blue Herons perch at river’s edge and fierce sunsets streak the sky.

Each winter migrating bald and golden eagles join resident pairs in this ancient sanctuary. Verde Canyon is a protected breeding area closed to the public. Only the Verde Canyon Railroad provides this exclusive opportunity to view these extraordinary raptors in their natural habitat. Having cohabited with the railroad for generations, the eagles pay no mind as the slow rolling train clickety-clacks its way to Perkinsville and back.

The event is called Eagle Watch but the Verde Canyon offers a warm weather respite to countless other migrating birds. The outdoor viewing cars, accessible from both first-class and coach accommodations, are the perfect venue to bird watch in Arizona’s most scenic winterscape. And, while the rail cars maintain their vintage style, they’ve each been upgraded to provide passengers with a thoroughly modern level of sophisticated comfort and service.

The Verde Canyon Railroad  is located in Clarkdale, only 25 minutes from Sedona and just two hours north of Phoenix, making Verde Canyon Railroad the perfect Arizona day trip!  For more information please visit the Verde Canyon Railroad.

Information provided by the Verde Canyon Railroad.

 • • • • • • • •

Check out these Sedona hotels that offer a Sedona vacation package with the Verde Canyon Railroad

• Best Western Plus Inn of Sedona
  “Romancing the Rails”
• Kokopelli Suites
  “Ridin’ the Rails”
• Wildflower Inn
  “Verde Canyon Railroad Package”

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Well know for their “Cowboy Cookouts” and  scenic Sedona horseback rides providing breathtaking views of Sedona’s Red Rocks, the Mogollon Rim, Verde Valley and the San Francisco Peaks north of Flagstaff, the M Diamond Ranch has become one of the must do Sedona attractions! And this Winter, starting in November, the Ranch is offering the Winter “Campfire Chili Lunch” so that you can enjoy the nicest part of a Sedona winter’s day outside!

You will begin your day with a one hour guided trail ride  taking in the majestic scenery of Sedona & learning about real western history and heritage. You will want to make sure to bring your camera, the views are truly amazing and there is a good possibility that you will cross paths with some wildlife during the trailride. Javelina, red tail hawks and western bluebirds are often seen in the winter months.! And when it comes to guides the M Diamond Ranch has the best! Don’t just take my word for it, you can see their reviews on Tripadvisor by clicking here.

The “Campfire Chili Lunch” will take place at the “Sedona Lookout” where you will get a warm welcome and have lunch by the camp fire. The lunch menu features Campfire chili, Cowboy beans, Dutch Oven cornbread, cole slaw, and hot beverages: coffee, tea, hot cider, hot chocolate. And for dessert: S’mores over the campfire! What a toasty way to enjoy a beautiful Sedona winter’s day outdoors!

The Winter “Campfire Chili Lunch”

• $95.00+tax includes trailride and transportation
• 15% off: kids 7-12, seniors 65+, groups of 6 or more
• Kids under 6 FREE
• Reservations required
• For more information or to make reservations please visit the M Diamond Ranch

Points of Interest near the M Diamond Ranch

• V Bar V Heritage site
• Montezuma’s Well
• Montezuma’s Castle

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Looking for fun things to do in the Sedona-Verde Valley area on Halloween? The Verde Canyon Railroad has special Halloween in store for you and your family. The Haunted Halloween Express offers fun for the whole family. Enjoy the fall scenery of the Verde Canyon as ghouls, ghosts and goblins meander through the aisles of their coaches on your way to the ghost ranch of Perkinsville and back. -No worries the witches, clowns and devils usually offer more treats than tricks!

Lying in the shadow of Jerome, Arizona, one of the most infamous ghost towns in America, is Verde Canyon Railroad. Jerome looms high above the valley perched ominously on top of a hill, like creepy old castles, mad scientist laboratories and haunted houses featured in countless bloodcurdling movies. Youngsters may be too focused on goodies to notice the imagery of the event as they scamper aboard Verde Canyon Railroad’s Haunted Halloween Express, but it will make their parents smile. Here’s the secret that Verde Canyon Railroad knows: There are no grownups on Halloween, just kids of assorted sizes. That’s why every Railroad employee, from the cooks in the Copper Spike Café to the conductor aboard the train, shows up in costume. So, on Monday, October 31, get an early start on Halloween fun aboard Verde Canyon Railroad.

There is magic in Halloween because it opens the door to a world of imagination and mystery. The same goes for trains. Put the two together, add a liberal dose of sweets and it’s no wonder that Haunted Halloween Express is so popular. The journey into the autumn-splashed canyon features a costume contest, spine-tingling tales and plenty of candy to satisfy a sweet tooth. Prizes are awarded for the best costumes in a variety of categories. It’s the perfect dress rehearsal for trick-or-treating later that evening.

As the train rumbles towards the ghost ranch of Perkinsville, we provide relaxation in climate-controlled comfort. A good diet should include something besides candy, so we lay out a lavish buffet for all first-class passengers. The quiet of the Canyon will let you listen for eerie whispers while passing ancient Sinagua cliff dwellings or long-abandoned copper mines. We encourage you to embrace the day with a lung-shattering scream as the train plunges into the depths of the 680-foot black tunnel.

The Verde Canyon Railroad is located in Clarkdale, Arizona only 25 minutes from Sedona and two hours north of Phoenix, making Verde Canyon Railroad the perfect Arizona day trip. For more information please visit the Verde Canyon Railroad. What are you waiting for? Make your reservations today before there all gone!

Information provided by the Verde Canyon Railroad.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Why not plan a fun weekend family getaway to Sedona, Arizona this weekend and attend the Verde River Days at Dead Horse Ranch State Park & Verde River Greenway State Natural Area. This is a perfect fun event to enjoy as a family! There will be recreational activities that your whole family can do including hands-on-activities, fishing, canoeing (with or without assistance) and nature hikes. You and your children will learn about the Verde’s riparian habitat along with the preservation and care of the environment with over 40 fun & informative nature-based exhibits, sandcastle building and a menagerie of live animals.

There will also be live entertainment and local food vendors. The Verde River Days celebration begins at 10 am on Saturday. Don’t forget the lagoon is filled with hundreds of pounds of catfish, so bring your fishing poles and help your youngster take their first cast. Dead Horse Ranch State Park is located 30 minutes from Sedona and makes for a perfect day trip. For more information or to get directions visit Dead Horse Ranch State Park.

*********

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Treat your grandparents to a visit to the Sedona-Verde Valley and take them on a grand wildlife excursion aboard the Verde Canyon Railroad that they will never forget! Your grandparents will love the fresh greenery that accents the red sandstone walls, bouquets of wildflowers that add touches of drama, wildlife  as they actively prowl their domain and the precious memory of exploring the wonder and excitement of  the Verde Canyon with you!

Trains are more than just transportation. Trains are a language, a legend, an idea that crosses generations. Never is that more obvious at Verde Canyon Railroad than on Grandparent’s Day. It’s no surprise that folks who rode trains in their youth feel an affinity for them, but that doesn’t explain the wide-eyed wonder, the giggly excitement of youngsters who have never before heard the conductor’s call of “All aboard!” On Sunday, September 11, 2011 the Verde Canyon Railroad brings the whole family together for a special adventure. Grandma and Grandpa, Mom and Dad and all the kids get a chance to spend time with each other immersed in a rare rail adventure.

A multi-generational outing is just like a railroad: not just a line of track linking one place to another; it is a connection of the past to the present, just like a family. Verde Canyon offers the kind of comfort and service that will make everyone in the family happy. First-class accommodations offer spacious living room-style seating, plush love seats and panoramic windows. There’s Champagne upon boarding (cider for the little ones), complementary appetizers and service at your seat. All cars have access to open-air viewing cars offering 360-degree views and photo opportunities to capture the rare time families have spending time together doing something really fun for all ages.

The Verde Canyon Railroad is located in Clarkdale, only 25 minutes from Sedona, Arizona and two hours north of Phoenix, making Verde Canyon Railroad the perfect Arizona day trip! For more information or to make reservations please visit the Verde Canyon Railroad.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

When you’re visiting Sedona, Arizona on September 10th, 2011 you’ll have the opportunity to take the ultimate Starlight Tour into the scenic Verde Canyon with the Verde Canyon Railroad!

During these Starlight Tours, Verde Canyon Railroad also offers specialty options to further enhance these romantic evenings with both the Tequila Sunset Limited & the Grape Train Escape.

Treat yourself to a “Tour of Italy” on this upcoming Grape Train Escape. Join Verde Canyon Railroad for a relaxing “Buena Serra” on the season closing favorite! As the nights grow cooler wines evoking the hills of Tuscany will warm you spirits and satisfy your palate. This specialty train leaves the depot at 5:30 pm and with limited seating for this popular event I highly suggest making your reservations as soon as possible!

Verde Canyon Railroad is the perfect Arizona day-trip, located 25 minutes from Sedona and only two hours from Phoenix and if you want to stay over, ask about their Room, Ride and Meal packages. To make reservations or for more details please visit the Verde Canyon Railroad. No worries, even though their Starlight Tours for the season are coming to an end their “Autumn Fall Color Tours” are here!

*Information provided by the Verde Canyon Railroad

Check out these Sedona Hotels & Inns for your Sedona Vacations

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

When you’re visiting Sedona, Arizona  on August 13th, 2011 you’ll have the opportunity to take an ultimate Starlight Tour into the scenic Verde Canyon with the Verde Canyon Railroad!

During these Starlight Tours, Verde Canyon Railroad also offers specialty options to further enhance these romantic summer evenings with both the Tequila Sunset Limited & the Grape Train Escape. Treat yourself to “Vineyards of the Verde Valley” featured on this upcoming Starlight tour on the Grape Train Escape.

“Vineyard of the Verde Valley”
With its sandy soils and abundant sunshine, the Verde Valley is emerging as an Arizona wine destination. Savor your lush and tantalizing wines of the Verde Valley from open-air-viewing cars!  As the train rumbles through the canyon, the low slant of sun bathes the high cliffs in soft golden hues. The train reaches Perkinsville amid a scandalous sunset. The return trip offers a serene glimpse of the nocturnal stirrings of wildlife set against a dazzling canvas of moon and stars. The specialty train leaves the depot at 5:30 pm and with limited seating for this popular event I highly suggest making your reservations as soon as possible!

Verde Canyon Railroad is the perfect Arizona day-trip, located 25 minutes from Sedona and only two hours from Phoenix and if you want to stay over, ask about their Room, Ride and Meal packages. To make reservations or for more details please visit the Verde Canyon Railroad.

*Information provided by the Verde Canyon Railroad

Check out these Sedona Hotels & Inns for your Sedona Vacations

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

When you’re visiting Sedona, Arizona this weekend on July 16th, 2011 you’ll have the opportunity to take an ultimate Starlight Tour into the scenic Verde Canyon with the Verde Canyon Railroad! During these Starlight Tours, Verde Canyon Railroad also offers specialty options to further enhance these romantic summer evenings with both the Tequila Sunset Limited & the Grape Train Escape. The Grape Train Escape this weekend is one not to be missed!

“Tango with South America” this weekend on the Verde Canyon Railroad’s Grape Train Escape! Enjoy the wines from Chile and Argentina as they inflame your passion for adventure. Once hoarded by priests, they’re not just for communion anymore. With culture and history poured into every bottle these wines will stir your soul! The specialty train leaves the depot at 5:30 pm.  As it rumbles through the canyon, the low slant of sun bathes the high cliffs in soft golden hues. The train reaches Perkinsville amid a scandalous sunset. The return trip offers a serene glimpse of the nocturnal stirrings of wildlife set against a dazzling canvas of moon and stars.

Verde Canyon Railroad is the perfect Arizona day-trip,  located 25 minutes from Sedona and only two hours from Phoenix and if you want to stay over, ask about their Room, Ride and Meal packages. To make reservations or for more details please visit the Verde Canyon Railroad.

*Information provided by the Verde Canyon Railroad

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Treat your family to a day of fun in the Verde Valley with  the Independence Day celebration and the Verde Canyon Railroad’s Firecracker Express on July 3rd, 2011.

Verde Canyon Railroad’s Firecracker Express is the kind of rare Fourth of July experience that reminds us anew what makes this such a special country. Arrive early for a glimpse of an authentic small town celebration as the Children’s Parade rolls right down Main Street in Clarkdale.Then back to the train station’s shaded depot for a lip-smacking barbecue at 11:00 am, accompanied by patriotic music.

Board the vintage locomotive, adorned with inspiring images of the American Bald Eagle and ride into unspoiled scenery over track laid by hand nearly a century ago through hard work and ingenuity. Then you’re back in time for Cottonwood’s dazzling fireworks display.

For those of you who may be visiting Sedona-Verde Valley for the first time and are not familiar with the Verde Canyon Railroad

The Verde Canyon Railroad is top on the list for locals and visitors of the Sedona-Verde Valley! The Railroad takes you on a wildlife excursion through the inner sanctum of Arizona’s other “grand canyon,” where each season creates a new reason to ride and affords visitors the only chance to see this unique blend of translucent, emerald waters; castles and mystical creatures carved from windswept, crimson cliffs; and crystal clear skies suspended over native wildlife and waterfowl that call the Canyon home.

The Verde Canyon Railroad is only 25 minutes from Sedona and 2 hours from Phoenix making this Verde Valley attraction a perfect Arizona day-trip. For more details please visit the Verde Canyon Railroad.

Information provided by the Verde Canyon Railroad.

While you are in the Verde Valley Check out these Historical Sites & National Monuments

• Montezuma Castle National Monument
  “Amazing five-story cliff dwelling”
• Montezuma Well
  “An aquatic habitat like no other in the world”
• Tuzigoot National Monument
  “Discover the incredible legacy of an ancient people”
• Fort Verde State Historical Park
  “Experience life through the eyes of a frontier soldier”

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

When you’re visiting Sedona, Arizona on June 18th, 2011 you’ll have the opportunity to take an ultimate Starlight Tour into the scenic Verde Canyon with the Verde Canyon Railroad! There are a few tours in the Sedona-Verde Valley that I would do over and over again. The Starlight Tours with the Verde Canyon Railroad is the top one! No worries if you can’t get here for the Starlight tour on the 18th , these much in-demand varietal runs are available  July 16th,  August 13th and September 10th.

On summer evenings it’s not just stars that come out to play in the Verde Canyon. As the sun slips behind distant mountains, cool air sweeps through the canyon signaling the resident wildlife to begin their nightly rounds. See the canyon come alive by the luminous glow of moon-kissed skies on Verde Canyon Railroad’s popular Saturday Starlight Tours.

The free-flowing Verde River wends a verdant ribbon through red rock Arizona desert. Such collision of ecosystems lures a variety of wildlife to the oasis, most notably eagles, hawks, and Great Blue Herons with their distinctive gangly legs and necks. Other sightings might include mule deer, Javelina, coyote and beaver; a roster of fur and feathers that makes  this Verde Valley Attraction the envy of other excursion trains and adventure tours.

On select Saturday evenings, the train leaves the depot at 5:30 pm.. As it rumbles through the canyon, the low slant of sun bathes the high cliffs in soft golden hues. The train reaches Perkinsville amid a scandalous sunset. The return trip offers a serene glimpse of the nocturnal stirrings of wildlife set against a dazzling canvas of moon and stars.

During the Starlight Tours, Verde Canyon Railroad also offers specialty options to further enhance these romantic summer evenings.

• Grape Train Escape
  A rolling wine-tasting adventure where select wines are paired with delectable appetizers for each run. Imagine sipping an exquisite glass of wine with your paramour as twilight bruises the sky and a family of Javelina grazes by the side of the tracks. All wine tasting trains feature distinctive wines representing renowned wine regions
  • 6/18 – The Warm California Sun
  • 7/16 – Tango with  South America
  • 8/13 – Vineyards of the Verde Valley & Artisan Cheeses
  • 9/10 – Tour of Italy
• The Tequila Sunset Limited
  Features premium tequila tastings accompanied by festive Mexican food and other south-of-the-border drink specialties. No drink exemplifies the rich and varied character of the Southwest like tequila, harvested from the agave plant. Let the complexity of the spirit unfurl across your taste buds as you marvel at the glittering canopy of heavenly bodies overhead.

Verde Canyon Railroad is the perfect Arizona day-trip,  located 25 minutes from Sedona and only two hours from Phoenix and if you want to stay over, ask about their Room, Ride and Meal packages. To make reservations or for more details please visit the Verde Canyon Railroad.

*Information provided by Verde Canyon Raiload

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Don’t delay Father’s Day is almost here. Make plans today to visit Sedona-Verde Valley with dad and treat him to the red rocks of Sedona and a wildlife excursion on the Verde Canyon Railroad!

If there’s one thing every father wants for his children it’s to provide them with an opportunity for a better life. That’s what makes “Throw Papa ON the Train” such a special celebration at Verde Canyon Railroad, where families come together to create lifelong memories while savoring one of life’s pleasures. On June 19th, 2011, throw Dad, Granddad and Uncle on the Verde Canyon Railroad for a Father’s Day celebration through the scenic Verde Canyon that they will never forget!

As the vintage train rumbles into the Arizona back-country, passengers recline on plush loveseats in climate-controlled first-class accommodations. Views of rugged scenery fills the panoramic windows near every seat, while expanding vistas engulf the open-air viewing platforms attached to every car. It’s actually two seats for the price of one: something Dad would delight in knowing. And, the elegance of the train combined with high quality service is exactly the kind of comfort he would expect to indulge his family with, so don’t be surprised if there’s a flicker of pride in his eyes more than once during the journey.

Best of all, a complementary buffet is set up in each first-class car. Better stand clear of the aisles if you don’t want to get trampled because nobody loves a good buffet like Dad.

Be sure to arrive early so that the entire family will have time to explore the wonders of the John Bell Railroad Museum. The array of historical photographs and artifacts are bound to stir remembrances. If he didn’t travel by train, his father did. There’s something wonderfully timeless about train travel, invoking an era of style and service almost forgotten. Verde Canyon Railroad carries on these father-pleasing traditions. Housed in a remodeled boxcar, the John Bell Railroad Museum sits trackside at Verde Canyon Railroad Depot and admission is free.

Only two hours from Phoenix and 25 minutes from Sedona, the Verde Canyon Railroad is the perfect Arizona day-trip. Or for an overnight trip, ask about their Room, Ride and Meal packages. For more information please visit the Verde Canyon Railroad.

*Information provided by the Verde Canyon Railroad

Check out these Sedona hotels for you Sedona vacation or weekend Getaway!

• Best Western Inn of Sedona
  “Unbeatable Views of Sedona’s Red Rocks”
• Kokopelli Suites
  “Voted Best in Sedona three years in a row”
• Best Western Arroyo Roble Hotel & Creekside Villas
  Awarded “Best of the Best in Customer Care”
• Wildflower Inn
  “Your Home Away from Home”

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

When you are planning your Mother’s special weekend in Sedona for Mother’s Day make sure to include the ultimate gift of relaxation and pampering with the mothers day event “Throw Mama ON the Train” presented by the Verde Canyon Railroad on May 8th, 2011.

No matter what you plan for Mother’s Day, it never seems like enough. Mom deserves so much more than a card and crowded buffet. She deserves a stress-free day of pampering in a beautiful rejuvenating setting. Fortunately that happens to be the specialty of Verde Canyon Railroad. Maybe that’s why “Throw Mama ON the Train” has become such a popular and beloved event.

Whisking Mom away from daily responsibilities and surrounding her with family for a leisurely train ride into a lush wilderness canyon with natural bouquets of wildflowers is the kind of gift every mother will appreciate. Maybe not as much as the clay ashtrays and macaroni mosaics you made as a kid, but one she’ll still treasure.

Watch as Mom unwinds into overstuffed loveseats. There’s a bountiful spread of complimentary appetizers and cocktail service ready to deliver her libation of choice right to her seat. That’s the renowned first-class treatment one expects aboard Verde Canyon Railroad. Best of all, there’s no plates to pick up or glasses to wash because as Mom has probably mentioned in the past, “She’s not your maid.”

Your mother also won’t have to remind you to put on a sweater because all passenger cars are climate-controlled. Naturally the whole family will spend plenty of time outside on the open-air viewing platforms where you can watch dramatic vistas of the sculpted red rock canyon unfold at every turn. But no matter how inviting the scenery, please don’t run. You know how Mother feels about that.

Mom will have three-and-one-half hours surrounded by her family, treated to a level of service almost forgotten. And just to make sure she gets the whole day off, we’ll pick up the slack … “Eat your vegetables, look both ways before crossing the street and always wear clean underwear in case you get in an accident.”

The Verde Canyon Railroad is a favorite attraction to the locals and visitors of the Sedona-Verde Valley. Located just two hours from Phoenix and 25 minutes from Sedona, making the Verde Canyon Railroad a perfect Arizona day-trip. For tickets or  more details please visit the Verde Canyon Railroad.

If the timing is wrong, there’s always a gift certificate available for purchase which has her name written all over it. It’s the perfect unsuspecting gift for the perfect mother.

Information provided by the Verde Canyon Railroad

Bookmark It

Hide Sites