I took the Grand Canyon Railway for $174. My ticket got me seats in a 'luxury dome' and first class.

Athena Sobhan
·3 min read
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  • The Grand Canyon Railway takes guests from Williams, Arizona, to the south rim of the Grand Canyon.

  • On the way there, I took the railway's first-class car. On the way back, I took the luxury dome.

  • The experience was absolutely worth the price and made visiting Grand Canyon National Park easy.

I never thought I'd be able to experience the beauty of the Grand Canyon without hiking.

Over the years, most of my hiking experiences seemed to end with an injury — from spraining my ankle to falling into a cactus after someone shoved past me to get ahead on the trail.

After doing some research online, I discovered that I could travel to the Grand Canyon on the historic Grand Canyon Railway, which takes visitors from Williams, Arizona, to the south rim of the canyon.

The train ride, which lasts two hours and 15 minutes, provides gorgeous views of the prairies and pine forests as guests travel to Grand Canyon National Park.

Guests can choose from one of six classes, ranging from about $67 for the most basic Pullman class to $226 for the opulent luxury dome with 360-degree views of the gorgeous scenery.

For our trip, we decided to purchase first-class tickets to the Grand Canyon and luxury-dome tickets on the way back.

After booking a package that bundled the train tickets with hotel stays at either end of the trip, and using our AAA discount, we paid just $174 round trip per person to ride the train.

The first-class car gave us a taste of luxury

The first-class car on the Grand Canyon Railway, which includes two sets of two plush brown seats facing each other, a small table with a newspaper, a large window, and brown patterned curtains.
The first-class car offered great views and comfortable seats.Athena Sobhan

On the way to Grand Canyon National Park, we opted for the first-class car, which included large reclining seats and big windows to see the plains and lush forests during the 65-mile trip.

The ticket also included plenty of snacks and drinks to enjoy along the way. We were mainly offered fruit, baked goods, packaged snacks, and drinks.

The soda and water were free, but alcoholic drinks were available for an additional charge.

On the way back, we took the luxury dome

Athena, wearing a green sweatshirt and sunglasses, poses next to the large 360-degree observation window on the Grand Canyon Railway's luxury-dome car.
The luxury-dome experience is one I'll never forget.Athena Sobhan

Sitting in the luxury dome on the way back to Williams was truly an out-of-this-world experience.

Before the trip began, everyone was treated to a complimentary glass of sparkling wine to toast the journey together.

The large, 360-degree observation windows provided more immersive views of the forests and plains, and gave us the chance to experience nature in a different way.

A forest of pine trees
The luxury-dome offered incredible views of the forests and plains.Athena Sobhan

The seats were comfortable, and there was plenty of legroom for everyone to sit together without a problem.

Overall, the trip on the Grand Canyon Railway was worth the price

The Grand Canyon as the sun begins to set
The Grand Canyon Railway took us from Williams, Arizona, to the south rim of the Grand Canyon.Athena Sobhan

The package option for the hotel and train was absolutely worth it.

Although I did hike along the easy trail when we got to the Grand Canyon, I loved that we could experience other parts of nature without having to hike too much.

I was able to see everything I wanted to and more. Riding on the Grand Canyon Railway was an experience I'll never forget.

Read the original article on Business Insider