A first look at the Great American Rail-Trail—and which section to cycle in 2025
It takes but a minute to put wheels in motion for one of the greatest adventures you can have in America, yet nearly three months to experience it in full. Running from Washington State to Washington, DC, the 3,700-mile Great American Rail-Trail moves from Pacific waves and old-growth forests at its western end to the White House and the Capitol in the east.
Its east-west spine is made up of abandoned rail corridors that morph into urban greenways. Along the way, riders will get to experience national parks, forested canyons and prairie lands. The last stretch will run past the Lincoln Memorial to the United States Capitol — a fitting end, considering this portion of the route is based on Abe's 1860s transcontinental railroad. Due for completion in 2028, the Rail-Trail is still a work in progress, with a little over half currently ready for cyclists. With its varied terrain, Washington — forecast to have around 400 miles of cyclable track completed in 2025 — offers an epic taster.
(This grand trail will one day connect Washington, D.C., to Washington State.)
Natural highs: Olympic Discovery Trail
The most memorable place to begin your adventure is on this 135-mile trail. From the get-go, the cycleway enters pine-shrouded Bigfoot territory, plunging into the temperate rainforests of Olympic National Park beneath the glacial caps of Mount Olympus. The trail then waltzes along the Strait of Juan de Fuca shoreline to Port Townsend, famed for its 19th-century buildings, with campground rest stops along the way. To travel this section is also a journey into the historic lands of the Klallam, Ho, Makah and other Native American tribes that put down roots long before the railroad came along.
Fishermen's Terminal port in Seattle guards boats known from the reality TV show Deadliest Catch.
Photograph by Don Wilson, Port Seattle
City life: Burke-Gilman Trail
The real Seattle can be found on this 20-mile path, which begins amid the shimmering wetlands of Golden Gardens Park before rolling to the north end of Lake Washington. In between, the neighbourhoods of Nordic-influenced Ballard, trendy Fremont and the University District pass by in a slow-mo blur. A salvo of coffee shops, bike fitters and craft breweries right on the cycleway will prompt the squeal of brakes, then you'll pass the Fishermen's Terminal dock, home to some of the crab boats featured in reality TV show Deadliest Catch. Finish up at Gas Works Park, watching seaplanes take off and land.
Snoqualmie Falls was made famous by David Lynch's Twin Peaks, as were the surrounding towns where the cult 1990s TV series was filmed. Cyclists can explore the area via the forested, 31-mile Snoqualmie Valley Trail, which takes in filming locations including Salish Lodge & Spa, in Sanoqualmie; The Roadhouse Restaurant & Inn, in Fall City; and North Bend's Twede's Cafe — stop for cherry pie. Further east, the relentless beauty of the Cascade Range takes over.
Some parts of the Great American Rail-Trail require a mountain bike.
Photograph by Silvrshootr, Getty Images
Into the wild: Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail
This epic 236-mile trail runs from electric-blue Rattlesnake Lake over Snoqualmie Pass (2,600ft) and all the way to the Idaho border. Currently, this stretch is one of the country's longest rail trail conversions — thanks to the well-maintained Milwaukee Road, a former railway line that closed in 1986. It crosses steel railroad trestles, bridges and dozens of canyons on gravel tracks, so a mountain bike is essential.
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National Geographic
6 hours ago
- National Geographic
Trace the backcountry trails of Banff National Park on horseback
This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK). In the side paddock, a team of mules jostles, their heads low, long ears twitching as they snort and stamp impatiently. The beasts — horse-donkey hybrids — are being loaded up with gear for our expedition into Banff National Park, western Canada, saddle bags of supplies ballooning at their sides. Fuel, food, grain, linen and the inevitable bottle of whisky: it's a packing list untouched by time. As the string of mules ambles past in a tethered line, hooves kicking up lazy clouds of dust, it feels like a scene from a Wild West flick, shot in glorious Technicolor against the swaggering backdrop of the Canadian Rockies. But a sidelong glance at the stable yard spins a different yarn, as the present-day wranglers grafting away look remarkably different to Alberta's early pioneers. Striding towards me is Erica Woolsey, mule packer and no-nonsense guide for Banff Trail Riders. A ten-gallon hat veils her eyes from the rising sun, and scuffed cowboy boots peek out from beneath dirt-stiffened jeans that look like they could stand upright on their own — the perfect uniform for someone who spends more time on the trail than off it. 'Guiding in the backcountry has traditionally been a male-dominated world,' Erica says as she eyes a pen of preening horses she's been tasked with prepping for the journey ahead. 'When I started out, I was the only female leading the longer, tougher rides,' she recalls. Fast-forward 14 years, and that trend has bucked. 'Today, women make up around 80% of the 100-strong team here,' Erica explains. She gestures towards the yard, where her crew is toiling away, some crouched under horses that outweigh them fivefold, hammering metal shoes onto hooves. 'Guiding in the backcountry has traditionally been a male-dominated world. Today, women make up around 80% of the 100-strong team here," says Erica. Photograph by Victoria Wright It's all in a day's work for backcountry guides, who take riders on multi-day expeditions into the far-flung reaches of Banff National Park in southwestern Alberta. Established in 1885, Canada's oldest national park attracts over four million visitors annually, drawn here to hike, bike, canoe, camp and ride horses in the wilderness. Hungry for a taste of its frontier culture, I've travelled 110 miles west of Calgary to Banff Trail Riders, a family-owned outfitter on the outskirts of the resort town of Banff that's been giddying-up since 1962. Its three-day trek dangles a tantalising carrot: the chance to discover soaring mountain peaks, emerald glacial lakes and pockets of alpine forest most easily accessed by steed. Adding to the spirit of adventure is the prospect of bedding down at Sundance Lodge, a rustic 10-room log cabin set within the national park. It requires a full day of riding to reach, but the payoff promises to be immense. Our route will follow storied pathways, Erica tells me, ducking under a wooden fence and leading me into the sun-baked corral. 'Over the years, these trails have been used by fur trappers led by Indigenous guides, to scout a route for the Canadian Pacific Railway, and by tourists after the discovery of thermal hot springs here in 1883.' In the Canadian Rockies, names such as 'Wild' Bill Peyto and Tom Wilson — rugged, macho types who helped city slickers navigate the hills and hollers of Banff National Park towards the end of the 19th century — are still spoken about with a reverence more commonly reserved for Hollywood stars. No one's shouted about it but women have always played a crucial role in backcountry life, too, although their contribution was traditionally confined to the kitchen and often went unseen. Established in 1885, Banff National Park in southwest Alberta is Canada's oldest national park. Photograph by Victoria Wright "These are ancient trails and we're trying to keep some of those old traditions alive," says Lola Jung, cowgirl. Photograph by Victoria Wright But the winds of change are blowing. Recent years have seen The West two-stepping into the mainstream, thanks to the popularity of onscreen dramas such as Yellowstone, fashion houses including Louis Vuitton and Prada tapping into rodeo-ready looks, and Beyoncé's country-inspired Cowboy Carter album making cowgirling cool. 'This lifestyle has definitely gained widespread appeal and things have swung the other way in terms of gender,' Erica explains. It's an Old West plotline where the once bit-player cowgirls have suddenly stepped into the starring roles. I hoist myself into the creaking saddle of a chestnut horse, given the satisfyingly Americana name of Montana. Following a quick lesson on riding posture from ranch owner Julie Canning — 'shoulders back like a beauty queen, hips thrust forward like a whore' is a nugget of advice I won't forget anytime soon — I leave Erica to her work and head out into the foothills. Into the wild A couple of hours into the trek, the low moan of trucks blowing past on the highway is replaced by the cheerful drum roll of a woodpecker hiding up a skinny pine tree. Shortly after that, my phone signal evaporates. It feels like we're riding back through time, I call out to Lola Jung, a fresh-faced cowgirl leading our group of riders. She swings around in her saddle to chat. 'These are ancient trails and we're trying to keep some of those old-time traditions alive,' she says as the tasselled fringe of her tan leather chaps, embossed with spiked maple leaves, ripples in the breeze. While Lola looks every inch the cowgirl — a white Stetson hat perched upon her head, silky kerchief knotted just-so at her neck, and hair braided into a sleek plait worthy of a show pony — her buckarette journey hasn't been a typical one. 'Just a couple of years ago, I was a nerdy university student sat in a classroom,' she says with some disbelief. Since trading academia for blazing saddles, the self-taught rider has earned her spurs as a backcountry guide, she reveals, as we clip-clop through a dense mess of woodland ferns. There was the time when a towering grizzly bear, ominously nicknamed The Boss, stalked her group of horse riders through Banff National Park for a nail-biting two-and-a-half hours, before Lola steered them to safety. She's also mastered the art of saddle and bridle repair. 'When you're out here in the middle of nowhere and something breaks, you just fix it,' she says with a shrug, sounding as tough as the age-worn leather she mends with a needle and thread. This lifestyle has definitely gained wide-spread appeal and things have swung the other way in terms of gender. Photograph by Victoria Wright Having tethered the horses beside a creek, Lola unpacks lunch ingredients from weathered handmade wooden boxes, attached to her trusty sidekick mule via an intricate system of knotted ropes. 'Looking at black-and-white photos from a century ago, this was also how folks back then moved goods around,' she explains, before starting a fire. Our group, including a catalogue-handsome European couple on their honeymoon and some affable US retirees on a big-ticket holiday, tuck into hulking slabs of flame-licked steak, washed down with metallic mugs of cowboy coffee that's as gritty as the nearby riverbed. We're soon back in the saddle and forging onwards towards Sundance Lodge. 'Technically, you could walk these trails on foot, but the beauty of riding them is that the horse has such stamina,' Lola says, patting the neck of hers approvingly. 'Humans stop for blisters, but these guys just keep on going.' Even astride a five-foot-high horse, this is the kind of scenery to make you feel as miniscule as an ant: gargantuan mountains, formed between 80 and 55 million years ago, rear up on either side. 'What I love about riding out here in the backcountry is that the landscape is forever changing,' Lola enthuses as we slink through a wildflower meadow, the mid-afternoon humidity now at lens-fogging levels. 'We have all seasons in a single day, so things are constantly evolving. I've had snow, hail, rain and sunshine all within the span of a couple of hours.' Meanwhile back at the ranch Before dusk, we arrive at Sundance Lodge, a homely timber property set against a thick spruce forest that seems lifted from a vintage Christmas card. It was originally built in 1991 in the shadow of Ten-Mile Cabin, a rest shelter dating back to 1923 that was once a popular stop for riders heading to Mount Assiniboine, a pyramidal peak straddling the border between the provinces of Alberta and British Columbia. Our home for the next few days is a modern take on the early pioneer homesteads that once dotted this region — although rather more luxurious than its predecessors. Inside, a herd of taxidermy stags with crowning antlers peers down from the walls, while woollen Aztec blankets are slung across beds in the guest rooms. The only neighbours for miles around, it would seem, are furry marmots. From the lodge's wraparound porch, the giant rodents are easy enough to spot on the grassy lawn, standing upright on their hind legs and sniffing the air like fat meerkats. Weary-limbed from a day in the saddle, we return to the lodge with the gait of John Wayne staggering through the swinging doors of a saloon. Photograph by Victoria Wright 'Over the years, these trails have been used by fur trappers led by Indigenous guides, to scout a route for the Canadian Pacific Railway, and by tourists after the discovery of thermal hot springs here in 1883,' explains Erica Photograph by Victoria Wright The following dawn, after a deep slumber, cocooned in our off-grid outpost, we swing back into the saddle, heading out for a full day of trekking. Our lasso-shaped route snakes along the Brewster Creek Trail, named after the Brewster brothers, a couple of pioneering explorers who helped kick-start tourism in the Canadian Rockies at the end of the 19th century by guiding visitors through the area. Just shy of 14 miles out-and-back, the ride is more marathon than sprint, but rewards with blockbuster views of the jagged Sundance Range of mountains. Although the pace is restrained to a gentle walk, the terrain gets rough-and-tumble at points — we slosh through boulder-strewn streams and oozing mud paths one minute, teeter on the edge of a sheer cliff edge the next. But the horses know their steps better than a troupe of veteran ballroom dancers, I reason, and slacken the reins, trusting Montana to take the lead. Weary-limbed from a day in the saddle, we return to the lodge with the gait of John Wayne staggering through the swinging doors of a saloon, to find a hearty hotpot simmering on the stove. A s'mores dessert, baked to a calorific goo in a heavy cast-iron skillet dangling from the kitchen's hooks, cools on the sideboard. Having turned the horses loose, we take our seats around a long communal table for the well-deserved feast. With our hair still faintly smelling of barn animals, conversation swiftly turns to our horses' idiosyncrasies; we sound like proud parents at a school PTA meeting. After dinner, I join Lola beside the campfire, the fiery light coppering her hair and throwing fleeting shadows across her face. Women explorers have been out here for years, she's quick to highlight, as we cradle mugs of cocoa in our hands. Over a century prior to #womenwhohike trending online, US-Canadian naturalist and photographer Mary Schäffer Warren was exploring this park and turning her camera's lens to its rugged mountains. By 1931, New York mountaineer Georgia Engelhard had conquered Mount Victoria — on the border of Alberta and British Columbia — an impressive nine times; a particularly challenging climb, it can present steep snow and ice conditions. During this period, Lola tells me, an artist and extreme peak-seeker called Catharine Robb Whyte could also be found 'hiking out here while wearing her husband's trousers'. An owl concealed in the inky woodland responds to the revelation with an echoing hoot. Having traded the confines of a skirt for the freedom of a pair of slacks, Catharine ruffled a few feathers. 'It was taboo, as people thought that the dangers of mountain climbing were just for men,' Lola says. 'But she had the last laugh, becoming quite wealthy, and there's now a museum named after Catharine and her husband in Banff.' The horse-donkey hybrids are being loaded up with gear for our expedition into Banff National Park. Fuel, food, grain, linen and the inevitable bottle of whisky: it's a packing list untouched by time. Photograph by Victoria Wright With no connection to the outside world, life at Sundance has found its own deliciously languid rhythm (ride, relax, repeat) but it's soon time to head back. Towards the end of the 10-mile return trek, with the lodge a hazy memory behind us and the town of Banff appearing on the horizon, Lola suddenly breaks into song. 'I don't wanna ride side saddle, I just wanna ride bow-legged, bow-legged like the boys.' We ride back into the stables, a posse of cowgirls awaiting our return. Moving mountains The following morning, back on terra firma, I make the short drive south east from Banff to Canmore. Situated in the Bow Valley, the former coal mining town rose from its sooty ashes when it played host to the Nordic events at the 1988 Winter Olympics. These days, it appeals as a quieter alternative to popular downtown Banff, while still offering easy access to the great outdoors and cafes serving up a half-decent frothy coffee. On the outskirts of town, crunching to a standstill in the parking lot of the Grassi Lakes Trail, I find fiftysomething guide Heather Black. She leans against the boot of her car, buckling on a backpack, with a camera on a selfie stick strapped across her chest. Early settlers poured into the Canadian West in serious numbers from the 1860s onwards, an immigration boom prompted by mining, oil and agriculture, but Alberta was by no means uninhabited territory prior to this. To learn more of its rich Indigenous history, I'm joining Heather, founder of hiking company Buffalo Stone Woman, on a trek. We'll be hiking the popular Grassi Lakes Trail, a 2.5-mile jaunt that's part of a network of 48 trails in the Canmore area. Heather, a former female boxing champ, is part of the Blackfoot Confederacy, a people who ranged across the Great Plains of western North America. Our tour this morning is part of broader reclamation of her culture, Heather tells me, as we stride towards the leafy trailhead. 'My ancestors were here around 10,000 years ago, using these mountains as medicine,' she explains, as we enter the sun-dappled woodland. 'While the men were hunting, it was groups of women who'd be out here harvesting plants.' Heather points out a cluster of purple juniper berries sprouting nearby, traditionally dried and consumed as a tea to help ease respiratory problems. 'If you were troubled, an elder would advise you to come to the Rockies,' Heather continues, the earthy scent of moss rising up from the spongy forest floor. 'Our people would fast here, sometimes for four days on end, in order to have a vision.' The mountains are still sacred, used by the Blackfoot people for ceremonial purposes to this day. Heather, a former female boxing champ, is part of the Blackfoot Confederacy, a people who ranged across the Great Plains of western North America. Photograph by Victoria Wright 'My ancestors were here around 10,000 years ago, using these mountains as medicine,' Heather explains. Photograph by Victoria Wright Following the signing of Treaty 7 in 1877, which ceded First Nations hunting territory to the Canadian government, the Indigenous people were forced to move onto reserves. 'It was forbidden for my people to come out here, separating us from our land and culture,' Heather says. The 30-year exclusion period ended in the 1920s but it cast a long shadow, and her parents would avoid bringing her to the Rockies as a child. Heather grew up 190 miles south east of where we're standing; her journey back to the range began 10 years ago, following a family loss. 'I came here to call upon the mountain spirits for strength,' the Calgary-based guide recalls. Noticing an absence of Indigenous people on the trails, she was inspired to start her own hiking company. 'Go big or go home': that was her mantra in the early days. 'You see that mountain over there?' she asks. I follow her finger to a peak so mind-bogglingly high that it blocks out the sun. 'That was the first mountain I summited. I was dressed in entirely the wrong kit,' she says, laughing, 'but I still remember sitting up there and looking down with such a sense of achievement.' We climb higher, until the terrain starts to plateau, revealing a mirrored lake the colour of jade. Glacial silt particles reflecting in the sunlight — the scientific explanation for the hue of Alberta's bodies of water — have never looked so beautiful. I take a moment to drink in the scene and reflect on the people who have tended to this land, from matriarchs harvesting medicinal plants to hard-scrabble cowgirls working on the ranches. There's nothing that new about the women of the Rockies taking the reins, I realise. It's just that now, thanks to guides like Lola and Heather, we're also invited along for the ride. Getting there & around: Air Canada and Air Transat offer direct flights to Calgary from London. Air Transat also offers direct flights from Manchester and flight time: 9h. Car rental companies operate out of Calgary Airport. FlixBus, Banff Airporter and Discover Banff Tours run frequent daily shuttles between Calgary International Airport and Banff. When to go: Summer sees long sunny days and average temperatures of 22C. June is the busiest time to visit Alberta's Rockies so book accommodation and activities well in advance. Spring is a good time for wildlife spotting, with bears waking from hibernation. Autumn offers glorious leaf-peeping opportunities but some operators may wind down their activities as the weather turns, with an average temperature of 5C in October. Where to stay: Fairmont Palliser, Calgary. From C$328 (£176). Hotel Canoe & Suites, Banff. From C$249 (£134). The Malcolm Hotel, Canmore. From C$320 (£172). More info: How to do it: Banff Trail Riders runs horse-trekking trips between May and October. It has two nights at Sundance Lodge, including all meals, horse-riding and trail fees from C$1,699 (£945). Canada As You Like It has a seven-night Alberta fly-drive from £1,455 per person, including return flights to Calgary, car hire, one night in Calgary, three nights in Banff and three nights in Jasper. This story was created with the support of Travel Alberta Published in the July/August 2025 issue of National Geographic Traveller (UK). To subscribe to National Geographic Traveller (UK) magazine click here. (Available in select countries only).
National Geographic
10 hours ago
- National Geographic
Why Alabama's emerging wine country should be your next road trip
This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK). Given its southerly latitude, it may seem surprising that Alabama is home to a burgeoning wine country. But amid the undulating landscape piercing the state's northern half, you'll find a colourful, characterful wine trail surrounded by some truly beautiful, waterfall-studded scenery. While southern Alabama is as flat as an American pancake, the sylvan foothills of the Appalachian Mountains enter from the northeast of the state and their dense, layered foliage make driving through this corner of 'Dixie' a joy. But don't expect grand, urbane wineries on the scale of Napa or Sonoma. For the most part, Alabama's handful of vineyards are helmed by delightfully small mom-and-pop operations offering warm, avuncular welcomes alongside sweeter-tasting wines — often based around the native Muscadine grape — that satiates locals' famous sweet tooth. A road trip through the region's vineyards is a relaxing way to discover one of America's lesser-known states, while enjoying the Southern sun and making new friends over a glass or two. Hit the road The Saturn V rocket pointing toward the sky from Huntsville's US Space & Rocket Center is visible for miles and perhaps acts as a metaphor for the city's recent rise. Huntsville's handsome and compact downtown is perfect for a stroll, especially Clinton Ave's kooky stores and jaunty street art, while Baker & Able's laid-back rooftop bar above the 106 Jefferson Hotel has fine views of the Appalachians' Cumberland Plateau. Baker & Able's laid-back rooftop bar above the 106 Jefferson Hotel in Huntsville has fine views of the Appalachians' Cumberland Plateau. Photograph by VRX Studios Opened in 2022 within the bucolic Bankhead National Forest, Sipsey Vineyard & Winery is the newest winery on the Alabama scene, though for the trail itself it's better to jump on the I-65 south and hit Sipsey's airy new tasting room in the city of Cullman, which opened in March 2025. Wine flights are served on elegant tasting boards made from bourbon whiskey staves. Try its collection of red blends, such as Dei Vinea, alongside quirky cider-based creations that owner Bart Crabtree, a former military veteran and relentless raconteur, will invariably offer you. Around an hour east along the US-278 and AL-79 highways, the Tennessee River opens up and Guntersville's lakeside setting is a wonderfully picturesque spot to hunker down for the night. Stay at the Home2 Suites by Hilton set in the lively City Harbor district, and watch the sun set over the glimmering water with the rolling valleys of Lake Guntersville State Park standing tall behind. The next day, Jules J Berta Vineyards is just a short drive down the US-431 and its wine slushies (yes, really) are a perfect tonic if the humid Alabama summer is cranking up. Wills Creek Vineyards & Winery is one of the region's more picturesque vineyards, and at just a 25-minute drive from Jules J Berta along Horton Gap Road, they're ideal for pairing up. Both wineries specialise in Muscadine table wines and taking in the view from Wills Creek's back patio of Duck Springs Valley's rounded hills, glass in hand, is a lovely way to pass an afternoon. Sipsey's airy new tasting room in the city of Cullman has wine flights served on elegant tasting boards made from bourbon whiskey staves. Photograph by Sipsey Vineyard & Winery Gadsden is a good spot to find a hotel and the city's historic downtown has something of the old West about it, with its neat turn-of-the-century buildings lining Broad Street. When evening falls, the roofs are lit up by a bright parade of festoon lights and the art deco Pitman Theatre blinks in glorious neon. Just a 15-minute drive along the 278, Maraella Vineyards & Winery is perhaps most archetypal of Alabama's breezy Southern hospitality. A small rust-red neighbourhood home flanked by narrow vines to one side, Maraella's porch has brick arches that feel almost Mediterranean, and its sofas are a cosy spot to chat with visitors passing through. In fact, gregarious owner Scott Lee will probably join in, over a glass of his Dorato Vino Muscadine white or one of the vineyard's light blueberry wines. Just as inviting, High Country Cellars, as the name suggests is deeper into Appalachia than most. Located at the end of a high gravel drive in dense thickets of woodland that skirt Talladega National Forest, this rustic winery is set in a former house, where the bedrooms have been repurposed into offices and the lounge is now a convivial tasting room. The playfully titled Skeeter P apple peach wine is the bestseller, a sweet, zesty glass of sunshine that's ideal for a warm afternoon in this genial and serene corner of the South. Meet the maker: Jules Berta Jules Berta, Jules J Berta Vineyards: "I was a mechanic by trade, in the Navy for eight years, with three honourable discharges. When I got out of the Navy in 1992, I was broke, divorced and didn't have two nickels to rub together. I came down here [northern Alabama] in 1994 and started messing with the grapes. I bought books and learned all I could. With a little trial and error, here we are. Jules Berta's father — a Hungarian immigrant— brought winemaking knowledge with him to America and started planting vines in northern Alabama in 1987. Photograph by James March The white wines do very well here, but they have to be picked fairly early because they ripen up much faster in the heat. The reds just soak up the sun, they love it. The local Muscadine is a primitive variety. It has a very specific, twangy flavour to it. It'll never be considered a serious table wine, but it's fun. You have to serve it here in the South. Right now, Alabama wine is in its infancy. A couple of years ago, I took a tour up in Virginia. I met a lot of winery owners there and they told me, 'You guys in Alabama are where we were 20 years ago.' They started out with a handful of wineries and now they have over 300." Top three wineries in Alabama 1. Jules J Berta Vineyards While Alabama's wine industry is still very much in its infancy, Jules J Berta's history with the grape runs deep. Berta's distant relatives in Hungary made wine in the hills near Lake Balaton in the 19th century and his father— a Hungarian immigrant— brought that knowledge with him to America and started planting vines in northern Alabama in 1987. Sadly, he passed away before the winery opened in 2008, but his son Jules has turned this pastoral spot near Albertville into one of the state's most successful ventures. As with most of the state's vineyards, there's plenty of the fruit-forward Muscadine grown here, though you'll also find spicy Syrah and Cabernet red blends like the Black Widow and some light, local Sylvaner varieties, too. Wood-fired pizza is served Thursday and Saturday, which makes for a delicious wine pairing. Vines grow behind yellow wildflowers at Jules J Berta Winery near Albertville, Alabama, where the family cultivates Muscadine, Syrah and other varieties. Photograph by Jules Berta 2. Wills Creek Vineyards & Winery Wills Creek co-owner Jahn Coppey calls the Muscadine grape 'his medicine' though the cinematic views from the winery's back terrace could be equally as therapeutic. Duck Springs Valley's rotund hills form a sublime backdrop, with a nearby lake attended to by eagles, ospreys and hawks occasionally diving for bass alongside the faint rumble of Interstate 59 somewhere beyond the horizon. As with Jules J Berta, there's a European connection here, too. Coppey is a native of Switzerland and still has hints of his old Swiss-French accent. His winery grows 10 acres of Muscadine, though there are fruit wines here too, including strawberry, pear, blueberry and peach blends. He also makes a syrupy sweet Muscadine dessert wine. Cheese platters are served to pair with the wine, featuring a variety of local cheeses, asparagus, salami sausage and cashew nuts. 3. Fruithurst Winery Co Just five miles from the Georgia state line, Fruithurst Winery Co sits in rural, church-strewn Cleburne County. Wine has been grown in this area since 1894 and while prohibition shut down that practice, cousins Dylan and Joshua Laminack opened Fruithurst in 2009 and it's since become a regional favourite. The creaking rocking chair outside their wooden building looks out onto quiet backroads with 20 acres of vines just to the right-hand side. It's a serene setting for sipping their intense and sweet Muscadine white Fruithurst Gem, though Dylan and his wife Jessica's affable chatter and tales never let the volume get too low. While there's not much in terms of food served, Fruithurst does host several summer and harvest time festivals with food trucks and live music. To subscribe to National Geographic Traveller (UK) magazine click here. (Available in select countries only).
Travel Weekly
a day ago
- Travel Weekly
All aboard! Demand for rail travel picks up steam
With rail travel bookings surging both this year and next, tour operators are adding itineraries and product. Railbookers has seen a 35% jump in year-over-year bookings for 2025 and a 51% increase for 2026 compared to the same time last year. The operator also owns Amtrak Vacations, which has seen a 15% increase in 2025 bookings year over year. The rail specialists are not the only ones observing a spike in demand for train travel. Intrepid Travel added six itineraries to its rail travel collection in July after unveiling the tours last year and seeing a 24% increase in bookings so far this year. Intrepid Travel expanded its rail itineraries in July after seeing increased interest in the travel style over the last year. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Intrepid Travel G Adventures debuted a rail collection in April that features itineraries with more than 50% of travel by train. G Adventures director of product Sean Benner said the collection was receiving a "ton of engagement" and that G already has plans to expand rail offerings due to the popularity. "We've seen [with] the tours that have been tagged as rail collection, the sales are going up on those," Benner said. "It is a trend that we've been aware of, and it's exciting to see the engagement that we're getting out of it." Tour operators and travel advisors cited various factors fueling demand to ride the rails, from new product to social media to nostalgia for the slower travel of the past. "We've found that it really appeals to travelers looking for more thoughtful, immersive journeys that reduce their environmental impact," said Intrepid spokesperson Hannah Choat. "While sustainability plays a role, the appeal of rail today is equally about pace, presence and deeper connection." Angela Walker, the vice president of operations at The Society of International Railway Travelers, said social media and nostalgia has fueled increased interest in rail travel. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Angela Walker Angela Walker, vice president of operations for The Society of International Railway Travelers, a travel agency that specializes in luxury rail travel, also said slow travel is a major draw for clients opting for luxury rail itineraries. Travelers enjoy the time spent on trains meeting other passengers, enjoying cocktails while watching the scenery go by and indulging in multicourse meals, she said. "It is about the journey as well as the destination," Walker said. That was echoed by Benner, who said that slow, immersive travel and rail journeys go hand in hand. Rail travel differs from country to country, he added, providing a different experience based on the destination and a unique glimpse into the lives of locals. "You're traveling with commuters who are going to work every day," Benner said of G Adventures' itineraries. And he added that the experience "hits perfectly to our sort of ethos, the grassroots of community travel and being there with the community and experiencing it as a local." A passenger train in Poland, with the Tatra Mountains in the background. Photo Credit: Courtesy of G Adventures New trains, vintage experiences Social media is also driving the trend, operators said. Take the iconic bullet trains in Japan or sleeper trains in India, for example. Those types of experiences, frequently shared on social media, can fuel desire to visit those destinations, Benner said. Walker said that with social media picking up on the travel style, it appears to be in "the zeitgeist a little bit more than it used to be." She also credited the premiere of new luxury trains this year as enticing travelers to get onboard. Belmond launched its Britannic Explorer in England and Wales earlier this month, while La Dolce Vita Orient Express made its debut in Italy in April along with the Golden Eagle Silk Road Express in China, Walker said. "It doesn't happen very often that a new train comes along, much less three," she said. Though business at the Society of International Railway Travelers has remained steady, Walker said clients are skewing younger. Luxury rail is no longer only for retirees, she said, adding that she sees more Gen X and millennial clients. Walker said nostalgia is also a factor, pointing to the personal connection many travelers have with rail travel, whether it's a family member's connection to the railroad or a childhood fascination with trains. Luxury train itineraries will sometimes feature a night when passengers dress in 1920s-inspired outfits, a nod to a heyday of rail travel. Jackie DeAntonis, a Scott Dunn private travel manager, agreed and said the allure of the throwback experience proves to be a motivator for rail travelers. "Our guests love the idea of dressing up for a glamorous dinner onboard and connecting with fellow travelers," she said. "But even more important than the glamour is the opportunity rail travel affords them to explore lesser-known regions and experience magical moments."
