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100-Year-Old “GREEN” Steam Engine is Ready for Spring Season

by Mary Melnick

Feb 23, 2023

© Xanterra Travel Collection

Destinations / North America

Spend your next family trip exploring a new area aboard a 100-year-old steam engine. The steam engine still chugs itself to the Grand Canyon and back and has become a global showcase on how ingenuity can save the past for the future.

 

The Grand Canyon Railway is considered to be the last daily standard gauge U.S. railroad to run steam engines in scheduled regular service. Currently, The Grand Canyon Railway uses recycled waste vegetable oil as fuel on No. 4960, a steam engine built in 1923. On select days through October, this massive steam engine pulls the daily train, running from Williams, Arizona, to South Rim, Grand Canyon. Waste vegetable oil typically used for French fries, chicken wings and other fried foods saved this train from becoming a museum display. By using this recycled fuel, the great machine runs on a neutral carbon footprint.

 

It’s estimated The Grand Canyon Railway reduces the number of cars in the national park by about 70,000 per year. The railway strives to utilize biodegradable fuels whenever possible and is the first tourism railway to receive ISO 14001 third-party certification of its environmental management system.

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Nov 23, 2023

6 Pies from Around the World to Try on Family Travels

It’s time to start dreaming of your next family trip. Here’s some destination inspiration for you. Take a visual journey through these pies from around the world, and maybe you’ll be inspired to take that next trip for a delicious slice.

United Airlines Celebrates its First Class of United Aviate Graduates

As the only major U.S. airline to own a flight school, United Airlines already hit a major milestone, and now the carrier celebrates another important — and historic — step as the inaugural class of United Aviate Academy pilots graduates, leading the next generation of aviators. The 51 students in the graduating class were majority, at 80 percent, women and people of color — another stride toward United’s goal of training 5,000 new pilots by 2030 with half women or POC.

Travel Tips
Nov 22, 2023

New Hilton Report Shows What All Ages Want from Travel

Trying to plan a multigen trip? You may anticipate trouble finding a travel destination, activities and more to appeal to every member of your crew. However, a new report from Hilton found there are certain experiences all travelers want right now, regardless of generation.

Multigenerational
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10 Resorts & Hotels Around the World with Festive Celebrations 2023, Part 2

With the holiday season upon us, resorts all over the world pull out all the stops to bring the joy of the holidays to family travelers of all ages. Here are five more resorts to check out this holiday season:

Interior Upgrades Begin Rolling Out Across United Fleet

United Airlines is in the midst of a major initiative to modernize its fleet over the next several years. After first announcing the plan in 2021, planes fitted with United’s signature interior are finally beginning to appear across the airline’s narrowbody fleet of Boeing and Airbus planes. United flyers are sure to notice these enhancements from the moment they step on board: Each new or updated plane sports remodeled seats, seatback entertainment screens for everyone, Bluetooth connectivity and more, all adding up to a better experience on every journey.

Multigenerational
Nov 17, 2023

Perfect Holiday Gifts for Travelers on Etsy

When searching for unique gifts for family travelers, Etsy is a good place to begin. A marketplace of online shops owned by craftspeople and collectors, Etsy is filled with handcrafted works in all mediums, often one-of-a-kind or custom-made. It’s like an open studio, a place to share the latest creations directly to people who appreciate handcrafted things.