FX Excursions

FX Excursions offers the chance for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in destinations around the world.
Traveler of the year

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.

#WhereverFamily

Insta Feed
Multigenerational
Apr 22, 2024

Travel Sustainably with BWH Hotels

BWH Hotels invites family travelers to experience sustainable practices across its global portfolio. The brand prioritizes sustainable and responsible tourism through its Because We Care program and various partnerships with eco-friendly brands.

Travel Tips to Help Protect Your Health and Your Trip

Five Tips to Help Minimize Potential Travel Problems

Parents
Apr 22, 2024

4 Gift Ideas for Mother’s Day

Mother’s Day fast approaches, and all mothers and mother figures deserve something extra special this year. Treat the mom in your life, whether she’s an outdoor enthusiast or host extraordinaire, to these four great gifts.

Multigenerational
Apr 19, 2024

Family-Friendly Offerings from Hyatt’s Inclusive Collection

Hyatt’s Inclusive Collection includes the largest portfolio of luxury all-inclusive resorts in the world — many of them perfect for family travelers. And two current offers might entice your family even more.

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.

Cruising
Apr 15, 2024

Some of Europe’s Best Day Cruises

A week cruising along the Danube or the Rhine may be the stuff of dreams for many, but family travelers can enjoy views from the water in ways kinder to the family budget. Many riverside cities offer scenic cruises, and some Baltic or Mediterranean ports have daytrips to nearby islands or coastal attractions. In several cities you can cruise the canals, and in Switzerland you can spend a day cruising on Lake Geneva, with sightseeing stops in lakeside towns.