TravelWorld International Magazine, Spring 2022 - Spring into Travel

All Aboard in Moab
Down to Denver
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Our Rocky Mountaineer
adventure starts in Moab, a
charming mountain town
set amidst the towering red
cliffs, a short drive away
from Arches. Even before
the train departs, we begin
to appreciate the luxuries of
our coach car. The massive
dome-like windows allow a
360-degree view throughout
the journey, not to mention
plenty of legroom—airplane
companies could take note.
As our train picks up speed,
our onboard hosts serve food
and tell stories of places we
pass. At first, we glide along
the chiseled red ridges of the
Arches National Park and La
Sal Mountains. Now’s the time
to let one’s imagination run
wild—the ethereal monoliths
look like Egyptian pyramids,
Medieval forts, Manhattan
skyscrapers and Martian
landscapes. Taking photos
becomes an obsession—open
platforms between cars allow
plenty of opportunities.
As we cross Utah and enter
Colorado, we pass through
the beautiful Ruby Canyon,
followed by the town of Grand
Junction, once the state’s first
vineyard planted in 1890,
and now Colorado’s Wine
Country. Shortly after, we ride
by Palisade, an agricultural
region, where cows peacefully
graze in the fields. The
bucolic idyll somehow brings
hunger—and food is already
coming, right to our seats. We
savor ale-braised short ribs and
foraged mushrooms with an
ever-changing view.
Towards the evening, we
arrive at Glenwood Springs—a
historic Wild West town
doubling as a wellness
destination, thanks to its
mineral hot springs. Various
illustrious historical figures
stopped here for some soaking
and recuperation, including
Wild West performer Buffalo
Bill, mobster Al Capone and
dentist-turned-gunfighter Doc
Holiday. Glenwood Springs
is one rare place where we
can follow these characters’
footsteps—right into the
massive steaming bath in the
center of town.
When we board the train next
morning, we enjoy breakfast of
waffles and berries, served while
we travel through the forested
Glenwood Canyon. On our
left, we spot a Roundup River
Ranch that belongs to actor Paul
Newman who makes his famous
Ranch Dressing here. As the
train chugs along the winding
Colorado River, we stare out the
windows in hopes to see some
wildlife--deer, elk, moose and
even bears. Today, however, we
only spot human animals—a
large group of rafters braving
Colorado’s rapids.
We arrive in Denver in time for
dinner, which we stop for at the
Mercantile Dining and Provision,
a European-inspired eatery at
the city’s Union Station. We
overnight at one of the city’s
newest spots, the Catbird Hotel,
located in River North or RiNo
district, a trendy neighborhood
lined with brewpubs and food
halls. If your dream home could
marry an art studio, it would
give birth to the Catbird Hotel,
where rooms feature loft beds,
induction stovetops and folding
dinner tables.
Known as the Mile High city,
Denver is a gem wholly worth
one’s time. Just the street art
alone—think colorful larger
than life murals—can take a
full day to admire, and there’s a
map listing them all. The newly
expanded Denver Art Museum
adds to it a collection of French
impressionists. For a city tour,
a Tuk-Tuk, an electric cross
One needs a map to see
all Denver’s street art
between a car and a bike, is a
uniquely Denver choice, buzzing
along the city streets. In the
evening, Mediterranean-themed
Rioja in the city’s historic
Larimer Square where street
musicians play, might just be the
best dinner spot. The outdoor
music tradition is also uniquely
Denver—just outside the city is
the Red Rocks Amphitheater,
an open-air performance venue
built within two giant red
sandstone monoliths. It serves
as an unforgettable coda to the
one-of-a-kind rail journey from
the Rockies to the Red Rocks.
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Paul Newman’s Roundup River Ranch where the
famous Ranch Dressing is made
A unique outdoor performance venue Red Rocks Amphitheater is
built within two giant red sandstone monoliths
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