Great Train Itineraries - Texas Eagle

As soon as you catch sight of Chicago – the most important city of the Midwest, standing on the shore of Lake Michigan –, its skyline will leave you awestruck. After the devastating 1871 fire, Chicago was rebuilt by the most famous architects of the day – namely Frank Lloyd Wright and Mies Van de Rohe. The city is now one of the finest examples of contemporary architecture in the world. Chicago also boasts plenty of modern artworks, on display at the Millennium Park and in virtually every square, museums as outstanding as the Art Institute and an extremely thriving music scene, with several top-notch jazz, blues and rock clubs and festivals.

Dallas, "The Big D". Its wealth is not based on oil, but on trade, especially of livestock, and finance. The city's image, overshadowed by the assassination of President Kennedy in 1963, has recovered thanks to the construction of the international airport and the worldwide success of the TV series Dallas. Today, it is a city of sparkling skyscrapers in the flat prairie of Texas and offers barbecue and steaks, country music, rodeos in nearby Fort Worth, and cowboy clothing, but also avant-garde art in its Art District.

Austin is the capital of Texas and the home of the University of Texas, an inexhaustible source of youthful and vibrant atmosphere, as well as new shops, restaurants, bars, and clubs. It is rightfully considered the "Live Music Capital of the World". Must-see attractions include Lady Bird Lake, the State Capitol, and the enormous colony of bats that live under the Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge.

It is worth stopping in San Antonio for its lively and diverse music scene. The city, known primarily for tejano and heavy metal genres, also has deep jazz roots, which are expressed in venues such as the Shadowland Ballroom and the Plaza Hotel. The main arenas that host stops on famous tours are the AT&T Center and the Paper Tiger; however, smaller clubs in the urban oasis offer live music nights for all tastes. San Antonio, founded in 1691 by Spanish missionaries, is now a large city, devoid of a skyscraper skyline and old west appearance. It is a peaceful and relaxed city, pleasant to explore on foot, starting with the famous River Walk, a walkway that spans almost 25 km. Other places to visit include the King William Historic District, Southtown, Monte Vista, and the nearby Blue Star Contemporary Arts Center.

Tucson is surrounded by mountains and deserts and characterized by a hot and dry climate. Not far away is the Saguaro National Park, an area that protects this particular type of cactus.

Los Angeles – the land of Hollywood, Disneyland and Universal Studios, where life is as carefree as can be. With its ever-shining sun, palms in the breeze, movie stars with their fancy houses in Beverly Hills, wonderful museums, futuristic buildings, and surfing spots, Los Angeles truly makes for an unforgettable destination.