Great Train Itineraries - Empire Builder end in Portland (OR)

Chicago rises along the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan, the third-largest city in the United States and the acknowledged birthplace of the modern skyscraper: here, after the Great Fire of 1871, American architecture reinvented itself, giving rise to one of the most famous skylines in the world. Its beating heart is the Loop, the business district encircled by the elevated 'L' train, where masterpieces by Louis Sullivan, Mies van der Rohe and Frank Lloyd Wright stand side by side. A short walk leads to Millennium Park, with the gleaming 'Cloud Gate' sculpture (nicknamed 'The Bean' by locals) and the Jay Pritzker Pavilion designed by Frank Gehry. Nearby, the Art Institute of Chicago, one of America's great museums, guards Impressionist masterpieces and Grant Wood's celebrated 'American Gothic'. Along the water, the Chicago Riverwalk offers another vantage on the city, while the boats of the Architecture River Cruise glide between the façades, recounting a century and a half of building ingenuity. Toward the lake, Navy Pier with its Ferris wheel and the Magnificent Mile, the elegant stretch of Michigan Avenue lined with shops and hotels, set the rhythm of city life. Yet Chicago is also music and flavour: the home of electric blues and jazz resounds in the clubs of the South Side, while its tables serve the hearty deep-dish pizza, Chicago-style hot dogs and the food markets of lively neighbourhoods such as Pilsen and West Loop. Rising to the 412-metre Skydeck of the Willis Tower, the gaze sweeps across the lake and the boundless Illinois plain. A city of lakes and skyscrapers, of jazz and bold architecture, Chicago reveals itself on foot, amid the gusts that earned it the nickname 'Windy City' and the unmistakable energy of the American Midwest.

Minneapolis stretches along the banks of the Mississippi River in the heart of Minnesota, forming with neighbouring Saint Paul the metropolitan area known as the Twin Cities. Nicknamed the "City of Lakes" for the many bodies of water dotting its urban fabric, it is a dynamic, green city where Nordic culture blends with a lively creative spirit. Its industrial past comes alive at the Mill City Museum, built into the ruins of an old flour mill, and along the Stone Arch Bridge, a historic pedestrian crossing over the Mississippi offering spectacular views of Saint Anthony Falls. The city's artistic soul beats at the Walker Art Center and its sculpture garden, where the iconic Spoonbridge and Cherry stands as a recognisable symbol of Minneapolis. The city was the birthplace of Prince, the pop music legend, and preserves one of the Midwest's most vibrant music and theatre scenes. In summer the Bde Maka Ska and Harriet lakes fill with cyclists, canoeists and swimmers, while numerous parks invite long walks. Between craft breweries, markets and a growing food scene, Minneapolis surprises with its quality of life and its balance of nature, culture and modernity.

Fargo is the largest city in North Dakota, spread along the Red River at the border with Minnesota, made famous by the Coen brothers' film of the same name. Its revitalised downtown offers the art déco Fargo Theatre, galleries, craft breweries and a lively food scene. A crossroads of the great northern prairies, the city blends a welcoming Midwestern atmosphere with young, creative energy. Between agricultural heritage, culture and hospitality, Fargo is a surprising urban stop in the heart of the American Great Plains.

East Glacier gathers on the eastern side of Glacier National Park, in northern Montana, at the foot of the imposing peaks of the Rocky Mountains. A small historic community tied to the railway, it is a gateway to the park, a starting point for hikes, scenic drives and exploring the alpine lakes and glaciers. The atmosphere blends the charm of old mountain lodges with grand nature of Glacier National Park.

West Glacier guards the western threshold of Glacier National Park in Montana, where the famous Going-to-the-Sun Road begins its climb among peaks and glacial lakes. A tiny hamlet of services and timber lodges, it is the ideal starting point to explore the crystalline waters of Lake McDonald and the trails that push into the alpine forests. Rafting on the Flathead River and wildlife sightings complete the experience. West Glacier is the gateway to one of North America's most spectacular landscapes.

Sandpoint overlooks the shores of vast Lake Pend Oreille, framed by the mountains of northern Idaho. A picturesque resort town, it offers the Schweitzer ski resort in winter and beaches, sailing and kayaking in summer. The lively centre, with galleries and restaurants, and the views of lakes and forests make it a year-round destination. Sandpoint is the ideal destination for those seeking alpine lakes, outdoor sport and the pristine nature of northern Idaho.

Portland rises at the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in Oregon, the capital of the Pacific Northwest's indie and green culture. Nicknamed the "City of Roses" for its splendid gardens, it keeps a bohemian charm built on artisan coffee, microbreweries and markets. The legendary Powell's City of Books is the world's largest independent bookshop, while the Portland Japanese Garden and the International Rose Test Garden offer moments of pure calm. The city is surrounded by prodigious nature: snow-capped Mount Hood to the east, the spectacular Columbia River Gorge with its waterfalls to the west, and nearby the famed Willamette Valley of Pinot Noir wines. Between creative food trucks and a nonconformist spirit, Portland is a city to be savoured slowly.