Williams Station, Grand Canyon Railway

Williams Station is where the Grand Canyon Railway begins — a restored depot in downtown Williams that turns the 65-mile trip north into part of the trip itself. Instead of driving, you board a train, get serenaded by strolling musicians, and let a tour guide handle the storytelling while the pines roll by outside the window.

What to expect

The station handles ticketing and boarding, and reviewers consistently point to how much stress it takes out of a Grand Canyon day: no fighting entrance-gate traffic, no hunting for parking at the rim. Onboard, seating ranges from coach up through first class, the observation car, and the luxury parlor and dome cars — recent riders rate the luxury parlor especially highly. Musicians and tour guides work the train both directions, and the depot's gift shop gets called out for its holiday decorations around Thanksgiving.

• Rating: 4.8 stars from nearly 800 Google reviews
• Location: Fray Marcos Dr in downtown Williams, AZ
• Good to know: restrooms and comfortable seating onboard; entertainment runs the length of the ride

It's a full-day commitment, not a quick stop, but for anyone who'd rather sit back with a view than white-knuckle the drive to the South Rim, this is the easier — and more memorable — way in.