Long Wonderful Train To Halifax (and a short wonderful giveaway!)

“There is a town in north Ontario,

With dream comfort memory to spare,

And in my mind

I still need a place to go,

All my changes were there.” Neil Young

In my twenties and thirties, my life was all about American movies, British books, Chinese food and Italian men (well, not really)….now at 41, I crave all things Canadian.

As I get older, I  get more Canadian.

I like my maple syrup local, my artists using their favourite colours (not favorite colors), my radio programmed to the cbc and my men…..ok maybe that part hasn’t changed…

Unsurprisingly, I like my travel Canadian.  So I was thrilled when last month, I had the pleasure of boarding the ViaRail Ocean to Halifax with my younger son.  Our train ride was 22 hours and we got to enjoy a sleeper cabin for the voyage.

Packing was hard because cabin space was really (really!!) limited but I also knew that 22 hours is really (really!) long. I needn’t have worried. We packed cards, some magazines and a few electronic devices. But once we were settled in, we went exploring and that’s how we spent much of the train ride. Within minutes of hitting the observation dome car, my son made a new buddy and I was free to enjoy the ride and the wine & cheese lesson. As the train passed alongside the St.Lawrence river, I had a chance to relax and enjoy. Our meals had  an emphasis on regional  fish and seafood. Irresistible! Glad I have a kid who appreciates crab rolls as much as I do….The service on the train was more intimate than expected and our little cabin came with full shower supplies, bottled water and complimentary magazines. There was also a learning coordinator on hand, offering up local history and anecdotes.

We spent two nights total on the train and two at the lovely Four Points Sheraton. Neither of us could decide where we slept better – the train really does feel as if it’s gently rocking you to sleep….On the other hand, there is something to be said for the comfort and space (and really comfy pillows, btw!) of the hotel. Oh and a full bathtub. The location of the hotel was ideal (again, thanks Andrea at Destination Halifax!) and we were able to walk everywhere.

Here’s a quick summary of the highlights:

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