Strasburg Railroad's Scenic Wine and Cheese Train Ride
You might think you need to go to Napa Valley in California to embark on a wine tasting adventure aboard a scenic train ride. But you don’t need to travel farther than Lancaster County to ride the rails in style while sampling award-winning vino and artisan cheese. The Strasburg Rail Road, America's oldest operating short line railroad, offers numerous specialty excursions, but one of its most popular is the Wine and Cheese Train Ride. It’s the perfect way to spend a memorable afternoon or evening when you stay with us at After Eight Bed & Breakfast.
The Strasburg Rail Road dates back to 1832 and once provided freight and passenger service in an era when covered wagons and canals were still commonplace. Today, this historic rail line is the most visited tourist railroad in the continental United States and serves 300,000 riders each year. Its regular and specialty excursions offer a scenic 45-minute, round-trip journey through the beautiful Pennsylvania countryside, traveling the same 4.5-mile track as when the railroad first began.
Come early to board the train 30 minutes before your unique wine tasting experience begins. In your luxurious first-class accommodations, you'll be served carefully selected wines from Lancaster County's own Waltz Vineyards. As you sip each wine and pick your favorite reds and whites, you’ll learn about the estate winery and its European-style vintages. Each wine is perfectly paired with gourmet cheeses and crackers for you to enjoy as you travel the tracks to Paradise and back. (And by Paradise, we mean the quaint community in the middle of beautiful Amish Country.)
Adding to the overall ambiance of the trip are beautifully restored vintage train cars that are pulled by larger-than-life steam locomotives. You’ll ride in luxury in the 100-year-old wooden coaches, now climate controlled for your comfort. The elegant furnishings and decor will take you back in time to the late Victorian era. There’s not a bad seat in the first-class lounge car for viewing the scenery from your soft captain’s chair.
Before you depart the train, be sure to purchase a souvenir wine glass as a special keepsake of your incredible journey. Strasburg Rail Road’s Wine and Cheese Train Ride offers a perfect combination of history, natural beauty, and excellent local wine and cheese. It is available on select Friday and Saturday evenings throughout the year, but tickets go quickly. The Strasburg Rail Road is about 4 miles from After Eight Bed & Breakfast, which makes our historic inn a great place to stay when you ride the rails in Lancaster County.
