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Canada: Quebec to Nova Scotia – Maritime Learning and Summer Fun for Families Traveling on VIA Rail. ViaRail Maritime Summer Family Travel Programs Rail travel has obvious advantages for families – everyone shares the journey and no one has to worry about driving; vacation begins the moment of boarding. On the VIA’s Maritime route add learning on a roll to the list.

Here’s the deal. For the past four years VIA’s Sleeper Touring Class seasonal Maritime Learning Experience has been immersing travelers in the romance and charm of Canada’s Maritime Provinces. From the mouth-watering regional cuisine like fish chowder, a lobster-trapping vignette complete with Larry the Lobster and his lobster crate to an on-train newsletter that keeps customers informed along the way, VIA’s Maritime Learning Experience makes the grade no matter what your age. Throughout the journey VIA’s Learning Coordinators eagerly provide travelers with a unique learning experience on rails.

Now in its sixth season, VIA Rail Canada’s Maritime Learning Experience aboard the carrier’s Ocean service, enriches passengers’ trips between Montreal and Halifax. Available annually from June through October, the enhanced service combines Sleeper Touring class accommodations with an onboard educational program serving as a cultural preview for those passengers traveling to New Brunswick or Nova Scotia.  
 
Learn while the wheels roll. While the train rolls past the region’s picturesque landscape, the train’s dedicated Learning Coordinator engages passengers with discussions and vignettes detailing the culture and customs of the Maritimes. In between, Sleeper Touring class passengers socialize in the Ocean’s 360-degree panoramic dome car or in the white-cloth dining car, which features regionally-inspired dishes.   Guests will also enjoy Priority boarding from the exclusive pre-boarding lounge in Montréal and Halifax.

The Maritime Learning Experience is a seasonal upgrade to the Ocean’s already existing Sleeper class. Through demonstrations and interactive presentations, Learning Coordinators share the rich folklore and history, food and culture of the Maritimes, one of Canada’s most beloved and storied regions.

The Ocean operates year-round, six times per week in each direction between Montréal and Halifax. Three meals in total are served between Montréal to Halifax and are included in the ticket price for Ocean Sleeper Touring class passengers. The Ocean’s cozy sleeping accommodations include amenities such as comfortable duvet bedding, plump pillows, towels and a shower kit, bottled water, and VIA’s signature chocolates.

Make it happen. For more information on train schedules or to book a trip anywhere in the VIA system visit www.viarail.ca It is also possible to book tickets by calling toll-free 1-888-VIA-RAIL (1-888-842-7245), TTY 1-800-268-9503 (hearing impaired), or through your travel agent.  

About VIA Rail Canada.ViaRail Maritime Train Travel with Kids As Canada’s national passenger rail service, VIA Rail Canada’s mandate is to provide efficient, environmentally sustainable and cost effective passenger transportation services, both in Canada’s busiest corridor and in remote and rural regions of the country. VIA serves more than 450 communities with a network of inter-city, transcontinental and regional trains. Increasingly travelers are turning to train travel as a hassle-free and cost-efficient alternative to congested roads and airports as well as a more environmentally responsible way to travel.

Editor’s note:
Our family had the pleasure of traveling from Montreal to Moncton along this routs more than a decade ago. The journey was an ideal way to start our family vacation. We enjoyed a lovely dinner as our coach wove its way through Quebec. The lighting and the rhythm of the train made it seem like we were on a movie set. Fred Astair and Ginger Rodgers could arrive at any moment. The staff shared stories; the kids loved watching the life in the small communities along the way. My husband and I enjoyed conversations in the Club Car (James Bond never showed up.); sampled ice wine from Ontario; got insider’s tips on where to eat in Fredricton and had the time to unwind before our official family vacation in New Brunswick began. VIARail’s Maritime Learning Experience sounds like the perfect value added option to me.

Information and photos courtesy of VIA Rail Canada. Coments by Nancy Nelson-Duac, Editor FTF. Copyright 2010.
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