What a fun experience! We're Sonoma county locals, but had such a great time coming to do the train! We did the lunch train, which was 11:30-2:30, with several courses of food and wine pairings. The food was excellent! And the service was amazing. Our host/server, Nick, was a blast! It's great to have someone so enthusiastic be guiding the experience and offer insights on local scenery and wineries we passed along the way.
The train was accommodating to a few dietary restrictions. Overall, we found the food was just SO GOOD!
Be aware that the seating inside the train is SMALL. Anticipate narrow walkways that you would navigate, such as a normal train or airplane aisle. The tables are narrow and don't have a lot of leg room. So this is not the best experience if you are on the taller or bigger side, or have mobility restrictions or impairments. To board the train, you have to climb a set of 4-5 steep stairs, and while there are handrails and workers ready to help, it is worth considering this if you are someone who would be challenged by this. The bathroom was located within our same car, and was very neat/tidy. It was quite cramped as you would expect, and you could probably only fit a small mobility aid like a cane or walking stick inside.
You can't pick which car you are seated in - that was assigned to us once we arrived. We got lucky and were in the very last one, which meant we are able to walk out on a small viewing platform at the back of the train to take in the scenery. This was a lovely and unexpected bonus!
Lastly, it was well air conditioned inside. It felt great, but remember to bring a light jacket if you run cold. I would highly recommend this experience to both tourists and locals in the are - it was worth the splurge. Good views, great food, and a unique experience. read more