Fall is Family Time in the Verde Canyon

CLARKDALE, Ariz., July 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Autumn comes to Verde Canyon during October and November spreading its feast of scents and colors with great flair. The Verde Canyon Railroad's Fall Colors Tour showcases this banquet on its journey to Perkinsville Ranch and back. Around each bend the valley is a tapestry of tangerine, russet, purple and gold as the cottonwoods, sycamore, mulberry and oak flaunt their distinctive autumnal hues.

Crisp nights followed by warm sunny days add a luster to the crimson cliffs for a startling contrast against the deep blue sky. Even the most snuggly-nestled passengers in the climate-controlled coaches will be drawn with their cameras to the open-air viewing cars to capture this kaleidoscope of color and to inhale the earthy richness carried on soft breezes.

Fall brings increased stirrings and sightings of "wing, hoof and paw" species indigenous to the canyon. Migratory birds are seen returning for the canyon's clement winter temperatures and the abundant food sources in this riparian sanctuary.

As summer days wind down in the Verde Canyon there is a blend of lush greenery and gentle sunshine making Grandparent's Day on Sunday, September 13th the ideal time for a railroad excursion through its wondrous wilderness. Grandma and Grandpa will delight in riding the rails with their grandchildren, along with mom and dad for a fun multi-generational get-together on this special day.

Winding its way at a leisurely 12 mph the train passes over lofty trestles and through a 680 ft man-made tunnel as a narrator weaves the area's fascinating history, archeology, and geology into the journey. Visit the John Bell Railroad Museum, set in a 1940's boxcar outside the station door, for a display of rare FP7 engine photos and artifacts from mining and railroad history to round out a superb Grandparent's Day.

Wednesday through Saturday, the train arrives back at the station in time for a harvest hoedown at the Blazin'M Ranch Chuckwagon Dinner Show in nearby Cottonwood. Conveniently add this cowpoke experience to your train reservations by calling 1-800-293-7245 or book on-line at www.verdecanyonrr.com.

The Verde Canyon Railroad station is located at 300 N. Broadway in Clarkdale, 25 minutes from Sedona, 2 hours north of Phoenix and 90 minutes south of Flagstaff. Passengers are encouraged to arrive approximately one and one-half hours prior to departure.