TryGOLD- Free

On the Same Track
Travel+Leisure US|August 2023
When a family wanted to reconnect after a long separation, they found a novel solution: an epic train journey through Italy and Switzerland.
- Megha Majumdar
On the Same Track

AFTER SPENDING the pandemic on separate continents-my parents in Kolkata; me, my husband, and our newborn in Brooklyn-my family was determined to be together. Could there be a more beautiful way to do this than on a train journey? Our route was bold, linking places my parents had seen only in Bollywood movies and TV travel shows: from Venice to Como, then over the Swiss border to Zermatt, Wengen, and Zurich.

I had never dared believe I would set foot in these places until a few years ago, when I first visited Switzerland and knew I had to bring my parents there. We had waited anxiously for visas, submitting bank statements, flight reservations, even personal letters of invitation from my father-in-law in Slovakia, whom we would see at the end of our trip. Then, in some disbelief, we all arrived in Europe. It was my parents' first time on the Continent.

We spent a few days in Venice, which we found enchanting, from its green canals, despite their occasional smell of sewage, to the Rialto Market, where we browsed zucchini flowers and fresh octopus. When it was time to depart, we took a vaporetto to the train station. Immediately, the baby's stroller, too wide for the luggage racks, was a problem. We tried to park it in this corner and that, until an older woman beckoned and leaned it next to her seat. The train crossed a long causeway over the water to the mainland, where it sped past fields in which apartment buildings stood, looking out of place.

This story is from the August 2023 edition of Travel+Leisure US.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the August 2023 edition of Travel+Leisure US.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM TRAVEL+LEISURE USView All
SOUTHERN STAR
Travel+Leisure US

SOUTHERN STAR

From Cape Town's cosseting hotels and the culinary pleasures of the Winelands to dramatic wildlife sightings at Sabi Sand, a classic South African itinerary reveals a nation primed for transformation.

time-read
8 mins  |
March 2025
Alla BOLOGNESE
Travel+Leisure US

Alla BOLOGNESE

Prosciutto, Parmigiano-Reggiano, tagliatelle al ragù.... The Italian city of Bologna and the surrounding Emilia-Romagna region have given the world some of its finest culinary treasures. But its chefs and producers aren't done yet.

time-read
10+ mins  |
March 2025
A Different Pace
Travel+Leisure US

A Different Pace

Her adventurous parents sparked a desire to see the world. But as they've gotten older, Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon is learning to slow down.

time-read
3 mins  |
March 2025
LEARNING TO LOVE THE LOUVRE
Travel+Leisure US

LEARNING TO LOVE THE LOUVRE

It's imposing, encyclopedic, and way too crowded. But use patience and a little strategy, argues Elaine Sciolino, and the world's greatest museum will enchant you.

time-read
8 mins  |
March 2025
SELMA steps out!
Travel+Leisure US

SELMA steps out!

After a multiple sclerosis diagnosis, travel became nearly impossible for Selma Blair. At California's iconic and accessible-Rosewood Miramar Beach, the actor shares her advice on getting back out there.

time-read
8 mins  |
March 2025
Making Hotels More Hospitable
Travel+Leisure US

Making Hotels More Hospitable

Major brands are answering the call for more accessible accommodations.

time-read
2 mins  |
March 2025
5 Reasons Cruises Are the Ultimate Accessible Vacation
Travel+Leisure US

5 Reasons Cruises Are the Ultimate Accessible Vacation

THE COMFORT FACTOR - Traveling by ship often eliminates logistical headaches, says Rob Clabbers, a member of the T+L Travel Advisory Board and the founder and president of Q Cruise & Travel.

time-read
2 mins  |
March 2025
Dressed to the Nines
Travel+Leisure US

Dressed to the Nines

The latest draw for guests at luxury hotels? A straight-out-of-the-movies shopping spree.

time-read
1 min  |
March 2025
Kids on Deck
Travel+Leisure US

Kids on Deck

Can a European river cruise be child-friendly? Kerry Spencer finds out.

time-read
4 mins  |
March 2025
The Realm of the Senses
Travel+Leisure US

The Realm of the Senses

For blind travelers, the world reveals itself in ways that go far beyond the visual.

time-read
5 mins  |
March 2025

We use cookies to provide and improve our services. By using our site, you consent to cookies. Learn more