train tours to nice

THE 5 BEST Nice Rail Tours

Rail tours in nice.

• Ports of Call Tours
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• The ranking of tours, activities, and experiences available on Tripadvisor is determined by several factors including the revenue generated by Tripadvisor from these bookings, the frequency of user clicks, and the volume and quality of customer reviews. Occasionally, newly listed offerings may be prioritized and appear higher in the list. The specific placement of these new listings may vary.

1. Train Experience Through The Alps : The Baroque Royal Route & Salt Road Full Day

2. Half-Day Trip from Nice to Monaco Monte carlo with Guided Walk

3. The Mountain Train Experience : Hike to Mystic Forest & Castle

4. French Riviera Colorado by Train (Day Trip from Cannes/Nice)

5. New Years Eve Pub Crawl in Nice

Keep the fun going with other experiences in the area.

Private Boat Tour Cannes Lerins Islands

The Little Train of Antibes Juan-les-Pins

Cannes Shore Tour: Small Group Magic of Monaco, Monte Carlo & Eze

Saint Tropez Full Day Private Yacht Charter on our Pershing 45

Full Day Private Yacht Charter on our Pershing 40 in Saint Tropez

Private Boat Charter including Water Sports in Bay of St Tropez

Aix en Provence, Marseille & Cassis Private Tour in Minivan

Full Day Boat Tour in French Riviera

Full Day Private Luxury Boat Excursion

Full-Day Private Cannes Shore Excursion: Eze & Monaco

Exclusive 1 Full Day Tour To Discover The French Riviera From Antibes 2022

Shore Excursion Private Tour from Villefranche-sur-Mer (Nice)

Full Day Private Shore Tour in Cannes from Villefranche Port

Exclusive 1 Full Day Tour To Discover The French Riviera 2023

Stroll on a Harley Davidson, Full day passenger duet with your guide

Provence Tour

Shore Excursion Private Tour from Cannes

Full Day Private Shore Tour in Monaco from Cannes Cruise Port

Half-Day Private Tour of Grasse and its Surroundings

Aix en Provence, Marseille and Cassis Tour

Aix en Provence & Marseille Tour

Aix en Provence & Cassis Tour

Marseille and Cassis Tour

Arles & Saint Rémy de Provence Tour

Arles, Les Baux de Provence & Saint Rémy de Provence Tour

What travelers are saying.

TRAIN EXPERIENCE N°1 :

Train experience through the alps,  the royal baroque route & salt roads.

HISTORICAL TRAIN - CANYONS & VIADUCTS - WILD NATURE - MEDIEVAL VILLAGES - BAROQUE ART

A unique Train Experience across the Alps to discover an historical French-Italian mountain railway, you will by fascinated by its breathtaking views over the villages, the narrow canyons, and the impressive viaducts and tunnels, testimony of the very talented French civil engineering of the beginning of the 20th century. Our guide will comment on board about villages, landscapes and tell you the history of this mountain trainline (length 2h30) in one of the most amazing train track of France. On top of this, spend a day visiting authentic medieval villages following the antique Salt Road, also called the Royal Baroque Route: full of history and legends & a unique baroque heritage strew with unique and unknown chapels, churches and monasteries. Come with comfortable shoes and clothes to enjoy this sporty day (7 to 15km of walk, with some uphills) ! You spend your holidays on the French Riviera and you are looking for alternatives to get away from the hustle and bustle of the coast & the overly touristic cities of the French Riviera? This unusual day to take a deep breath of fresh air & discover the Alps: the Royal Baroque Route and the Salt Roads is made for you! Anywhere else you can go from the mediterranean sea to the highest peaks in few hours by train. Let's start the day early in the morning 8.30am, to fully enjoy this full-day excursion,  with our guide welcoming you in front of the main and oldest train station of Nice.  The Train des Merveilles will amaze you with its route, its special itinerary winding through the alps mountains, following uphill different valleys from sea level until 800 meters high. We will explain you everything about the different valleys where we go through, commenting the  views over  hills, mountains, rivers, villages,  monuments, and through olive cultures and pine tree forests , passing on viaducts and impressive tunnels, witnesses of the French civil engineering of the early 20th century. A unique railway experience through one of the most incredible trainlines in France, commented on board by our passionates guides.

Then, we will jump from village to village according to your interests, we select 2 of them, the nicest and most interesting ones of this special valley : Tende (or La Brigue) and Saorge will no longer be a secret for you! You will love the clean, fresh and invigorating air of the Alps and enjoy walking through off-the-beaten-tracks medieval towns, hidden treasures just a few steps away from the French Riviera, at the gates of the Mercantour National Park. You will have an insight of the National Park through its mysterious Vallée des Merveilles where more than 100,000 engraving stones bear witness to the Alpine peoples since the Bronce Age, a singular heritage of a people who have lived in this exceptional site for more than 5000 years. The Museum des Merveilles, a jewel of playful intelligence, will be a recommended stop to explain all the historical and natural wealth of this unique site in the world.

The lunch will be included in the price with the choice between 2 options : typical local picnic or a main dish in a restaurant. In the villages of the Roya Valley, in addition to their old medieval towns out of the touristic paths, with mazes of alleys full of history and legends, you will be led to visit their sumptuous baroque treasures : Tende Cathedral, churches and chapels, the quiet and unique Franciscan Monastery of Saorge and much more. Our local guides, experts of the valley, will offer you different options for shorts hikings and maybe the chance to take a dip in a fresh river from the Alps (if needed : bring swimsuit and towel). Sometimes, we can offer the option Our Lady of the Fountains and its incredible frescoes of the Italian Renaissance, true highlights of the valley amongst thousand wonders.

THE ALPINE ROADS BY TRAIN: HISTORY, NATURE & AUTHENTICITY  

Highlights of the Train Tour "Train Experience Through the Alps: the Royal Baroque Route" :

•     A unique historical train line through the Alps (bridges, canyons, tunnels) with commentary on board
•     Authentic and surprising villages of the Roya Valley, off-the-beaten tracks
•     A rich history through the Royal Route, the Salt Route and the Baroque Route
•     Crossing the Southern Alps
•     An exceptional cathedral, churches and baroque chapels
•     A typical picnic lunch (or a delicious restaurant)
•     Shorts hikings possible
•     Local guide, professional and expert of these villages
•     Guided tours in small groups for a better quality of service (max. 16 pers.)

OPTIONS Culture & History : - Franciscan Monastery, its painted cloister, church, choir and gardens, monks' vegetable garden, place of meditation and work for writers (+6€/person, recommended) - Unique chapel painted in 1492 by one of the forerunners of the Italian Gothic and Renaissance (5€/person, recommended, ask one week by advance if the option is possible) - Visit to the Museum of Wonders (Free, recommended) Pricing conditions: Included : train tickets (back & forth), professional guide, picnic lunch of local specialities (or restaurant, 1 main dish and 1 drink per person (+15€ per person)).

POSSIBLE OPTIONS FOR GROUPS : BICYCLE OPTIONS: (Only for groups of minimum 7 people) - ELECTRIC BICYCLES +45€/bike - VELOS VTC +35€/bike OPTIONS Restoration : - Breakfast served by us on the train (+9€/p, please call 48 hours in advance) - Lunch restaurant (local cuisine +15€/person, please call 48 hours in advance). OPTIONS Sports and Hikes (Options only available for groups of 6 to 11 people, please call 2 weeks in advance): - Guided hike in the Vallée des Merveilles and its rock engravings (Bus + half-day hike (min.2h00)). - 4x4 experience in the Mercantour Park - Canyoning or river rafting or just swimming - Ride a donkey or a horse for an unusual ride - Via Ferrata and Tyrolean ( 2-3h) - Short hikes around the villages Possibility to stay one night (or more) at the Hotel, Hostel, Refuge or Camping/Mobilhome/Yourte and to elaborate tailor-made programs over several days with hikes in the Mercantour National Park (Sport or relax days, massages, spa & wellness). Choose the options you like and ask for the program! We will send you the best possible program according to the planned tours and our availability.

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Tourist Trains Tours, Nice

Hop-on hop-off small train tour - a wonderful way to discover the city

Take the small tourist train from the Promenade des Anglais and see the flower market, Place Masséna, old Nice, castle hill and the seafront.

Journeys take about 45 minutes and trains run every 30 minutes throughout the year.

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These trains are also available for private hire! What better way to show your wedding guests the sights of Nice than on the Petit Train...

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You can enquire or book in advance via email, however you will make your payment on the day of travel.

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French Riviera Pass

Train des Merveilles

Heading off from Nice, travel through the valleys of Le Paillon, La Bévéra and La Roya, and discover the jewels of Piedmont baroque art. Treat yourself to a fabulous journey through the heart of the Alpes Maritimes…

A treasure of the Haut-Pays located at the gates of the Mercantour, the Train des Merveilles travels between Nice and Tende, an incredible 2h journey. Travel 120 km of pure happiness, with riches and wonders lining the route.

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This Luxurious African Train Trip Takes You From South Africa to Zimbabwe on Vintage Railcars — Here's What It's Like

Rovos Rail has a fleet of six full trains traveling 11 different itineraries throughout Africa.

Chris Wallace is a New York-based writer and photographer. He recently published his first book, "Twentieth-Century Man," about the late artist Peter Beard. His work has been featured in The New York Times, The Financial Times , and other publications.

Courtesy of Rovos Rail

That first morning aboard the Rovos Rail, opening the blinds of my cabin to see nothing but bush as far as the hills on the horizon, is something I will never forget. As thrilling as was the process of boarding, with all of the brass-band-festivity at the company’s Pretoria station in South Africa (complete with sparkling wine and a bevy of resident peacocks swirling around to see us off), it was this sensation of crawling awake — maybe it was the sounds of a wizened old acacia tree scratching by, or the rhythmic shunt of the track that did it — to find that we were fully on safari, on a train, that stayed with me throughout the journey.

Like any good Agatha Christie novel, my trip started at a grand hotel in town, in my case, the Four Seasons Westcliff, in Johannesburg, where we met the suspects or other travelers bound for the train. Sitting on the hotel’s deck overlooking the city's trees, all rusting into gold with the autumn, and spying on elephants at the zoo, the game of guessing at the backstories of your fellow travelers began in earnest. And this is one of my favorite parts of traveling, I must say, the sly way of soft-meeting people, just by being in their company, in a casual but concentrated way, getting to know their behavior, their likes and dislikes and things, before you’ve even properly met.

Lyndie Pavier Photography/Courtesy of Rovos Rail

The next stage, of course, is the introduction at the station in Pretoria, amid the peacocks and Champagne and the hustle and bustle of porters loading our luggage into compartments. Soon after, though, I was utterly lost in the experience of the train itself, in the nostalgically rickety-ness of locomotion, in the feeling of being in a rolling reenactment of "Out of Africa." The tartan upholstery on the couches in the lounge cars and the slightly frilly, chintzy decor make the communal areas feel a bit like gentlemen’s clubs of yore; the daintiness of the dining cars, like something out of a doll house kit or a film set — which is to say, 100 percent my jam.

DOOKPHOTO/Courtesy of Rovos Rail

Once on board, of course, there is a bit of a frenzy — for me, anyway — to sort of mentally map the train, to walk its length, explore all the nooks and crannies, to get a sense of its movement, the physical and structural narrative of the train, if you will, and how and when each of the vignettes might best be seen, when they might come to life, or fall comfortingly quiet.

The first gathering for aperitifs is always quite fun because of the overwhelming excitement in the air and the sort of brittle energy as people bounce off walls and furniture, having the best time of their lives with the whole trip ahead of them. It is fun to reflect on this moment once we have all learned to sway and dance with the train's rhythm, when the edges of our anticipation have smoothed, and we are all on the same tune.

I watch with growing warmth a family of particularly rigid and cantankerous riders, at first alarmed and angered at every shunt and jostle of the train’s movement, gradually go to jelly over the first couple of days, finally moving through the cars like happy Jamiroquai.

Greg Beadle, Beadle Photo/Courtesy of Rovos Rail

Rovos Rail was started by (and named for) Rohan Vos, who built the first series of cars in 1987 as a personal caravan, with room for an office and a gym, and cabins for his family as they moved around Southern Africa. Financial and transit necessity compelled him to make the train available for paying passengers shortly after and, as the company celebrated its 35th anniversary at the time of my ride, there are six full trains (which can accommodate up to 72 passengers), making 11 different itineraries, spanning 10 countries.

The cars making up each of the trains were mostly built between 1911 and 1938. Though they have been elaborately refurbished and modernized (including USB ports), the vintage romance of train travel is at the heart of the company’s mission.

As Vos’s daughter, who now runs the company, told us as she welcomed us onboard and reminded us of the dress codes, cell phones, and other electronics were not allowed in communal areas, as the idea was to connect with the experience and disconnect from... everything else. (I think it was only me (making videos of the train with my phone) who flagrantly broke the prohibition — everyone else willingly gave themselves over to the spellbinding enchantment of the ride.)

As a personal aside, it seems weird to say, but without cell service, internet, emails, and Instagram, and that constant wave of anxiety and information coming out of them, I realized just how tired I was (always am?), and slept like the dead on the train.

Not that it was all on the train! My journey from Pretoria to Victoria Falls made many stops for excursions and activities, including incredible game drives through Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe and the cartoon landscape of giant granite boulders in Matobo National Park before rolling into the legitimate wonder of the world that is Victoria Falls.

Once I arrived there, in Livingstone, I traveled across to the Zambia side of the falls and checked into the absolute fantasia that is The Royal Livingstone Hotel, where giraffes walked with me to the gym, and zebras milled about by the pool and looked back at my notes for the trip.

All of them are about the same as this, from the last afternoon aboard the train:

I just want to remember this moment. Reading "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy" in the bar car of the Rovos Rail, chugging along toward Vic Falls, drinking a Negroni, snacking on chili biltong in my linen suit and Kim Jones shirt. A life highlight. How does someone get so lucky?

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NEWS... BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT

Travel chaos for thousands of people after train derails on major UK route

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‘Do not travel’ – this is what people are being told after a train derailed on a major route.

Chaos has engulfed multiple services between  England  and Scotland today after cargo wagons came off the rails in  Cumbria .

The incident happened yesterday on the West Coast Main Line, between Carlisle and Oxenholme Lake District.

Nobody was injured during the derailment, but more than 15 hours later, there are still major delays for people.

Some lines are blocked and a very limited train service is running on the line that remains open.

Multiple trains have since been cancelled and delayed, and rail companies have waned of knock-on effects for the rest of the day.

A statement from Avanti West Coast said: ‘Do not travel north of Preston. Services between between Oxenholme Lake District and Penrith have been cancelled due to a freight train derailment blocking the line.

‘Please do not attempt to travel with us between Preston and Scotland today.’

Replying to frantic messaged from stranded passengers, the company added: ‘We are advising customers not to travel today due to the severe disruption.

‘We have no estimated time as to when this will end.’

Meanwhile, TransPennine Express said disruption was expected until at least 2pm.

Ticket holders can delay journeys until tomorrow or travel with other operators.

It remains unclear what caused the freight train to derail.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at [email protected] .

For more stories like this, check our news page .

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The Train Station of Berlin

By: Emily Stratman 

We primarily relied on trains in the four cities we visited, using overground and underground railways in London, Paris, Krakow, and Berlin. Before this trip, my train travel experience was limited to navigating the Cleveland Amtrak system with my family. The European rail systems, however, were a completely new adventure. From the iconic London Underground to the sleek trains of Paris and the extensive networks in Berlin, each city’s rail system provided a unique insight into its culture and daily life.

A side view of the station

We stayed near the Hauptbahnhof Station in Berlin, one of the city’s main hubs. This station is anything but small. With five different levels for trains traveling throughout Berlin and Germany, it felt like a mall. Three levels were filled with clothing, souvenir stores, and places to grab a quick bite. Further toward the back of the station was an entire grocery store and a Rossmann, similar to a CVS or Walgreens. It felt like a one-stop shop for most travelers at the Hauptbahnhof Station. The Hauptbahnhof station was a stark contrast to the limited offerings of the Cleveland Amtrak. While functional, the Cleveland Amtrak lacks the extensive amenities and modern infrastructure of European rail stations. It has basic facilities and provides essential services, but it doesn’t offer the same variety of shops, dining options, or convenience as stations like the Hauptbahnhof. This trip highlighted how different train travel can be in various parts of the world, with each system reflecting its city’s unique character and priorities.

The lower level of the station

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'Do not travel' alert issued after freight train derails on major route

The incident happened on the West Coast Main Line between Carlisle and Oxenholme Lake District.

Thursday 30 May 2024 12:44, UK

A "do not travel" alert has been issued - and rail services cancelled and delayed - after a freight train derailed on a major route between England and Scotland.

The incident happened on the West Coast Main Line between Penrith and Oxenholme Lake District on Wednesday night.

Some lines are blocked and a very limited train service is running on the line that remains open.

Train operators Avanti West Coast and TransPennine Express issued the alert, urging passengers not to attempt to use their services for journeys between Preston and Scotland on Thursday.

Ticket holders can delay journeys until Friday or travel with other operators.

Network Rail apologised to passengers affected by the derailment and warned services would be disrupted for the rest of the day.

It said specialist repair teams were on site working as fast as they can to make the railway safe.

Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News

A spokesperson told Sky News: "We are working hard to move a partly derailed freight train near Shap, between Oxenholme and Penrith on the West Coast Main Line.

"We're really sorry to passengers whose journeys have been impacted while we work to safely reopen the line as quickly as possible.

"Please check before you travel if travelling north of Preston."

Read more from Sky News: Child among four injured in 'drive-by' shooting Bodies found in search for missing father and son

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Network Rail's acting North West route strategy director Kara Wood added: "Disruption is expected for the rest of the day, so we're urging people to plan their journeys and check before they travel with their train operator or National Rail Enquiries."

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Get ready for your next iconic adventure like a pro with these tips

From climbing Kilimanjaro to walking the Camino de Santiago, we asked guides, travelers, and explorers for hacks on how to train for these trips of a lifetime.

The start of a new year is often the time people resolve to tackle bucketlist travel goals: rafting the Colorado River , scuba diving the Great Barrier Reef , exploring the poles. But how does an entry- to intermediate-level adventurer start preparing to make those big dreams a reality?

In 2010, to train for an assignment that required me to live for weeks at Mount Everest Base Camp (elevation 17,598 feet), I snuggled into my cold-weather sleeping bag on the deck outside my home in northern Minnesota during a few weeks of sub-zero temperatures in January. I started with a few hours in daylight and eventually slept out all night without a tent. That exercise helped me discern the number of clothing layers I would need to stay warm and put to rest my fear that I would freeze to death.

The best training isn’t always physical, sometimes it’s psychological or even spiritual. And every adventure requires developing a specific set of skills. That’s why we’ve asked the following experts for their advice on how to approach seven iconic travel experiences.

Scuba diving the Great Barrier Reef

“It’s preferable to learn to dive in a place where there’s warm, clear water, as poor visibility can be disorienting and cold water makes it difficult to equalize and draw deep breaths,” says Carrie Miller, co-author of National Geographic’s A Diver’s Guide to the World . Neither should be a problem on the Great Barrier Reef, off the northeastern coast of Australia . There, visibility ranges between 30 to 100 feet depending on the season and water temperatures range from 72 degrees Fahrenheit in the austral summer to 84 degrees in the austral winter.

With many dive training organizations, she says, you can do the coursework and pool sessions in your hometown and complete your course on the Great Barrier Reef.

“Some people don’t take to scuba diving straight away and that’s okay,” she says. “It’s common to struggle with skills like mask clearing and the experience can feel overwhelming.” Practice doing laps in a pool wearing a mask that’s half full of water. This will help you get used to the sensation of water sloshing around your nose.

( Scared to scuba? Here are five reasons it’s finally time to learn .)

One thing to know about the reef is that it has already lost half its corals, so instead of expecting to dive in pristine beauty, use your trip as “an opportunity to learn about the pressures facing the reef,” says Miller.

Whitewater rafting the Grand Canyon  

Extreme heat and submersion are two major risk factors when rafting the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon —neither of which are easy to prepare for in advance, says Kevin Fedarko, a former Colorado River guide and author of the forthcoming book , A Walk in the Park: The Story of a Spectacular Misadventure in the Grand Canyon.

“There’s an old saying among river guides: ‘If you’re hot, you’re stupid.’ ” To cool off in summer temperatures that often rise well above a hundred degrees, Fedarko recommends that rafters, always under the supervision of their guides, jump into placid sections of the river with their clothes on several times per day. “The Colorado is the best AC you’ve got,” he says. “Getting all of your clothing completely wet allows the effect of evaporative cooling to bring your body temperature back toward normal.”

( Explore 10 amazing river trips in North American parks .)

As for getting dunked in a monster rapid, says Fedarko, “unless you’re a Class V kayaker, the pure shock of being tossed in is so overwhelming there’s little you can do to prepare short of filling up your bathtub with 59-degree water and trying to simulate what it’s like.”

Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro

The trip to the “ Roof of Africa ,” which soars 19,340 feet above Kilimanjaro National Park , Tanzania , does not require technical climbing skills, but it still calls for caution. Many people ascend too quickly before properly acclimatizing, ultimately succumbing to altitude sickness.

To prepare physically for the ascent, Dave Hahn, a mountaineer and guide for RMI Expeditions , recommends pushing pre-trip workouts beyond just one or two hours at a time. Spend entire days outside doing just about anything. “Ski, snowshoe, pull weeds, whatever. Be slightly uncomfortable for twelve hours at a time,” he says.

( Here’s how the pursuit of one European peak gave rise to modern mountaineering .)

On Kilimanjaro, Hahn tries to time it so that he reaches Uhuru Peak with the sunrise, requiring a near-midnight start, followed by a nearly 10,000-foot descent back to Mweka Camp. “Summit days are extremely long, like 11 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Kili.”

Skiing the Alps

“Skiing in the Alps is so different,” compared to the U.S., says Gordy Megroz, the author of National Geographic’s 100 Slopes of a Lifetime . “The resorts are enormous and often connected.”

For example, Matterhorn Ski Paradise , the highest ski area in the Alps, spans Switzerland and Italy . Because “the hotels are better in Zermatt and the food is better in Italy,” Megroz prefers to stay in Switzerland and ski 6.5 miles in the shadow of the Matterhorn to Cervinia, Italy, to eat lunch.

To prepare for such epic runs, he says, build your endurance and strength by signing up a few months in advance for two- or three-times-per week CrossFit (a workout that focuses on varied, high-intensity, functional movements) or Orange Theory (a workout that focuses on heart-rate zone training) classes. Or find a personal trainer who can set you up with a specific ski training plan.

( Climate change is altering how visitors experience Switzerland’s Eiger mountain .)

“There are no ski areas in the Alps that are easy,” says Megroz—the reason he advises beginner or intermediate skiers to stay on groomed trails, known as “on-piste,” in Europe. If you’re an advanced intermediate and want to explore off-piste, says Megroz, hire a guide. In Europe, unlike in the U.S., many of the ungroomed runs are not bombed by the ski patrol to clear avalanches. “You can certainly ski the off-piste stuff on your own,” says Megroz, “but it’s dangerous.”

Cycling in Tuscany

Few journeys are more idyllic than cycling past the olive groves and vineyards of the Tuscan countryside. On trips like these, “endurance serves travelers more than speed,” says Lauren Hefferon, the founder of 35-year-old bike tour company Ciclismo Classico .

“I always remind people that if they are going on a bike trip, they have all day to cycle the 35 to 40 miles from point A to point B. But even if you ride three to four times per week [pre-trip],” she says, “that will not prepare you for the hills of Tuscany.”

( Take a road trip through Tuscany's breathtaking countryside .)

In addition to logging hours on your bike, Hefferon also recommends going to a gym two to three times per week to build core strength, always reminding clients that multi-day cycling trips are not a race. “Speed might cause exhaustion, disappointment, and an accident.”

Exploring the poles

“People look at these big trips and see the end product,” says Eric Larsen, the polar explorer who in 2010 was the first to reach the North and South Poles and climb Mount Everest in one year. “What you don’t see is the process of getting there.”

This January, Larsen is leading an eight-day polar training course that aims to train BIPOC polar adventurers. His co-leader is Emily Ford , the first Black woman to hike Wisconsin’s Ice Age Trail . “I have this philosophy: Train hard, travel easy,” says Larsen. During the course, held on Lake of the Woods in northern Minnesota, the attendees spend three days learning how to dress even before they step on to the ice to train.

“It’s very deliberate how slow we go,” says Larsen. “We’re not just throwing people into the woods and telling them, ‘Here’s a toothpick and a piece of jerky.’ The more time you spend outside getting to know your body, the better off you’ll be.”

Walking the Camino de Santiago

Millions of people have walked the Camino de Santiago, the iconic pilgrimage created in the ninth century by the Catholic Church. It’s the one bucket-list travel experience that doesn’t require much—if any—preparation, according to Andrew McCarthy.

In the 1990s, the actor and writer, a self-professed “long-ago lapsed Catholic,” walked the route from Saint Jean Pied-de-Port, France , crossing the Pyrenees mountains, and arriving 500 miles later in Santiago de Compostela, Spain . Halfway through, McCarthy had a life-changing moment when he broke down sobbing in the middle of a field, realizing that fear had dominated his life, a story he retells in his book The Longest Way Home . McCarthy returned to Spain in 2021 to walk the Camino again with his then-19-year-old son, which resulted in his latest book, Walking with Sam .

( Here are three ways to plan a Camino de Santiago hiking pilgrimage . )

So, what is it about this path that is so compelling? “I find walking a powerful thing,” says McCarthy. “It’s the natural rhythm at which we are meant to process things.”

His advice? “Go! Buy your ticket and go within a week. The beauty of the Camino is that it requires no preparation, just a good pair of walking shoes.”

Related Topics

• EXPEDITIONS
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• ADVENTURE TRAVEL

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Train and REO Speedwagon are going on tour together for the first time: How to get tickets

Train and REO Speedwagon have amassed 32 Billboard hits and more than 50 million albums sold between them.

And now the durable pop-rockers are hitting the road for a co-headlining tour.

The Summer Road Trip 2024 commences July 8 in Somerset, Wisconsin and crisscrosses the country through Sept. 11 in Phoenix. They’ll be joined by Yacht Rock Revue on all 45 dates of the tour.

Tickets can be purchased starting Jan. 31 at 10 a.m. local time through Feb. 1 at 10 p.m. local time via a Citi cardmember presale . Tickets will go on sale to the general public via the bands’ websites – savemesanfrancisco.com and reospeedwagon.com – as well as livenation.com Feb. 2 at 10 a.m. local time.

To celebrate their upcoming outing, Train and REO Speedwagon will hit Los Angeles’ Whisky A Go Go for a show Feb. 1. Tickets are on sale Monday at noon PT via the bands' websites.

Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.

The hitmakers will also share the stage for their first-ever joint performance on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” Wednesday, even though band members have crossed paths over the years.

“I met Patrick Monahan at an acoustic charity event and immediately felt a good vibe," REO Speedwagon singer Kevin Cronin told USA TODAY exclusively. "Pat is an amazing singer, Train has great hit songs, and I feel that the combination of REO and Train is both interesting and powerful.”

Since their 1998 self-titled debut, Train has scored eight Top 40 hits, including “Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me)” and “Hey, Soul Sister.” The band released its 11 th studio album, “AM Gold,” in 2022.

REO Speedwagon , meanwhile, is responsible for some of the most enduring radio fodder of the ‘70s and ‘80s with anthems “Keep On Loving You,” “Take it on the Run” and “Can’t Fight This Feeling” among their musical arsenal.

More: The Doobie Brothers promise 'a show to remember' for 2024 tour: How to get tickets

Train and REO Speedwagon 2024 concert dates

^ No REO Speedwagon

More: Billy Joel prepares to 'Turn the Lights Back On' with first new pop song in decades

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Norfolk Southern will pay $15 million fine as part of federal settlement over Ohio derailment

FILE - Debris from a Norfolk Southern freight train lies scattered and burning along the tracks on Feb. 4, 2023, the day after it derailed in East Palestine, Ohio. A federal judge has signed off Tuesday, May 21, 2024, on the $600 million class action settlement over last year’s disastrous Norfolk Southern derailment in eastern Ohio, but many people who live near East Palestine are still wondering how much they will end up with out of the deal. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)

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The federal government agreed to a $15 million fine for Norfolk Southern over last year’s disastrous derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, and the railroad promised to pay more than $500 million to complete the efforts to improve safety that it announced after the crash and address community health concerns.

Residents who had to evacuate their homes after the derailment were generally underwhelmed by the deal the Environmental Protection Agency and Justice Department announced Thursday that doesn’t include any criminal charges. This federal settlement comes two days after a federal judge signed off on the railroad’s $600 million class action settlement with residents whose lives were disrupted.

In addition to the civil penalty, Norfolk Southern agreed to pay $235 million in past and future cleanup costs — on top of what they’ve already paid for cleanup — and set up a $25 million health care fund to pay for 20 years of medical exams in the community. The railroad will also pay about $30 million for long-term monitoring of drinking water, groundwater and surface water in the area. The agreement also says the railroad will pay $244 million for previously promised railroad improvements through 2025.

Many East Palestine residents feel this settlement doesn’t do nearly enough to a company that just reported a $527 million profit in the fourth quarter of last year and $53 million in the first quarter after the derailment costs. The railroad’s CEO received $13.4 million in total compensation last year.

“Honestly, no amount can ever make this right, but it should be at least enough to hurt them a little bit. I’m sure that’s not going to hurt their bottom line at all,” Jami Wallace said.

EPA Administrator Michael Regan said the fine is the largest allowed under the Clean Water Act, and the railroad agreed to continue paying all of the cleanup costs. Plus he said Norfolk Southern committed to meaningful safety improvements

“This settlement is historic in many ways and will begin to make up for some of the damage caused to the residents of East Palestine. And it would absolutely push the industry in the direction that we would like for the industry to go,” Regan said. “Again, if some of these provisions that we’ve secured and locked in had been in place, we may not even be where we are today. ”

But the railroad won’t face criminal charges, and this latest settlement won’t add anything to Norfolk Southern’s roughly $1.7 billion in total costs related to the derailment because the Atlanta-based company was already anticipating those costs.

Neither this federal settlement nor the class action settlement seem like enough to Krissy Ferguson.

“Slaps on the wrist. A $15 million fine? And I can never go back to my home again?” Ferguson said.

But resident Misti Allison said it is encouraging to see the investigations and lawsuits against the railroad start to wrap up, and the cleanup is expected to be done sometime later this year.

“I think this is a great step, but let’s continue to make sure the community is made whole,” Allison said.

Many in the small town near the Ohio-Pennsylvania border are eager to put the derailment behind them, but fears about the possibility of developing cancer down the road hang over residents. Allison said she wants to make sure health needs are addressed. But this federal settlement primarily includes only money for exams while the class action settlement includes money for health problems that developed over the past year. Neither deal addresses potential long-term health problems that might develop.

The safety improvements Norfolk Southern promised include adding about 200 more trackside detectors to spot overheating bearings. It has also promised to invest in more than a dozen advanced inspection portals that use an array of cameras to take hundreds of pictures of every passing railcar.

A bill in Congress that would require Norfolk Southern and the rest of the major freight railroads to make more significant changes has stalled , although the industry has promised to make improvements on its own.

Norfolk Southern officials said they believe the relatively small size of this settlement reflects how much the railroad has already done, including paying $780 million in cleanup costs and providing $107 million in aid to residents and the communities affected.

“We are pleased we were able to reach a timely resolution of these investigations that recognizes our comprehensive response to the community’s needs and our mission to be the gold standard of safety in the rail industry,” CEO Alan Shaw said. “We will continue keeping our promises and are invested in the community’s future for the long haul.”

After Thursday’s announcement, the only remaining federal investigation is the National Transportation Safety Board’s probe into the cause of the Feb. 3, 2023, derailment. That agency plans to announce its conclusions at a hearing in East Palestine on June 25 . Republicans in Congress have said they might be willing to look at rail safety reforms after that report.

Ferguson said it feels like Norfolk Southern is rushing to resolve things before the NTSB report comes out. U.S. Sen. JD Vance and Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost said in a joint statement that they think the government should have waited to settle.

“The residents of East Palestine deserve full compensation to account for the hardships they have faced in the months since the derailment, but they also deserve the full truth about why the derailment and vent and burn occurred,” the statement said. “With its decision to reach a settlement now, the DOJ may have sacrificed its opportunity to use the NTSB’s findings to impose maximum leverage on those responsible for any potential wrongdoing.”

The NTSB has said previously that the derailment was likely caused by an overheating bearing that wasn’t caught in time by the trackside detectors the railroad relies on to spot mechanical problems. The head of the NTSB also said that the five tank cars filled with vinyl chloride didn’t need to be blown open to prevent an explosion because they were actually starting to cool off even though the fire continued to burn around them.

The railroad is still working to resolve a lawsuit Ohio filed against it after the derailment.