No tracks connect Seattle, Anchorage

Q: My husband and I want to take a train from Seattle to Anchorage. Do you know of any train routes?

A: You can take a boat, a car or a plane from Seattle to Anchorage, but not a train – there are no tracks connecting the two cities.

A ferry runs from Bellingham to Whittier, Alaska, where you can then hop aboard an Alaska Railroad train to Anchorage ($52 one way). The ferry takes a week to cross the Gulf of Alaska and includes a layover and a ferry switch in Juneau; cost is $529 per person one way. For ferry info: Alaska State Marine Highway, (800) 382-9229, www.akmhs.com.

Once in Alaska, traveling by train is one of the best ways to enjoy the scenery. Three of Alaska Railroad’s trains depart from Anchorage – the Coastal Classic, the Denali Star and the Glacier Discovery – and stop in such towns as Seward, Fairbanks and Denali.

The company also organizes day tours, such as the Spencer Glacier and Float Tour ($159 per person), which includes a chill ride among icebergs. Info: (800) 544-0552 www.alaskarailroad.com.