210-665-5534travel@byrdadventures.comUniversal City, Texas
From the desk of Donnetta Byrd

Travel tips & inspiration

Notes, guides, and honest advice on the trips I plan most, train travel, river cruising, and ocean cruising. Pull up a chair.

The One Question That Determines Your Perfect River Cruise Line (And Why Most People Get It Wrong)

The one question that really determines your perfect river cruise line, and why your cabin choice matters more than the brand.

July 14, 2025

Exploring the Most Breathtaking Scenic Train Journeys Around the World

The most scenic train journeys in the world and what makes each one worth taking, from a travel advisor who specializes in train travel.

July 1, 2025

Exploring the Best Transatlantic Cruise Packages for Seniors: A Guide for 2025

A practical guide to transatlantic cruises for senior travelers: the ports, the cruise lines, and how to pick the right crossing.

April 28, 2025

The Top 10 Reasons to Experience a River Cruise

Ten reasons a river cruise works so well, from the scenery and the ports to the value, written by a travel advisor who plans them.

April 21, 2025

Experience the Beauty of Canada with VIA Canada Rail

Crossing Canada by VIA Rail, a scenic and lower-impact way to see the country, planned by a travel advisor.

January 2, 2024

Exploring the Breathtaking Scenery of Western Canada

Rocky Mountaineer through Western Canada, from Vancouver to Banff and Lake Louise in glass-dome comfort.

December 26, 2023

Experience the Magnificent Rockies with Rocky Mountaineer

Rocky Mountaineer's Rockies to the Red Rocks route through the American Southwest, from Denver to Moab.

December 19, 2023

Potomac Eagle Scenic Railroad

The Potomac Eagle Scenic Railroad and its trip through the Trough, where bald eagles are a common sight.

December 12, 2023

Experience the Beauty of the New Tygart Flyer

The New Tygart Flyer in West Virginia, a scenic train ride to the High Falls of the Cheat.

December 5, 2023

Explore the Appalachian Mountains on the Cass Scenic Railroad

The Cass Scenic Railroad in West Virginia, a heritage steam train through the Appalachian mountains.

November 28, 2023

Discover the Beauty of the United States on the Amtrak Cardinal

The Amtrak Cardinal through the Blue Ridge and New River Gorge, a scenic run between New York and Chicago.

November 21, 2023

Experience the Stunning Scenery of the Empire Builder

The Amtrak Empire Builder across the northern plains and Rockies to the Pacific Northwest, and what to expect aboard.

November 14, 2023

California Zephyr: Discovering The West Coast

The Amtrak California Zephyr from Chicago to the Bay Area, one of the most scenic train routes in the country.

October 31, 2023

Discover Alaska With The Denali Star Railroad

The Alaska Railroad Denali Star from Anchorage to Fairbanks, past Denali and some of Alaska's best scenery.

October 24, 2023

Hurricane Turn: A Tale Of Resilience And Strength

The Alaska Railroad Hurricane Turn, one of America's last flag-stop trains, into the Alaskan backcountry.

October 17, 2023

Alaska Railroad Coastal Classic & Glacier Discovery

The Alaska Railroad's Coastal Classic and Glacier Discovery routes, from Anchorage to Seward and beyond.

April 10, 2023

Castles On The Rhine And Swiss Alps

A Rhine river cruise paired with the Swiss Alps, castles, vineyards, and mountain scenery in one trip.

February 9, 2022

Your Experience Aboard An AmaWaterways River Cruise

What a day aboard an AmaWaterways river cruise actually looks like, from the cabins to the dining to the touring.

February 2, 2022

7 Incredible Countries on the Danube River

Seven countries the Danube connects, from Germany to the Black Sea, and what a Danube river cruise is really like.

January 26, 2022

4 Incredible Countries You’ll Explore On The Rhine

Four countries you can see on a Rhine river cruise, from the castles to the vineyards, planned by a travel advisor.

January 19, 2022

Why Ocean Cruisers Love River Cruising

Why travelers who love ocean cruising often fall for river cruising too, and how the two really differ.

January 12, 2022

Top 10 Breathtaking Train Stations

Ten of the most beautiful train stations in the world, worth a stop for the architecture alone.

January 5, 2022

Journey through the Clouds Outdoor Adventures

The Journey through the Clouds route on Rocky Mountaineer, and the outdoor adventures worth adding along the way.

June 9, 2021

Banff And Lake Louise 5 Must-Dos When Visiting

Five things worth doing in Banff and Lake Louise, from a travel advisor who plans Canadian Rockies trips.

June 2, 2021

Canadian Rockies & 5 Tips for Wildlife Watching

Five tips for spotting wildlife in the Canadian Rockies, and how to build it into a Rocky Mountaineer trip.

May 26, 2021

Rockies To The Red Rocks – Utah’s Mighty 5 Explorer

The Rockies to the Red Rocks route through Utah's Mighty 5 national parks, a scenic train and land journey.

May 19, 2021

10 Reasons You’ll Want To Visit Utah Soon

Ten reasons Utah belongs on your list, from the national parks to the red rock country you can see by train.

May 12, 2021

Alaska By Daylight 10 Night Tour

A look at the Alaska by Daylight rail and land tour, ten nights of trains, lodges, and the country in between.

May 5, 2021

Visit Alaska by Rail Sooner than Later

Why Alaska by train belongs near the top of your list, and how the rail routes pair with the rest of a trip north.

April 28, 2021

Five Reasons Why You Should Travel By Train

Five reasons train travel beats the alternative, from the scenery to the comfort, from a travel advisor who plans train trips.

January 14, 2021