WHY IT RATES: Travel agents with clients migrating to the Midwest to partake in the annual Tulip Time Festival will have more rail travel options thanks to Amtrak.—Donald Wood, Breaking News Senior Writer.
Amtrak is offering additional service between Chicago and Holland, Michigan, for travelers headed to Holland’s annual Tulip Time Festival. A special stop at Hammond-Whiting, Indiana, is also added.
These trains on the Pere Marquette route, sponsored by the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), will run on two Saturdays during the festival, May 5 and May 12, enabling same-day visits to what has been heralded as the nation’s “Best Flower Festival” and “America’s Best Small-Town Festival,” with more than 5 million tulips in bloom.
Skip tolls, traffic, and parking fees by departing from Chicago at 7:05 a.m. and Hammond-Whiting at 7:30 a.m. (both times Central), arriving in Holland at 11:29 a.m. (Eastern Time). The return trip leaves Holland at 5:50 p.m. (ET), Hammond-Whiting at 7:52 p.m. (CT) and arrives in Chicago at 8:24 p.m. (CT). Parking at the Amtrak Hammond-Whiting station is free of charge and eastbound, Train 374, and westbound, Train 375, will also make intermediate stops at St. Joseph and Bangor. The full schedule can be seen when booking via Amtrak.com, our mobile apps, or by calling 800-USA-RAIL.
Book now for best availability and pricing. Adult fares on the Amtrak Midwest trains on those Saturdays range from $26-$48 each way. All Pere Marquette trains will stop at Hammond-Whiting on May 5 and 6 and May 12 and 13. The Pere Marquette also provides daily service from Chicago to Holland for travel during the nine-day festival. The Michigan page on Amtrak.com has more information.
In addition to the millions of blooming tulips, on Saturday, May 5, Tulip Time visitors can experience Tulip City tours, an artisan market, Kinderplaats, a quilt show, carnival, Dutch dance performances, and shopping in Downtown Holland. On Saturday, May 12, enjoy Tall Ships dockside, the quilt show and carnival, Dutch Marktplaats and food court, more shopping and Muziekparade, the largest parade of the week.
Information on shuttle services from the Holland station area and best ways to get around town on specific dates, along with the times and locations of all events can be found by calling the Holland Area Visitors Bureau at 800-506-1299, or by visiting Holland.org.
For more information, reach out to your local travel agent.
SOURCE: Amtrak press release.
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