Kids love choo-choos, and what better time to ride the rails than the Holiday Season: in dozens of locations, specially decorated Christmas Trains pull out of the station with kids, hot cocoa, Santa, and elves on board. Below are a sample of Christmas Train rides, which typically are staged for several weeks from late November through December.
Tips:
- Book early -- Christmas train rides sell out!
- if you're familiar with a railroad, don't assume that normal procedures are in effect: for example, railroads that normally have two departure points often use just one for the Christmas Train.
Polar Express
These special Christmas train rides take place in several locations, and specifically re-create the experiences of the classic "Polar Express" children's book. The ride typically includes a telling of the story, appearance by Santa, hot chocolate, and perhaps a little gift -- such as a silver sleigh bell like the one the boy receives in the book.
Essex, CT: Essex Steam Train Santa Special
On this Christmas train, the rail cars have vintage decorations, and Santa, Mrs. Claus, Rudolph, and Christmas Bear make appearances. Santa visits with each child, and each child gets a small gift from Santa's elves. Driving time from Hartford CT is about 40 minutes; from NYC, about 2-1/2 hours.
Middleton, PA: Middletown & Hummelstown Railroad
On Santa's Surprise Trains, Santa makes a visit during a daytime ride, and has gifts for kids. Or take a night-time ride on the Polar Bear Express, to find Santa at the North Pole; en route, kids get milk and cookies and a Polar Bear story. Location is in central Pennsylvania near Hershey PA.
Parrish, FL: Florida Gulf Coast Railroad Christmas Trains
This railroad in Parrish -- 35 minutes from Tampa-- has Christmas Trains such as a "Santa Special", and a North Pole Express where Santa awaits at the North Pole and greets every child while carolers create a holiday mood.
Atlanta, GA: Stone Mountain Park
Stone Mountain Park is the top tourist attraction in Georgia, combining a natural wonder (the largest granite outcropping in the world) with man-made fun such as a Skylift, old-fashioned town, riverboat, playzone, and a scenic railroad that in the holiday season becomes The Christmas Train.
Texas State Railroad Victorian Christmas Train
With a vintage steam engine, this train does The Polar Express and also holiday winter trains excursions. Two hours from Dallas, three from Houston.
Fillmore, CA: Fillmore & Western Railway Company
This Christmas train ride is on a vintage train, with storytellers, Santa, cookes and chocoloate, milk, elves. bring your teddy bears. Fillmore is a small town in southern California; the tourist train has vintage Pullman cars and its route runs through a "heritage valley".
Vancouver, BC: Stanley Park Christmas Train
Families board the miniature railway in Vancouver's famed Stanley Park for a short ride on a decorated route. This nightly event is called "Bright Nights": near the railroad, a giant display of lights is created every year to benefit the Fire Fighters' Burn Fund. Continues into until January.
Canadian Christmas Train Adventure
Rocky Mountainer vacations take trips into the Canadian Rockies; look for Christmas themed two-day train ride from Vancouver BC through the Rocky Mountains to Banff Alberta, one of the world's most scenic train routes.
Always check web sites for updates!
* photo courtesy of Believe in Books Literacy Foundation; the Polar Express in North Conway Village and Lincoln NH raises money for this cause.
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