ALL ABOARD!
By Marcella S. Meeks
Do you believe in Santa Claus? Not many people do and I, as a parent and grandparent, respect that decision to believe or not. I’m certainly not one to judge you regardless whether you believe there is a Santa Claus or if the sky is falling or if you are who you say you are, whatever. But I enjoy a little fun once in awhile even at my age, especially when my grandchildren share in it with me. There is nothing better than when they come over to my house and we gather around the TV and spend the evening watching cartoons or a good family movie together. Sometimes, we sit at the table and make art or play board games but the younger ones have an attention span that don’t last as long as mine! When we’re watching a family movie together, somehow I can keep them closer a little longer.
My own children are grown up now but once in awhile, we get together for coffee and just enjoy our little time together even though it’s few, far and in-between. Everyone is so busy these days.
This story isn’t really about whether we believe in Santa Claus or not; the point here is to enjoy your time with the little ones every chance you get and if you can get them all huddled close and watch a movie together once in a while, you’re creating a precious memory with them they’re not ever likely to forget. And the holidays are usually a great time to do just that. Volunteer a few hours to babysit the grand kids while Mom and Dad go shopping. Take that time for something special like a movie (The Polar Express!).
Ever year, since the movie Polar Express came out in 2004, sometimes in December, I buy up several boxes of hot chocolate and packs of marshmallows and have them on hand for when the grand kids (and great grand babies) come to visit. I arrange it with the parents to dress the kids in warm pajamas when they come over and this mamaw is prepared for an evening of cuddles, giggles and an evening of family fun. I also bring out the movie Polar Express. Sometimes in December, this may happen multiple times because everyone has different schedules and can’t all be in one place at the same time and there are different sets of grand kids! And that’s fine with me. I love it all!
I’ve managed to nap ta little through the movie a few times while we’re curled up on the couch but I still enjoy watching it. It doesn’t sway my beliefs any. But the precious time I took to spend with these grand babies sure warms my heart and soul – that’s all that matters right?
Ever since the first time I saw the movie, I’ve often thought about what it would be like to ride on a real Polar Express in the wintertime with some of the grand kids along? Oh, glory be! I can only imagine the reactions of some of the younger kids when we actually board a real Polar Express train!
When I started this article I had no idea where it was going or how it was to end. But I know it needs an ending where people can find train rides that feature the Polar Express train ride this year. So here goes my list and hope that you may be able to take the ride of ‘our dreams’ and enjoy it with your family. It’s not a complete list by far by far, but it’s a start. If you know of a train in your area, feel free to send us the email in the comments section below or drop us a line on our Contact Us page.
If anything changes, and we decide to go somewhere during the Christmas holidays, I will make it a point to go someplace where The Polar Express will be in operation, weather permitting. The little kids will love that; the older ones are welcome to come along for the ride! They will never forget the experience and neither will I.
Train Ride List…
COLORADO
- THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride, Durango/Silverton Railroad, 1-877-872-4607, Durango, Colorado. Read Full Story Here
- THE POLAR EXPRESS™ TRAIN RIDE, 800-365-6263, Golden, Colorado. Read Full Story Here
- Georgetown Loop Railroad, 888-456-6777, Georgetown, CO. Read Full Story Here
- Royal Gorge Railway, Santa Express Train. Canon City, CO, 719.276.4000. Read Full Story Here
- The North Pole – Santa’s Workshop. Cascade, CO. 719-684-9432. Read Full Story Here.
- Pueblo Railway Museum’s Pueblo Express, Pueblo, CO. 719-544-1773. Read Full Story Here.
7) LEADVILLE RAILROAD HOLIDAY EXPRESS, 866-386-3936, Leadville, CO. …
8) The Broadmoor Manitou & Pikes Peak Cog Railway, (719) 685-5401, itou Springs, CO … Read Full Story Here
NEW MEXICO
9) Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railway, 1.888.286.2737 , Chama, New Mexico. Read Full Story Here
OKLAHOMA
10) Oklahoma Railway Museum Polar Express, 405.424.8222. Oklahoma City, OK. Read Full Story Here.
TEXAS
11) Galveston Railroad Museum Polar Express, (409) 765-5700. Galveston, TX. Read Full Story Here.
12) Texas State Railroad Polar Express, 855–632–7729, Palestine, TX or Rusk, TX. Read Full Story Here.
13) Whistle Stop trains and Christmas Festival, 817-645-2455, CLEBURNE, TX. Read Full Story Here.
ARKANSAS
14) Arkansas & Missouri Railroad, Holiday Express / Pajama Train, 479-751-1281, … Read More Here
ARIZONA
15) Grand Canyon Railway, ALL ABOARD THE POLAR EXPRESS™!, 1-800-THE-TRAIN (800-843-8724), Williams, AZ, … Read More Here
NORTH CAROLINA
16) The Great Smoky Mountains Railroad, (800) 872-4681, Bryson City, NC., The Magic of The Polar Express Train Ride, … Read More Here
TENNESSEE
17) NORTH POLE LIMITED CHRISTMAS TRAIN, 423.894.8028, Extension “0”, Chattanooga, TN, … Read More Here
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