Don’t Miss These 3 Family-Friendly Holiday Train Rides

The holidays are a magical time for kids of all ages, especially when you add a festive train ride to the mix. Train rides are becoming increasingly popular, with more and more rail companies offering special holiday excursions for families.

From now until Jan. 3, Durango, Colorado, is home to the Polar Express Train Ride. Like many holiday train experiences, this fun ride is designed to bring the beloved holiday book (and movie that followed) to life for kids and their families, but this one happens aboard an 1882-style train that uses a historic narrow-gauge railroad. The 65-minute ride leaves from Durango and takes you to the “North Pole” to see festive lights and meet Santa and his elves. Guests are encouraged to wear pajamas for the ride, and you can order snacks and beverages like hot cocoa, but you’ll want to bring warm coats for your visit to the North Pole.

In Tennessee, you can enjoy a late-season ride to see the holiday lights aboard the Holiday Christmas Lights Train Ride. This Tennessee Valley Railroad experience runs Dec. 26 to Jan. 11, taking you and the family on a 65-minute train ride across historic bridges and through a pre-Civil War horseshoe tunnel, all along a route lit up with festive lights for the season. It’s a great way to keep the mood up and give the family a chance to unwind after all the activity of the holidays.

Southern California may not have snow for Christmas, but it does have its own version of the Polar Express train ride. Families can experience the magic of the story come to life with music, treats and dancing chefs. Of course, Santa will be there, too, to make sure everyone is in the holiday spirit. This holiday event takes place at Southern California Railway Museum in Perris, and runs until Dec. 31.