The Polar Express :: A Texas Experience Worth The Drive
I am from Dallas, Texas and each year we spend the Thanksgiving holiday at home. During our visit this year, we made the trip to Palestine, TX to visit The Polar Express Train Ride. If coming from Lafayette, Louisiana, it is a 4 hour drive. This is the perfect distance if you want to make plans to stay and enjoying a true Texas welcome and experience! Get some authentic Tex Mex food at the local restaurant Little Mexico. But the Polar Express was the highlight of this trip!
Here’s a few tips ::
You will definitely want to arrive at least an hour or two before departure so that you can enjoy the time around the station to browse the gift shop and take additional photos with amazing decor around the station. We personally choose the last departure at 7:30 pm so that we could experience the beauty of all the lights come alive at night.
The website suggested passengers arrive in pajamas for an even more authentic Polar Express feeling. We all had matching Pj’s, which made for such fun and cute photo ops that we took home as a fantastic memory.
The train departs and heads to the North Pole and comes with the iconic golden ticket. The Polar Express comes to life as the soundtrack of the film is played throughout the cabins. Chefs serve hot chocolate and cookies just like in the movie! There is also a reading of the classic children’s book, The Polar Express, by Chris Van Allsburg. We purchased a book so we could read along with the chefs. It was well worth the money spent and to have the keepsake so we can enjoy it for years to come.
Once the train arrives at the North Pole, Santa and his elves board the train, where each passenger gets the first gift of Christmas – a bell just like in the film! Such a cute keepsake. On the ride back to the depot, the chefs sang Christmas carols. My daughter and her cousins were having the time of their lives dancing and singing with the chefs. When Santa entered, he made his way down the train car. When it was our turn, our girls were able to get a photo with Santa himself. My sister and I were just as excited as our girls. It truly was magical.
The Texas Railroad also has the Polar Express located near Galveston, Texas and in Grapevine, Texas. We are planning to do the Grapevine, Texas next year as it is only a 30 min drive from our yearly Dallas trip; however, those tickets sell out very fast! But if you’re planning a trip to Texas this Christmas, check out the Gaylord too!
I personally do the 5 gift rule each Christmas and this Polar Express Train Ride an excellent experience that can be given to your child and to yourself!
