“All aboard!” the conductor cries. “Well, are you coming?”

“Where?” the little boy asks.

“Why to the North Pole, of course,” the conductor answers. “This is the Polar Express.”

Chris Van Allsburg’s book, The Polar Express is a classic holiday picture book about a little boy to take a train ride on Christmas Eve to the North Pole. There he meets Santa and receives the special gift of a silver bell. If your kid’s enjoy reading this story or watching the movie, you might consider bringing them to experience the magic of Christmas firsthand aboard a real Polar Express train.

Courtesy of the Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Co.

All across the country, various trains are transforming their cars and heading for the “North Pole” on a nighttime adventure. Kids and parents alike get to wear their pajamas and take a trip to find Santa Claus. Just like the book, hot cocoa and cookies are served and each child will receive a special jingle bell just like the little boy in the book from Santa.

Be sure to check and find out what the details of the trip are for each of your Polar Express rides. For example, the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad in North Carolina actually has elves and reindeer in addition to Santa when you arrive at the “North Pole.”

Ride times vary, but are all around 1-1.5 hours long. Kids ages 3 through 10 years of age will enjoy this event the most. This is a long, nighttime ride that’s often not fun for our little Christmas infants.

Photo courtesy of Grand Canyon Railroad.

There are currently 29 railroads that offer the officially licensed Polar Express train rides across the US from the beginning of November through Christmas Eve. Ticket prices and experiences vary depending on which train you choose.

Since the book’s journey is late Christmas Eve, the trains on Christmas Eve are often sold-out well in advance. This is a holiday tradition that many families have been enjoying for years, so be sure to book your tickets early.

Courtesy of Creative Commons License from Flickr/melindashelton

If your kid’s aren’t familiar with the Polar Express story, borrow it from the library, buy a copy on Amazon, and/or watch the movie. It’ll make the experience all the more exciting in real-life.