7 Best Holiday Train Rides Near NYC

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Best Holiday Train Rides

Add some magic to your life this holiday season and take the kids on a holiday train ride! Many trains can be found around NYC that will transport you into a winter wonderland and will give you the opportunity to meet reindeer, elves, and Santa himself! 

Are you looking for delicious and festive treats? Check out 10 Trader Joe’s Holiday Items to Try this Holiday Season!

The Polar Express – Whippany, NJ
Wednesday-Sunday until December 30
1 hour

This year, the magic returns to Whippany, New Jersey on their Polar Express! Dress your kids up in their cozy and festive pajamas and take a one-hour train ride that is inspired by this popular Christmas movie. Your kids will enjoy hot chocolate and shortbreads and will receive their own silver bell before they head home.

North Pole Express – Flemington, NJ
Weekends until December 19
1 hour and 10 minutes

Your kids will love taking a ride on the Black & Western Railroad to celebrate the Christmas season. Spend some time with both Santa and Mrs. Claus and take pictures that will make for amazing memories. Due to Covid, the North Pole Express will be a little smaller than in years past so make sure you get your ticket soon!

Catskill Mountain Christmas Train – Kingston, NJ
Friday-Sunday until December 19
1 hour and 40 minutes

Make your way up to the Catskills to enjoy a magical train ride in a decorated open-air flatcar. During your ride, you will be able to interact with Santa’s helpers taking the ride with you and enjoy a cookie from a local bakery. Finally, one the way to the North Pole, Santa will be waiting to greet each train as it goes by.

Trolley Museum Winterfest and Tunnel of Lights – East Windsor, CT
Fridays through Sundays until December 26
2 hours

Winterfest and Tunnel of Lights have been putting families into the holiday spirit for 43 years, and they are excited to welcome back guests! One of the museum’s many trolleys will take you through a tunnel of lights where you will have the opportunity to carol with the conductors. The Trolley museum will also have an open sleigh car for guests who would like an open-air experience of the tunnel. Make sure you also stop by the food vendor to get some much-needed cookies and hot chocolate.

Santa’s Paradise Express – Strasburg, PA
Weekends until December 24
2 hours and 40 minutes

Head to Pennesvalnia for the day, and the Strasburg Rail Road- is excited to welcome families back for this fun Christmas tradition. Take a 45-minute train ride while also having a chance to meet Santa! All of the little one’s ages 11 and under will also receive a little gift to get them into the spirit.

Santa Express and Northern Lights Limited – Thomaston, CT
Fridays through Sundays until December 23
2 hours

All aboard the Santa Express and Northern Lights Limited! Your kids will be able to take a ride in a unique and historic train while taking part in holiday fun such as caroling and visiting Santa. The Santa Express is a great train ride to take for little ones since it is scheduled to depart earlier in the day so you can make it home in time for bed.

North Pole Express and Santa’s Steam Spectacular ​– New Hope, PA
Every day until December 30 (closed on Christmas Day)
2 hours and 15 minutes

Take the North Pole Express Train and explore the beautiful Bucks County countryside! Guests will get the full holiday experience with musicians playing classic Christmas carols and delicious hot chocolate and homemade cookies! Of course, the ride can’t be complete without seeing Santa and having your kids give their lists and special requests for the holidays.

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The School at the Mark Morris Dance Center

<p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" data-sheets-value="{" data-sheets-userformat="{">The School at the Mark Morris Dance Center offers year-round, community-based dance and music programming in a fully inclusive and nurturing environment, located in the heart of the Brooklyn Cultural District. The School’s diverse and professional faculty provides progressive and non-competitive instruction with all of our classes accompanied by live music. Though we are a non-recital school, there are opportunities for students to perform and for parents to see their dancers in action.</span></p>

Explore MetroWest Boston

<p><span style="white-space: normal;"> </span></p> <h1>Turn Whining into Winning in MetroWest Boston</h1> <p>From beer gardens to corn mazes, state parks to beautiful art, MetroWest Boston is a great destination for a weekend trip! Enjoy <a href="https://www.metrowestvisitors.org/get-outside/?imgoing-place=hopkinton-state-park-61a91acef30b531a665ab64d">Hopkinton State Park</a>’s gorgeous foliage while kayaking on the lake or hiking, mountain biking, or snowshoeing on the amazing trails.</p> <p>In the evening, catch a play, musical, concert, art exhibition, dance performance, or immersive theatrical event at <a href="https://www.metrowestvisitors.org/culture/?imgoing-place=hopkinton-center-for-the-arts-63c03d7e0d792d753263b4d1">Hopkinton Center for the Arts</a>.</p> <p>Get a great night’s sleep at one of the region’s hotels, such as <a href="https://www.metrowestvisitors.org/where-to-stay/?imgoing-place=the-verve-hotel-boston-natick-tapestry-collection-by-hilton-61aa4790f30b531a666119e4">The VERVE</a>, with its fun and funky pop art décor, or <a href="https://www.metrowestvisitors.org/where-to-stay/?imgoing-place=aloft-framingham-6216279ccc891d1d0862c8c2">Aloft</a> with their pool tables and lobby games. In the morning, visit the <a href="https://www.metrowestvisitors.org/culture/?imgoing-place=danforth-art-school-61a8e11cf30b531a66592d90">Danforth Art Museum</a>, a jewel box housing 3,500+ artworks from three centuries, including groundbreaking sculptures depicting the African and African American experience by Meta Vaux Warrick Fuller.</p> <p>Cross the street to the <a href="https://www.metrowestvisitors.org/culture/?imgoing-place=framingham-history-center-61a8e11cf30b531a66592d92">Framingham History Center</a> to explore their new multilingual exhibit that traces the city’s immigration story, from those fleeing the 1690s Salem Witch trials, to the Irish and Italian influx in the 1800-1900s, to the current migration of Brazilians. “Framingham’s Collective Journeys” includes oral histories, interactives, and artifacts.</p> <p>No visit to Framingham is complete without stopping at legendary <a href="https://www.metrowestvisitors.org/eat/?imgoing-place=jacks-abby-craft-lagers-61a8e11cf30b531a66592da0">Jack’s Abby Craft Lagers</a>, one of 17 breweries in MetroWest, where you can enjoy a flight with a schnitzel sandwich or their famous Framinghamburger. Afterwards, spend a few hours at <a href="https://www.metrowestvisitors.org/activities/?imgoing-place=level99-64a8389c51f92a351a6a3f06">Level99</a> testing each other with 50+ mental and physical escape rooms and challenges.</p> <p>The next day, tour the <a href="https://www.metrowestvisitors.org/where-to-stay/?imgoing-place=longfellows-wayside-inn-61aa7aa3f30b531a66621f57">Wayside Inn</a>. The oldest inn in America’s 100-acre property includes the Old Barn, now a farm stand with displays of antique farming tools, the historic Grist Mill, and beautiful grounds containing the Longfellow Memorial Garden, the Redstone Schoolhouse from the poem “Mary Had a Little Lamb”, the Martha-Mary Chapel, and Josephine's Pond for fishing. Stay for a delicious gourmet meal in their historic dining room.</p> <p>Spend the afternoon at the <a href="https://www.metrowestvisitors.org/culture/?imgoing-place=american-heritage-museum-61a92852f30b531a665b17bf">American Heritage Museum</a>. Start your tour in the depths of a WWI trench listening to a nurse’s first-hand account from the Western Front while bombs explode above you and the floor begins to shake. This extraordinary museum features one-of-a-kind historic aircraft, tanks, cars and rare relics from the Revolutionary War to today, in immersive exhibits and living history events. Afterwards, wander the charming shops and boutiques of downtown Hudson.</p> <h3>MetroWest Boston offers these and many other attractions, activities and events for the whole family!</h3>

Asphalt Green

<p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" data-sheets-value="{" data-sheets-userformat="{">Asphalt Green’s high-quality sports programs start at 4 months old. Two beautiful facilities in vibrant Manhattan neighborhoods provide the optimal space for children to learn the fundamentals, play for leisure, or compete at the highest level.<br />As the leading sports and fitness facility in Manhattan, Asphalt Green’s never-before- seen training methods focus on improving your mental and physical game. Whether participating in swim, soccer, flag football, martial arts, basketball, baseball, tennis, or volleyball, coaches instill values that set athletes up for success in life and bring out their full potential in sports.</span></p>