The creative side of me...: Polar Express Train Ride 2011

Well I never heard of the Polar Express Train ride until my Aunt Nancy told me about it right before last Christmas. It runs out of Akron or Cleveland Ohio. It's the Cuyahoga Valley Cuyahoga Scenic Railroads. I took the following off their web site:

The Polar Express, Rockside-Independence Departure

Pajama Clad families board the train for this magical journey. This fun-filled excursion includes hot cocoa and cookies, a reading of the classic story, a lighted North Pole Village, caroling and a visit from Santa himself - all set to the music soundtrack of the motion picture!
Well as a joint Family Christmas gift my Aunt Nancy got us tickets to take the Polar Express ride but it was mostly for my daughter Kaitlyn. Well it ended up Hubby and I had as much fun as my daughter. I just can not say enough about this program. The hole thing is done through volunteers and the lead elf volunteer we had she was full of energy and spirit and she made this a great experience for us!!! She did a great job making the story come to life and keeping the kids involved. My 4 year old daughter has a short attention span and 2 1/2 hours plus wait time so 3 hours and she only got jittery the last 15 min. so over all hands down one of the best family activity to do before Christmas!!

You come in pajamas ready to ride like the Polar Express movie. The kids get a gold ticket just like the movie to board the train with. They play music and sound clips from the movie over a pa system in your train car. They narrated the store from Polar Express. They give the kids pencils and paper for them to make their Christmas wish list with questions they have to answer for Santa. Later they will collect this papers to drop off to Santa at the North Pole. The hole thing is based on heading to the North Pole. They stamped believe on Kaitlyn hand and when the train started to move they instructed the kids to blow on the believe stamped on their hands this is what gives the train magic to get moving!! They serve hot chocolate and chocolate chip cookies. Ask the kids Christmas and movie related questions? The trip to the North Pole went fast before we new it we where there. They even have a little game they play with the kids to get them to clean the windows before getting to the North Pole. At the North Pole they have it all decorated with Christmas lights, a Christmas tree like the movie, elf's, snowman, Grinch and I can go on... lots of people in costumes outside the train waving as you pull into the North Pole. Santa Pulls up next to your train on a train with him and his sled on the back of the train. You never get out of your train but boy was it fun! Then the train heads off back to the original train station. You sing Christmas carols until Santa makes it to your car. He visits with each child and gives them a silver bell as a keepsake (like the movie...super nice we hung Kaitlyn's on Christmas Tree) and Santa asks the child if her or she believes in Santa if so they will enjoy the ringing of the bell. A little side joke he ask them to place the bell in a safe place not in a pocket with a hole. Before you know it the trip is over. They also had on the train a gift shop and a snack shop.

I can not thank my Aunt Nancy enough for this Christmas gift. It is something we have not stopped talking about and will be a great Christmas Memory for my family!!