Remember when you lived in a child's space-time dimension? When a two-hour car trip seemed like an epic journey? When "far away" meant somewhere down the block, but that didn't rule out the possibility that a guy could fly around the world in one night in a deer-powered sleigh?
The unique geography of Arizona, where you can go from desert to snowy mountaintop in just a few hours, and the ingenuity of the Grand Canyon Railway have made it possible to slip into that magical dimension again, and take your kids along for the ride of their lives. From November 10 through January 7, the Railway is running The Polar Express, a whimsical recreation of the popular children's book, using its vintage trains to transport families from Santa's Workshop (based in Williams, AZ) to the North Pole. To you, it's just about half an hour, but to a pajama-clad, cocoa-fueled child, it's a long, magical adventure through a darkened winter wonderland, straight to the furthest reaches of the globe.
The trip is inspired by Chris Van Allsburg's otherworldly book about a boy who is whisked away on a magical train to the North Pole to affirm his belief in Santa Claus and the spirit of Christmas. Santa gives him a bell, only audible to believers, which he loses and then rediscovers wrapped under the tree on Christmas day. The Grand Canyon Railway, which operates year-round trips to the Grand Canyon with its fleet of vintage trains, added the Polar Express route four years ago. It was an instant hit, made all the more popular by last year's release of the animated film The Polar Express featuring the voice of Tom Hanks.
Once the train leaves the Williams depot, decked out this year with close to half a million lights, families are treated to cocoa and other treats while Santa's Helpers read The Polar Express aloud. When the train arrives at the North Pole (which features a new Aurora Borealis effect this year), Santa himself gets on board with characteristic Christmas cheer and a special gift for each child.
