Living in Arvada, just a short drive from Golden, Colorado, our family of five recently discovered a heartwarming holiday tradition at the Colorado Railroad Museum – The Polar Express Train Ride. With children aged 3, 5, and 7, we decided to give it a try, and it turned out to be an experience that left us with perfect holiday memories.
Tickets Please!
Learning that tickets are priced at $80 per person for ages 2-15 and $100 per person for ages 16 and older, with lap riders under age 2 free, we hesitated a little bit. However, knowing that the Polar Express is a fundraiser for the non-profit Colorado Railroad Museum, we felt good about our contribution to preserving railroad history. We had never visited the Railroad Museum before and we are excited to visit after the holiday season to explore the trains.
Colorado Railroad Museum Website
We snagged our tickets last minute for a weekday 8pm show which was one of the last ones available, as the event is completely sold out for 2023. Occasional availability of additional tickets, is announced on the Museum’s Facebook page on a first-come, first-served basis.
Looking for another Denver area holiday activity? Try ICE! at Gaylord Rockies.
Polar Express book & Movie
Its worth noting that seeing The Polar Express movie and reading the book is strongly recommended before attending this event as the entire evening is centered around famous scenes from this story. However, if you don’t see it or read it prior, you’ll experience this story for the first time in an amazing way!
Start at The Pavilion
Our evening began in the newly renovated THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Pavilion, where we gathered around assigned seats and tables to enjoy a simple yet cozy atmosphere. The kids kept busy writing letters to Santa with a provided worksheet. Hot chocolate and cookies were served and (like the scene in the movie) was a huge hit with our kids. They were introduced to a way of consuming them called “North Pole Style!” Carol singing, a cabaret-style show, and the re-enactment of The Polar Express story provided a pleasant start to the night. We then stepped outside to witness the arrival of THE POLAR EXPRESS™, a sight marked by smoke and steam against the winter night.
All Aboard Polar Express Train Ride!
The Conductor’s invitation to climb aboard initiated our journey to the North Pole, where elves entertained with song and dance, and Santa presented The First Gift of Christmas. During the train ride there were many up close reenactments of famous scenes from the movie right in our train car! The return trip allowed us to visit with Santa (a very very good Santa might I add!) and each kid received their very own bell, a perfect souvenir for the evening.
I wasn’t sure exactly when we booked that we would be going on a real train ride. To my surprise, did in-fact board a genuine train that looked pretty much exactly like the movie upon its arrival. We didn’t travel far as the train runs a few laps around the surrounding area but it was a substantial amount of time and the majority of the overall 1.5 to 2hr experience. My older boys caught on that we were not actually traveling to the real North Pole but my 3 year old daughter was completely sold on the fact that she traveled all the way to the North Pole.
Obsessed with holiday trains? See our Santa’s Lighted Forest at the Georgetown Loop Railroad review!
That’s A Wrap!
Considering the proximity of Golden to our home, we were surprised that we hadn’t participated in this family-friendly activity before. Now, we can confidently recommend The Polar Express Train Ride as a cozy and meaningful Christmas event. Its straightforward charm and contribution to a local non-profit make it a worthwhile family outing. If you’re looking for a down-to-earth holiday activity that supports a good cause, The Polar Express Train Ride at the Colorado Railroad Museum is worth considering.
