All Aboard!

Utah's Polar Express Adventure

By Kendeyl Johansen

My preschooler, Max, excitedly approached the Polar Express Train. From the station in Heber, Utah, we were bound for the "North Pole," where Santa would board our train. Max's eyes widened as steam billowed from the train's 101-year-old engine. He smiled as one of Santa's elves helped him board the rustic train for a magical recreation of Chris Van Allsburg's award-winning best seller, The Polar Express (Houghton Mifflin, 1985).

We walked through several train cars, all decorated with Christmas lights and warmed by pot-bellied stoves. Good-natured elves bustled around, helping passengers find seats on the sold-out train. Train Conductor Ken McConnell tapped the microphone in the front of our compartment. "We have one important rule here – nobody rides this train without a smile!" McConnell said. "And you have to laugh, too." His welcoming grin set a festive mood.

Here We Go

As the train started moving, Max, like dozens of other excited kids in our train car, pressed his hands and face to the window. As Jingle Bells started playing over the sound system, Max exclaimed, "I can't wait to see Santa!"

The train clickety-clacked across ice-choked rivers flanked by snow-covered pines and bypassed a frozen lake. As we traveled, the elves served Mrs. Claus' chocolate-chunk cookies and warm cocoa. "Oh yum!" Max said, sipping liquid chocolate. The elves, Candy Cane and Krissy Kringle, and our coach hostess, entertained us with jokes and train trivia. We enjoyed groaning and laughing at their jokes.

The elves soon produced copies of The Polar Express

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