This post can also be found on Kidding Around Greenville!
Bryson City is a gateway city to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, but is it also home to the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad depot,
with scenic rail excursions through the beautiful mountains of Western North
Carolina. Beginning November 11th a very special train has been departing from the historic Bryson City depot…. The Polar Express.
Based on the popular children’s book written and illustrated
by Chris Van Allsburg, this magical train ride recreates the journey to the
North Pole complete with hot cocoa and a warm cookie. At the end of the train ride, Santa Claus himself
will be waiting at Santa’s Village to board the train and present each child
with their very own silver sleigh bell!
What you need to know
You’ll want to arrive in Bryson City at least an hour before
your departure time. This will give you time to park, which is not an easy task
in this little town that brought 70,000 passengers through for the Polar
Express in 2015. There is a parking option that can be added when purchasing
tickets, and parking attendants are on hand to direct traffic. Once you’ve
walked to the depot you might want to explore the GSMR train museum, and you’ll
find a dozen little souvenir and snack shops lining the street to explore while
waiting for your train’s boarding time. Hint; the train museum is free with tickets, but you can purchase pictures
with Santa if you arrive early!
When it is time to climb onboard, passengers join the queue
at their assigned boarding station, which correlates to the train car in which
you will be riding. The beautifully restored vintage coaches date
from the 1920s to the 1940s, and the interior has been festively decorated in
the holiday spirit. Friendly employees are on hand to help the boarding process
and get everyone situated, and before you know it, the whistle blows and the
Polar Express is off, headed for the North Pole!
While music plays in the background (from the motion picture
The Polar Express), the conductor comes through to stamp the ‘golden train
tickets.’ These tickets (based on the
book) make a cherished souvenir for the children. Hint; make sure to bring your copy of The Polar Express on the trip so that
you can read along while enjoying the hot chocolate brought to you by the
singing and dancing chef. Like most
parents, we had changed the kids into their pajamas so that they would be cozy
and comfortable on the journey. And, the
singing of Christmas carols and antics of the Polar Express characters kept them
mesmerized the entire trip.
Tips to make the most
of your trip
With three different ticket options (First, Crown and
Coach), families have a variety of choices concerning seating, snacks and
memorabilia – only reserve your tickets early, as the tickets for the weekends
approaching Christmas tend to sell out by early to mid-November. We opted for
Coach and were completely satisfied with the seating, the service and the benefits
that came with our package.
We purchased tickets on the 5pm train, meaning it would
still be light out for the first 1/2
hour of the journey (and we could watch the gorgeous mountain scenery roll by).
The sun had set and darkness descended just before our arrival at the North
Pole, and so the Christmas lights adorning ‘Santa’s Village’ twinkled in the
darkness, helping convince reluctant believers... On our return trip lights
from homes along the route sparkled in the distance, adding a magical dimension
to the ride.
When selecting seats, you might want to choose to be on the left
side of the train (that would be the opposite side of the train from where you
boarded), as the river and the majority of North Pole lights will be on that
side. Also, Santa boards on the front of the train, so be prepared for him to
come through rather soon after stopping if you’re in Coach; have your copy of
The Polar Express ready for him to sign, and the kids ready to tell him what
they would like for Christmas. He even
makes some time to ask some disbelieving adults about what they would like
under the tree – so make that list and check it twice!
The details
The first Polar Express departure is on November 11th,
and the train operates through January 1, 2017 with the exception of certain
weekdays, Thanksgiving and Christmas day. Depending on the date, there are 2-5
departures a day to choose from.
For detailed information on the different seating available,
visit the Polar Express website here.
Bryson City is about 2 ½ hours by car from both Greenville
and Spartanburg, optimally a weekend destination, but do-able in a day (since
the kids will sleep on the way home!).
Tickets start at $28/children 2-12 and $42/adult, and kids
under 2 ride free.
For other Great Smoky Mountains Railroad family-friendly
adventures, check out their website.
“At one time, most of
my friends could hear the bell, but as years passed, it fell silent for all of
them. Even Sarah found one Christmas that she could no longer hear its sweet
sound. Though I've grown old, the bell still rings for me, as it does for all
who truly believe.”
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