CAPE MAY SEASHORE LINES / Santa’s Trolley Ride

All aboard! These train rides take you on a journey to the North Pole. Meet Santa, listen to storytime and munch on cookies before Ol’ Saint Nick eats them all!

Whippany Polar Express Train Ride
1 Railroad Plaza, Whippany
Nov. 4 – Dec. 30, select dates and times
Prices vary depending on time, date, seating selection and age but start at $48
973-419-6255
This epic, sanctioned Polar Express ride is back with some new surprises. Guests will board the train (jammies are optional but encouraged) and take a ride to the North Pole. Along the way, you’ll be served shortbread cookies and cocoa by dancing chefs, and there will be a reading of the Chris Van Allsburg story The Polar Express. The holiday season will be in full swing after Santa hops on board and gives kids their first gift of the season (a shiny silver bell).

The North Pole Express
The Black River and Western Railroad
80 Stangl Rd., Flemington.
Nov. 19 – Dec. 30, select dates and times
10 am to 5:30 pm, every 2.5 hours
$38.99 and up
908-782-6622
On this holiday train, kids can chug chug chug all the way up to the North Pole to meet Santa Claus. This train ride comes bearing tons of holiday gifts. Each child will go home with a silver sleigh bell and a golden train ticket after meeting Santa and Mrs. Claus on board. Each family will take a holiday photo: photos with Santa, a 6-foot tall wreath, Santa’s Sleigh and a Christmas tree.

CAPE MAY SEASHORE LINES / Santa’s Trolley Ride

Santa’s Trolley Ride
1048 Washington St., Cape May
Nov. 17 – Dec. 31
$15/kids, $20 or $25/adults
609-884-5404
Head to the Physick Estate this holiday season for a festive trolley ride through the streets of Cape May for four different trolley tour options to choose from: Ghosts of Christmas Past Trolley Ride, All That Glitters, Victorians Ring in a New Century! Trolley Tour, Santa’s Trolley Rides and Holiday Lights Trolley Rides. Each ride is 30 minutes long and guides families through a holiday bliss tour to bring Christmas to life.

Santa’s Christmas Trains
Strasburg Railroad Museum, 301 Gap Rd, Ronks, PA
Nov. – Dec. on weekends and select days
Times and prices vary, starting at $20
866-725-9666
There’s no shortage of holiday trains to ride at the Strasburg Railroad Museum. Ride Santa’s Paradise Express or Santa Claus Limited where you can meet Santa himself. Board the Night Before Christmas Train to activate that holiday spirit on Christmas Eve. Or take the Christmas Tree Train and pick the perfect tree for your family. You can even charter a historic caboose built in 1925 for 8-10 people.

DiDonato’s Magical Holiday Express
1151 S. White Horse Pike, Hammonton
Nov. 17 – Dec. 23, select dates and times
$19.95/person (online), $24.95/person (Saturday online), $22.95 at the door, $27.95 at the door on Saturdays
609-561-3040
Ride through millions of Christmas lights at DiDonato Family Fun Center. The Magical Holiday Express will bring you straight to Santa and his elves for photo ops. Mrs. Claus will be reading stories and chatting with kids, Santa will be doling out presents, and you can watch your fave holiday movies in their cozy tent while noshing on a cookie. Check out The Snack and Toy Cottage, the Mega-tree, and the sparkling village decked out in over 4 million lights.

The Polar Express in Phillipsburg
Delaware River Railroad Excursions
38 Market St, Phillipsburg
Nov. 24 – Dec. 17, select dates and times
$32/child, $48/adult, $8/lap sitter children under 2
877-872-4674
This Christmas train is for the believers. Inspired by the hit movie, this Polar Express will fill your belly with sweet treats, your heart with joy from Christmas songs, and your sense of wonder with whimsical shows like a juggling chef. Feel free to wear your pajamas, just like the movie, and Santa will give each child a bell. 

Santa’s Steam Train Ride
New Hope Railroad
32 West Bridge Street, New Hope
Nov. 23 – Dec. 23, select dates and times
Prices vary based on date, time and seating
215-862-2332
The restored passenger trains (which date back to the first half of the twentieth century) are warm and cozy and decorated for the season. Cookies will be served on board, live music will play and everyone is encouraged to sing along to holiday tunes. Kids can even mail their letters to Santa in a special red postbox. There is also the North Pole Express, a similar experience but pulled by one of their diesel locomotives.

The Santa Express and the Starlight Santa Express
Richland Village – 1272 Harding Highway, Richland
Tuckahoe Village – Reading Avenue and Railroad Avenue, Tuckahoe
Nov. 25 – Dec. 23, select dates and times
Cost: $24.95 and up
856-263-2675
The Seashore Lines takes you on a historic train ride with Santa Claus himself. The 75-minute round-trip ride features entertainment and snack service in first-class cars. Or try riding The Starlight Express at night.

The Santa Train with the Tristate Railway Historical Society LLC
Route 23 Southbound and West Belt Parkway, Wayne
Dec. 9 at 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m. or 3 p.m.
$26/kids, $31/adults
973-656-0707
This hour-long round-trip experience includes carols, costumed characters and a chance to meet Santa. This annual event is sponsored by the Tri-State Railway Historical Society, an educational organization dedicated to preserving, restoring and interpreting the New Jersey area’s rich railroading history. Tickets go on sale in late October.

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