The Careys: Thanksgiving 2011: A Ride on the Polar Express

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Thanksgiving 2011: A Ride on the Polar Express

While in Michigan, we were able to go on a train ride from Owosso, Michigan to Chesaning, Michigan aboard the North Pole Express. It was so fun! Dad and Dolly bought tickets in the “Cocoa Class”. Grandpa Dean, Grandma Dolly, Daymian, Jordan, Uncle Chris, Aunt Kristin, Olivia and Sophia were all riding right along with us. If you’ve ever seen the Polar Express movie, you know about the cocoa car! J Those who served the cocoa, though, didn’t dance on the ceiling… The car in which we rode was an antique railroad car from the 1940’s. In fact, the Polar Express movie’s sound samples were taken from the Pere Marquette 1225 car, which normally runs on this line! That particular engine was undergoing a federally mandated overhaul, but we got to ride in one of the cars that the 1225 normally pulls.

We drove up I-75 to the Owosso area, where we ate at Cracker Barrel for lunch. All of the kids wore their pajamas, just like the kids in the Polar Express movie. When we were at Cracker Barrel, we ran into Aunt Freda and Rebecca. What a small world!!! It was strange but nice to have a family reunion in the middle of Cracker Barrel! I wish we could’ve spent longer visiting.

After lunch, we headed to the railroad depot in Owosso. There we boarded the train and waited for it to leave the station. Knowing Liam’s love for trains, this made the experience that much more magical. Once we left the station, the ride was a very smooth and relaxing one. We were served endless hot cocoa and a huge sugar cookie. We were on our way to the North Pole! Along the way, Liam would point out the “many swamps” that he saw. It was pretty cute, the things that he would point out. Ava seemed to enjoy the ride, as well!

Once the train slowed as we approached Chesaning, we saw Santa and Mrs. Claus waiving outside of the station! How cool that was! Once the train stopped, we headed into the North Pole. It was seriously over the top! Dimly lit, arcade type lights everywhere, games, craft booths, a gorgeous carousel, lots of carnival rides and a miniature train to ride. We had a blast. All that, and we got to visit Santa, as well!

While in line waiting to see Santa, I prepped Liam for the Santa visit. I mentioned that he would need to tell Santa what it was that he might want for Christmas. I told him “If you want ‘pinchy diesel’ for Christmas (which is a Diesel train in part of the Thomas the Train series) you need to tell Santa. If you don’t tell Santa, he won’t know what you want.” He heeded the advice and once on Santa’s lap, was in immediate conversation with Santa. In fact, we had to call his name so he would look toward us, so we could take a picture. J Quite different from last year’s wailing-and-gnashing-of-teeth picture with Santa. After jumping off Santa’s lap, the kids wanted to go on the carousel, followed by a few more rides. We had a little snack, bought a souvenir ornament and a few other small souvenirs just in time to head back to the train.

Once aboard the train for the return trip, we had more cocoa and were given signature Cocoa Class mugs as souvenirs. Liam finally fell asleep on the train ride back, after not sleeping all day!

What a fun thing to do with family. Definitely a neat holiday activity I will remember for years to come!