Strasburg Railroad Holiday Train Rides 2014 (and GIVEAWAY!)

We've been longtime fans of the Strasburg Railroad. Both Hubby and I loved have fond memories of visiting Strasburg when we were kids. My parents took me and my sisters once on a family outing, and Hubby has the very special memory of going with his grandparents. Now that we are parents, it has been so fun to give our girls the experience of this fun train ride. 

This year, we'll be hitting the rails for the holidays, because Strasburg Railroad has some amazing holiday events that we don't want to miss. Bring the kids to ride with Santa (like your own Polar Express!), hear the traditional tale of The Night Before Christmas or even take the train to cut down your own tree! 

Here are the three ways you can enjoy holiday train ride at Strasburg Railroad:

Santa’s Paradise Express

11/28 - 11/30, 12/6 - 12/7, 12/13 - 12/14, 12/20 – 12/21, multiple times throughout the day

Santa will ride aboard the train with a special gift for good boys and girls. Santa will greet each passenger in their seats and families will have the opportunity to visit with him and have their photo taken. At the station Mrs. Claus will be available to help finalize letters to Santa and visitors can enjoy a ride aboard the Tinsel Trolley, a self-propelled motorcar, and hear storybook readings of holiday classics aboard a heated stationary Caboose.

Adults $17, Children (ages 3-11) $11, Children (ages 2 and under) $3

Night Before Christmas Train

November 28, December 5, 12 and 19 at 6:30pm

The magic of Christmas Eve is recreated on this special train ride. Visitors can wear their pajamas and enjoy cookies and milk as they travel down the tracks. On board, a reader dressed in a Victorian nightshirt and cap will read aloud the classic poem, "The Night Before Christmas.” At the station visitors can enjoy storybook readings of holiday classics aboard a heated stationary Caboose and a ride aboard the Tinsel Trolley, a self-propelled motorcar.

The Strasburg Rail Road will donate $5 from every adult ticket sold to the Clinic for Special Children located in Strasburg, PA.

Adults $17, Children (ages 3-11) $11, Children (ages 2 and under) $3

Christmas Tree Train

12/6 at 9am

Visitors won’t forget selecting this year’s Christmas tree with a ride aboard the Christmas Tree Train at Strasburg Rail Road. Travel aboard an authentic, vintage steam train to Leaman Place Grove to select a fresh-cut, locally grown tree. As passengers board the train to ride back to the station their tree will follow along on a vintage flatcar. 

Adults $17, Children (ages 11 and under) $1
(Note: Cost of Christmas tree is an additional fee. Prices range by tree and average about $40).

And guess what?

The good people of Strasburg Railroad are giving you a chance to be the lucky winner of a family 4-pack of tickets to the Santa's Paradise Express ride on Sunday, Dec 21 at 1pm! How awesome is that?!

Are you feeling lucky?  Enter below! 

The giveaway will run from today until noon on Wednesday, 12/10. Good luck! 

Have you visited Strasburg for the holidays? I'd love to hear about your experience.  Leave a comment and tell me all about it!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

National Train Day is May 10th + Strasburg Railroad Giveaway

I remember the first time I rode a train. I was in 7th grade, and my parents had decided to take the auto train from Virginia to Florida for our trip to Disney World. I found the the experience thrilling, from the cozy seats, the yummy dining car, and the mesmerizing observation car whose roof was a dome of windows. There is something magical about trekking across the country by train, knowing the long history trains have had in our country.

I love the festive feel May brings, with it's beautiful weather and promise that Summer is just around the corner. The month of May offers a great many celebrations: The Kentucky Derby, Cinco de Mayo, Mother's Day, and Memorial Day.


But did you know…

 May 10th is National Train Day?

Trains are amazing machines. Here are a few fun facts for you:

• The longest train station in England is little over 600 meters long. That’s as large as 6 football fields.

• Trains can be powered by a variety of energy sources including steam, diesel and electricity.

• Early trains relied on ropes, horses or gravity.

• Opened in 1994, the Channel Tunnel carries passengers between the UK andFrance on a high speed railway.

• Longest stretch of perfectly straight railway track is located in Australia. It is 478 kilometers long.

Super cool, right?!

So what's the best way to celebrate National Train Day? The Strasburg Railroad, our local train attraction, has this fun train craft for kids:

(To download, right-click and choose "download")

I also found these adorable train-themed snacks just for the occasion on Pinterest!









So many great ideas!

In honor of National Train Day, the Strasburg Railroad will be giving one of my lucky readers a Family 4 Pack of tickets to visit the railroad!

Whether you win or not, Strasburg Railroad is the perfect day trip to take your kids on for National Train Day!  There are lots of fun things to do in Lancaster if you want to make it a fun-filled day or weekend. Check out my Lancaster County Review for ideas! 

If you hop on for a train ride, be sure to download my Strasburg Railroad Scavenger Hunt to make the ride even more fun!

(To download, right-click and choose "download")

In the meantime, you can enter the giveaway below.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Best of luck! 

And Happy Train Day!