You can create a magical childhood without spending a lot of money, and the "Family Express Train Ride" is a perfect example! I transform the family van into a magical train each year, and my kids absolutely love it. Here’s how I do it, step by step, along with alternative ideas so you can make it work with whatever you have.
If you didn't know - The Polar Express is a classic children’s book by Chris Van Allsburg about a young boy who takes a magical train ride to the North Pole on Christmas Eve and learns that believing in the magic of Christmas is what truly matters. The Family Express is my attempt to recreate that magical ride - without paying the exorbitant prices of modern Polar Express train rides (which generally sell out very quickly anyway).
*Screenshots from a live action train ride of the Polar Express in New Jersey.
Trust me, my kids said our family 'train ride' was THE BEST thing they've ever experienced in their entire life - it's just as special to them as a train ride would be. Kids don't know how much things cost, they don't care if everything looks aesthetically pleasing, they just know the excitement they feel.
Step 1: Decorate Your Van (or Any Vehicle!)
The Outside (Optional): Using electrical tape, attach multicolored battery-powered LED string lights to the top of the vehicle. I don't have a roof rack - I taped the lights directly on the van. Leave room so your doors and trunk won't crush the lights. The end of the lights should have a few inches of space with no lights - I used those inches to stick the on/off switch inside the trunk.
Make it safe, but it doesn't need to be permanent. You're just driving around your local neighborhood. You can choose to take them off after this ride. I left mine on because they look festive, and from the blogs I've read where people light their entire car, the tape shouldn't harm the paint at all!
I'm linking the exact lights I used here, which were on sale for $4.50 each at Hobby Lobby. They are sold out online, but just go in person and they are there. Amazon is probably the most expensive place to buy these lights. They are ALWAYS on 'sale' during Christmastime at in person stores. And of course they will be 70% off the day after Christmas, so if you can't swing it this year, grab them for next year.
The Inside: Go to the Dollar Tree and grab enough battery powered LED lights to wrap around the armrests. Grab a Christmas themed battery powered projector while you are there.
Dollar Tree Shopping List
2+ Santa hats for the headrests
1 Projector or 3-4 battery powered LED lights
AA or AAA Batteries
Red bin for popcorn (optional)
Christmas themed plates (optional)
Tins or boxes for cookies/treats (optional)
Tiny screwdriver, the ones for fixing electronics or glasses - need this to open the lights battery pack on Dollar Tree brand lights (I don't know if they have these in store, I used my glasses kit - I couldn't open it with a butter knife)
If you don't have armrests, place or tape the lights wherever they will safely stay -- just not on the headrest (in case of a car accident). You could even place them on the floor, or wrap them around a bottle and place them in the car. Fairy lights also work really well for this. I used some fairy lights that the kids used for an earlier homeschool project.
My local Dollar Tree had two battery powered projectors. I'm linking them here, even though it says sold out in store - Dollar Tree apparently has a poor inventory system, because they were for sure in my store. If you can't find them, you could get this one from Target.
Don't stress about finding these, anything that lights up the car is fine - even a flashlight with a colored lightbulb. My kids were more than amazed with just the fairy lights, which are easier to find online and in stores.
You can also skip the lights and pick up Christmas window clings while you are in the Dollar Tree!
In the upper left photo, the Santa-belt red bin is from the Dollar Tree. I used it for popcorn. The two containers are from Hallmart. Linked here, they were $7 for 3 but were so adorable I had to grab them. I put wrapped treats and a juice box in there, so I can save them to use again next year. You can find something similar here on Amazon.
The Christmas hats from Dollar Tree were a tight fit on my headrest, so I ended up getting them from Hobby Lobby for $3 each. If you don't do Santa, you can also do any Christmas-y beanie or hat, like these.
I ended up getting half of this stuff from Hobby Lobby - with their 50% off Christmas 'sale', most items ended up being $1.50 or less.
Hobby Lobby Shopping List
Portable Hot Cocoa Mugs or Disposable Mugs
Christmas Tin
Adult Sized Santa Hat
Hook & Loop Velcro (See below, only if hanging tablets)
LED light for the outside your car (Remember, I got those from Hobby Lobby)
Fairy lights/Indoor LED if you can't find them at Dollar Tree
Step 2: Print out the "Family Express" Train Ticket and leave it for your children to find. Get a train whistle.
The kids LOVE finding these tickets on their pillow, but you can also place them in the mailbox to spice things up! I made these designs in Canva, I am linking them for you to either download as is, or to edit. If you don't have a printer, of course you can do these by hand at it will still be very special to your children.
This link contains the FREE printable files, print and go: Click here
This link will allow you to edit & customize the design: Click Here This year I purchased a train whistle from Lowe's for $4, linked HERE, and the kids were ABSOLUTELY AMAZED! If you're on a $5 budget, I'd say just get the whistle and print the tickets your first year. It's so worth it! I can't wait to blow this whistle each year, and see the joy on their faces. Alternatively, play a train whistle sound on YouTube for similar results! Ace Hardware and Bass Pro Shop also sold the train whistles in store.
It took a minute to find the train whistle in Lowe's....in my Lowes it's in the section with the dog treats and toys - next to the registers.
Step 3: Get treats and/or food to serve
I had planned on serving cute sandwiches made from Christmas cut outs, but after running around getting everything, I decided that the first "Stop" on the train would be to our local pizza place! That worked OK for us this year, but next year I'll skip the meal or just make something like Chili, Rice & Beans, or even PB&J in lunchboxes.
You don't need as much as you think, especially if the children have already ate dinner. I bought a few options only to show you all! Choose a couple things from the below lists so you won't have leftover food OR kids hyped on sugar. Hot Cocoa
You can gift them a few hot cocoa packets to use during the rest of the season, or have the cocoa ready for the car ride. You don't have to have anything else besides hot cocoa by the way, these are just options. The first year we had hot cocoa and popcorn.
Healthy & Easy Grapefruit & Peppermint Stick (you haven't heard of this?!)
Popcorn
Warm Milk
Honest Juice Box
Quick & Sugary
Christmas Themed Cookies Milk Carton Hot Cocoa
A Takeout Meal
Pizza Fast food meal placed on a Christmas plate/box/tin
Soda/Juice box A Meal from Home Whatever you were going to make for dinner anyway
Cup of Noodles
Step 4: Play movie or songs in your vehicle
Christmas sing-a-longs in the car just feel extra special. Make a playlist on YouTube or Spotify - or just let the kids decide.
Our ride was going to be longer with less sights, so I decided to play Christmas movies. I attached their tablets (iPads) to the headrests using one-wrap Velcro. You can find this 'self adhesive' velcro almost anywhere, I got mine from Hobby Lobby - linked here. But hardware stores and Walmart also have it. I think it's cheapest at sewing stores though.
You can also just stuff one ipad/tablet in between the front row seats and it should fit.
You can use your phone hotspot if you're doing this last minute, but if you choose a movie that's on YouTube, Disney, Hulu, or other apps that allow you to watch videos offline - that's better. For you Christian parents, I am not sure if you can watch Pureflix films offline, but that's another option for a non-secular version.
Here are a few movie options for kids 10 and under and the platforms they are on. Disney App
Frozen I or Frozen II (great for singing along!)
Hulu App
The Chronicles of Narnia (Ages 9+, some scary/sad parts) The Polar Express (does not do the book justice, but kids may like it)
YouTube App (FREE)
*Note, you CAN NOW download purchased or rented movies on the YouTube app! Many movies listed above are also available on Youtube for $2.99.
FREE
Bluey Christmas Special The Magic Schoolbus Christmas & Hanukkah
Franklin Christmas PAID
Step 5: Drive around to see the lights, or other attractions! HAVE FUN
I started this tradition off the same way we did as children - driving to see neighborhood lights. But as less people in our neighborhood decorated, I decided to make it more...fun! This year we drove through neighborhoods to see the lights, stopped by the library to pick up Christmas books, and ended by seeing the free train garden at our local fire department. Be sure to search your local Facebook groups or news for homes that have Christmas light displays. You can drive to those neighborhoods or homes. Outside of that, here's a list of places you can drive to as the destination, or just a quick stop. Use these terms to search for similar places/events in your area! 1. Christmas Tree Lightings
Christmas Train Garden
Library to pickup Christmas books
Go ice skating
Cut/Pick your Christmas tree
The mall or store to buy Christmas Gifts for family/friends
Build a bear to build a christmas bear
Visit Santa at the Mall
Visit cathedrals or churches decorated for Christmas
Go see a Christmas play at a local church (most are free!)
Find kids crafting events, this season there are plenty at all kinds of stores (Sweet frog has make your own gingerbread houses)
Zoolights
Find Christmas carolers at local malls
This "Family" Express ride has become a beloved tradition in my family, and I hope it inspires you to create a magical experience for your own kids.
Have you tried your own Polar Express ride? I’d love to hear your ideas or see your creations! Share your stories in the comments below.