Christmas train comin’ at ya!

Ah yes…it’s that time of year again. Time to decorate the house…trim the tree….wrap presents….and, oh yeah, ride the Christmas train! Choo-choo!

Christmas train in the woods.
Christmas train in the woods

2022 has been the year that we’ve been able to get back to normal. With the availability of the pediatric vaccine for COVID, and Riley fully vaccinated, our family has been able to rejoin society and do the things we missed out on over the last couple of years. One such thing was going to the Peacock Road Family Farm for Christmas. I wrote about our first visit there back in 2019. At that time, we were unaware that you should book tickets to see Santa months in advice, but we lucked out when a cancellation came in just as we were getting there. This year however we came prepared, having made reservations several months prior – this year we were riding the Christmas train!

The Christmas train car that we booked could hold a maximum of 7 people, so we invited Riley’s grandparents to join us. When we first got there, everyone climbed out of their cars and bundled up – it was a pretty cold day. We all headed for the Christmas shop, which is where we needed to check-in and get our train tickets. On our way, Riley and her grandmas stopped for a photo op.

Riley and her two grandmas.
Riley and her two grandmas

After the photo op, we headed into the Christmas shop, got our tickets, and then killed some time looking at all the things (which included ornaments, trees, decorations, etc.). At 10:30, our train time, we headed out to get on the train, only to discover it was already running behind. So we went out to explore the rest of the farm, visiting the goats, horses and cows. When we finished, we needed to warm back up, so back into the Christmas shop we went while waiting for the train.

Back into the Christmas shop
Back into the Christmas shop

When it was our turn, we climbed aboard the train and out into the woods we went. Why the woods? That’s where the little cabin is that Santa and Mrs. Claus is at. When we rolled up, the train turned around and let us off one car at a time. Up the ramp we went to the cabin and waiting our turn to see Santa.

Santa Claus
The man himself

As we waited our turn to see Santa, we took the opportunity to snap some more photos with Riley and each set of grandparents.

Riley and her grandparents
Riley and her grandparents
Riley and her grandparents
Riley and her grandparents

Next it was our turn to see Santa. Under normal circumstances, each family would be allowed into the cabin to see Santa and get a photo op. Because of COVID, they were still taking precautions and we had to greet Santa at the door, with only each child going in to see him, with a bench separating the two. A bit of a bummer but totally understandable given Santa’s age. Riley got to talk to Santa for just a few, and got a jingle bell and a candy cane.

Riley and Santa
Riley and Santa

After our visit with Santa, we went to see Mrs. Claus, she greeted us with hot chocolate and a warm fire.

Meeting Mrs. Claus
Meeting Mrs. Claus

While we waited for the train to come back and get us, we drank our hot chocolate, roasted some marshmallows and gathered around the fire.

We managed to nab some family photos on the same wagon we did back in 2019 during our first visit as well – one of which is coming to a Christmas card near you soon (not this one though, ha!).

Meghan smiling, Riley looking confused with hot chocolate mustache, and me laughing at Riley
Meghan smiling, Riley looking confused with hot chocolate mustache, and me laughing at Riley

On the train ride back to the farm, we were hoping that the food barn was open and we could eat lunch, but unfortunately that wasn’t the case, we were about an hour too early. So instead we nabbed some mini donuts to hold us over until we decided on where we were going to eat lunch and then headed out. It was a great day spent with family, and I’m so glad this is a tradition we were able to continue this year. Looking forward to next year already!

Leave a Reply