Why It Was Worth A Six Hour (One Way!) Drive For A One Hour Train Ride

I admit it. We got into the car to start our trip and I found myself saying in my head, this is really a stupid idea. And it was my idea.

But off we were on the start of a six hour (one way) trip that would take us to Williams, Arizona, where we would board what was called the Polar Express, a ride that would last a little over an hour, and then make the return trip home. All the time we were in the car I kept thinking, if we had just gone to California, I could pick up some XLNT tamales, see my friend who had just had bypass surgery, and then come back home. It would have taken the same amount of time in the car.

But, the die was cast and so we were off. We opted to go down by going over to Jacob Lake, then down Highway 89 to Flagstaff, and then I-40 over to Williams.

It had been several years since we went that route to Flagstaff to go visit our son who was living in Phoenix at the time.

Can I just say this to my friends in Arizona? Your roads....well they suck. Just in horrible shape. I-40 from Flagstaff to Kingman might as well be a dirt road because it is that rough. I thought the wheels were going to be shaken off the vehicle. Highway 89 to Flagstaff, and Highway 93 from Kingman to Las Vegas are no better.

We opted to come back through Vegas because, well let's just say being at Gap, Arizona in the dead of night is a once in a lifetime experience. And I've already had mine.

I digress.

So we got to Williams with a little time to spare, and after parking and getting checked in, we were awaiting to get on the train, and in my typical cynical thought process I was thinking how this was a nice tourist presentation (I could have said trap, but it is the Christmas season) that made the operators a lot of money and would be at best a nice little diversion.

Christmas has changed for me over the years. Lately, the importance of the holiday for me has been focused exclusively on the birth of Jesus, and the miracle that would come into my life because of the redemption He brings by forgiving me of my all too numerous faults and shortcomings. That has been my focus on Christmas for several years, and still remains the most important part of the season to me.

The whole Santa Clause thing, and all the events that are attached to that were not that important to me, especially since we came empty nesters many years ago.

Then we got on the train. And that's when the magic happened.

You see, that train was full of children. Children who still held to the magic of Christmas. And that night brought it back to me. The wonder in their eyes, their unbridled joy and happiness, their absolute thrill when Santa got on the train, it all was simply amazing to behold. And that pure joy and pleasure was also something that could not be resisted. It is something I had forgotten, this magic of Christmas.

Keeping the magic of Christmas alive is about more than holiday cheer—it nurtures children’s sense of wonder, creativity, and emotional well-being. Wonder fuels imagination, a vital part of childhood that encourages problem-solving, curiosity, and joy. By preserving the enchantment of Christmas, we help children see the world as a place of possibility and hope, a mindset that can serve them throughout life.

I saw a lot of possibility and hope on that train.

On the way back we sang Christmas songs, and I'm not sure I've sang that loudly or with that much enthusiasm in years. I don't know that my heart grew ten sizes that night, but it did feel much larger.

When we got off the train and before I could say anything, Tammy turned to me and said, “weren't those kids great!” She got it too.

It was a, well, magical night. We sang, had hot chocolate (we got it!) and cookies, and when Santa got to me, he didn't hesitate to hand me my “first gift of Christmas.”

The traditions and shared moments that create holiday magic also strengthen family bonds. Whether it’s decorating a tree or sharing a bedtime story, these rituals provide opportunities for connection and create memories that last long after childhood.

In my case on this train ride, I got some of my childhood back. So to me, was it worth a six hour (one way trip) to take a train ride that lasts a little over an hour? Absolutely. And it's my hope in the years to come we will have the experience several more times, hopefully taking the rest of our family with us.

I don't know if there is still room for you to make the trip this year, but you can get information about the experience at this website.

As Tom Ha....the Conductor asked in the movie, “you comin'?”