10 Tips for A Fun Family Polar Express Adventure || Letters from Santa Holiday Blog
The Polar Express Adventure – your new favorite Fun Family Christmas Tradition!
Get ready…you are so going to want to have a Family Polar Express Adventure when I am finished sharing with you just how much fun we have on ours every year. This is a must do Christmas tradition! If you don’t know the Polar Express story, it is about a little boy who has lost his belief in Santa. Magically, a train shows up that night to whisk him off on a fabulous journey to the North Pole, where he ultimately gets to spend some special time with Santa, and learn how important it is to Believe!
As you know by now, if you come to my little holiday blog very often, we are big into family Christmas traditions at our little house, and into adventures too. So when the two combine…heaven! The great thing is, now that the Little Helper is getting older, we can have her friends join us on our little adventures!
We pretty much stick to the same precise script for our Polar Express Adventure…the Little Helper has always been a bit of a stickler for ritual, so there hasn’t been much wiggle room. But thankfully so, because without her absolute expectation that rituals be repeated, I’m not sure I would have been as consistent about packing this and all of our other very special family traditions (like our Family Grinch Night, our Elf night, the Little Helper’s Christmas Eve delivery, all of our other Christmas Eve and Santa related activities etc) into this short, exhausting, and incredibly beautiful December window!
That said, I have been spending a lot of time on Amazon recently. As you may know, they offered me my own special Letters from Santa Amazon favorites page last week (you can take a peek at it here if you like). Having no experience in how to be an affiliate, I was completely stunned. But in a really cool way! So, I have spent a lot of time looking at stuff they have that might make my life a little easier when it comes to planning some of our special Family Christmas Activities this year, and holey-moley! They have such neat stuff! I had no idea! For instance, found a few pretty cool things to add in this year, like a Conductor’s cap for Hubby Helper.
So here is what I am going to do in this post – I am going to share my ideas and inspirations just like always, but I am going to also link to Amazon so that if you see something you might like, or might like to make, the items or materials are right at your fingertips. I don’t know about you, but I am a little late to the whole online shopping thing, and oh my goodness, it has made this Christmas so much easier for me! I have been able to help Santa out like you would not believe. I have saved myself literally days of roaming the city trying to hunt down what the Little Helper asked Santa for by just popping onto Amazon for a few minutes here and there and adding things to my cart to mull over.
The bottom line is that I’m going to include the links for you, but I don’t want you to feel “marketed” to…it is truly just my way of a) sharing my excitement, and b) trying to make your life just a little bit easier!
Let’s get started!
10 Tips for a Fun Family Polar Express Adventure
1. Get your Polar Express Movie Ready
First of all, you need to watch the Polar Express movie. Our local IMAX theatre plays it every December, and we watched it there on the big screen once, but the Little Helper inevitably wants to watch it at home instead. This is actually okay with me, because it just flows a bit better from home (unless you like going to the theatre in your pajamas!). If you don’t have the movie already, you can get it here.
2. Set the Polar Express Mood!
Remember to really set the mood by hanging a Polar Express poster in your viewing room! This delightful free Polar Express printables from Polar Express poster from The Sassaby Party Co. are just gorgeous, perfect for your Polar Express Family Adventure, and did I mention FREE?!
The Polar Express Spirit of Christmas Free Printable Poster via The Sassaby Party Co.
Polar Express Signpost via The Sassaby Party Co. || 10 Tips for A Fun Family Polar Express Adventure || Letters from Santa Holiday Blog
3. A Polar Express Craft or Two..
Sometimes, we do a Polar Express craft before the movie to get ourselves in the mood. This is especially helpful on the days I am still discretely trying to get organized for the evening’s activities! When the time comes, we make a giant bowl of popcorn, dim the lights, and watch the show!
This year we are having friends join us so we are definitely going to start off with a couple of Polar Express Crafts! The Little Helper always leaves a special ornament gift out for Santa on Christmas Eve, so I love having as many opportunities to make them during the holidays as possible.
Jingle All the Way Ornament via Occasionally Crafty
I love these! They are easy enough for kids of all ages. All you need is some fillable plastic Christmas ball ornaments, , some pretty [easyazon_link identifier=”B00ERILE2E” locale=”US” nw=”y” nf=”y” tag=”lettfromsan07-20″ cart=”y” cloak=”n” localize=”y” popups=”y”]Christmas ribbon[/easyazon_link], and loads of colorful [easyazon_link identifier=”B0062TJGRQ” locale=”US” nw=”y” nf=”y” tag=”lettfromsan07-20″ cart=”y” cloak=”n” localize=”y” popups=”y”]jingle bells[/easyazon_link]! The tutorial uses a Cricut or some such cutter (I REALLY want one!) but if you are not one of the lucky ones, you can do what I do and use the sticky letters from the dollar store. They have lots this time of year. We will be writing Believe on ours, as long as I can find enough sticky letters! And if not, I will just have the kids design their own Believe tags out of some pretty paper and attach them with the ribbon.
Easy Jingle Bell Ornament via Occasionally Crafty || 10 tips for a Fun Family Polar Express Adventure || Letters from Santa Holiday Blog
Jingle Bell Wreath Ornament via Frugal Family Home
I have had my eye on this Wreath ornament for a while, so I am happy to find an occasion to make it! Again, all you need are some [easyazon_link identifier=”B075Z3B6MB” locale=”US” nw=”y” nf=”y” tag=”lettfromsan07-20″ cart=”y” cloak=”n” localize=”y” popups=”y”]silver or gold jingle bells[/easyazon_link], some [easyazon_link identifier=”B0063DH2Y0″ locale=”US” nw=”y” nf=”y” tag=”lettfromsan07-20″ cart=”y” cloak=”n” localize=”y” popups=”y”]wire[/easyazon_link], and some [easyazon_link identifier=”B01ENR4L4Q” locale=”US” nw=”y” nf=”y” tag=”lettfromsan07-20″ cart=”y” cloak=”n” localize=”y” popups=”y”]1/4″ red ribbon[/easyazon_link]!
Jingle Bell Wreath Ornament via Frugal Family Home || 10 Tips for a Fun Family Polar Express Adventure
Jingle Bell Wreath Ornament (Easy Craft) via Jinxy Kids
Or if you want an easier Jingle Bell wreath for littler hands, here is a great one. Actually, the Little Helper just made one the other day while watching Elf, so I guess the bigger kids will like these too!
Jingle Bell Wreath Ornament via Jinxy Kids || 10 Tips for a Fun Family Polar Express Adventure || Letters from Santa Holiday Blog
4. Serve up some Polar Express Snacks
North Pole Cupcakes via Joomag.com
If you aren’t opposed to trying to settle a bunch of sugared up kids down to watch a movie, you might serve them up some North Pole Cupcakes like these! You can use a broken off candy cane ( or [easyazon_link identifier=”B018RERROC” locale=”US” nw=”y” nf=”y” tag=”lettfromsan07-20″ cart=”y” cloak=”n” localize=”y” popups=”y”]peppermint sticks[/easyazon_link]) and a red smartie for the North Pole sign! In fact, I might even make this a fun activity too, and let the kids decorate them – they would come up with great little signs! And if the DIY feels like a bit much, I did come across this all-in-one Wilton Christmas North Pole Sign decorating kit !
North Pole Cupcakes via Joomag || 10 Tips for a Fun Family Polar Express Adventure || Letters from Santa Holiday Blog
Christmas North Pole Cheese Stick Snacks via Kitchen Fun with My Three Sons
Ir you want to serve them something a little healthier, these North Pole cheese sticks will bring a smile to their little faces. Actually, these would also make a great snack for Santa on Christmas Eve!
Christmas North Pole Cheese Stick Snacks via Kitchen Fun with My Three Sons || 10 Tips for a Fun Family Polar Express Adventure
Polar Express Pizza via Into Lindsey’s Life
If you want them to eat something substantial before boarding the Pole-car express, or if you just have a no-food rule for your vehicle, these Polar Express Pizzas look fun!
Polar Express Pizza via Into Lindsey’s Life ||10 Tips for a Fun Family Polar Express Adventure || Letters from Santa Holiday Blog
5. The Magic Happens! Polar Express Ticket and Sleigh Bell!
(for Believers only!) This is where the magic comes in, which is always my favorite part! At the end of the movie, the Little Helper heads upstairs to put her pajamas on and lo and behold, some little Elf has dropped of a set of Polar Express Tickets!
Over the years I have used a few different free printable Polar Express tickets…my choice generally depends on how much ink I have in the printer, or what color cardstock I have on hand. I figured out that it is better for me to use golden cardstock and a black and white image (my printer is an ink hog). Or if you are having an upscale Polar Express Night, I tripped across these beauties!
Free Printable Polar Express Tickets via Sherbert Cafe
This is one of my favorites. And this year she has added a new one too, with all of the words from the tickets in the movie!
Free Printable Polar Express Tickets via Sherbert Cafe || 10 Tips for a Fun Family Polar Express Adventure – Letters from Santa Holiday Blog
Free Printable Polar Express Ticket via Keepin’ It Kool in Kinderland
Another one of my favorite go-to tickets!
Free Printable Polar Express Ticket via Keepin’ It Kool in Kinderland || 10 Tips for a Fun Family Polar Express Adventure | Letters from Santa Holiday Blog
Your Polar Express Sleigh Bell
Santa’s Elf also leaves behind a silver sleigh bell on a lovely ribbon. If you don’t know the story, only those who still believe can hear the bell ring, so it is always a relief that we can all hear the bell! I have always found ours at a nearby dollar store, though I have had at least one panic-y year when I left it too late and there wasn’t a sleigh bell to be found!
I got away with recycling on the sly that year, but it’s a good thing there weren’t friends joining us! I discovered yesterday that you can not only order the “cheap” sleigh bells that I always use from Amazon, but that you can also order an actual [easyazon_link identifier=”B06WD3XLDB” locale=”US” nw=”y” nf=”y” tag=”lettfromsan07-20″ cart=”y” cloak=”n” localize=”y” popups=”y”]silver-plated sleigh bell[/easyazon_link] with the year engraved! It’s a bit pricey so I am not 100% committed yet, but wow! What an amazing special Christmas tree ornament it would make! Or maybe a thank you gift from Santa for the years of milk and cookies, and made-with-love ornaments!
6. Pajamas and Hot Chocolate – Polar Express Style
Christmas pajamas are not optional on the Polar Express! I came across this awesome Believe T-shirt which I think makes a perfect pajama top for our Polar Express Adventure! It will go great with pajama pants we already have (yes we…they have adult sizes too!).[easyazon_image align=”none” cart=”y” cloak=”n” height=”110″ identifier=”B076TCKWR9″ locale=”US” localize=”y” nw=”y” nf=”y” src=”https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51TKGBOnPAL._SL110_.jpg” tag=”lettfromsan07-20″ width=”110″]
Once the Polar Express Tickets have been found we all quickly jump into our pajamas, robes and Santa hats. The Little Helper throws her sleigh bell around her neck and we each grab our hot chocolate for the road – [easyazon_link identifier=”B01689QADM” locale=”US” nw=”y” nf=”y” tag=”lettfromsan07-20″ cloak=”n” localize=”y” popups=”y”]these for the kids[/easyazon_link], and [easyazon_link identifier=”B0784D6D39″ locale=”US” nw=”y” nf=”y” tag=”lettfromsan07-20″ cloak=”n” localize=”y” popups=”y”]these for the grown ups[/easyazon_link]!
This is a must have! It is FREEZING at the North Pole, and generally not that warm outside at our house in December (especially in pajamas!). Every passenger must have a nice warm travel mug of hot chocolate. Word to the wise, also make sure you pack water bottles for everyone, as they do get thirsty and hot chocolate doesn’t help with that. And the last thing you want on you Polar Express Adventure is a cranky kid….I can tell you from personal experience!
We are ready to make tracks!
7. All Aboard for the Polar Express Adventure!
This is where the fun really begins! Everybody lines up. Mama blows the train whistle, and Hubby Helper is the conductor who punches the Tickets. We have a wooden train whistle quite by chance – I don’t even remember where it came from…it’s just been here for always. But if you don’t have one you can get one [easyazon_link identifier=”B0006O4AK6″ locale=”US” nw=”y” nf=”y” tag=”lettfromsan07-20″ cart=”n” cloak=”n” localize=”y” popups=”y”]here[/easyazon_link] for a very reasonable price, and it really does add that magic touch to the moment. If you don’t have a hole punch, you can [easyazon_link identifier=”B00IWVFRD4″ locale=”US” nw=”y” nf=”y” tag=”lettfromsan07-20″ cart=”n” cloak=”n” localize=”y” popups=”y”]get one here[/easyazon_link]. The tricky part, you will find, is when the kids want the conductor to spell out a word, like they do in the movie. You can come up with your own creative explanation for why you can’t do that…I honestly don’t remember what we have said. In any case, the trick is to just punch super fast and they probably won’t care!
As I mentioned earlier, I found this amazing Conductor’s Cap that I am ordering for Hubby Helper to wear this year…super excited about that! I tried to make one using a Pinterest tutorial a couple of years ago but it was a major fail!
8. Make Tracks for the Polar Express Christmas Light Tour!
Once everyone is aboard, we roar (do trains roar?) out of the station. Our local newspaper happens to publish a Christmas Light Tour every year, so we grab our copy of the Christmas Light Map and away we go to see what’s new since the Christmas before. If your city doesn’t have a published light tour, you can still just do your own – it will be just as amazing. If you are taking a printed one though make sure you remember your flashlight and your reading glasses if you need them! Again, experience can be a tough but effective teacher! If you are really lucky, you will have an online version on your phone. Ours started that last year but it didn’t really work well, so we just use the address and let google maps get us there. So much easier than a few years ago!
9. Dine Polar Express Meal on Wheels Style!
About 30 minutes into our Polar Express Adventure, it is time for dinner, so we drop in to our favorite pizza place and grab one to go. If you are better organized than I am, you can call ahead, but somehow, I never remember to do that. It usually takes a grumpy clue to remind me people need to eat! So we hang out in our jammies and wait for our pizza to cook. Do better than me :).
10. The Christmas Light Scavenger Hunt
This is the really fun part! There are oodles of great free printable Christmas Light Scavenger Hunt sheets out there – you will easily find one you like on Pinterest. I want to share a few of my favorites that we have used in years past, but first, remember your clip boards! We have tried taking books along to use in years past when we have had guests and not [easyazon_link identifier=”B01GQJ2DHG” locale=”US” nw=”y” nf=”y” tag=”lettfromsan07-20″ cart=”y” cloak=”y” localize=”y” popups=”y”]enough clipboards[/easyazon_link], but that never works well. The papers are always on the ground, with the associated panic (“Where’s my list?” “You’re using my list!!” etc). If each person has their own clipboard, you are on easy street! I would highly suggest tying the pens to the clipboards too, and probably a good idea to give everybody the same color too. Also, you can clip the [easyazon_link identifier=”B00U30RFAA” locale=”US” nw=”y” nf=”y” tag=”lettfromsan07-20″ cart=”n” cloak=”y” localize=”y” popups=”y”]little mini-lights[/easyazon_link] to the boards and avoid the blinding flashlight-in-the-drivers eyes as they juggle a flashlight in the back seat. Again, speaking from experience here.
Christmas Lights Scavenger Hunt via #NotConsumed
Begin the ink miser that I am, I am always on the lookout for printables that are not ink heavy but are still pretty. This free printable Scavenger Hunt definitely qualities!
Christmas Lights Scavenger Hunt via NotConsumed || 10 Tips for a Fun Family Polar Express Adventure || Letters from Santa Holiday Blog
Christmas Light Scavenger Hunt via The Mama Birds
Now this free printable Scavenger Hunt list is super cool. It is actually intended as part of a game played in teams! She has some great ideas to include, family, friends and neighbors in a little light-hearted competition!
Christmas Light Scavenger Hunt via The Mama Birds || 10 Tips for a Fun Family Polar Express Adventure | Letters from Santa Holiday Blog
You will know when the end of the evening has arrived. The great thing about driving around with the kids on their Polar Express Adventure is that they get sleepy! Yay!! When you say it’s time to go home, they pretty much always agree happily. they will be exhausted, I promise. It is a really exciting night, and chances are, you will be home well past bedtime. So off home you go. Debark and end the night snuggled into bed, flipping through the Polar Express book to look at the pictures….everyone will be far too tired to read! A few pages in and they will drift off to dreams of Santa and Christmas lights – guaranteed!
I hope you enjoyed hearing about our fun family Polar Express Adventure, and I really hope you feel inspired to have one of your own! Or maybe you already do – if so, tell me a little about it!
10 Tips for A Fun Family Polar Express Adventure via Letters from Santa Holiday Blog
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