Day Trip to the Holiday Train Show at the New York Botanical Garden

Memorable day trips abound during the holidays, as places everywhere are decked out, lit up, and offer countless options for a festive, family-friendly outing. If you’re looking for something truly special to do, why not drive to the train or, more precisely, to a train show? Make no mistake: there are train shows – and then there is the astounding Holiday Train Show at the New York Botanical Garden, which celebrates its 23rd year for the 2014-2015 season as one of the area’s must-see holiday traditions.

Running from mid-November through January 19, the Holiday Train Show features an astonishing walk-through display of more than 150 iconic New York City buildings and landmarks from all five boroughs, each meticulously recreated with bark, leaves, and other natural materials in ways that most would never think possible, as more than 20 G-scale model trains travel along a quarter-mile track around the miniature city. There’s no need to go traipsing around in the cold to see sites such as the Brooklyn Bridge, Rockefeller Center, Chrysler Building, Yankee Stadium, Statue of Liberty, Grand Central Station, or others; they’re all available here indoors, in one warm setting at the Botanical Garden!

The layout of the train show changes every year. For 2014, “Midtown” has been moved to a more open space because it’s become such a popular place for families to stop and take their holiday portraits, so don’t forget your camera. There’s also a tribute to the 50th anniversary of the 1964 New York World’s Fair.

And if you think all of this is just for kids, you’re mistaken. The Holiday Train Show is captivating enough for all ages at any time, but on select Friday and Saturday nights from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m., the Botanical Garden hosts guests age 21 and older for festive and romantic Bar Car Nights, when adults can enjoy an after-dark viewing of the Holiday Train Show, sip complimentary cocktails, watch ice sculpture carving demonstrations under the stars, listen to live jazz, and see fire and light performances from Cirque de Light. Special Event ticketing is required; look for details on the website.

Advance reservations are strongly recommended, as tickets do sell out. The Holiday Train Show takes place in the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, set among the Garden’s 250 acres of beautiful winter landscapes, and is accessed with timed entry tickets. Although these tickets are sold in 15-minute increments, you may spend as much time as you wish enjoying the exhibition once you’re inside.

Tickets to the Holiday Train Show also include access to many other exhibits, activities, cultural performances, and special events that are planned for adults and children alike. All-Garden Pass Pricing on weekdays is $20 for adults, $18 for students and seniors, $10 for children ages 2–12, and free for children under age 2. On weekends, Monday holidays, and Peak Days (November 28 and December 15–January 2), the prices are $28 for adults, $26 for students/seniors, and $16 for children ages 2–12. (Worth noting for parents of little ones: strollers cannot be taken into the Conservatory, but stroller parking is offered.) Free admission, exclusive access, and other perks are available to members of the New York Botanical Garden. If you pay by MasterCard online, there is a 10% discount on select weekdays, as well. Dining options are available in the Holiday Dining Pavilion and the Pine Tree Café.

The New York Botanical Garden is located at 2900 Southern Boulevard in the Bronx, off the Bronx River Parkway at Fordham Road (Exit 7W). Convenient parking is available for $12 on weekdays and $15 on weekends, November 28, January 19, and holiday weeks (December 15–January 2). During peak visitation time, you may be directed to park at the Peter J. Sharp garage, just a short walk from the Garden’s Bedford Park Gate and the Conservatory. For more information, including video clips of how the train show is created and the fabulous scenes to expect, visit www.njbg.org.