LIFESTYLE MAGAZINES, design shows, sites devoted to decorating tips, videos packed with house tours, a newsletter filled with domestic suggestions: When November arrives, so do the articles, lists, and photo spreads detailing how fashionable people approach their holiday aesthetics, with all sorts of specific styles represented. But what if, when it comes to your own seasonal leanings, you like a little bit of everything? Perhaps you are a little cozily country in your tastes, but the pizzazz of an urban setting as Christmas approaches has appeal, too. For holiday revelers looking for an adventure, Roaring Camp Railroads in Felton boasts a few distinct and dazzling choices for tracks-based adventures. The Santa Cruz Holiday Lights Train travels through the city, all to take in some of the twinkle seen around the seaside burg as the yuletide grows close. And for those nature fans looking to head straight for a sylvan setting? There’s the Holiday Tree Walk, which is all about choo-choo-ing on the Redwood Forest Steam Train, with a peaceful, cider-scented visit to Bear Mountain.
WHICH TO CHOOSE? Your first step is to consider the upcoming dates, of course: Both the Santa Cruz Holiday Lights Train and the Redwood Forest Steam Train will both be running on specific dates in late November and into December. The city train rolls Nov. 27-28, Dec. 5-6, and the 12th through the 23rd. The trip to the trees is also revving up Nov. 27, with dates that include Nov. 27-28, Dec. 5-6, Dec. 12-13, and Dec. 19-23. Prices, details, and the activities adorning each ride are listed on the site (yep, music and other wholesome additions up the charm). But wait: You say that you’re looking to the very end of the year for your train-inspired gallivant? You’re in luck: the New Year’s Train is heading into Santa Cruz nightly from Dec. 26-31. Your ride? Think “(v)intage excursion cars,” a stylish way to lay tracks for 2027.
COUNTRY, CITY, OR BOTH? So what’s your particular holiday train style? We’re so ready for fanciful forest fun, the seasonal shine of Santa Cruz, and some New Year’s Week whimsy. Find all three experiences by starting out in Felton, the home of the charming railroad outfit.
