166 F Street
Virginia City, NV 89440
(775) 847-0380
Throughout the year, Virginia & Truckee Railroad has so many awesome event trains, including the very popular and well-known:
A Day Out With Thomas (Held late October)
The Polar Express (December)
Pumpkin Patch Trains (October)
Father Day Trains (June)
Polar Express (December)
V & T Candy Cane Express (December)
Along with A Day Out With Thomas, my family has also been on the Candy Cane Express train twice and the everyday 35 min round-trip ride up to Gold Hill.
The people that work the events are so kind and work so hard to make everyone feel the magic.
Virginia City (where you'll find V&T) is a charming little city that really makes you feel like you're in the "Wild Wild West," with its wooden pathways, saloons, history and ranchers. I fell in love with this small city the first time I visited and the railroad became the cherry on top.
They also have a
visitor's center where you can find out everything you need to know to make the most out of your trip, including lodging, attractions, restaurants, tours, shopping, event information, and more.
Virginia City's Visitor Center86 South C Street
Virginia City, NV 89440
(775) 847-7500
*A Day Out With Thomas
-Be on the lookout for tickets long before the event. They sell out fast due to popular demand.
-35-min round trip to Gold Hill (views are amazing and sometimes you can see wild mustangs and other wild life)
-you get a certificate at the end of the trip
-Photo opportunities with Thomas (who talks and moves his eyes) and Sir Topham Hatt (you can take photos with your phone or purchase the ones taken by them)
-free gift (wheel with names of trains) after completing stamps on passport
-eating station inside a train (pizza, hot dogs, snacks). The pizza was nice, hot, and good.
-face paint, balloons for sale
-gift shop
-lots of fun carnival games including ring and bean bag toss
-kids get to ride miniature trains
-mini golf set up
-mini train tables for play
-coloring/stamp/temp tatts sections
-cartoon viewing inside one of the trains
-free bounce house
-ride a hand car
Notes
-Before your trip, check Accuweather for hour to hour weather so that you can plan accordingly. 40 degrees F temperature with wind makes for biting weather.
-Arriving 15 minutes early is generally enough time for check-in at the gift shop
-Trains operate according to season. Call in for schedule.
*Candy Cane Express Train
-50 min. round trip to Gold Hill where you will take a brief stop halfway and witness Santa and his elves at work in the "North Pole"
-during the trip they read T'was the Night Before Christmas
-hot cocoa or apple cider
-cookies, candy canes
-pictures with candy cane sisters
-at the end of the ride Santa comes out for pictures
-sing-a-long Christmas carols
-greet people with Dec. birthdays
-nicely decorated train cars and depot
-heated indoor train cars
-Throughout the years, they changed things up to keep the ride interesting
We LOVE the Candy Cane Express train because it's pure magic. The candy cane sisters that hand everything out are always full of cheer along with Santa, and the whimsical train and depot is hard to skip out on during the Holidays. Growing up in San Diego, I've never experienced anything remotely close to this event, which makes it even more special.
On the everyday ride, the (nice) conductor narrates throughout the ride. You will learn about the history of V&T and pass by some mines to Gold Hill. The views are always amazing.
There's also a 1.5-hr ride to Carson City. Click
HERE for their website.
Click
HERE for reviews on Yelp
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Lots of parking next to church when their lot fills up
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