North Pole Adventure — Charlie Russell Chew Choo

The Charlie Russell Chew Choo, which markets itself as Montana's dinner train and boards near Lewistown, runs the North Pole Adventure Train each year during the Christmas holiday season. The operator describes a trip of about one and a half hours that includes cocoa, cookies, stories, songs, games, a trip to the North Pole and a live visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus.

All of the Chew Choo's trains board at the Hanover Boarding Station, which the operator places about 10 miles and 20 to 25 minutes' drive from Main Street in Lewistown. Its published map sends guests north on Highway 191 and left onto Hanover Road (Highway 426), eight miles to the boarding sign, where there is a large grey boarding ramp and a gravel parking lot.

Tickets are sold per person, and the operator says they must be bought together for a group to sit together. Babies aged 12 months and under ride free.

The Chew Choo also runs a four-and-a-half-hour dinner train, a wizard-themed train and a harvest dinner train during the year; this series covers the North Pole Adventure Train only.

About one and a half hours: cocoa and cookies, Christmas stories, songs and games, a trip to the North Pole and a live visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus. The train boards 30 minutes before departure.

The North Pole Adventure boards at the Hanover Boarding Station, about 10 miles and 20 to 25 minutes from Main Street in Lewistown, Montana; the operator asks guests to allow plenty of driving time and publishes a map (Highway 191 North from Lewistown, left at the Hanover Road sign (Highway 426), then eight miles to the boarding sign on your left; park in the gravel lot). Boarding is 30 minutes before departure. Tickets are per person, children aged 12 months and under are free, and tickets must be purchased together in order to sit together. All tickets are non-refundable. Phone: (406) 535-5436; email crcc@midrivers.com.