Santa's Candy Cane Express — Hesston Steam Museum

The Hesston Steam Museum, in La Porte County, Indiana, about an hour east of Chicago and just south of Michigan, runs Santa's Candy Cane Express as a winter event on its own railroads. The operator, the volunteer-based La Porte County Historical Steam Society, describes it as a nostalgic children's Christmas: visitors meet Santa in a real railroad caboose, warm up with hot cocoa at Doc's Soda Fountain and then climb aboard.

Depending on the weather, the museum operates all three of its railroads: the Hesston & Galena Creek Narrow Gauge, the small train and the vintage amusement steam train exhibit. Passengers ride open or enclosed passenger coaches. The operator says trains depart at frequent intervals, there is no admission charge for the event and parking is always free; if heavy snow stops the small trains, tickets are refunded.

Visitors can also have ice cream or lunch at Doc's Soda Fountain and browse the Depot Store, the museum's gift shop.

A ride on one of the museum's three railroads aboard open or enclosed coaches, a visit with Santa in a real railroad caboose, and hot cocoa, ice cream or lunch at Doc's Soda Fountain. Trains leave at frequent intervals through the afternoon. The operator says the event has no admission charge and that parking is always free.

The museum is at 1201 East 1000 North, Hesston, Indiana (La Porte County), south of New Buffalo, Michigan and minutes from I-94 and the Indiana Toll Road. It runs on Central Time and trains leave from noon to 4:00 pm. Train tickets are sold online. In heavy snow, tickets are refunded if the small trains do not operate. The Depot Store gift shop and Doc's Soda Fountain are on site.