All aboard - Make Polar Express train reservations now

Children are amazed by the Polar Express,
with the story, Santa & lights.

Grand Canyon Railway is now accepting reservations for its popular Polar Express - with more times available to ride this year!

Grand Canyon Railway will offer runs this year between Nov. 9, 2012 and Jan. 5, 2013 with matinees on Nov. 23 and 24 and Dec. 1, 8, 15, 16, 22 and 23, 2012. For those dates with two runs, departures are at 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Matinees depart at 3:30 p.m.

New for the 2012-13 holiday season, a character from the book – “the Hobo” – will be available at the Railway’s Williams Depot for photos with passengers. The Railway has also increased the number of Christmas lights – many of them energy-saving LED lights – at both the depot and at the “North Pole," a Christmas light village.

Grand Canyon Railway recommends booking early for the best selection.

Closely following The Polar Express book by Chris Van Allsburg, this nighttime trip from the Grand Canyon Railway depot in Williams travels through the starlit wilderness to the North Pole and features a special reading of The Polar Express while passengers enjoy hot chocolate and cookies. The North Pole was extensively renovated recently with enhanced lighting and the addition of features such as storefronts, mailboxes and other structures to give the village a more permanent and three-dimensional look and feel. Upon arrival at the North Pole, passengers are welcomed by Santa Claus and Elf Bernard before Santa boards the Polar Express for the return trip to Williams. Santa makes his way through the passenger cars, greeting every child and presenting each one with a special gift – a jingle bell signifying their belief in Santa Claus. The round-trip journey is a little more than an hour in length.

Most evenings the Grand Canyon Railway offers two trains. The “Christmas Eve Limited,” departing at 5:30 and 7:30 p.m., includes special gifts from Santa that are not included during other excursions.

Individual tickets for the train rides other than the Christmas Eve Limited are $32 for adults and $20 for children ages two to 15. Rates for the special Christmas Eve Limited are $64 for adults and $40 for children ages two to 15. Matinee rates are $27 for adults and $15 for children ages two to 15.

The Grand Canyon Railway also offers a Polar Express Package including the roundtrip train excursion, a one-night stay at the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel and breakfast and dinner at the Grand Depot Café. The package price for two adults and two children starts at $350 and does not include taxes. Polar Express passengers also receive 50 percent discount on a future train trip to the Grand Canyon through the end of February 2013.

Polar Express reservations can be made by calling 1-888-848-3511 or by visiting www.thetrain.com/polar-express-5679.html. For more information about the Grand Canyon Railway or to purchase other tickets or packages visit www.thetrain.com or call 1-800-The-Train (1-800-843-8724).

Mountain Lion exhibit to open at Flagstaff's Museum of Northern Arizona this month

Mountain Lion! image: Photo © Robert Winslow

Over the last two decades, there has been a dramatic rise in large cat sightings on the urban fringes of numerous Western cities. We continue to be fascinated with the grace and power of these magnificent creatures as our communities grow, outdoor recreation becomes more popular, and we move closer to mountain lion habitat. 

Mountain Lion!, opening at the Museum of Northern Arizona in Flagstaff on Saturday, September 15, 2012 through Sunday, August 4, 2013, seeks to create an understanding of the nature of these predators and their long history of relations with humans.

Known by many names—mountain lion, cougar, puma, panther, ghost cat, and catamount, depending on the region—these cats are solitary hunters at the top of the food chain, who rely on their camouflage, superb eyesight, and speed to survive. Mountain lions often travel 25–30 miles a day in search of a meal, with the greatest range of any large wild terrestrial mammal in the Western Hemisphere.

Today, cougars are among the largest meat-eating animals in North America. Like other predators, they play a critical role in the balance of nature and contribute to biological diversity and a healthy environment. 

Mountain Lion! examines the history of these large cats, starting in the Ice Age, when they roamed this continent along with the giant North American Lion and Smilodon, popularly known as saber-tooth tigers.

Hunting techniques, habits, and physical features which have allowed them to survive for thousands of years are explored, along with differing cultural perspectives towards cougars, and changing opinions. This exhibit also delves into how to read cougar behavior and practical tips on what to do if you encounter a mountain lion in the wild.

Mountain Lion! was developed by the Center of Southwest Studies at Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado, in partnership with the Colorado Division of Wildlife, to address the need for greater public awareness. The Museum of Northern Arizona is able to host the exhibit with support from Arizona Commission on the Arts, BBB Revenues from the City of Flagstaff, and Flagstaff Cultural Partners.

The Museum is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day, and is located three miles north of downtown Flagstaff on Highway 180. Admission is $10 adults, $9 seniors (65+), $7 students (with student ID), $6 American Indians (10+), and $6 youths (10–17).

For further information, call 928.774.5213 or go to musnaz.org. You can also find MNA on Facebook.com/musnaz or at http://twitter.com/MuseumofNAZ.