BWW JR: The NYBG Holiday Train Show and Gingerbread Adventure- Chilly and Worth It

This past weekend my family observed our December tradition by visiting the Holiday Train Show at the New York Botanical Gardens.  While it's not your typical "show", it is a grand experiment in theatricality and a wonder for any child, especially one interested in trains or design (future set designer anyone?).  Natural materials such as bark, twigs, stems, fruits, seeds, and pinecones, are used to create more than 140 scaled, iconic buildings, including the original New Amsterdam Theatre and Radio City Music Hall.  Amidst the twinkling glow of holiday lights that surround this enchanted model New York, more than a dozen model railway trains-from late-1800s American steam engines and streetcars to modern freight and high-speed passenger trains and trolleys-traverse nearly a quarter-mile of track across rustic bridges, along overhead trestles, through tunnels, and past waterfalls that cascade into flowing creeks.  And yes, Thomas is there. 

My three year old loved it, the highlight of his experience being the Bumble Bee and Ladybug trains.  My eight year old was fascinated by the use of natural materials to construct such ornate structures (Yankee Stadium's lights were embedded in rows of acorns).  And my husband, a New York City history buff, was interested in the many models of local homes and buildings from the seventeen and eighteen hundreds.

After checking out the train situation, we hustled over to the Gingerbread Adventures.  Despite the cold, my three year old had a blast running around the maze and the Everett Children's Adventure Garden, permanent features of the NYBG's Discovery Center.  I let my husband chaperone that part.  You know, because I didn't want him to get too warm inside the tented Discovery Center where my eight year old and I explored the different plant parts that go into the making of Gingerbread (Cinnamon, ginger, flour, sugar and clove).  After putting our name on the sign-up list for gingerbread decorating (TIP ALERT), we spent the twenty minute wait filling up my daughter's field journal with samples of the sweet ingredients and data on what part of the plant they come from.  Meanwhile, my husband ignored his frostbite and my little guy got his Sunday sillies out.

We met up to decorate gingerbread cookies and thaw out (well, my husband and son thawed out), which was a perfect end to the day.  Both kids passed out in the car on the way home and with that, my work was done.  Until they woke up.  And then it was game on again. 

The train show is a must-see for New York families who find themselves fortunate enough to not be on a beach over winter break.  (What? Go on vacation and miss New York during Christmas?  No really, I couldn't…).  It's running now through January 16 so you have time to get there, but between the crowds and the temperature, this is one you should plan for.  So here are BroadwayWorld Jr's tips for enjoying The New York Botanical Garden's Holiday Train Show and Gingerbread Adventure:

• You absolutely MUST order your tickets in advance by visiting NYBG's Website.  There are select entrance times for the exhibit and they tend to sell out.
• If you can go during the week, do.  It will still be crowded but weekends are packed.
• Dress warm!  While the train exhibit and Discovery Center are indoors, much of the garden's attractions are outside and everything is spread out.  The day we went was sunny but quite cold.
• Bring a stroller if you can.  Not necessarily for the kids to ride in, but as a coat check.  The train exhibit is located inside America's premier glasshouse, the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, a place that never met a sunbeam it didn't love.  You won't want to be wearing layers for this part.  We parked our stroller in the stroller-parking zone by the entrance to the exhibit (indoors) and packed it full of our coats, hats and gloves.  There's a wait to get up to the actual trains and model buildings, and the kids get squirmy.  My husband and I were happy to be free of having to hold the kids' coats, leaving all arms free to catch our three year old as he tried to break the New York Botanical Garden.
• When you get to the Gingerbread Adventure area, sign up for cookie decorating first because you will have to wait your turn.  You can use that time for indoor, heated scientific exploration or outdoor child-corralling.
• The NYBG is located right near the Bronx Zoo.  If you drive, remember that there is a $12 fee to park.  You can also take Metro-North or the subway, but you will have a twenty-minute walk between the station and the garden.
• For more information or to purchase tickets, visit the New York Botanical Garden online at http://www.nybg.org/.