The day after Thanksgiving we drive to Grapevine: The Christmas Capital of Texas! We park and walk up and down historic downtown Grapevine. It is all so cute and festive! The boys LOVE the giant and elaborate model train layout in the lobby of the Grapevine visitor center. We also stop at the candy shop and buy a piece of old-fashioned salt water taffy for everyone. There are lots of different fun flavors to try! We walk to the North Pole Neighborhood at the Cotton Belt Railroad Historic District and see the Grapevine Vintage Railroad train at the Main Street train stop and buy the kids an “Elf Passport” each so they can do the handmade projects and activities. It was great! The kids each get to design their own Christmas bookmarks with beads and charms in the old train station, stamp their letters on a brass tag at the blacksmith’s shop, make tinsel ornaments at the tin shop, and decorate a wooden train ornament at the train station gift shop. The projects were so fun and the kids totally loved it! We finish the day with a carousel ride for each of the kids. They had a great time! Grapevine was so charming and the Elf Adventure Passport at the North Pole Neighborhood was the perfect place to bring the kids.
Things we did while visiting Grapevine, Texas during the holidays:
- Grapevine visitor center’s model trains layout and Christmas decorations
- Handmade projects for kids with the Elf Adventure Passport at the North Pole Neighborhood (Cottonbelt Railroad Historic District)
- Grapevine Vintage Railroad Train’s Main Street Station
- Historic downtown shops, markets, and restaurants
Tips:
- Grapevine is considered part of the Dallas-Fort Worth metro and located just minutes from the international airport
- Grapevine is known for its historic downtown shops and restaurants, family fun, vintage trains and railroads, wineries, and Christmas traditions
- It is nicknamed “The Christmas Capital of Texas”
- The Grapevine Vintage Railroad is a 1920s-style train that runs from the Main Street station to the Fort Worth Stockyards. Book tickets and check train schedules online
- Experience Christmas in historic Grapevine when the Cotton belt Railroad Historic District is transformed into the North Pole Neighborhood for the holidays in late November and December (for specific dates please check online). Admission to the North Pole Neighborhood is FREE
- Join the Elf Adventure Passport to participate in handmade projects and crafts including: Stamping your own brass tag at the blacksmith’s shop, making a piece of tinsel for your tree at the tin shop, decorating your own wooden train ornament inside the Cotton Belt Route Section Foreman House, and designing your own Christmas bookmark at the Historic Cotton Belt Depot. Carousel rides are additional. Purchase passports and carousel tickets in person at the ticket booth.
Related Blog Posts:
Shop Photography Prints
Beautiful decorations at the visitor center:
The model train layout at the visitor center was incredible!
Thomas the Tank!
Reindeer and Santa’s sleigh:
Old fashioned candy and salt water taffy:
Cute shops, restaurants, and holiday decor!
Grapevine clocktower:
So charming dressed up for Christmas! The kids liked the statue of the winged unicorn.
The historic depot at the station:
The Grapevine Vintage Railroad ready for Christmas passengers:
Christmas tree at the outdoor ice rink at Peace Plaza:
The kids designing their own Christmas bookmarks inside the Historic Cotton Belt Depot:
There was even artificial snow at the North Pole Neighborhood:
The kids learned how to stamp their own brass gift tag at Millican’t Blacksmith Shop:
Each of the kids made a piece of metal tinsel to decorate our Christmas tree at the Tin Shop at the Bragg House:
Decorating their own wooden train ornament at the Cotton Belt Route Section Foreman House:
They loved all the projects, but I think the brass tags were their favorite!
Finally, a ride on the carousel across from the clock tower before heading home:
