There are wine lovers. There are train lovers. And then there are wine and train lovers. If that’s you, the holiday wine train in Wisconsin was basically built in a lab for you.
Up in Trego, the Wisconsin Great Northern Railroad added an adults-only lounge car to each of its Santa Pizza Trains this year. Translation: the families get pizza up front. You get a bottle of wine and some peace and quiet a few cars back. It’s a Christmas train ride, but make it grown-up. Everybody wins.
What’s included on the Wisconsin Holiday Wine Train?
Tickets are $75 per person and come with:
- A bottle of holiday wine from Door Peninsula Winery, in a souvenir wine bag
- A custom wine tumbler
- A buffet of hot and cold hors d’oeuvres
- Holiday music, decorations and “probably” a toast with Santa
The site specifically says “probably.” Love the honesty. Santa’s a busy guy.
There’s a full cash bar too, in case one bottle isn’t enough (no judgment), and room to actually move around. On the ride back, you can wander down to see the fully decorated Santa Car.
Seating is at two- or four-person tables. Bring a date. Bring your work friends. It’s the holidays.
When does the Holiday Wine Train run?
Rides last about two hours and run Friday through Sunday only. It’s pitched as ideal for couples, which tracks. Wine, a moving train, snowy pines out the window. You do the math.
The train runs weekends from November 13 through December 20. That’s six weekends. Blink and you’ll miss it. Don’t blink.
Booking times are also consistent for each day throughout every weekend the train is available, which include:
- Friday: 5:00 p.m. only departures
- Saturday: 11:00 a.m., 2:00 p.m., and 5:00 p.m. departures
- Sunday: 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. departures
How far is Trego from Chicago?
Here’s the catch: it’s roughly a six-hour drive. I know. Hear me out. Trego sits in Wisconsin’s northwoods, and the payoff is real trees, real quiet and stars you forgot existed. If your screen time report has been getting personal lately, consider this your sign.
What else does the Wisconsin Great Northern run?
Since you’re making the trek, stay a while. The railroad also runs America’s only moving bed and breakfast train, where you spend the night on a restored train. Yes, really. There’s also the Family Pizza Train, its most popular ride, with pizza fresh from the onboard kitchen.
Wine. A train. Santa. Stars. Book the hotel. Actually, the train is the hotel. Trust me. It’s time to get up there. Buy tickets here.
