Christmas is my favorite time of the year. I start planning for the festivities in the early fall, and by Thanksgiving, the inside of my house looks like the North Pole with my exuberant amounts of holiday décor (are three indoor Christmas trees too much? Asking for a friend … ). I am big on holiday traditions and love admiring the holiday lights around my hometown, making Christmas cookies with my kids, watching Christmas movies, and attending the Nutcracker Ballet. This year, I added a new activity to my family’s already full schedule — a horse-drawn trolley ride through downtown Idaho Falls — and I’m so glad I did.
Idaho Falls does a wonderful job of spreading the holiday spirit. From Christmas tree lightings and downtown light displays to holiday markets and even a unique UTV light parade, many activities will make Scrooge himself smile. However, one event that has become a favorite is the free horse-drawn trolley rides throughout downtown Idaho Falls.
These holiday rides are offered every Saturday afternoon throughout the month of December. For my family’s ride, I just happened to choose a snowy Saturday with large snowflakes falling throughout the entire afternoon. Although, we didn’t care — it created the most magical experience. Due to the snow, the temperature wasn’t too chilly, but my family still bundled up in all of our favorite cold-weather gear and we headed downtown.
The rides are offered by Roadapple Trolley, which is a three-generation family-owned business that specializes in trolley and carriage rides. Roadapple Trolley brings their large green trolley, pulled by beautiful horses, and gives rides to anyone who desires. As they come down the street, you can hear the bells on the horses jingle and the sight immediately puts you in the holiday spirit.
The rides are offered every Saturday from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. and are free, thanks to sponsors including SnakeBite Restaurant, XVIII, Park & A Italia, Boss Group, and Devcon. Even better, no reservations are required. Pickup and drop off for the rides are located across from the Civitan Plaza (on the southeast corner of Park Avenue and B Street). We arrived just as the first rides started, and we weren’t the only ones anxious for a turn. A line had already formed on Park Avenue and continued to grow. However, we had views of the decorated Civitan Plaza to admire as we waited.
My family had only a short wait until we could hop on the trolley. The large trolley could carry up to 20 people, and the majority of those on our trolley were children. The ride weaved in and out of the streets throughout downtown Idaho Falls. Because it was a Saturday afternoon, we saw a lot of shoppers hustling in and out of the many locally-owned shops, and hungry diners would wave at us through the restaurants’ windows as we rode by.
We were able to admire decorated storefronts and city streets as we rode by. Plus, with the snow falling, it felt like we were in the middle of a snow globe … or possibly a scene in a Hallmark movie. It was the perfect winter weather.
When our ride came to an end, the individuals from Roadapple Trolley were gracious enough to let my kids pet the beautiful horses and take a few pictures. My children found this heavenly and talked about the horses for the rest of the day. This was a moment they won’t forget anytime soon.
We left our trolley ride in the snow and headed home where I had my favorite cup of hot chocolate to warm me up. It was a magical afternoon spent with my family. The holiday trolley rides through downtown Idaho Falls, Idaho, may just become my new favorite tradition.
You can learn more about these horse-drawn trolley rides in Idaho Falls, and other downtown events, on the Idaho Falls Downtown Development Corporation website.
What are some of your favorite holiday traditions? Are there places you love to visit during Christmas in Idaho? Let me know. I’d love to add your suggestions to my winter bucket list!
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