Hi friends, welcome back! I’m crossing another item off my NYC Christmas Bucket List, the New York Botanical Train Show! For over thirty years the New York Botanical Garden has transformed into a winter wonderland featuring model trains and over 190 replica NYC landmarks made entirely of natural materials. NYBG GLOW is also back and is NYC’s largest outdoor holiday light experience. This is the third year for GLOW and it’s such a dazzling sight.
The New York Botanical Garden is located in the Bronx and you can get there by car, Metro North train, or subway. We drove and it took a little less than an hour from our garage in Lower Manhattan. If we didn’t have a car we would most likely take the Metro North because it’s only a twenty minute ride from Grand Central and stops right across the street from the NYBG.
The train show is open November 19, 2022 through January 16, 2023 from 10am – 6pm Tuesday through Sunday, with exceptions for holidays. NYBG GLOW starts at 5pm and is open until 10pm. You can buy a combo ticket to see the train and light show, or you can purchase tickets to only see the train show or light show. The combo ticket allows you to see the train show after 6pm and is the ticket we had.
Inside the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, over 25 G-scale model trains weave through about half a mile of train tracks. The arrangement of replica landmarks was different this year, so it almost felt like seeing a brand-new exhibit.
It’s just so amazing to think about how they put all this together and make it look so seamless.
I took so many pictures, but some of my favorite replicas this year were the iconic Central Park Bow Bridge, Bethesda Fountain, and Belvedere Castle.
I also loved Rockefeller Center complete with a mini-Christmas Tree. I didn’t’ get the best angle, but you can kind of see the bright lights behind the purple flowers.
The NYC skyline is always a beautiful sight to see!
While you’re walking through don’t forget to look up to see all the cool bridges and trains.
The finale of the show this year is the stunning Enid A. Haupt Conservatory.
After exiting the train show we set out to explore the GLOW show. We got lucky with a pretty warm day and the rain just ending before we arrived. While we walked, festive music played while the lights blinked along. Jon said that strolling through the outdoor garden was very relaxing.
At the front entrance there are food trucks, a bar, café, and a cute gift shop. I recommend grabbing some hot chocolate for your stroll through the illuminated garden. The other entrance has ice carving that was cool to see!
For even more fun you can check out the video I made 🙂
We had such a great night at the New York Botanical Garden! I’d highly recommend visiting around the holidays to see the beloved train show and explore the outdoor lights. It’s an activity the whole family can enjoy and such a unique display. I’m already looking forward to visiting next year 🙂
The craftsmanship is stunning – I can well see why you visited!! The festive lights are glorious too! 🙂
It’s amazing what people can create! Such a fun, festive activity 🙂
Agreed! I wonder how long it took to create such things? They were probably hard at it in June!
that’s a good question! I think they must store a lot of them because they’ve been creating them for 30 years, but figuring out where to put it all to make it seamless and how to set up the trains too is quite the task!
It is a great idea and I would love to see more venues follow their lead!
Wow! It is so beautiful! Bucket list for sure! Love those trains. ❤️🚂🚞
It’s such a cool event!
Wow, this is incredible!
It’s such a cool display!
Almost as good as being there thanks to your wonderful photos
So glad you enjoyed 🙂
Okay, this is so cool!!!! My husband and I are obsessed with trains during the holidays, and the details here are amazing. The Glow show is also very beautiful!
You’ll have to go one year! Trains around the holiday are so cool!
Such a fabulous site to see. This train show was amazing. Anita
It’s such a great event to visit, they do an excellent job!
I have seen this display in other years on a few other bloggers pages and I always think it looks like the most magical place! I am fascinated by train displays in general and all the details that go into them.
It’s so magical! It’s amazing how they can make it all work and look so seamlessly. There’s a lot of moving parts.
Ohhh, I wish I was there. That looks so interesting. Obviously a cut above your average Grampa’s train set. Amazing model building construction. Thanks for taking us there Lyssy. Allan
It’s such a cool event! Definitely more intricate than trains I’ve seen around a Christmas tree and you can’t beat the floral surroundings 🙂
Adored seeing this through your eyes Lyssy, it looks enchanting.
So glad you enjoyed, it is so enchanting!
This is so cool, Lyssy! Another box to tick on my endless NYC to do list. Thanks for sharing the Christmas wonders of the city.
You’ll have to stay at least a week to see everything, this show really is amazing!
Ooo that is amazing. Thank you for sharing will have to put it on the Christmas bucket list for next year. Also, I wonder what it is about Christmas and trains?
It’s such a great event! You’d definitely love it. You’re right, something about trains and Christmas is so charming 🙂
I had no idea that model trains could be so interesting and so much fun with such a dazzling holiday display. I can’t even begin to imagine how long it must have taken to put all these models together.
Trains, flowers, and holiday spirit are the combination we didn’t know we needed 🙂 it is so amazing how creative and talented people.
That looks absolutely amazing! I have never seen a train show and this one surely seems like an incredible experience. I also love that there is a sort of Christmas market outside to stay there a bit longer! This really makes me want to book a ticket for NYC at this time next year!
It’s such a magical time of year! The train show is such a cool event and they do such a great job making it a full experience with extras like the food market 🙂
An absolutely incredible exhibit showcasing amazing levels of craftsmanship and attention to detail. NY certainly dazzles this time of year.
It’s amazing what people can create and put together! I wish the season lasted two months!!
Have you been to Lyndhurst, Lyssy? I’ve never heard of it. Even as a small model it looks like an impressive structure and I’m sure it has an interesting history. The final model of the Conservatory is remarkable. I wouldn’t have the patience to create it from any materials, let alone natural ones!
I have not but I need to! There’s a lot of cool old mansions in the Hudson Valley. I can hardly decorate a gingerbread house so I’m with you completely. Glad other people have the patience and talent so we can enjoy this!