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Wake to wonder.
Begin each morning following our guides in search of the Smokies' “reindeer”—the elk of the mountains.
Two-Night Polar Express Package · Bryson City, NC
A Polar Express Christmas Getaway where the train ride is just the beginning.
Step into an old-fashioned Appalachian Mountain Christmas—a two-night escape filled with Reindeer Safaris, handmade traditions, firelight, festive food and time together.
Book the Train First
Train tickets are purchased separately.
Reserve your 2026 THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride directly with the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad, then choose a two-night Retreat stay around your confirmed departure time.
A Mountain Christmas, Already Planned
Come for the Polar Express.
Return with a whole Christmas story.
The train may be the moment they have been waiting for. But the memories begin before you board and continue long after you return—around lodge fires, on winter trails, over cast iron suppers and beneath a dark Smoky Mountain sky.
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Make something together.
Gather greenery, bake old-fashioned cookies, trim the lodge tree and take a handmade piece of the mountains home.
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End by the fire.
Share stories beneath the stars or gather for a chef-led Christmas feast rooted in Appalachian flavor.
Five Minutes from the Train · A World Away
Stay close to the Polar Express—without making the train your entire vacation.
Three Little Bears Retreat is approximately five minutes from downtown Bryson City and the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad depot, yet tucked into a private mountain setting beside Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Your package price includes meals and scheduled Retreat activities from the evening of arrival through breakfast on the day of departure. Choose your train time first; we will help shape the rest of your mountain Christmas around it.
Approximately 5 minutes
to the Bryson City train depot
Meals & activities included
arrival evening through departure breakfast
Two-night rhythm
designed around common train times
Private mountain setting
beside the national park
Your Two-Night Rhythm
Nothing essential to miss.
Holiday programming follows a repeating two-day rotation. No matter which arrival day you choose, your stay is designed to include the signature experiences—with room built in for your Polar Express ride, downtown Bryson City and unhurried time at the Retreat.
Day One · Arrive & Make
- A Warm Welcome Hot cider, firelight and a small welcome gift as you settle into the decorated mountain lodge.
- Mountain Greenery & Simmer Pots A guided winter walk to responsibly gather natural materials, followed by wreaths or table arrangements and a mountain-inspired simmer pot to take home.
- Christmas Eve Fireside Reading Blankets, hot chocolate and beloved Christmas stories beneath the stars, woven together with Appalachian traditions and Smoky Mountain folklore.
Day Two · Explore & Feast
- Morning Reindeer Safari Follow our guide into the winter landscape to look for elk and learn how wildlife lives through the season.
- Waterfalls or Christmas Cookie Camp Choose mountain air and falling water, or gather in the kitchen for gingerbread bears, molasses cookies, spiced shortbread and apple butter treats.
- Camp Cookery Christmas Feast A chef-led holiday dinner built around cast iron, open fire and Appalachian ingredients—with live bluegrass on select weekends.
Staying on the opposite rotation?
The activities alternate and repeat, so the signature morning,
afternoon and evening experiences remain part of your two-night escape.
Exact sequencing may shift with weather, wildlife and Polar Express
departure times.
Holiday Traditions
A Christmas you take part in.
This is not simply a decorated place to sleep. Guests help make the season—using their hands, listening to local stories, sharing food and creating traditions that feel connected to the mountains.
Decking the Halls
Families add handmade ornaments to the main lodge tree, becoming part of a shared tradition that grows throughout the season.
DIY Greenery & Simmer Pots
Learn what can be gathered responsibly, create simple natural décor and blend orange, cinnamon, clove, rosemary, pine, apple and local botanicals into the scent of a mountain Christmas.
Cookie Camp
Children and adults bake side by side, making Appalachian-inspired holiday treats to enjoy together or carry back to the cabin.
Stories Under the Stars
Hear The Polar Express and The Night Before Christmas alongside mountain folklore, Christmas customs and stories of winters long ago.
Signature Evening
Camp Cookery Christmas Feast
Gather around a holiday table shaped by fire, smoke, cast iron and mountain tradition. Chef Neil leads a festive dinner inspired by Appalachian ingredients, and every guest leaves with a commemorative recipe card—a small taste of the Retreat to make again at home.
Select Weekends
An old-fashioned Mountain Christmas Market.
On select dates, the Retreat becomes a small Christmas village in the mountains. Meet local makers, listen for carolers and warm your hands around cocoa or cider—all while supporting the artists, foodways and communities that make this place distinctive.
- Local pottery
- Original art
- Hand-poured candles
- Mountain honey
- Local food goods
- Holiday music
- Hot cocoa
- Warm cider
The Experience at a Glance
Two nights. A whole season of memories.
Two nights in a private Retreat accommodation
Meals from arrival evening through departure breakfast
A guided Reindeer Safari each morning
Rotating afternoon holiday activities
Rotating fireside story or feast evening
Time planned around your confirmed train ride
Train tickets are not included and must be purchased separately. Programming is seasonal and weather-dependent. Wildlife sightings cannot be guaranteed. Market vendors, live music and individual activities are offered on select dates; the Retreat may substitute an experience of similar character when conditions require.
Planning Your Stay
Polar Express package questions.
The essentials families need before reserving a Christmas stay in Bryson City.
Are Polar Express train tickets included?
No. Train tickets are not included in the Retreat package. Please purchase your 2026 train tickets first , then reserve your two-night stay around the confirmed departure time.
What is included in the package price?
Your package includes your selected private accommodation, meals and scheduled Retreat activities from the evening of arrival through breakfast on the day of departure. Train tickets and optional add-ons are separate.
How far is the Retreat from the Polar Express train station?
Three Little Bears Retreat is approximately five minutes from downtown Bryson City and the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad depot.
Will our train time conflict with Retreat activities?
The program follows a repeating two-day rotation and is designed around common Polar Express departure times. Share your confirmed train time before arrival so we can help you make the most of the experience.
What is a Reindeer Safari?
It is a guided winter wildlife outing in search of the Smokies' elk—the mountain “reindeer” of the Southern Appalachians. Wildlife sightings cannot be guaranteed, but every safari includes interpretation of the animals, habitat and winter landscape.
Is the experience appropriate for young children?
Yes. The holiday experience is designed for families, with flexible activities such as cookie making, handmade ornaments, fireside stories, short winter walks and wildlife outings. Parents should consider each child's comfort with the weather and individual outdoor activities.
What happens if winter weather changes an activity?
Outdoor programming is weather-dependent. If conditions affect a hike, safari or outdoor gathering, the Retreat may adjust the schedule or substitute a seasonal experience of similar character.
Can we stay even if we are not riding the train?
Yes. Guests may enjoy the Retreat's Appalachian Mountain Christmas programming without Polar Express tickets, subject to lodging and program availability.
Adventure Out. Retreat In.
Give them more than a train ride.
Choose your two nights. Tell us when you ride. We will help shape the Christmas experience around everything in between.
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