This popular holiday exhibit in Nichols Hall features garden-scale trains winding their way over bridges, under trestles, past waterfalls and detailed landscapes with more than 80 miniature versions of Chicago's favorite landmarks. Buildings, tunnels and bridges have been intricately hand crafted with natural materials, including twigs, bark, leaves, acorns and pebbles.

New landmarks added this year include the original Soldier Field, with accents of eucalyptus pods; Old St. Patrick's Church, with stained glass windows made with dried flowers; the Marshall Field's clock, made with cinnamon sticks and grape vine tendrils; The Museum of Science and Industry, incorporating a calabash gourd; and the Chicago Botanic Garden's Shoin House, with walls made with corn husks. Interpretive signs sprinkled throughout the exhibit give fun facts about Chicago's history and architecture. Realistic snow falls throughout the exhibit.

The experience starts outdoors, where the garden grounds have been transformed into a grand winter wonderland of trees and shrubs, dramatically-lit with over 750,000 white lights. The esplanade features a 40-foot tree, lit with multi-colored LED lights and surrounded by large spheres, also lit with LED lights, that appear to be ornaments fallen from the tree. The Crescent, Heritage Garden and Courtyards are also expertly-lit by horticulturists.

Indoors, the Regenstein Center is a magical wonderland of trains, plants and architecture. The Greenhouses are specially lit and decorated with beautiful holiday plants. Gracing the walls of the Greenhouse Galleries are wreaths designed by area artists. Decking the Joutras Gallery are holiday trees decorated by local designers and a gingerbread train depot. The Bridge Gallery features behind-the-scenes photographs of the exhibit designers, Paul Busse and Applied Imagination, Alexandria, Ky., creating this year's exhibition in their workshop.

The Krehbiel Gallery features an English country train platform with an old-world feel. A slide show chronicling the construction of the exhibit is shown in the Alsdorf Auditorium for those who don't want to end the journey just yet. Holiday caroling enhances the exhibit on Saturdays and Sunday from 10 a.m. to noon and on Friday, Nov. 23 and Friday, Dec. 21.

Visitors can enjoy a light lunch or snack in Burnstein Hall during exhibit hours or holiday dining in the Garden Café from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. The Garden Shop features an array of extraordinary gifts, including a book on Wonderland Express, amidst the exquisite holiday décor during exhibit hours.

A "Winter Wonders" free family drop-in activity will be held in Burnstein Hall from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends from Nov. 23 through Dec. 24 and daily from Dec. 26 through Jan. 6. Families can learn about gingerbread during "Joyful Gingerbread" family programs on Saturdays, Dec. 8 and 15 (fee applies.)

Special events include the fifth annual Reindog Parade on Dec. 1. Visitors parade their pooches in holiday costume for prizes, awarded by celebrity judges. For four very special hours only, dogs are allowed in the Chicago Botanic Garden. Cleverly costumed canines march the parade route – with Santa in the lead carrying a giant rawhide bone-- to celebrate the holiday season. Spectators are invited to line the parade route for a barking good time. Reindog Parade festivities include registration from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Rose Garden and judging from noon to 1 p.m. The parade steps off at 1:15 p.m., and judges award prizes beginning at 2:15 p.m. Advance registration is $14 per dog Parade day registration is $19 per dog. -- www.chicagobotanic.org