A Family Outing Idea for those with young children and young hearts

[Penelope T. Farthing]

This past weekend my two year old son and I had train weekend. Strasburg, PA is the most amazing place for train enthusiasts, which I happen to have in my two year old. While trains in general are not themselves very steampunk, the 1907 steam locomotive that runs the strasburg short line certainly fits the bill.

We started off our weekend by driving to Lancaster, PA on Friday night. Saturday, we started with the Pennsylvania Railroad Museum. It is great, a warehouse with four sets on tracks jammed full of trains from the turn of the century until around 1940ish (along with some newer displays but no modern trains). There is a street facade from 1910ish which was really cool. For Lunch and Dinner we ate at The Red Caboose Restaurant in an old dining car. Our Afternoon was my favorite part, a ride on the Strasburg Short line. Everything from the cars on the train to the station itself is restored to between 1900-1930 standards. The Platform is open and if you had absolutely no regard for rules and personal safety you can reach out and touch the chugging, whistling, steaming locomotive. My toddler was OVERWHELMED. I seriously thought his little head was going to explode and steam and bits of train were going to come out. After riding the train through the absolutely beautiful Pennsylvania Dutch Country Side, we checked into our hotel where you SLEEP IN A CABOOSE!! Our room was in the Mail Car and it was absolutely the coolest thing ever for my little boy who still couldn't get enough of trains. We then walked across the parking lot (yes that close) to the National Toy Train Museum. Then afterwards we walked to the front of our hotel parking lot, grabbed a chair and watched the train go by because the track was maybe 50 yards from the front door of the motel office.

In the morning we rode the train again. My toddler was yelling "Want to Ride Train!" over and over again. I on the other hand could deal with not seeing any trains for a while.

Overall, the steam locomotives and the history of Strasburg, a town that seems stuck in time 100 years ago, was the most amazing way for my toddler and I to both get the most out of the weekend.

I have the links to all of the places we visited and stayed if anyone wants them, just let me know. I highly recommend this trip to anyone who loves trains.

[Sgt.Major Thistlewaite]

Absolutely top drawer! Glad you had a good time, and you've given your child a memory that will last a lifetime. Wonderful!

~Thistlewaite

[mr_Apricot]

This is one of my favorite memories from my childhood, i live closer to Philadelphia but my dad used to take me out to the train museum and for a ride on the locomotive, it was wonderful.

[DitaDefiance]

Thank you so much for your post!! I live within driving distance of strasburg and would love to take this trip with my daughter. I'd really appreciate the links if you wouldn't mind posting them or sending me a message. Thank you!!!

[Penelope T. Farthing]

Here is where we stayed http://www.redcaboosemotel.com/ where you get to sleep in a real train caboose.

The Strasburg Railroad http://www.strasburgrailroad.com/ was so much fun and the staff are all great with the kids

The Railroad Museum http://www.rrmuseumpa.org/ where my toddler spent 2 and a half hours looking at trains!

The National Toy Train Museum http://www.nttmuseum.org/ is literally directly next to the Red Caboose Motel.

And there was so much more we didn't go to see, like the Choo Choo Barn http://www.choochoobarn.com/ which is a toy train exhibit. We didn't really explore any of the Pennsylvania Dutch/Amish Country either. Two year olds don't really care about horse and buggies if there are trains around.

[garingling]

I remember going there with my parents as a kid. I'm glad to hear that it is still there and doing well.