Train: Amtrak There is a great variety of items here that will mark any time period of your choice. With an unending supply of beaches, mountains, deserts, and historic highways just a short distance away from the city, theres always an excuse for a day trip. (It can be a bit deafening on the platforms, so consider bringing earplugs if you or your kids are sensitive to loud noises). Here, you can also enjoy activities like taking many pictures of its eye-catching art murals, biking on designated trails, dining at a fantastic restaurant, and snapping several photos together backed by jaw-dropping architecture. There are many festivals, concerts and other events that you can plan a trip around. ; railway opens from 11a.m.-5p.m. 800 North Alameda St.Los AngelesOnline: unionstationla.com. The biggest draw of Griffith Park is that theres a little something for people of all ages. One child ages 2-12 is eligible to receive a 50% discount on the lowest available adult rail fare on most Amtrak trains with each fare-paying adult (age 18+). Parents, theres a little something for you too. Whether you are local to Southern California or just visiting, these train rides will transport you to a different time when life was a bit more leisurely and old-fashioned. Travel Time: 2 1/2 hours each way, Get out and hike the beautiful Indian Canyons in Palm Springs. They'll have the chance to learn about marine life in the middle of the adventure. It offers several engaging events throughout the year, guided tours, a gift shop, and more. The morning arrival means you can start enjoying the nearby lakes, rivers and waterfalls early in the day. Check their calendar for events like moonlight hikes. Spread over 120 acres, there are a few gardens to its credit. to request a date for your next special event. Take an adventure to any of our over 200 EXPLORE destinations across Southern California, and the kids ride completely free - no ticket needed! the train ride with Thomas the Tank Engine, as well as a variety of Thomas & Friends themed entertainment, give-a-ways, and more. Train Party is the largest trackless train provider in Southern California. Danny's Farm Danny's Farm was founded by former Los Angeles Dodger (and pitching coach for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheimno matter which LA team you root for, he's got you covered!) 2003 Learning Curve International, Inc. The destinations listed below all have good departure and arrival times from L.A. along with stunning scenery and fun things to do. If you are wondering where to take kids to educate them about the environment while keeping it entertaining, you cannot skip this. This museum is an undiscovered gem for Southern California families. It also has music, audiobooks, DVDs and craft and science kits. Docent-led tours, monthly events, party rentals (includes a Thomas the Tank Engine Playday! Required fields are marked *. Passengers then read along with the classic childrens book, The Polar Express, by Chris Van Allsburg. To begin with, theres an indoor imagination workshop. Once on board, your car hosts will work their way through the coach and punch your golden ticket before hot chocolate and a delicious cookie are served by dancing chefs. So its pretty easy to note all the family activities happening around here. Travel time on the train is 23.5 hours each way. Kids ride free! The railcar collection has three historically significant cabooses and two Union Pacific Lounge cars available to the public. This 6.2-acre park opened in 2013 and is a favorite among locals and tourists. Additionally, on weekends, each adult pays just $10 for a Weekend Day Pass so families small and large can have an affordable experience. Thanks for sharing! Travel through the New Mexico desert and mountains to reach Trindad, Colorado. We want our customers to be able to book with confidence you and your event are important to us! One of the best parts about living in Los Angelesis getting out of Los Angeles. And theres no place like the City of Angels. Its for people of all ages and even the toys here are educational. Plan to stay at least two nights as the return train to L.A. departs around 7:15 a.m. San Luis Obispo is a great family getaway or a wine trip thats 5.5 hours away from L.A. While there are some gentle rides here, the park is most famous for the ones that'll . Rental cars are hard to find, so you might need to walk to local attractions, such as the Trinidad History Museum and A.R. Every day is an opportunity to create new stories. Theres nothing like a weekend here exploring the wonders of science. Explore beautiful SoCal from San Luis Obispo to San Diego on The Pacific Surfliner. This is a perfect addition to your Thomas the Train theme party. WELCOME & all aboard! 320 Golden Shore #100Long Beach, CA 90802. Recommended Hotel Nearby: Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills. coolest attractions in Southern California. Irvine Regional Park's annual Christmas Train offers both daytime and nighttimerides through the historic park to meet Santa at his Village. So pull on those matching family PJs and get ready to sing some carols, hear a story, chow down on Christmas cookies, and even chanceto hand over those wish lists toSanta Claus in person. It houses more than 43 full-scale railroad cars and engines dating back to the early 1900s. Not bad for a days work. most daysCost per ride: Free with admission (tickets start at $53, but you can find discounted tickets here). Recommended Hotel Nearby: La Quinta by Wyndham Santa Clarita Valencia, 4949 York BlvdLos Angeles, CA 90042(213) 250-9995. Departures start as early as 6 a.m. and as late as 9 p.m. Great for the whole family, Grover Beach is a small community with a great beach, dunes nature preserve, winery, escape room, ATV rentals and more. Choo-Chooride into wonderland on our StoryBook Train rental and chug your way into family fun and adventures. Angela is the staff writer for Only in Your State - Southern California. Your email address will not be published. Make your next event a memorable one with a Trains on the Move interactive train party! Train rides on select vintage trains and trolleys are available to guests during their visit. The museum educates and informs the public about railroads from the past and present and how they will impact transportation in the future. Be sure to check out the wine tours and shuttles. Top attractions includeSandia Peak Tramwayfor panoramic views of the area,Indian Pueblo Cultural Center,National Museum of Nuclear Scienceand thePetroglyph National Monument. This renowned attraction is a learning center and zoological park home to at least 100 exotic animals of more than fifty diverse species. Ocean Front WalkLos Angeles, CA 90291(310) 396-6794. Its a Chinatown park that went through an impressive $20 million remodeling that you must check out. Founded in 1956 by a group of train enthusiasts, we educate the public in railroad history and show live steam, gas-mechanical and electric railroad technology in actual operation. Haunted Houses, Horror Nights, and Scary Farms for Los Angeles Teens Who Like a Good Scare Free Halloween Events in Los . Experience the fun and history of railroading at Los Angeles Live Steamers Railroad Museum in Griffith Park. Several rental car companies have offices near the Amtrak station, so its easy to rent a car if desired. THE POLAR EXPRESS Train Ride - Rail Events Productions. Have a blast with your kids as you build towering sandcastles, play sandy volleyball, shoot hoops at a basketball court, teach your little ones how to fish, go for a leisurely swim, or enjoy a fun round of frisbee. The Klamath Fall Amtrak station is in walking distance of downtown restaurants, a few hotels and an Enterprise Rent-A-Car office. Cross Country Rail Journey Save $400/booking Promotion Code: AV23NR Book by February 28, 2023 Save Now Glacier National Park Recommended Hotel Nearby: Shutters On The Beach, 200 Santa Monica PierSanta Monica, CA 90401(310) 458-8900. The Southwest Chief departs daily from L.A. in the early evening and arrives in Albuquerque 16.5 hours later. Friends and family of all ages will enjoy a train ride in wine country. Train Party Express is a wonderful addition to birthdays, festivals and all events. Theres also an IMAX theatre for all that you want to know about the science center. Take your train-loving kids to Union Station and get the opportunity to watch several state-of-the-art passenger trains passing by. Box 21039 Glendale, CA 91221. It's known for looking like a pirate tower, and it's so different from all the California architecture around it. It is a historical landmark and features six island platforms, a stunning architectural design, onsite dining choices, and several public art murals. Some Of The Best Things To Do In Los Angeles With Toddlers Are: Some Of The Best Things To Do In Los Angeles With Teens Are: Some Of The Best Things To Do In Los Angeles With A Baby Are: Some Of The Best Kid-Friendly Things To Do In Los Angeles At Night Are: Some Of The Best Free Things To Do With Kids In Los Angeles Are: Copyright Family Destinations Guide 2023. This is no ordinary aquarium, dear friends. Photo courtesy of Amtrak, Young Gates - Kids Online Personalized Classes, 5 Family Festivals and More Top Things To Do in Los Angeles This Weekend with Kids, The Butterfly Pavilion Ushers in Spring at the Natural History Museum, Free in March: 20 Best Things To Do in Los Angeles with Kids, Indoor Fun and Playspaces Guide for LA & OC Kids, 26 Best Things To Do in Los Angeles in March 2023 with Kids, Free and Cheap Summer Camps in Los Angeles, 23 Best Breakfasts in Los Angeles at Kid-Friendly Restaurants, 30 Best Indoor Playgrounds in Los Angeles: Indoor Play Spaces for Hot (or Rainy?) Trackless Train rentals for kid's birthday parties! Theres also a fossil lab to see what came out of the fossils dug out from the tar. Theres also a non-profit tutoring center that will warm your heart. Guests are served hot chocolate and shortbread by dancing chefs, enjoy a reading of the classic book, and get a gift from Santa. Popcorn Machine Originally opened in 1901, Angels Flightthe worlds shortest railwayhas given more than 100 million rides on its hillside track.The top station is located at California Plaza (350 South Grand Ave., while the lower entrance is located at 351 South Hill St.which, handily is across from Grand Central Market (and one of our favorite spots for lunch!). There are a few motels in walking distance from the Amtrak station, or explore Airbnb options. If you're headed to Knott's Berry Farm, be sure grab a seat on the Calico Railroad, which has been at the park since Jan. 12, 1952. 888-501-4FUN (4386) All aboard the Kid's Party Express - whooo whoooo! Whatever you choose,youll feel like you'vegoneto beach bum heaven. The kids are also allowed on a virtual helicopter tour on whats called the Zamboni machine. Enjoy the San Diego countryside on a leisurely 12-mile train trip on the historic San Diego & Arizona railway. Also inside Griffith Park, Griffith Park & Southern Railroad often runs two locomotives around a scenic track that includes a tunnel, a trestle bridge, a Wild West street scene and a corral full of real horses. You can also attend a University of Oregon football game, visit the Cascades Raptor Center or go to a show at the Hult Center of Performing Arts. Hill St. Los Angeles, California 90071. Note that the Texas Eagle trip from Chicago to L.A. takes about 66 hours, but youll see different scenery and cities on this route. Cost: Free to enter; train rides are $3 & up, 5200 Zoo Dr.Los AngelesOnline:traveltown.org. The Railroad Exhibit at Heritage Park tells the story of the citys railroad history through the restoration of the Santa Fe Railway depot, tracks, and signals. Bond with your children while participating in educational tours, interacting with the wildlife, and shopping for souvenirs. This one is for us to take a good, hard look at some of the under-represented artists of color. Rental cars are also an option with Enterprise. Youll arrive Jack London Square (pictured above), and you can walk to the ferry that will take you to San Francisco. For your littledinolovers, a trip to theCabazon Dinosaur Museumwill surely make you their favorite parent for a while. Check out their explorer pagefor all the places you can go including Oceanside, San Juan Capistrano, Ventura County or even the Antelope Valley. Theres also azoo,botanic garden and trails along the Rio Grande River. This is one of the most iconic sites in Hollywood. We now have new services: Face Painting, Concession and Foam Machine rental. Just march right through the lobby and into the tunnel beneath the platforms, check out the schedule to see which tracks have trains leaving soon and walk up the ramp of your choice to see full-size trains in action. People already asked me for your number and I will keep referring you, too. You can easily walk to a light rail stop or to downtown, plus Lyft and Uber are options. Let us know if your family comes across any new places we should add to our list! What are the best day trips in Southern California? It's such a sweet place that you'll want to stay all afternoon. Open, Monday, 2/20 for Presidents' Day from 10 - 4pm. Then catch a hosted tour! Depending on what they have planned, you can also get the chance to interact with puppets. The Orange County Model Engineers (OCME) welcomes the public for free rides every third Saturday and following Sunday of each month. Photo courtesy of Visit Oceanside, Our celebrated neighbor to the southSan Diego is an ideal quick trip by train. Maybe have a cone atCoastal Cone of ice cream as you stroll.Then its time to get wet, whether you want to pilot a duffy boat, rent a paddle boat, take agondola ride or enjoy a bit of maritime historywith the Channel Islands Maritime Museum, which will widen the eyes of any miniature shop lovers out there. Theres an excavator tour where kids can check out what the scientists of the day are digging out of tar pits. Book your Amtrak train and bus tickets today by choosing from over 30 U.S. train routes and 500 destinations in North America. Located inside Balboa Park, inside the Casa de Balboa Building. Check out our must-visit list of train museums, train rides for kids in Los Angeles, must-visit stations, and a chance to ride real trains for free (at least for the kids). Few SoCal towns are better at turning the ocean into some serious family fun. All aboard the Kidsguide Express! Descanso Gardens. Here, there are activities for 2 year olds and 60 year olds with the same spirit of entertainment. Here, you can go on guided educational tours, read books at a library, shop for toys for your youngsters, buy souvenirs at the museum store, go on train rides, and do other enjoyable activities. Child and infant discounts are automatically applied when adding travelers to your booking No Promo Code needed. San Francisco was first. The collection of books here is across cultures and has the best treasure trove of items youve seen in a while. Once you hop off, youll be mere steps away from Paseo Nuevo, the citys historic downtown. General admission includes unlimited train and carousel rides for the day. If you're a fan of wineries, check out Briar Rose Winery for a sweet fairytale experience in Temecula. It opened in 2014 and has a ton of exhibits that will delight the little ones. You can also rent a bike to pedal through its length and view occasional live entertainment from street performers, like musicians and jugglers. Other top attractions include the Municipal Rose Garden, Santana Row commercial district (pictured above), Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum, and Happy Hollow Park and Zoo. 3. A typical train ride takes about 12 minutes and covers two loops of the park. From the 2019 smash hit Joker to the Harry Potter franchise, this studio has a lot of phenomenal cinema to its credit. Watch on. The ride features a narrated story, while an original music score sets the tone, telling and educational story about the history of the Gold Rush In California. Exhibits include 1902 Southern Pacific Steam Locomotive, 1949 Topeka and Sante Fe Caboose, and more. The North Pole Limited stops at Santas Workshop to pick up Santa and Mrs. Claus, who visit with all passengers on the train on the way back to the Campo Depot. Travel time on the train is 11 to 12 hours. But if you have children you love burying their nose the old fashioned way, theres a childrens section that will enthrall them and a young adult section like no other library youve entered. It's a fun way to see the area and it's something the kiddos will surely enjoy. Details subject to change. You sit on top of it, straddling the train car, as opposed to inside it. Get a shuttle from the Gold Line to the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden. Plan to stay at least two nights, as the return train to Los Angeles departs in the morning. After riding our miniature train, explore dozens of old-time railroad locomotives and cars. Located at the Metlox Plaza Corner of Manhattan Beach Boulevard and Valley Boulevard. Its a quirky space where used books are arranged according to color. Camping near Los Angeles: 17 Great Campgrounds for Tent Camping with Kids . One of the most therapeutic things one can do is to plan a holiday. You get to check them out through a short train ride and enjoy the glory of Grand Central Market. The little ones can also check out the splash pad in the summers and a playground that will remind you of Dr. Seuss books. 4400 Crystal Springs Drive, Los Angeles , CA 90027, 2100 Washington Avenue, Wilson Park, Torrance, CA 90510, 5 Family Festivals and More Top Things To Do in Los Angeles This Weekend with Kids, The Butterfly Pavilion Ushers in Spring at the Natural History Museum, Free in March: 20 Best Things To Do in Los Angeles with Kids, Indoor Fun and Playspaces Guide for LA & OC Kids, 26 Best Things To Do in Los Angeles in March 2023 with Kids, Free and Cheap Summer Camps in Los Angeles, 23 Best Breakfasts in Los Angeles at Kid-Friendly Restaurants, 30 Best Indoor Playgrounds in Los Angeles: Indoor Play Spaces for Hot (or Rainy?) Attend during a special event and you may be treated to a train ride on the Orange Empire Railway that takes you all the way to the historic 1892 Perris train depot which is a treat to experience. While 2020 may not be the yearto visit Disneyland,Anaheim is still worth an outing. Providing fun for kids, however, can sometimes be a challenge for parents and caretakers. 4. You dont need a reason to go here. Consider planning your trip around theAlbuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, which is a top event in the fall. There are huge modern art galleries in the Ahmanson building. Know before you go: Passengers must be at least 34-inches tall to enjoy the ride. The quaint town also offers a popular petting zoothat feels a bit like time travel. Plus you can party in the Gaslamp Quarter, cruise the harbor, visit the world-famous San Diego Zoo, explore Balboa Park, experience the USS Midway Museum and shop at Seaport Village. This is a theater operated by Disney and is designed purely for family fun. It features over 2,700 five-pointed terrazzo and brass stars embedded in sidewalks along roughly fifteen blocks at Hollywood Boulevard. Hop aboard and take a little journey on the railway for a scenic train ride in SoCal, as these are the types of experiences that are wonderful to savor. Full of lily ponds, roses, and leafy trees, Descanso Gardens lets kids roam free and explore the natural world. Admission is free, donations accepted. Recommended Hotel Nearby: The Beach House at Hermosa. Take a ride on the worlds shortest railway! Trains arrive midday and return to L.A. around 5 p.m., so you could stay one night and have enough time to experience some of the city. Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. Train: Amtrak Pacific Surfliner Travel Time: 1 1/2 hours each way Fall Activities Trains, Dinos & Heroes Weekend Trips Preschoolers Kids Tweens & teens Anaheim Orange County San Juan Capistrano Los Angeles United States California Southwest and Rockies RECENT NEWS. Upper Klamath Lake has a canoe trail, or head to Moore Park and the Link River Trail for waterfront hiking and bird-watching. We believe the best memories are created when families do fun things together. As Oregons largest city, theres also many festivals to check out all year long, such as the International Film Festival, UFO Festival, Oregon Brewers Festival, Waterfront Blues Festival, Cathedral Park Jazz Festival and many food events. Located inside El Dorado Park in Long Beach, the El Dorado Express is a mile-and-a-half train ride on a vintage locomotive. San Diego has something for everyone, plusgood weather to guarantee you wont get rained out. If youre looking to extend your quick trip a day or two, there are countless hotels with cool pools the whole family will love. You will see little ponds filled with roses, lilies and trees in every direction. 7 Best Train Ride Day Trips To Take from Los Angeles Things To Do In Joshua Tree: 12 Things Not To Miss with Kids in this Desert National Park San Diego with Kids: 60 Family-Friendly Things To Do in San Diego, California GUIDE Museum Guide for Kids in Los Angeles and Orange County 10 Things Not To Miss in Hermosa Beach with the Kids Tots under 2 are admitted free. Yes, Im talking about Los Angeles, the second-largest urban region in the United States. Pacific Southwest Railway Museum, 750 Depot St, Campo, CA 91906, USA. This is a hotspot for dignitaries, former Presidents and television and movie stars too. Related: Southern California with Kids Fun Things to Do. You will also find a host of rotating exhibits and Nature Lab, a hand-on science lab that includes animals and other specimens. During the trip, characters on each car immerse passengers in theatrical onboard entertainment just like in the film! Things To Do In Joshua Tree: 12 Things Not To Miss with Kids in this Desert National Park . Travel Time: 1 1/2hours each way, Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner heads down the coast. So its likely that it looks different every time you visit. Simply because you dont want to miss the experience of watching over 11,000 animals and more than 50 exhibits. Youll spend one night on the train, and we recommend staying one night in Albuquerque. If you really want to experience the great outdoors, rent a car and drive about one hour to reach the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. I felt ecstatic.

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