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| Depot, Photo by Krenda |
Games, geography, history, and trains. You can combine them for your kids. Kids love trains, so you'll have a hit. Bring in the edutainment, starting with the game Ticket to Ride. This board game for kids 8 sets the scene of a 1900 adventure. The game requires strategy as you choose routes across the US, completing trips and competing for longest route. It's rated 5/5 stars on Amazon and while you play on the map board game, the kids will likely learn geography, searching for cities. Credit to my brother-in-law for introducing us to the US Ticket to Ride game. When my son got older, my sister bought him Ticket to Ride Europe, a bit more complicated with tunnels and stations.
For parents with kids under 8, you may jump to train activity #2: take a train ride! My friend from Atlanta visited us in Ohio and we bought tickets for the LM&M, Lebanon, Mason, & Monroe train. Most trips include a history lesson, explaining that the locomotive CNRY is one of the oldest GP& locomotives still operating and the coaches 101-104 were built in 1931. You can get outside to view the countryside because the train includes an open car built in 1934 as a freight gondola. This special excursion brought history to life by acting out a train robbery.
Facts:
Typical tickets cost $13 adult, $8 children. Themed outings at a premium:
-Fall: Harvest Flyer adults $19, kids $16
-Winter: The North Pole Express including the reading of The Polar Express book cost $20.50 adults, $15.50 for kids.
http://lebanonrr.com/
Here's 9 other train trips to consider:
1. Durango & Silverton Train - Colorado - 45 miles narrow gauge railroad takes you through the San Juan National Forest, originally built to carry gold and silver down from the peaks; my friend got married on the enclosed Prospector Car; enjoy the beautiful mountain views, $85 adults, $51 kids
2. Heber Valley Railroad - Utah - Heber Valley & Provo Canyon, steam and diesel trains, adventure outings take you to whitewater rafting
3. Thunder Mountain Line - Horseshoe Bend, Idaho - ride along the Payette River & thru the Boise National Forest, explore gold mining exhibit in Banks
4. Mount Washington Cog Railway - Marshfield Station, NH - 3 miles up the steepest railroad tracks in North America to get to views of New Hampshire, Maine, and Vermont; kids $39, Adults $69
5. Strasburg Railroad - Ronks, PA - coal burning steam train thru countryside and Amish area, look for special outing Day Out with Thomas
6. Virginia & Truckee Railroad - NV - 90 min. ride from Carson City to Virginia City, pass thru tunnels and near cemeteries and abandoned mines
7. Grand Canyon Railway - Williams, AZ - ride through desert and mountains to reach the Grand Canyons South Rim
8. Cass Scenic Railway - Cass, WV - 11 mile journey within the state park includes a steep incline and great views of the mill town Cass
9. Great Smoky Mountain Railroad - Tuckasegee River Excursion - Bryson City, NC - 32 miles through railroad towns and meadows. Check if special for kids free with paying adult on Tue. is offered.
For parents with kids under 8, you may jump to train activity #2: take a train ride! My friend from Atlanta visited us in Ohio and we bought tickets for the LM&M, Lebanon, Mason, & Monroe train. Most trips include a history lesson, explaining that the locomotive CNRY is one of the oldest GP& locomotives still operating and the coaches 101-104 were built in 1931. You can get outside to view the countryside because the train includes an open car built in 1934 as a freight gondola. This special excursion brought history to life by acting out a train robbery.
Facts:
Typical tickets cost $13 adult, $8 children. Themed outings at a premium:
-Fall: Harvest Flyer adults $19, kids $16
-Winter: The North Pole Express including the reading of The Polar Express book cost $20.50 adults, $15.50 for kids.
http://lebanonrr.com/
Here's 9 other train trips to consider:
1. Durango & Silverton Train - Colorado - 45 miles narrow gauge railroad takes you through the San Juan National Forest, originally built to carry gold and silver down from the peaks; my friend got married on the enclosed Prospector Car; enjoy the beautiful mountain views, $85 adults, $51 kids
2. Heber Valley Railroad - Utah - Heber Valley & Provo Canyon, steam and diesel trains, adventure outings take you to whitewater rafting
3. Thunder Mountain Line - Horseshoe Bend, Idaho - ride along the Payette River & thru the Boise National Forest, explore gold mining exhibit in Banks
4. Mount Washington Cog Railway - Marshfield Station, NH - 3 miles up the steepest railroad tracks in North America to get to views of New Hampshire, Maine, and Vermont; kids $39, Adults $69
5. Strasburg Railroad - Ronks, PA - coal burning steam train thru countryside and Amish area, look for special outing Day Out with Thomas
6. Virginia & Truckee Railroad - NV - 90 min. ride from Carson City to Virginia City, pass thru tunnels and near cemeteries and abandoned mines
7. Grand Canyon Railway - Williams, AZ - ride through desert and mountains to reach the Grand Canyons South Rim
8. Cass Scenic Railway - Cass, WV - 11 mile journey within the state park includes a steep incline and great views of the mill town Cass
9. Great Smoky Mountain Railroad - Tuckasegee River Excursion - Bryson City, NC - 32 miles through railroad towns and meadows. Check if special for kids free with paying adult on Tue. is offered.
