A Day Out with Thomas

Our boys have been into trains for a little over a year -- any and all trains, including Thomas & Friends. They love the shows on PBS Sprout, especially the ones with the voice of the late George Carlin.

Last year we missed the Day Out with Thomas at Roaring Camp Railroads. We found out about after the fact when Caleb accosted a boy at the park wearing a Thomas t-shirt. His mother then told me that they had gotten it at a Day Out with Thomas, and recommended that we take our boys.

The train had left the station. A Day Out with Thomas is only two weekends during the summer, and it sells out fast. So, when the tickets went on sale this year, we bought tickets right away with our neighbors, and took off a Friday mid-day to go see Thomas.

First off Roaring Camp Railroads, which runs year round, is definitely worth multiple visits. The railroad route has been in operation since the 1880s. It has two lines, one three hour ride roundtrip to Santa Cruz, and one hour and 15 minute ride roundtrip to Bear Mountain. In fact I’ll write about it more when we do our first family camp trip at the end of this month.

However, A Day Out with Thomas is okay. I struggle with the blatant commercialism of this event and my kids. Watching the show on PBS, and having some of the characters as toys, is different then an inflated price tag on a so, so experience that is branded Thomas. The boys didn’t really need Thomas, it was nice, but they would have loved the old steam engine, and the longer rides to Bear Mountain or Santa Cruz.

The train ride itself was a beautiful 20-mile ride through the Santa Cruz Mountains, and over a trestle bridge. On the ride out the train is pulled by a wonderful old steam engine, and Thomas pushes. On the way back, Thomas pulls, and the old steam engine pushes.

The large Thomas that pulls the train is cool, but call me old fashioned, I love the real antique trains be they miniature or full size. I also thought spending 30 minutes in line to take a picture of your kids (mine didn’t cooperate) in front of Thomas is painful. It felt like we were trying to force fun for a photo opp.

My boys did love the Day Out with Thomas. But if you ask them what they liked best about the trip, they say … 1) Playing in the barn, and 2) riding the train. This is true for our neighbor’s son Jonas as well. The surprise hit of the day was a small wooden barn playhouse.

At the end of the day, kids love the simple stuff.

A Day Out with Thomas tours nationwide, but don’t overlook the host railroad for a fun family outing anytime of the year.