The Best Places to Take Train-Lovin’ Kids

Southern California Railway Museum

File this destination under “Worth the Drive” (it’s 77 miles from DTLA). For train-crazy toddlers, make sure to catch appearances by Thomas and Percy, and a special Christmas-time Polar Express Train Ride. This Orange County museum also has the West’s largest collection of railway locomotives, passenger and freight cars, streetcars and other artifacts dating from the 1870s. The museum also operates a railway where visitors can ride on the historic trains and trolleys that helped shape Southern California.

Do you want to hear a bit of history? Then catch a hosted tour! Narrated tours of the museum and their extensive collection Mon. through Fri. between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Hours: 9 a.m.-5p.m.; railway opens from 11a.m.-5p.m. on weekends only and special events
Cost: All-day train ride pass, $12 for ages 12 & up; $8 for ages 5 through 11; free for ages 4 and under

2201 South A St.
Perris, CA
Online: socalrailway.org

Travel Town Museum & Railroad

For train enthusiasts and those kids with a growing obsession, Travel Town is a perfect spot thanks to the collection of historic rail cars and the ride-a-long train that goes around the perimeter. It’s located in a grassy, relaxed area of Griffith Park and happens to also be a great place to spread out a picnic. Of course if your little trainspotter is still obsessed with all things choo-choo come birthday-time, you can have a train-themed birthday party in one of their train cars. Also don’t miss the well-stocked gift shop—a great resource for train-related toys.

Open: Open daily (except Wed.); 10 a.m-4:45 p.m. 
Cost: Free to enter; train rides are $3 & up

5200 Zoo Dr.
Los Angeles
Online: traveltown.org

Griffith Park & Southern Railroad

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. There’s plenty of parking, plus a concession stand, snack bar and a gift shop, as well as a small space-flight simulator and the nearby Griffith Park pony and wagon rides.

Open: Daily, 10a.m.-5p.m.
Cost per ride: $3 & up

4400 Crystal Springs Dr.
Los Angeles
Online: griffithparktrainrides.com/

L.A. Live Steamers Railroad Museum

The train ride at this Griffith Park spot is aboard a 7½” gauge model train, which makes it about an eighth the size of a standard train. You sit on top of it, straddling the train car, as opposed to inside it. You’ll cross bridges, pass through tunnels and alongside miniature towns. Know before you go: Passengers must be at least 34-inches tall to enjoy the ride.

Insider Tip: If you are there on the 3rd Sun. of the month, swing by and check out the relocated Walt’s Barn—it’s where Walt Disney worked on his own trains and brainstormed new ideas.

Open: Sun. only, 11a.m.–3p.m.
Cost per ride: $3

5202 Zoo Dr.
Los Angeles
Online: lalsrm.org

Lomita Railway Museum

This museum is an undiscovered gem for Southern California families. Hidden in a residential neighborhood in the South Bay city of Lomita, it’s full of train history, educational dioramas and hundreds of models depicting train cars from the 1830s to the present. The museum is housed in a 19th-century New England small-town train depot replica, and after you purchase your tickets at the old-fashioned train-ticket counter, the well-informed staff will welcome your little ones with some background on the museum, while demonstrating the facility’s genuine train lights and whistles. Tear your kids away from the kids train table set-up near the gift counter, head out to climb through the historic caboose and engine, the push-car and the water tower, and then maybe enjoy a picnic at one of the two train-centric parks next door, which together feature a contemporary caboose, a tank car and a boxcar.

Open: Fri. through Sun., 10a.m.–5p.m.,
Cost: $4 for adults, $2 for children, free for children under 2

2137 W. 250th St.
Lomita
Online: lomita-rr.org