If names like Thomas, James and Percy are more like your kiddo’s BFFs than characters for a show, it’s time to turn off the television and check out some actual locomotives. San Diego is home to several model railroads that will leave kids entertained for hours. If your kiddo has a one-track love of trains, click through the slideshow to check out these San Diego hot spots for train enthusiasts.

San Diego Model Railroad Museum

In addition to four enormous displays of railroads, this 28,000-square-foot space features a Thomas and Friends mini-gallery, a toy train gallery, and rotating exhibit cases. The location of the Model Railroad Museum also can't be beat since it's located in the middle of beautiful Balboa Park. Be sure to allocate at least 30-60 minutes to have fun and take pictures here. Cost: $9/adult; free/kids 14 and under with paid adult (senior and military discounts available)

Balboa Park
1649 El Prado
San Diego, Ca 92101
(619) 696-0199
Online: sdmrm.org

Photo credit: Amy Roost

What’s your favorite train adventure? Tell us in the comments below! 

— Amy Roost

Revolving 500 feet above Seattle, fine guests of The Eye of the Needle (now called Sky City) enjoyed dining and drinks in a decadent, rotating atmosphere in 1962. While the days of a full course meal for less than $7 are now merely memory, one needn’t any time machine to sample the magic potions from the Needle’s drink menu. Seattle magazine’s cocktail expert A.J. Rathbun offers up these vintage recipes—from a Trader Vic’s Cocktail Guide—to try at home.

Seattle Magazine‘s A.J. Rathbun writes:

Panorama Punch
Ice cubes
3/4 ounce light Puerto Rican rum
3/4 ounce gin
3/4 ounce Cointreau
1 dash grenadine
Juice of 1/2 lime plus a slice for garnish

Shake all ingredients in a shaker. Pour into 10-ounce Pilsner glass. Fill glass with ice cubes. Serve with a straw and lime slice.

Cloud Buster
Ice cubes
1 1/2 ounces vodka
3 ounces Champagne
Lemon twist, for garnish

Add the vodka and three ice cubes to a Champagne glass. Add the Champagne, stir briefly, garnish with the lemon twist.

For the whole read, shaken and stirred, click here.

This is our weekly guest post from our friends at Seattle Magazine, which keeps readers on the pulse of restaurants, personalities, arts, entertainment and culture that reflect the tapestry of our dynamic landscape. We’ve teamed up for an exciting partnership to bring you a weekly dose of fantastic Date Night ideas throughout greater Seattle.