Seattle's Child

Your guide to a kid-friendly city

All Aboard! It’s National Train Day

 

Saturday, May 11, is National Train Day, marking the 144th anniversary of the creation of the nation's first transcontinental railroad. Train love runs deep, as any parent of a train fanatic knows. And there's no better time to indulge than during May's bounty of train events.

Take your family out for a scenic ride, check out one of these events, or pack a picnic and do some train watching. It's fun to see your child's amazement as the behemoths barrel down the tracks.

Train Watching

One of the best train-watching spots is the Olympic Sculpture Park on the waterfront in downtown Seattle. Parents can take in some art and kids can watch the trains pass by. Enjoy the spectacular view of the mountains and Puget Sound on a sunny day, too.

At two very special sites, Carkeek Park in North Seattle and Richmond Beach Saltwater Park in Shoreline, pedestrian overpasses offer families a chance to station themselves right over the train tracks. It can be loud and intimidating for young children, who may choose to watch from a distance, or super cool for kids who are ready for the thrill.

To get up close and personal with the miniature version, the Washington State History Museum in Tacoma showcases a permanent model train exhibit, put together by the Puget Sound Model Railroad Engineers. The Imagine Children's Museum in Everett also has a well-loved model train set, along with a mountain of toy trains.

Washington State History Museum's model train exhibit.

Train Rides 

Cristy Lake

The Northwest Railway Museum train overlooking Snoqualmie Falls

Not much beats an actual trip on a train for kids. The speed, sound and scenery are sure to please all members of the family. The Northwest Railway Museum is a popular destination, with a 75-minute excursion that departs each Saturday and Sunday from Snoqualmie or North Bend. Extra train rides are available on Memorial Day.

While not your old-fashioned train excursion, it's super fun to ride the Link light rail in Seattle from the stadiums out to Columbia City or even out to the airport and back. Or, your family could take the South Lake Union Streetcar from Eastlake to the Westlake Center, and then take the Seattle Monorail to the Seattle Center and back.

If you are up for a road trip, check out the Chehalis-Centralia Railroad and Museum for a memorable trip on one of the few remaining steam-powered passenger railroads in the state. Or, enjoy the forest and meadows below the majestic white cap of Mount Rainier on Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad's steam train. However, don't plan your visit until the weekend of May 24, when both venue's regular seasons begin.

For an amusing trip aboard a pint-sized train, visit County Village in Bothell, Fox Hollow Family Farm in Issaquah or Remlinger Farms in Carnation. These locations offer train rides and all-around family fun.

And finally, enjoy special Mother's Day train events at the Northwest Railway Museum, Lake Whatcom Railway, Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad and Chehalis-Centralia Railroad. Visit our searchable online calendar for all of the details.

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Seattle's Child Staff