Train Ride in Campo, California

In our house, Messy Boy's fascination with trains was as natural as Dancing Girl's obsession with everything pink, purple, and princess. So, when we read about the opportunity to do a real live train ride, we loaded up the kids and headed to Campo, CA.

The Pacific Southwest Railway Museum is about an hour southeast of San Diego, practically in Mexico.  In fact, the train ride takes you from the station six miles into a tunnel to the border and then turns around. Train rides are available on Saturdays and Sundays at 11 a.m. and 2:30 pm. Tickets can be purchased online or at the station, and children under the age of 6 ride free.  Woohoo!  It's so nice when the little people are free.

We arrived at the museum about 30 minutes prior to the 2:30 departure. There's a sandbox and swing set outside the depot so the kids and I waited there while Bruce went to get our tickets (Side note for our military buddies...they do have a military discount so be sure to ask!). Messy Boy is always thrilled to play in the dirt and had fun digging in the sand box while we waited on the train.

The conductor was a sweet older gentleman who volunteers with the railroad.  He gave some background information before boarding, which to be honest, I didn't hear much of because I was busy keeping up with my two crazies.  The boarding starts about 5-10 minutes prior to the ride. Be sure to make a potty stop before you get on the train because there are no bathrooms on board.

The kids were so excited to take their seat on the train. They enjoyed looking out the windows and eating fishy crackers for about the first 15 minutes. It was nice and peaceful. Bruce and I were able to sit beside each other and hold hands while our adorable off spring sat across from us smiling. But, when the snacks ran out, Messy Boy was done sitting. We spent the last 45 minutes of the ride taking turns walking around the open air cargo car with the aforementioned adorable offspring or having Messy Boy wiggle all over us in the seat.

This was during the calm and peaceful part of the ride.

After the ride, the train lets you out just a few hundred yards away from the depot at the museum with the static display trains.  I think this was Messy Boy's favorite part.  There were trains everywhere outside to look at and a few cars inside the museum to explore.  Dancing Girl thought it was absolutely hilarious that there was a toilet in the passenger car.

Down by the station...

There was a sign on the desk inside the museum that said there was a teddy bear hidden somewhere in the museum, and if you could spot him, the clerk at the gift shop would give you a prize. We looked all over the museum twice, but we couldn't find him.  I even tried to ask a few of the volunteers about it, but no one seemed to know what I was talking about. I don't know if it was something new that they didn't know about yet, but if you go and find that sneaky bear, please let me know. It drove me crazy for hours after we left.

Checking out the mail car for the bear.

There was also a model train set up in the middle of the museum. Messy Boy found the magic button that made the train go around the track. I think he could have stood there all day pressing the button and then chasing the train around the table.

He found the button!

We had so much fun. I think we were the last people to leave the museum heading back to the parking lot.  We grabbed an old fashioned cream soda from the gift shop and headed back home.  We won't talk about the car ride home. Bruce took the scenic route and almost made me carsick from the curvy roads. Next time, we'll stick with the interstate.

Have you ever been on a train ride with your kids? How did it go? Where did it take you?