Things To Do With Grandkids
Fall Aboard! Granted, some children will jump at the chance to help Grandpa and Grandma rake leaves. The temptation to jump into that neatly-compiled pile of leaves is irresistible. Before fall foliage falls, wouldn’t it be fun for bored kids to board a train with you and immerse yourselves in the autumn beauty of Creation? There are several local passenger railroads that offer different excursions that let you lose track of time—for a while, anyway!
Colebrookdale Railroad offers multiple exciting excursions, and invites you to “Ride in our Deluxe-Coach, Dining, Garden Cafe, First-Class Parlor or First-Class Lounge and bask in the colors of the season or take in the crisp fall air on our open-air car, available to all passengers throughout the ride.” Station located in Boyertown. 610-367-0200 colebrookdalerailroad.com.
WK&S, The Hawk Mountain Line, Kempton, has many special themed excursions, but also runs regular trips through November 6. Enjoy a beautiful 40-minute round trip aboard their vintage train through lush farmland and verdant forests as the train follows the Ontelaunee Creek on its journey. On most regular trip days, passengers may ride all day! 610-756-6469 kemptontrain.com.
The Allentown & Auburn Railroad is located at 232 Railroad St., Kutztown. They offer unique Movie Trains and other specialty rides. One family-friendly fall special is the Pumpkin Train. Ride the train through the colorful Kutztown area farmland in the peak of the autumn season! The train will stop by Sleepy Hollow Picnic Grove for a pumpkin for everyone and a treat for the kids all included with your ticket! 570-778-7531 allentownandauburnrr.com.
Delaware River Railroad Excursion’s trains depart their station at Phillipsburg, NJ, for “trips for every season!” There is a beautiful, narrated 11/2-hour ride along the scenic Delaware River. But that’s not all! There are excursions with stops at gemstone mines, corn mazes, gardens, and pumpkin patches! Sign up for the Dino Days and Polar Express train rides, too! 877-872-4674 877trainride.com.
Jim Thorpe boasts the Reading & Northern Railroad Lehigh Gorge Scenic Train Rides. “Relax and ride comfortably in our vintage coaches built as early as 1917 pulled by diesel engines. The narrated round-trip follows the majestic Lehigh River over bridges, through Glen Onoko, and into the Lehigh Gorge State Park. High-rising cliffs, mountain scenery, and wildlife surround the train along the forested route to Old Penn Haven.” 1 Susquehanna Street, Jim Thorpe, PA | 570-325-8485 lgsry.com.
If you and your grandchildren would rather watch trains (and maybe even purchase one!), visit the Merchants Square Mall Model Train Exhibit at 1901 S. 12th St., Allentown. The Allentown Morning Call hails it as “the world’s most amazing model train extravaganza.” There are over 40 trains, subways, els, and others, as well as an amusement park, skating pond, live thunderstorm, and miniature people and vehicles everywhere! (610) 797-7743
