Strasburg Rail Road

We get a lot of comments on this blog about the fun places we visit. I think we can be particularly proud of this one because I really did find it myself. I occasionally read a blog written by a mother or three who lives in Baltimore and posts about the fun things do with kids in the area. She wrote a post about Cherry Crest Adventure Farm. Cherry Crest Adventure Farm looks really fun, and we'll have to do it one day, but what really interested me was that Cherry Crest is a stop along the Strasburg Rail Road. When I read that we'd be able to ride a real steam engine, I knew we had to go.

The Strasburg Rail Road was established in 1832. It is the America's oldest railroad operating under it's original charter. It was almost abandoned in 1958, but instead, the locals turned it into a tourist destination.We have been wanting to ride a real steam engine for a long time. I'm so glad that this is a short (1 hr. 45 min.) drive away.

Here's Beckett's first look at the steam engine. It was loud.

Beckett pointed out the engine's parts.

We found Thomas! (His face is removed, for safe keeping, perhaps.) If you have ever seen the Thomas Special where they talk to all the kids at the Day Out With Thomas, Strasburg is where that was filmed. They have three Days Out With Thomas every year. If you want to ride Thomas, this would be a fun place to do it. I've seen some other locations that are definitely not the Island of Sodor. 

On the train, ticket in hand.

It was the first day of the Christmas Extravaganza. They had a brass band, carolers, and Santa on board. Felix loves everyone, even Santa.

It was such a lovely, scenic ride. We saw lots of fields and farms. We saw tractors. We saw Amish folk plowing with their horses.

After our ride on the train we went across the road to the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania. This is one of the best train museums I've ever been to.

Beckett, the fireman.

The engines and cars are in an enormous showroom, surrounded by the countryside.

Beckett loved this huge engine and spent a lot of time "driving" it.

One last look at the steam engine.

Share Bear

Beckett's preschool class has a stuffed bear that takes turns coming home with the kids. They do something fun with Share Bear, write about it in Share Bear's journal, and then report about it at school. Share Bear went with Beckett to see the planes at the airport.

Zero

On Grandma Dorothy's last day, she took Beckett to Build a Bear. It was so cute.

He's making his bear strong.

He got to refill the fluff machine at the Stuffiteria.

He was really good at giving his bear a bath.

Thank you Grandma Dorothy.

Beckett really loves this bear. He sleeps with it at night. I sometimes hear him pushing the button in the bear's hand over and over again until he falls asleep. On the bear's birth certificate Beckett typed the bear's name himself: 1234567890. We have decided to call him Zero for short. Beckett has been pointing to Teddy Bears in books and telling me that they are Zero.

Washington's Home

We took Dorothy to Mount Vernon. It had been about a year since I went to Mount Vernon with Jill. We went on a Thursday afternoon and avoided the crowds. We walked straight into the house. No waiting in line whatsoever.

The Potomac from the backyard with its unobstructed view. There is an ordinance that nothing can be built across the river from Washington's house so that the view looks as it would have when Washington enjoyed it.

Beckett sitting on the back porch being a ham.

On our way to explore the other buildings on the estate.

Washington's transportation. I don't think this chair/cart looks like a very fun ride.

At the memorial to the slaves.

Looking back toward Washington's grave.

Walking down to the river.

Washington wanted to be remembered as a farmer, so we visited the sixteen-sided barn.

After we toured the grounds we went to the museum and education center. They have a really fun kids room where we spent a long time talking to an employee who graduated from BYU-Idaho and is related to Mitt Romney.

We Went Back

We loved Harper's Ferry so much that we went back and took Nate's mom. I'm completely enchanted by Harper's Ferry. I've been there twice in one month, and I'd go back again next weekend.

It was crazy pretty. Colors everywhere you look.

Harper's Ferry has a long military history. Last time we were was all about the Civil War. This time we saw these guys from the War of 1812.

The city is built on rock outcroppings and cliffs. It truly is amazing.

 Felix and I had a mini-photo shoot in this courtyard.

 Beckett saw 6 trains, so it was a pretty good day.

(Nicole, Jill, Mel, and Kristen - you can hike to the top of the cliff in the background of the above shots. I'm thinking hike during the reunion.)

Dorothy checks out John Brown's Fort

 We walked along the Appalachian Trail this time. Maybe I'll start saying I've hiked the Appalachian Trail.

 Actually, I spent most of my time racing on the Appalachian Trail. Beckett has now perfected the art of cutting people off. I think this will come in handy when his preschool does their annual Turkey Trot.

Beckett and Grandma Dorothy. Maybe my favorite picture of the bunch.