Trains Around Houston

Do you have train lovers like I do? We still have yet to check out all of the fun train activities around Houston, but we have certainly been to our fair share. Of course my boys are just as content playing with their train table at home, however it’s still fun to check out the real thing when time allows.

To go along with our love of trains, Oliver was just gifted Steam Train, Dream Train by Sherri Duskey Rinker as an early birthday present and we are in love with this book. The illustrations are amazing and combines all the things we love about trains as well as fun animals and toys. I can hardly get through the book without him pointing excitedly at all of the things he sees in the pictures.

As for another famous train we all know and love, last year we made a small trip to check out Day Out With Thomas. While it does tour across the U.S. and Canada, your options in Texas are to visit the Grapevine location in the spring, or the Austin location in the fall. Having two boys who love trains, this was an absolute blast. They were able to go on a real train ride, take photos with Thomas as well as play in the bounce house and check out the different train tables they had set up.

We brought along some of our favorite Thomas books, like Thomas Saves the Day, Thomas and the Big Big Bridge, and Thomas and the Dinosaur. And of course we got decked out in our train gear and train hats for the event!

Another great place to check out is Zube Park near Cypress, just outside the Outlet Mall. Not only is it a huge park, but Houston Area Live Steamers have miniature train cars that run every third Saturday of the month starting in March through November.

I will say from our experience that the steam cars are a more ideal activity for older kids as there is about an hour wait and many of the months in Houston will be fairly hot and humid out. However, the park is still fun to check out and they also have a miniature model train running the kids can watch.

We also love to check out the Tomball Train Depot. The city even just got approval to add a new train museum. You can read about the model trains that were donated here and you can also check out our post here featuring the spray grounds nearby.

On our wishlist:

Can you believe we have yet to ride the Hermann Park Train? This would be such a fun activity after an outing at the zoo. I’ve been wanting to check out Main Street Indoor Park especially for a rainy day or when you just really need some AC during the summer! (photo credit and review from Big Kid Small City). Houston is also home to not one, but two railroad museums nearby. One is the Rosenberg Railroad Museum and the other is the Galveston Railroad Museum. You can also take a real train ride at each one, and while they are both a bit of a drive they both sound worth the trip!

For more information about trains around Houston, check out Big Kid Small City for more ideas like the City of Katy Play Station or Donovan Park. Have you been to any of these trains or museums around Houston?