“Train” – is a magic word for me. On innumerable occasions, it has covered distances between me and my dreams.
It has taken me to the nearest locations to see the magnanimous Himalayas, the Thar desert, surrounded by sand, space and silence, the waves in the oceans, many countries in Europe and recently the wilderness in the USA.
Beautiful steam train rides near San Francisco gifted me exhilarating delights when I saw the curls of silent white steam winding its way through the leaves of the redwood trees.
Beautiful steam train rides near San Francisco gifted me exhilarating delights when I saw the curls of silent white steam winding its way through the leaves of the redwood trees. #Travels Click To Tweet
Steam train rides – Reminiscence of a bygone era
Until recently, I never rode a steam train. I have imagined a romantic fairy tale ride ever since I saw them in movies and read about them in books.
Finally, when I get to ride steam trains in the heart of the San Francisco Bay area, I felt I took a ride into the past and enjoyed every ounce of my journey through redwood forests.
Roaring Camp Railroads
A little more than a year ago, I boarded a steam train near the San Francisco Bay area for the very first time with my toddler from Roaring Camp Railroads.
The ride reminds me of the smiling face of my daughter, one charming spring day and the steam passing through the towering redwood trees.
The ascending pinnacles of the redwood trees ennoble the skyline. To equip these sentences of memory with the sharp edge of visuals, let me share some pictures with you.
Skunk Train
The almost 132 years old Skunk train ride is one of the must do things if you plan to visit Mendocino – a beautiful northern California coastal town.
The train has both indoor and outdoor sitting compartments.
I spent time both inside and outside and needless to say I enjoyed the most when I stood outside in an open-air compartment.
I loved seeing the towering redwood trees passing by and for a split second when I changed my vision’s direction I saw thousands of unblinking eyes staring above.
Bewilderment was my chief emotion.
Also read: A perfect family evening in Moss Landing State Beach, California!
Redwood Valley Railway
The steam train ride in the Tilden Regional Park was fun, and I felt like being inside a storybook.
If you want to spend a beautiful family day, soak in the peaceful greenery all around and also go for a hike then plan a day trip to this East Bay park.
Steam train ride for kids is an activity that combines fun, nature, and beauty.
While taking this train ride, I heard the sound of rustling leaves, flowing winds, fluttering birds, and the occasional ring of the bell by our steam engine driver.
I listened entranced.
Steam train rides and Children
When my daughter will grow up, she will not remember every detail of these train rides but the residue of a blurry memory will allow her to silently step inside an imaginary steam train and get lost in the wilderness.
Perhaps a quick escape, when a mundane reality will impinge my adult daughter.
If the situation allows, I will gift her some distilled moments that I have framed. If you are a parent and reading this, I am sure you are nodding your head too! Aren’t you?
Also read: Picnic in Hap Magee Ranch Park in California!
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Travel Realizations
Getting inside a train in itself is a lovely experience. A few people meet together to participate in a journey and then leave forever.
We meet so many people, listen to the mild hum of talk from everywhere, exchange a few words with some, occasionally some conversations with our co-passengers turn into meaningful ones and memories are built.
I have many such fond memories from my worldwide train travels. Steam train rides are akin to a fairy tale ride, where enthusiasm overflows into excitement both for a child and an adult.
Those moments add a charm, vigour, and vibrancy to our memory.
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Sarah
Wow, these steam train rides looks fabulous. We’ve recently been to San Francisco for the first time ever, but we stayed mainly in the actual city, didn’t venture out much to explore the surroundings. Seeing these rides makes me regret that a little. But for sure we’ll be back to explore the rest of California, so for sure one for the next itinerary. Thanks for putting that thought in my head.