Paddling Oak Meadow Park in Los Gatos

Oak Meadow Park in Los Gatos, CA is a 12-acre gem in the heart of the city with a lake, creek, playgrounds, BBQs, small bridge and the Billy Jones Wildcat Railroad and W.E. "Bill" Mason Carousel. Serene and  Alex enjoyed the pedal boats, hiking, crossing the creek, and of course the train ride and merry-go-round. The railroad brings more than 100,000 riders annually to tour the park via rail, and the carousel is 103 years-old.

Henry Vilas Zoo in Madison, WI

Henry Vilas Zoo in Madison, WI is named for a little boy born in the early 1900s who died of complications from diabetes. His parents donated the property and developed a zoo for the community to enjoy. In a visionary move, the Vilas family stipulated it must always remain free. Today, it is home to an impressive collection of animals including the state animal -- the badger, alongside giraffe, tapirs, rhinos, elephants, seals, bears, tigers and my favorite, the Galapagos tortoises. The zoo is situated in the beautiful Vilas city park very near downtown with a large children's play yard, a miniature train offering rides and a beautiful carousel. We seem to stop at the zoo every summer, and we always find something new to explore.

Hunter Hobby Park and the Riverside Live Steamers

The Riverside Live Steamers boosts to be the only all steam train club in the United States. They've laid almost two miles of narrow gauge railroad track around 40 acres of Hunter Hobby Park in Riverside, CA. On the second and fourth Sundays of every month, they offer free train rides hauling up-to-900 passengers with multiple engines. Alex and Serene cruised around the track for at least 15 minutes and they gave it four thumbs up for railway fun!

Riding the Rails in Los Angeles' Griffith Park

Serene and Alex at the Los Feliz Station in Griffith Park.

Steam Engines!

The Griffith Park Train Ride Station.

  

There are three ways to ride the rails at Griffith Park: The Griffith Park Train Rides, The Travel Town Museum and the Los Angeles Live Steamers Railroad Museum.  Each ride will cost you just a couple of bucks, but all of them are take you on more than enough track to make it a worthwhile ride. While Alex is a train expert, Serene is a novice. She loved the chuchu and was ready for more: "Again, again!"

The Carousel: Merrily she goes around, goes around, ...

Serene loves the Merry-Go-Round.

Serene rides the Griffith Park Merry-Go-Round.

Serene likes carousels. At the nearby indoor play park, she costs me several dollars each week spinning around in circles. After each ride, she jumps off and demands "more money" and won't relent until you pop in another quarter. Merry-Go-Rounds were popularized in the United States during the early 20th century, when once more than 4,000 spun children and adults round-and-round. Today, there are believed to be only 150 left in operation. One of those is located in Griffith Park in Los Angeles. Celebrating 75 years, this carousel is in dire need of a paint job, but the music is loud, the ride is fast & long and its still great fun for families on the weekend.