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Gold Coast Railroad Museum
Good-for-Kids Rating
Babies
Toddlers & Pre-KSchool-Age KidsPre-Teens & Teens
History Museum
Special Collection
Train
Gold Coast Railroad Museum Description
Choo-choo fanatics will adore this authentic train museum. In addition to watching elaborate model railroads zoom around their tracks, kids get to climb into the Ferdinand Magellan, the armor-plated railcar used by several U.S. presidents when trains were the standard mode of travel, plus explore the 40 other historic trains in the museum's collection. Younger kids will spend most of their time pushing Thomas trains on wooden tracks. It's best to go on weekends, when the museum offers two riding attractions (for an extra fee): a 20-minute loop on a children's railroad, and a stint in the operating cab of a real diesel-electric locomotive.
Kid Tips
Toddlers & Pre-K: They'll have a blast watching the model trains, pushing around the toy trains, and riding the children's railroad.
School-Age Kids: Train buffs will treasure a ride in the locomotive cab. Walking through trains from various eras makes history come alive.
Pre-Teens & Teens: This is a must-see for kids who love trains and/or history.
Planning Notes
- Avoid the museum when it's hot. The big trains are in an open-sided (but roofed) shed. The locomotive cab ride is not air-conditioned.
- See the zoo, too. This is located next to the Metrozoo, so plan to visit them together.
- Eat before you go. Only minimal snack foods are available.
- Call in advance. You'll want to be sure that the weekend train rides are running, since sometimes they're idle.
Just the Facts
Hours: 10 a.m.-4 p.m., weekdays 11 a.m.-4 p.m., weekends
Fees: $10 - $20
Recommended Time: 1 to 2 hours
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