Dallas Fun: Train Rides For Kids

Like many little boys, my son is obsessed with all things train-related.  Thanks to the Dallas and Hot Fun Park Rides, we often see “Thomas the Train” (aka the DART rail) when we are out running errands.
Have you ever taken your children on any of the area train systems just for the heck of riding a train? We do. The DFW metroplex has many, many train rides for kids options.
Here is a compiled list of the best kids train rides in the Dallas area:
1.  Grapevine Vintage Railroad – The oldest continuously operating steam engine in the South resides in our very own backyard and regularly travels between downtown Grapevine and the Fort Worth Stockyards.  The Vintage Railroad is family-focused with special theme park rides like a Halloween Scream Train during Halloween and the North Pole Express during Christmas.
2.  McKinney Avenue Trolley – This trolley is probably my favorite train option.  Why? Because it’s free(!) and conveniently located in Uptown.  The trolleys are restored vintage trolleys that run along Mckinney Avenue.  Looking for a half-day activity?  Park your car at the West Village in Uptown, ride the trolley down to the Klyde Warren Park for playtime and a picnic lunch, then hop back on the trolley to retrieve your car.   
3.  The DART Rail – Sure, the DART Rail is a main mode of transportation for many.  But for my son, it’s a big outing.  We’ve parked our car at Mockingbird Station and caught the DART to go downtown and have lunch with daddy before.  The DART is also a convenient option to take to the zoo, American Airlines Center, downtown Plano or the State Fair when parking is expensive and limited.  
4.  The TRE – Did you know there is a train that services downtown Dallas to downtown Fort Worth? My mom works in downtown Fort Worth, so we love to take the train to visit her.  The best part about it? Free wi-fi!  My son loves the kids ride on train and I love to browse the internet on my laptop instead of commuting to Fort Worth in traffic.  It’s a win-win for both of us. A day-pass is $10/adults, $5/children if you are going all the way to Fort Worth.  Again, children under 5 are free.  
5.  The Dallas Zoo Monorail – Are you worried your child may not have the attention span for some of the longer local trains?  Have you checked out the monorail at the Dallas Zoo? This 20-minute ride thru the Wilds of Africa exhibit is a great entry ride where some of the zoo’s most exotic animals are viewed in their natural habitats.  Monorail tickets are an additional $3/rider on top of the zoo entry admission.
6.  Forest Park Miniature Railroad – If you are looking for more of a nostalgic experience, the Forest Park train in Fort Worth (right by the Fort Worth zoo) might be your answer.  The miniature trains boasts a conductor dressed in railroad stripes and has been a local staple since 1959.