Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in Philadelphia, PA

If your kids love trains--and, seriously, do you know any kids that don't?--you are in luck. Philadelphia is within an hour's drive of no less than FIVE scenic railways, three of which operate steam engines, and one regularly features Thomas the Train. How do I know this? I am married to a Rail Fan (otherwise known as a train geek), so I have ridden every single one of these trains. Trust me, I know trains.

Here they are, in order of distance from Philadelphia's Center City.

1. Wilmington & Western. This all-volunteer scenic railway has recently come back from a crisis--in 2003, Hurricane Floyd hit the area hard, destroying all of the railway's historic wooden bridges. In 2007, they reopened all those bridges after rebuilding. This rail line also offers birthday parties, and has a very reasonably priced store. They offer limited food (hot dogs) and have a slightly annoying tendency to lock the bathrooms after the last train leaves the station (meaning they aren't available after the train returns).

2. New Hope & Ivyland. This rail line is not only a tourist scenic railway, but also a functioning short-line--meaning it actually moves freight as well. Located in scenic New Hope, in Bucks County, a train outing for the kid will also mean excellent restaurants and shopping opportunities for parents. Also, parking is tough in New Hope, and the train line's parking lot is centrally located and usually pretty reasonably priced.

3. Strasberg. This historic railroad is located in the heart of Lancaster County--meaning you really feel like you've gone back in time on this train. When you glance out the train car windows, you'll see Amish farmers tending their fields with horses. Strasberg also regularly offers "Day Out With Thomas" (they actually OWN a steam engine that looks like Thomas) several times a year. In 2008, the last one is December 5-7th. Personally, however, I avoid the Thomas days as it gets VERY crowded and I don't think you need a primary-colored engine to get kids excited about trains. The rest of the year crowds are pretty manageable, even on weekends. Strasberg offers several stores, a fairly full service fast-food spot, and a store selling AWESOME fudge.

4. West Chester. This very cute (non-steam) railroad offers the most scenic trip, traveling through the woods of Chester County. These folks also offer birthday parties for kids on request. I think this is my favorite of the locals, even though it violates my husband's love for steam engines. There isn't much in the way of additional services, although there are some nice restaurants if you hunt for them nearby.

5. Cape May Seashore Lines. You can combine trains with a trip to the beach with this awesome railway, offering one of the longest tourist train rides in the area (22 miles and 30 miles). Cape May is also a beautiful shore town with historic Victorian architecture and some excellent restaurants.