After our trip to Dutch Wonderland on Saturday we stayed at a little B&B in Strasburg, Pennsylvania so we could go ride the trains the next day. The B&B was a HUGE hit with the boys when they realized that it was above the Creamery and Deli store. This place was awesome! They had tons of ice cream flavors and homemade waffle cones with a viewing area so you could watch them being made along with homemade candy, including fudge, peanut brittle, chocolate upon chocolate and more chocolate!!
After we enjoyed our homemade breakfast of waffles, eggs, Canadian bacon, fresh fruit and lost of pastries on Sunday morning we left for the train station.
We bought our tickets and waited for the first train to leave at 11:00am. Both of the boys announced they had to use the bathroom, which of course was all the way at the other end of the station, so we walked all the way back to where we started. While waiting, Jaxson spotted Thomas the Train and insisted he needed to ride. He was so excited!!
We soon boarded our train and waited to depart.
There were conductors on each train car that spoke and told stories about the different areas. At one point we stopped and listened for a “ghost train” to respond to our train’s whistle. Peyton thought this part was the best!
After about 20 minutes we stopped and the engine that was pulling our train switched to the opposite end so they could pull us back to the station.
It was an absolutely beautiful day. The windows were open in our car and the ride back to the station was very peaceful. I think when you add all this to the exciting day we had the day before, it just proved too much for the youngest of the family….
Poor Jaxson, but I have to say I enjoyed the ride back to the station with him just as much as the ride out. He’s gotten so active I don’t get a whole lot of cuddle time anymore!
Once we were back at the station it was time to check out the shops and get some souvenirs to take home. Peyton had such a hard time. He knew he wanted a train, but the models were way too expensive and the others were too babyish for him. After going back and forth between 2 or 3 stores we finally settled on this.
He loves this train and has been playing with it nonstop since we arrived home!
Jaxson on the other hand had no trouble finding something he wanted to bring home! There was one store which was completely Thomas the Train. Everyone knows Jaxson is very musically inclined and makes everything into a drum at our house. So, of course, there was no stopping him when he found this.
As we searched store to store for Peyton’s train Jaxson walked around playing his drum. At one point I turned around and I swear it was like he was leading his own parade!
After leaving the train station we found a little playground and pond area for the boys to have free time to run around before dinner. Peyton’s favorite part was obviously the pond with the ducks and geese. He loves all kinds of animals and was pretty funny as he chased some of them around.
Jaxson really loved the big boat that he could climb on.
On Monday morning we stayed in Strasburg to watch the Memorial Day parade. PNC Bank had kids handing our free water bottles and small flags to wave during the parade. In our travels we also found a really nice memorial on Main Street.
Positively our best Memorial Day Weekend to date! Thank you to all the veterans, past and present, who made it possible for us!
What a great adventure for your family! I'm sure the boys absolutely loved it. What sweet pictures of Jaxson sleeping on your chest - I think those are frame-worthy! We will have to check out that Strasburg train sometime. I absolutely love Jaxson's Thomas drum - we might need some video of his little one-man parade!
ReplyDeleteJust read both of your posts. I cannot believe it's been one year since we were all together in Dutch Wonderland. I cannot wait to show Preston the pics of the trains. He will FLIP. I only hesitate because he will ask me 970 times about Peyton's train set, which then I will have to call you on the phone and let them talk trains. Cannot deal with the pics of Jaxson and his drum. They are hilarious and super cute. What a great weekend you guys had. I am thinking about the candy shop-that sounds heavenly!
ReplyDeleteAnd I love Peyton even more-GO YANKEES!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great weekend!! B&Bs can be so much fun to stay at, and how awesome that there was a Creamery below it - sounds perfect to me (I'll have to keep this in mind when we go in the fall)! Love the picture of Jaxson and Peyton hanging their heads out the train window - so cute! The pictures of you and Jaxson are so sweet!
ReplyDeleteCool train set Peyton! Jaxson is too cute with his Thomas drum (sounds like something Simon would have picked out too), and the pic where it looks like he is leading his own parade is too funny! :)