I visited Roaring Camp on a Saturday afternoon with my toddler. While we had a great time overall, the ride itself felt a bit monotonous after a while especially because not much changed once we started going up the SantaCruz mountains in terms of scenery and landscape. The Positives: Beautiful & Well-Maintained: The historic trains are very well-kept, and the views of the redwood forests are absolutely stunning. Great Amenities: There is ample food available on-site, so you won't go hungry. Location: It is within easy walking distance to Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, which is another fantastic, toddler-friendly activity to pair with your trip. Tips for your visit: It can get tremendously crowded here on the weekends. Because of the heavy crowds, booking your tickets well in advance is highly recommended! read more

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This is a great way to experience redwoods. - There is a $10 parking fee for Roaring Camp. but it's good all day; so after the train ride, you can hike Henry Cowell redwoods right next door, and not have to pay the Henry Cowell $10 day-use fee per car. - I took the beach train. Riding in the open-top car is great; you can see the towering redwoods. There is very good narration throughout the entire trip, with interesting factoids about the redwoods and Santa Cruz. - The train passes the Garden of Eden clothing-optinoal Skinny-dipping swimming hole, plus a very long tunnel when approaching the beach. There is also an interesting bridge from 1909, and a tressle. read more

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Really cool experience! How often do you get to ride a steam-powered train through a redwood forest? Our conductor Colin was humorous, informative, and gave us plenty to knowledge bits and time to enjoy the redwoods. The train has two types of train cars: covered and uncovered. I would definitely recommend opting for the uncovered parking to fully enjoy the majestic redwoods! We went during Easter weekend, so the tickets were slightly more than usual, and there were lots of kids on the train with their Easter baskets. We didn't realize the Easter egg hunt was only for kids, so we were disappointed in that we didn't get to participate; although, now that I think about it, I guess they can't have a bunch of people running through the woods looking for Easter eggs...a disaster waiting to happen (LOL). Definitely recommend booking tickets ahead of time. Parking is $10. We got to the campgrounds early so watched a blacksmith demonstrating his craft, played some games, and walked the Nature Walk Loop at Henry Cowell Regional Park, which was literally right across the railroad tracks. They also had some shops, kid activities, and a musician. Food nothing to write home about, but it's available if needed. If you're making a trip to Santa Cruz, it's worth stopping by! read more

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We were running a tad bit later than the train was supposed to depart. When called, the employees were sweet enough to let us know we'd have enough time to board early on. The train ride through the forest was a sweet experience, seeing large redwood trees and Lucious plants. Through the ride we were given a small history lesson behind the steam trains inventions, which was interesting. The conductor Colin (I believe was his name,) was very kind and enthusiastic about their job. Overall, it was a nice experience for my family. read more

Roaring Camp Railroads - Trees - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Felton, California

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Omg such a cool place for railroad enthusiasts who love an old timey style! I took my line for a steam train ride and it's about 1.5 hours going through the redwoods. The conductor and staff were extremely friendly and knowledgeable and we learned so much about the beautiful redwoods. We had a brief stop to get off and explore the trees and even spotted some banana slugs! Before or after the ride they have spots for food, shops for souvenirs, and can even do candle making or look for gold! read more

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I came here on my own and went on a run beforehand. Good: - They really play up the acting and make the experience entertaining - I liked that it was a beautiful day and the train ride wasn't too slow and still fun for an adult - There are some nice food options in the area so you can grab food and coffee before riding - The area is super well themed, feels like you're transported into the past - Easy ticketing pickup and logistics - Area is good for a long run! Bad: - We didn't start on time, we were delayed by 20 min or so so I was confused where to go Overall this was a very calming experience and I felt super zen and refreshed as I was sitting on the train. read more

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Felton, CA What a wonderful steam locomotive train ride through the redwoods. I will admit that I was not pleased with the parking attendant who did not direct us to the correct space for handicap accessible entry. When seeking more info, the staff on the property was more than accommodating once we got on the property and helped us navigate a drop off pick up point, a wheelchair since the place we parked was too far a distance to walk for someone in our party and even reserved a spot on the train for us while we made our way to the depot. Buying tickets agead of time is highly recommended. The train was completely full I think some people were not able to get on. The train ride through the forest is beautiful and scenic I would highly recommend it especially if you love trains and forests. The conductor was so great we had such a blast! Towards the end of the ride you will get steam mist in your face if you are sitting up in the front FYI. read more

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The reasons are so much fun! With or without kids this is such an amazing immersive experience into the history of steam trains and the conservation of old growth redwoods. Our conductor Colin was a delight! Gave us a great narration as we made our way up the mountain. read more

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Just did the nighttime lantern walk in the Woods. I thought it would be magical but the $25. charge to hardly walk a block into the trees was a joke. I was expecting a long walk and the smell of the trees. Instead the walk on path to the tall tree path in the woods was just as long as the forest walk. Instead of the lovely trees I smelled women's perfume, men's aftershave, and people's mint gum. A $5. charge would have been what it was worth. read more

Roaring Camp Railroads - Lights on path to go to tree path. - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Felton, California

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After years of going to Henry Cowell and walking around Roaring Camp afterwards, we finally decided to go on one of the trains! We booked a Mother's Day train ride online a few days beforehand and arrived ready to ride under the redwoods! Check-in was easy, we went to the ticket booth, gave our name, and then got our tickets. Order instructions didn't tell us to do this, but you will need to get physical tickets here since they do check them on the ride. We did one of the redwood trains vs the beach train. Online it said the train ride was 75 minutes, but it was actually closer to 90 minutes. We got a couple of minutes to get off the train in the mountains and walk around/use the bathroom if needed. The train seemed to stay fairly close to the park, but spent a good amount of time going up. Since it was a lot of up hill, the ride was pretty slow. The train had groups of all ages, I figured it would only be families with little kids, but there were just as many families with adult kids as there were small children, lots of couples as well. I was worried about getting burnt so I sat in one of the covered cars. Big mistake, there's a lot of shade on the ride and you spend very little time in the sun, so if you want a better view of the trees up above, the uncovered cars are the way to go. One thing that was annoying, I was charged $10 for parking, which I didn't see as a charge or an option to uncheck when purchasing the tickets. We have a state park pass and parked and walked at Henry Cowell first, so it was an unnecessary $10 charge. read more

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We were hiking in Henry Cowell State Park and kept hearing the train whistle so we decided to check this place out. It's a short walk from the main parking lot of the state park and we found ourselves in a little old-fashioned Western style town. We didn't have time to check out the shops as we literally got the last tickets on the 2 pm steam train for the day - they were nice enough to hold the train for us! It was well worth the three hour trip - an hour through the beautiful redwoods into Santa Cruz, an hour on the boardwalk, and then an hour train ride back through the mountains with the late afternoon sun filtering through the leaves. They had a carriage where you could sit completely enclosed, one carriage that was open to the elements, and we sat in the car with a canvas roof tent because we didn't want to sit in the sun. Overall, a great value for the experience to ride an old-fashioned steam train through the woods. Our guide shared interesting stories about the area without talking the whole time, which I appreciated so that we could enjoy the ride. read more

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This was our second time riding the trains. Toddler loves trains and this was a great opportunity for him to ride the trains with his "train buddy". Lot of fun activities building blocks, Lego, train puzzles, photo ops and pumpkin decorating to kiddos engaged. They have a huge parking lot and you might have to park in additional ones. It's definitely a walk from parking lots to the station. The park itself is open and free even if you are not riding the trains. The two locomotives as "Thomas" and "Persey" were quite entertaining. They have food options like burger, chicken nuggets, sandwiches, fries and beverages. The bigger gift shop also has the toys on display where the kids could play. Overall ride took 35-40 minutes. It's not exciting if you have done any other train ride at least for adults. Definitely a huge line to take photos with Thomas and Persey. Tip: reach early! read more

Roaring Camp Railroads - Persey taking a break - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Felton, California

Expensive train ride. There are two trains, newer train goes to Santa Cruz and back, older train (steam engine) go around the park, both trains ride cost $42+ per person. Love the old town vibe in the train station. Go there and visit the Henry cowell redwood park together, pay one parking $10 for two locations read more

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My friend and I were excited in doing this trip and we both loved the entire experience with the fun train ride through the forest. We went on the first train tour at 10:30am . The setup of the place was like an old western town ,there is a souvenir shop which had a small game station which my friend and I played checkers while waiting for the boarding call. The train ride into the forest was spectacular!!We had a 5-7mins pit stop on the mountain so we used the restroom and walked around for a bit. It was an hour and a half train ride and you get to see people on a hike. The tour guides did a great job in showcasing and explaining much about the Redwood forest. Just don't sit right in front of the train cause you won't be able to hear the explanation well from the noise caused by the train. Great scenery and perfect weather.Definitely worth the trip! read more

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We took the train that circled the mountain in Felton and loved the experience. I n particular, the conductor was really fantastic. He both conveyed interesting historical information and entertained at the same time! He was so funny and entertaining that we thought he was a trained actor. He balanced out the tedium of a very slow moving train! read more

On my first trip to Santa Cruz, I decided to experience the Roaring Camp Railroad. I knew the risk I ran- I was doing a touristy suggestion associated with Santa Cruz. And we all know that touristy spots, which are almost a requirement when visitng a new spot, can be worthy of hype or are an inflated promise of awe and fun that never fully delivers. In my final assessment, I recommend this as a tourist requirement for the area of Santa Cruz because it allows a person to see, commune, and be impacted by the famed tall trees of the area. But I am not sure if it is worth a second visit. But, again, I highly recommend this, for what it is, a novelty train ride that delivers a grand view of what Santa Cruz promises: lush red woods that tell a story of days left behind, where moss and leafs defined the everyday. The whole experience lasted about two hours. A large part of the experience was getting into the trains. I imagined that the train ride was going to be one that afforded me a seat inside a caboose, instead, the train was more of an upscale tram. No one had window seats, there were no tables to sit around on, everyone had a seat on sideline bench. We did not have comfortable cushions, we just a row of chairs, and the view. So accept that you will be a person in a cramped train, not a passenger in a train that reminds you of the Hogwarts Express, or the train that the famous detective boarded on his way to the Orient, in the Agatha book. It really is just a mode of transportation decked in train details but, brother, was it still a train ride to remember. As we went along the tracks, I saw trees in a way, not only because they were tall, but because they were true to their core nature. For instance, some trees were so covered in moss that it looked like they had garbed on top of their wood. The fuzzy green moss was so consuming that one can believe that some trains have trunks of brown, while others had trunk of green fur. The forest had become a gallery of nature that offered an artistic expression of silent wood. In fact, I told my friend Denise that I felt that it was a tram ride and the scenery was digitally created. I am not sure if you have been on the tram ride in Universal Studios Hollywood, but I cannot help to make a parallel. In that tram, one sees scene of King Kong's world that were created with pixels and electric imagery, and again, what I saw in front of me was so fresh and pristine that I also thought it was pixilated in the colors of a forest. The train moved slow, and one sees different things that catch the attention. I note the moss that acts like skin above, but other things were seen that were arresting like a melody from nature given in oak, not chirps. For instance, I saw the huge trunk of a black tree. Had the treen burned its wood skin? Or had this tree become black for another reason? I loudly expressed that I had never seen a tree in black, all passengers looked at the tree. Dark looked good on wood. I am hoping the shared thought after I highlighted the black wood. Even seeing a tree on the ground covered by grass and trees around was meaningful, for it was the death of a tree, that still lived in the context of the forest. A tree fallen in the city is dead and removed, a tree fallen in its natural territory becomes texture, an addition to where it already belonged. My favorite part of the experience came, when the trained stop and we were able to commune amongst the forest. In this moment, the forest stop being a breathing tapestry and it became a green cathedral, where thought and prayer become one moment dressed in shades of gray and winter mist. I stood among the trees and looked up at them. I was viewing them, from the ground, seeing them touch the top of the air, and I asked for the peace they knew as a norm. For a tree never wonders if it makes a sound, when no one is present to view its departure from wholeness, for it only exists in place to stand, not to ponder or reflect. I wished for the green trees to give me their might and stillness for the two combined becomes ease in existence. For the thoughts of others do not sway trees into any type of action, for it cares only to remain still and in inflexible point. That was fancy and wordy way of saying remain strong with your forehead held up high, in any situation, like a tree always does. Eventually, the tree releases puffs upon puffs of steam. As the steam swirls into the forest, and it becomes a type of fog that dances. It comes and goes quickly, but its memory remains, like catching a ghost in movement for a whisper of a second. At its most basic level, this train ride is one that crosses the land of sequoias and splendid green. It offers sights of nature, and sounds of tracks being hit my steel wheel, you know the rackety sound that old things make when they move on tracks. I also saw squirrels and chimpunks that look differet than the ones in the city. They had more slender bodies and curved tails! read more

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What a cool outdoor space not too far out of the city! I visited Roaring Camp for the first time on Memorial Day weekend so they also had their annual BBQ festival going on. There was lots of FREE activities for the kiddos to do like jumpy houses, a petting zoo, pony rides, and more. The food was expensive and the lines were super long so we didn't purchase food but it smelled good! The redwoods train experience was about an hour long with a short stop in the woods. IMO the tickets are a little pricy for what it is. And only kiddos under 2 are free. But I get it, it goes towards supporting their whole operation. Our train tour guide was entertaining and shared lots of interesting history about the railroad. The train goes very very slow so I suggest you pack some snacks and water for the ride. There is a cute little store with history about the railroad, souvenirs, and snacks. There's also a quick to-go snack shack with some fast food options like hot dogs and fries. The kiddos I went with loved the whole experience! Would definitely return. read more

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I know people will describe this place as a tourist trap, and it possibly is, but it was a nice experience that my boyfriend and I enjoyed. Driving deep into the forests in a Felton, you're transported back in time with the historic layout of the town and steam trains. Upon arrival you'll check in at the front to get your tickets as well as pay for parking if you didn't previously do so. They do ask for you to arrive at least 30 minutes before your train is set to leave. They do have 1-2 establishments that serve food onsite incase you need to pick something up to much on. There was no baggage check and no assigned seating, so if you get there early enough you can pick the train carriage of your choice. Some have awnings and others are fully exposed which was great for the views but do bring some sun protection. As there is no assigned seats, please do be kind to make space for others as seating is limited. I noticed a lot of families would place their bags on the seats which limited availability of space for others. The train ride around is about 75 minutes and there is only one stop throughout the ride. They stop near the top of the mountain to let people off for a bathroom break and allowed us to walk around for 10-15 minutes before heading back down the mountain. They ask for people to stay in their seats at all times but the train is pretty slow moving. Throughout the ride you're driven across hiking trails which had active hikers. Throughout the ride you're provided with a history lesson of how the establishment came to be. I sat closer to the front of the train so it was difficult to hear what was being said. Overall the train ride through the redwood forest was enjoyable. I would definitely recommend people experience it once just to see what it's all about. read more

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It's my second visit and definitely not the last one! The first time was during Covid in 2021 and it was a great from beginning to end so we knew we want to come back again. Visited on Saturday during the Memorial weekend having booked the tickets at the beginning of the month. The check in was smooth and our conductor, Charlie, was knowledgeable, full of energy, and very funny. He kept on making sure everyone is seated and also checking on the railroad itself, so the company definitely cares about the safety. It is also a family owned small business so that makes me even more inclined to come back and support them many times. The views themselves are breathtaking. Tip: try to be there at least half an hour before the train departure time because you need to 1. park, 2. pick up the physical tickets, 3. the bathroom lines are usually quite long, at least for the women's ones, so keep that in mind. read more

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One of the highlights of our trip to Santa Cruz, especially for me. We booked tickets a month ahead of time and the train was packed! The area is amazing and I really enjoyed how the parking lot is a bit of a walk from the main area, it makes you really take in the scenery. They have wifi so just ask for the PW if you need any cell reception. We sat in the very first carriage and thought it was better since we had a clear view of everything. You do have the same seat on the return trip. My 6 year old slept the entire way up and down so this was not his thing. But for me, just getting up close to the red woods with the chilly winter weather was just perfect. I could easily do this once a week to unwind. read more

Nice train ride close to hour and half in the Santa Cruz mountains!! Our kids really liked this but felt the overall experience was strictly average for the price !! The historic steam train does stop in between for small break so can take pictures etc. read more

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This is for specifically the Santa Cruz beach train for Xmas. Pros: The staff tried and you're paying for the little things making it for the kids. I'd say if your kids are under 3 they're not getting much out of it - they have cider, cookies, Santa visiting, no extra cost photo op, and songs, bubbles, etc. my kids enjoyed the ride which was about 40 -45 minutes. Near other Santa Cruz sites on the boardwalk They'll give you vouchers for the arcade to play when you're done. Cons: the boardwalk and surrounding streets are not particularly decorated for the holidays, most of it was just going through an everyday neighborhood , a tunnel my kids enjoyed, and eventually devolves into warehouses , industrial areas and sadly homeless encampments. Maybe it used to be a nicer route but there wasn't much to see outside the closer to the end of the route , before the train heads back to the boardwalk. Boarding was very disorganized. We were all told board on an even numbered car, and the lines were long despite having tickets in advance. They ran out of seats on the line we were in, and were told to go to another car where we had to outrun a stampede of yuppie parents cutting off my 70 year old mother. It took until quarter past the hour to get seated and it was a 1 hour time slot. Seating was tight and people on the train were pretty unforgiving of even kids and the elderly trying to get space to sit... the nyc subway is less cutthroat. read more

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this the real life Hogwarts express but in the redwood. one of the most fun thing to do do in Santa cruz. the ultimate summer experience. read more

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This place is honestly truly for children. The train ride was nice but it was going up the hill at maybe 15 minkes per hour. If it was faster i would have enjoyed my time more. They ask you to stay seated, this includes children. It takes about 45 minutes to go up and back so you can imagine it being hard for children to sit for that long. Don't get me wrong the views were beautiful and I'm glad i did it. It's just not 100% what i thought it was. They have i believe 2 other train rides and they are more child friendly than this one and you are viewing trees the whole time. I xoukd tell some of the kids were getting BORED so something to keep in mind when your selecting the train rides. If you have little ones i recommend the Thomas the train ride one. read more

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This is super nostalgic for me personally, but I love this place. It's maybe not a visit all the time thing, but it's a right of passage in my family. My mother came here as a kid, I came here as a kid, and of course my kids have been here. It's such a cool, relaxing, and unique experience in the beautiful mountains above SC. There will always be a special place in my heart for everything about this area. read more

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An unexpected surprise for our family vacation! Loved the town and the steam engine. Collin taught us so much about its history and the importance of the redwoods! read more

The holiday train hospitality was outstanding in Santa Cruz. They held out on departure so that everyone in line could pick up their vouchers. We enjoyed apple cider, party favours and cookies on the train with the kiddos. We came just for this and we're surprised by token cards for the arcade afterwards. All of the staff were happy and approachable. My son loved waving at the cars and going through the tunnel. We especially loved the decorations on the inside. read more

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Went on vacation to Santa Cruz, had to take the chance to see the redwoods. A tree fell on the track past the halfway point, so our trip was cut short. Their staff was incredibly helpful in coming to pick up all of the passengers. Shout out to Tracy, who came and helped us! It was definitely an adventure. read more

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Roaring Camp Railroads for the win! If you're looking to plan a Santa Cruz getaway with the family, make sure to stop by Roaring Camp Railroads with the kiddos. There is so much beauty, history, and fun that awaits here! We came here over a holiday weekend while staying nearby, and met friends for a train ride with the kiddos that went from Felton, stopped on the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, and then back to Roaring Camp. The morning train ride was on-time, the conductor was really cool and ensured the ride was full of knowledge and excitement, and the ride itself was just really cool and beautiful. Being able to get off on the Santa Cruz beach boardwalk was awesome ~ it was just enough time to grab some corn dogs, hit the merry-go-round, and take a few pics with the family and the views. I do wish we had more time to explore, but we had to hop back on for the trip back. You can purchase tickets online for this specific ride, it's the Beach Train and you can have a layover at the Boardwalk for 1 or 5 hours (I wish there was a time in between..even if just for 1.5 hours), but we chose the 1 hour. Total ride was about 3 hours with 1 hour to the Boardwalk, 1 hour layover at destination, 1 hour back. Overall, this trip is very much "over the River and through the woods" ~ getting to traverse through Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park and the San Lorenzo River in an incredibly unique way. The Roaring Camp itself is full of history and experiences/surprises. I'll let you visit the website to learn more on all the different offerings. There's an upcoming moonlight dinner train party that sounds so cool including a BBQ dinner. Would love to come back and explore the Camp as the kiddo grows older, and try a few other cool-themed rides! Parking is provided, would recommend purchasing ahead of time. This is a ticketed-expense and I personally think worth the family ride/trip if looking for a bit of spontaneity in nature and outside the norm. read more

A few years back I took the train from the Boardwalk to Roaring Camp. It was so much fun how they set up the cute little western town. My review however is for the lighted sequoias. WOW! The photo opps and peaceful walking path was amazing. So worth the money. There was no rush either. Just walk the path and enjoy everything at your own pace. I highly recommend it! read more

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My family and I went here for the Thomas the train ride. The ride itself was a good length, the conductor was very friendly and the scenery was beautiful! As far as the ammenities were concerned though it was a bit lacking. Although I was happy to see a baby changing/nursing trailer there, there wasn't even a changing table inside...just some folding tables and chairs. There was a big inside room with toys for sale. I was hoping for more small activities for kids or something more to do with the theme inside. There was a bouncehouse, bubble station face paint and some train activity games in the tent which was nice. We loved the musician who sang and danced and invited kids to join! There was a little pond with ducks and turtles to go sit near and relax as well as a large grass area to play ball or frisbee and a small demo train to take pics with. The bathrooms were clean and well maintained. read more

Roaring Camp Railroads - Ducks and turtles on a pond - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Felton, California

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Fabulously managed and clean and fun experience :) definitely a must try if you are in santa cruz. The 75-min steam engine ride through the redwood trees was ecstatic and we were glad we took it. Redwood train Charges: - adult $40 each - kids aged 2 and above $25 - kids under 2 can travel for free Loved the experience. They do have specials for christmas etc. they also have a pond full of ducks which was relaxing to sit by. read more

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We had the best time visiting RCRR and thoroughly enjoyed our MC/Conductor Colin. He was very personable and ready to answer any questions. The ride itself is always a blast, this is our third time up the mountain and we will definitely be back. Thanks for an awesome trip Colin! PS your voice is not annoying at all - the speakers can be a little loud though. read more

I liked my first experience going on the morning train ride into the redwood tree forest. Tom the conductor is cool and chill. He does funny jokes. read more

This place is AMAZING! I've never been on an actual train, this was my first time ever! It was amazing. I've been on the light rail, but that to me is not a real authentic train like this one. The loud sounds the way the karts rocked side to side, back and forth. The scenery was..... just speechless it was absolutely beautiful. The tour guide was a lil old man that was funny af lol. He was kinda creepy tho, he kept talking about naked women at the river hahaha he was a nice guy. Booked the trip to be picked up at roaring camp and getting dropped off at the boardwalk with a 5 hour layover which was great cuz I was burnt out. The whole experience was a 10 if you asked me, thats how much I enjoyed it. I will for sure do this again. read more

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Roaring camp is a gem in the forest. The train ride takes you through the redwoods and on a nice little adventure. Collin the conductor was an absolute delight. He was very informative and entertaining. We were brought into what goes on with operating the steam train and how it came to be. The history behind how the 188 acres of that forest was preserved for us to enjoy today is fascinating. 10/10 experience would come back again gladly. read more

Hadn't been to Roaring Camp in some time. The train ride through the redwoods is awe inspiring, but won't really be so for younger kids (under 10 or so). The train ride took us about two hours. Not much for little kids to do, so you are probably better suited going somewhere more kid-friendly, if you have little ones and want interaction. read more

Roaring Camp Railroads - Steam train ride through the redwoods - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Felton, California

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Review for Christmas season rides. Regular roaring camp going through wood is fine and pretty but riding it during Christmas holiday season isn't worth it and WAY more expensive. Instead going through the woods, it just drive through regular street through houses. No view at all. Staff offered warm apple cider, blow some bubbles and give you plastic necklaces. Nothing special. NOT WORTH IT. Save your money for regular ones. read more

I just got off the phone with a woman to make inquiries. She seemed put off with my questions and ended out hanging up on me. I was trying to ask the difference between the two dinner trains and she became very impatient. She seems like she is better suited to a government job where rudeness is par for the course. I learned about Roaring Camp from Instagram and was going to plan a trip as soon as possible. Now I will look for other adventures. read more

Toot, toot. tourist trap. Drive to the mountains above Santa Cruz to Felton for the rootin' tootin' tourist trap in the 2020s from the 1880s. We dropped $150 for a family of four to board a 75-minute slow snooze trip to Bear Mountain bathroom spot. No Jamboree here. And after the train arrived for its 7 minute stop, we took it straight back down the mountain. There's really nothing to see during the entire trip and I suggest you keep your dollars for other excursions. The little old west town was mostly dead on a weekday with a gift shop. Parking in the quiet lot is $10 so they can really get you. Near the end of our visit, we tried that day's free activity which was candle making. One of our family had a candle turn out differently but the gentleman managing it seemed delighted. Until ... his shift ended and a woman named Yolanda came back from her lunch break. Yolanda said it was done wrong and scolded my child for not making the candle to her liking and had us running back to the parking lot. Someone needs to tell Yolanda to be cool. She's probably fun at parties. My kid called her Candle Karen and we agreed. The Disneyland railroad in Anaheim seems like a reprieve from a busy day but now I respect it as being 1,000 times better than this train wreck, excuse the term. read more

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