My husband brought us here. We loved our time. So great that…read morethey sold cold water !!! We enjoyed the train ride so nice and we were the only ones since we came in a week day! I'm looking forward to coming back and bringing more family. Great photos and the ride is definitely worth the price.

Came here on a Saturday morning around 11am. Tickets for train and carousel is $5 per person and…read morefree for kids 2 and under. The train ride is less than 10 minutes with no cover so we brought our hats. It's a quick ride and you pass by the parking lot and a park. My girls enjoyed it. After we played by the nearby park. There is a bathroom close to the train ticket booth and lots of tables to enjoy a snack or even lunch. They were just starting the grill to cook the food for lunch but our girls were hungry so we left to get food elsewhere.

This is a great way to experience redwoods. - There is a $10…read moreparking 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.

Really cool experience! How often do you get to ride a steam-powered train through a redwood…read moreforest? 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!

Super cute historical railroad site with a non-operational train car behind the museum. The HO…read moremodels circle around on a super detailed scene of a variety of tiny passengers and local companies of the time, and it's really entertaining to see all the details included like the spinning Sinclair sign and the tiny people interacting with each other. The people here are really friendly and happy to talk about the design and the setup as well as a bit of history about the aim of it to be set during 1959, when diesel and steam trains intersected. There's always a few kids who hang out here and some of them bring their own trains to run on the tracks; otherwise you cannot touch the setup. There's also free dated magazines at the front! Overall a fun and informational museum.

Visited the small but super neat museum before a Caltrain trip…read more * Museum has a small dedicated parking lot, free admission, located in the restored Santa Clara train station. * Staff was friendly, knowledgeable, & eager to share about the museum, historic photos, signs, & maps. It's neat to learn about the history of rail system and step directly outside to take the next train. Would definitely recommend if you're in the area.

If your a parent, this place is a no Brainer. Your child will love zoo animals, great rides for…read moremost kid/ toddler ages, some for adults and kiddos together. Then you also have Danny, the parks Moscot. There's a tram/train ride and I believe your kiddo will love it. Our kiddo asks for him slot lol Then there's the puppet theater, great to have a little break in between rides lol They also have food vendors vendors! Thank you!

We've been wanting to go to this zoo for years and so glad we did! There's so much to love about…read morethis place. The gift shop is impressive and my kids spend far too long figuring out how to spend their money. I love that the rides are included in admission so not extra prices to experience those. The lines were long but we went mid day on a Saturday. My children loved that this zoo had animals you don't see often at other zoos (capybara, red panda, and fennec foxes). The only down side is the food. The options weren't great and I truly hope they improve this for next time as it made it hard to stay longer. Loved the quick parking and pay at the station flow (hope Oakland zoo takes notes!)

This is one of the best model railroading shops in Northern California. I have shopped there for…read moredecades. The prices are fair and if there is a new release you want there is a good chance Dennis can get it for you.

Please consider my ideas if you are monitoring Yelp. Create…read morea great window display to draw customers in. Lower shelf height and do not put stock near floor. Align shelves with lighting. Use bright LED tube lights to illuminate merchandise on shelves. Cfeate a small store layout as an example of a doable for newbies. - Woodland Scenics would be good since they come in N and HO. Fun to hear train sounds and see train signs. Let more natural light in. Engage with customers and use signage to direct them. Tell them why it's better to buy from you than online. Just my 2 cents!

10/10 -- Worth Every Penny (Parlor/Dome Car Experience)…read more If you're considering the Niles Canyon Train of Lights, do yourself a favor and splurge on the Parlor Car or Dome car. It completely transforms the experience. From the moment you board, you're treated like a VIP: dedicated seating in a fully enclosed caboose, attentive service throughout the ride, and complimentary warm drinks and sweets that are perfect for a cold, wet winter night. Being waited on while rolling through a glowing canyon? Yes, please. One of the biggest perks is having your own reserved space, while still being free to explore the rest of the train--knowing your seat is secure and shared only with fellow Parlor Car Riders. It strikes the perfect balance between comfort and adventure. I've done both the 4:30 pm and 7:30 pm departures, and while both are enjoyable, 4:30 pm is the clear winner for me. You get to take in the scenery before the sun fully sets, which adds a magical transition from daylight to twinkling lights. The 7:30 pm ride feels more social and cozy--great for lingering conversations with family and friends--but the earlier ride lets you truly appreciate your surroundings. As for the cost, it's important to note that this railway is 100% donation-funded and entirely volunteer-operated. Knowing that every dollar goes directly toward preserving the historic railway, maintaining the trains, and supporting the volunteers who make this experience possible makes the price feel even more justified. You're not just paying for a ride--you're supporting a piece of living history. Bottom line: Cozy Thoughtfully curated For a great cause Perfect for winter evenings If you're on the fence about the Parlor Car or Dome Car upgrade--it's absolutely worth it.

All aboard! If you…read moreare looking for a low key outing that's suitable for all ages then consider booking a ride on Niles Canyon Railway. Enjoy a slow ride Sunol to downtown Niles and back, approx 1.5 hours. A docent will share tid bits of history during the ride. There are snacks for purchase and you can bring your own. I prepared a simple charcuterie for me and mom, gotta have something to nosh on as we enjoy the view. It's June and the hills are brown already but oh well it's still pretty. I was a little worried about whether my mom would struggle boarding the train as I didn't book ADA as she is not in wheelchair. The steps are slightly deeper than ours at home but she made it up without difficulty, there is a railing for support. Conductor did offer us to go to the car with the lift if we wanted. My next anxiety was holding up the boarding as mom navigated the stairs slowly and there quite a few people behind us. Everyone was patient thankfully and no one scoffed. Would love to do their holidays lights ride sometime but I haven't been successful in last few years to get tickets, they go fast.

I like that its only for kids at a young age, so they don't get overwhelmed with being around older…read morekids. Love that there's so much for the Littles to discover. We've been here twice and my son loved when they had the curious George attraction. He also absolutely loved the water station, be prepared to bring an extra change of clothes and towels for the little ones. And let them play in the water area last cause my son will not play elsewhere after he discovers the water station!

This place is awesome! I've only been twice so far and have already signed up for a membership…read morebecause I can see myself coming here with my family more during the warmer summer months. My 1.5 year old's favorite exhibits are the water/ball area, outdoor bubbles, market stand with the pretend food, and the dancing room. They also have a room that you can rent out for birthday parties, which would be so fun for all the guests!

We went here for the holiday train ride. It was absolutely fantastic. We did purchase the parlor…read morecar option which is the first class accommodation. It was well worth the extra money. Plus you get parking right up next to the train car. The parlor car offered spacious, comfortable seating, VIP time with Santa Claus, a hot adult beverage, or nonalcoholic version, bottled water, snacks, Christmas cookies, and a great narrative of the ride. You're also allowed to walk the length of the train, but you need to have a wristband so you can get back into the parlor car area. Be prepared for lots of traffic as you drive to the train station from other parts of the Bay Area. Traffic is bad during the winter if not always. The train leaves right on time so you do not want to be late. Also, the railroad provides very detailed and helpful instructions about how to get to the depot and how to navigate the parking and other systems. They have outside train cars and inside train cars so you can choose what type of seat you want. This is definitely been worth the money and should become a holiday.

We love this train! Only been for Train of Lights and an amazing experience each time! Getting…read moretickets is a bit stressful but I managed to grab tickets for our party of 9 for a Saturday! They let you bring food and drinks on as long as you clean up after yourself. The ride was relaxed, the train had different festive decorations per car, the kids had a blast and Santa was on the train and so friendly! 10/10 would ride again!

This is a shoutout to the person who cleans the women's bathroom. You do an incredible job…read more Everytime I am at the station, it is clean and spotless. Thank you for what you do - I really appreciate it.

Caltrain serves dozens of stations between San Francisco and Gilroy* on weekdays. I usually drop…read moreoff/pick up friends to San Jose Diridon. From this station, it is a convenient way to travel north to San Francisco or SFO International by getting off at Milbrae and taking BART to the airport. Just another way of commuting.

My boyfriend and I walked in here during the holiday season, but during the day time so there…read morewasn't any real event or lights on, but it was still nice to see all of the houses, decor, and set up. Plus parking was free and entry was free when we went. Just a BIG FYI, because we didn't go during an event, they DO LOCK UP THE PARK and when I was waiting for my boyfriend to pick me up from our parking area (ended up on the other side of the park somehow), I saw a bunch of people trying to call for help after the gate locked them in. Woops. It seems that they hold lots of events here with outdoor local vendors, food vendors, and also opportunities to go inside the houses and learn about the history of a lot of the buildings. I'd keep an eye out on their social media or website for those, but as a freebie person exploring through. It's fun and cute.

If you've been to medieval or historical towns (where folks dress up in that time period and…read morereenact that time period...), this History Park has that kind of vibe. It's like a small town within a big town. There's a museum. There's a gift shop. There's a garden. There's a bunch of seating areas. There's sculptures. There's trains and horns you can honk. Parking is strange. No idea if they truly monitor and ticket folks because it's self pay.