If you’re in the NYC area, this is a really cute, festive thing to do with (and even without) kids. I was expecting the New York Botanical Garden Holiday Train Show (running now through January 12) to involve actual trains – like, large, climb-on-able ones – but what it actually is is room after room of miniature trains winding between replicas of New York-area landmarks (mostly city buildings like the Guggenheim and Penn Station, but I spotted a few buildings from our town, as well) constructed entirely from materials that the artist and his wife gathered in the woods.
I’m not a big “exhibit” person and don’t love places like museums (or botanical gardens) generally, but honestly: this was very cool. Definitely not just for kids.
That said, the Thomas the Train display was pretty obviously the hit of the party; it was like Beatlemania over there.
(This, as it turns out, was an excellent Christmas-preparatory activity…because when we got home and I asked Indy what he wanted Santa to bring him for Christmas, his answer was “Choo-choo train. Thomas.” I have a sneaking suspicion that this particular wish may just come true, and cannot wait for Christmas morning.)
One caveat: the NYBG is expensive for non-members – $25 for adults, $15 for kids, and an additional $15 for parking – so it’s worth planning to check out more than the train show (which only takes about 45 minutes to get through) while you’re there. The Children’s Garden in particular is definitely worth a stop – there’s a bunch of mazes and activities, a life-size gingerbread house…
…and keyboards for dads.
For more information on the exhibit and to buy advance tickets, click here.
