Matthew Monday: Lancaster, PA Vacation

We took a five day weekend in Lancaster Pennsylvania.  It’s an easy to get to spot, basically a two and a half hour drive from our house.  We didn’t think Matthew was old enough yet for long drive or a flight.  So we kept it simple, and they have a number of things there that would interest a little boy.  In our plans were the National Toy Train Museum, the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, and the amusement park there named Dutch Wonderland. We had expected to fill the remaining time by horsing around at the hotel pool, but to our surprise when we got there the hotel didn’t have a pool, just a hot tub.  My wife and I could swear their website showed a pool, but when we went back to check it was only a hot tub in the picture.  Silly us, but the angle they took the picture made the tub look as big as a pool.  LOL. 

 

Well, Matthew wasn’t into a hot tub, nor am I sure it would not have been adverse to his health at his age.  We filled in the time with some other activities we found.  We discovered a wolf sanctuary  that provides tours, we took an Amish Horse and Buggy ride, and took a nice countryside leisurely drive.  Plus the Railroad museum had an option for a train ride, and we took that too.  I took a thousand pictures, so I’ll just share a few.

The toy train museum was really a bust if you ask me.  They had nice trains and nice exhibits, but it was two rooms.  We were done in an hour.  They claim to have a hands on exhibit for kids, but it was two little wooden trains that two year olds play with.  Their website makes it look like it’s way better than it is.  Here’s one picture of Matthew in front of an exhibit.

 

The Railroad museum was very good.  They had trains both indoors and out.  They also had a nice play area for children.  Trains were refurbished from various times in history.  Here’s a couple of pictures.

 

 

 

 

 

 

And here’s a couple from our old fashion coal, steam engine ride.

 

 

 

 

 

And from our buggy ride, Matthew and mommy petting the horses.

 

 

 

I'm going to save the pictures from the amusement park for next week.