The Red Caboose Motel

For train enthusiasts, there can be nothing more appealing than the idea of spending a night in a converted caboose.  I'll admit, even I was looking forward to it.  Most of all I couldn't wait to see the excitement on my sons face when we would arrive.

In this area, it didn't disappoint.  Charles was overjoyed when we pulled into the parking lot.  It helped that it was right next to the tracks and within view of the Strasburg Railroad.  We sat and just watched the steam clouds rising from one of the three steam trains used by the railroad before checking in.

I had reserved a caboose #41, a blue Norfolk and Western with a queen bed, loveseat convertible bed and a bathtub.  When we checked in, we were told that this wasn't available and so we ended up instead with a red New Haven caboose with a queen bed, chair convertible bed and a shower.  It may appear that I'm just being overly particular, but sometimes when traveling with a toddler, any amount of routine that you can manage to keep can become important - in our case, bath time is a very big part of our nightly routine.  We were offered free breakfast as a consolation, which was unexpected and at least a recognition that they messed it up.

The room itself was passable, although was dated and could use some deep cleaning.  The convertible chair pulled out to a bed narrower than a toddler bed but after the days activities, Charles was tired enough to sleep in just about anything.  Being on the train tracks, we should have anticipated the train rolling through at 6am, but Zach said he had checked the train schedules and we went to bed non the wiser.  It wouldn't have mattered so much except that Charles was upset that he missed it ;)

Breakfast the next morning in the dining car attached to the main building was Pennsylvania Dutch standards, although to the dismay of my husband they were out of scrapple.  The plates are large enough to feed an army, and I think the three of us together could have split Charles kid sized pancakes.  Our waitress was super friendly and great with kids.  The dining car itself has a special button that makes it shake like it's on the tracks.  She had Charles come over and showed him where it was and let him push it.  He thought it was pretty funny.

So over all, it was a good experience for one night - but I don't think I could do more than that.  If you are with a large group, it would probably be a great option because most of the cars are equipped with bunk beds so it would be reasonable in that instance.

http://www.redcaboosemotel.com/index.htm

And we're back - A quick update

So, we are back from vacation (okay, okay, it's been a month - I'm a bit behind....) and I have lots to write about so I'm going to try to space it out some.  Hopefully, you'll have lots to read about in the coming days.  I had originally planned to take the family up to Upstate New York to visit with some extended family, enjoy the local county fair and get some peace and quiet.  Somehow, my nice relaxing vacation got hi-jaked into our first Great Train Adventure (oh yes, I've been told that there are many more to come!!).

We started off in Strasburg, PA, home of the Strasburg Railroad, Pennsylvania Railroad Museum, and much more.  We stayed the night in the Red Caboose Motel, which as the name implies is a motel made from refurbished caboose cars.  I will go into more detail in another post, but I will say that it was quite an experience ;)

Next we headed north to Upstate New York for my few days of R&R.  Not train related, but we stayed at the most charmingly wonderful B&B called Handsome Brook Farm.  It's a small working farm raising berries, sheep, chickens, and pigs.  They specialize in farm vacations where you go and experience farm life, but are open to being just a B&B as well.  If you're ever near Cooperstown, I would HIGHLY recommend a couple day stay.  I only wish we could have stayed longer!!!  Here's a quick pic of Charles with the chickens.  Have you ever met friendly chickens?  We did!

And one more of the sheep grazing.  They act like dogs, love being pet and come when called by name. 

So back to trains...
There was an attempt made at some train viewing one night in NY.  We went to an Italian restaurant in Sidney, NY that was on the train tracks.  According to our waitress the trains do still run and come by once an hour - but alas, after waiting 2.5 with a toddler who was promised trains, we had to tell him they must have derailed and weren't coming :(  On the way back to the B&B, he made up the cutest story about the train derailing because it was going to fast and how it was now in the shop and just needed honey (it cures all according to my son) to feel better and get back on the track.

So next, we drove to Scranton, PA where the proud Steamtown National Memorial is.  We stayed in the Lackawanna Station Radisson, which used to be a the headquarters of the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad.  There is a lot for a train enthusiast to do while in Scranton - although if you're planning on a vacation, keep in mind that EVERYTHING shuts down on Sunday.  I think I'm used to being spoiled in our 24/7/365 NoVA world that I forget about this sometimes.

After Scranton it was on to Bryn Mawr to visit with a favorite relative from my husbands family.  We also managed to get in some train viewing here as he took us to a lovely restaurant on the train tracks.  Here my son was not disappointed as there was a train going by every 5 minutes.  He was elated and now whenever we go out to dinner he looks out the window expecting trains.

That was the trip.   As always, vacations are great but it's so hard getting back into the routine of life.  I hope to go into a lot more detail on all the train stops in the next few days so stay tuned.....