{Fun rolls in with The Trains at NorthPark}

The Trains at NorthPark is the most elaborate toy trains exhibit in Texas with 1,600 feet of track. Miles got a sneak preview today. He loved it! He is a huge fan of trains so this was a magical surprise for him.

Be sure to bring your camera! The trains roll through more than 4,000 square feet of U.S. vignettes including downtown Dallas, the Perot Museum, the Grand Canyon, the Golden Gate Bridge and The White House. Admission is $7 for adults and $3 for children 2 to 12 and seniors 65 and older. Children under 2 get in free and discounted tickets are available at Tom Thumb ($1 off).

I found the Cotton Bowl scene especially impressive. It’s amazing how much detail they have in these scenes. Miles loved watching the hot air balloons moving up and down. He has been talking about seeing the trains since we got home.

This is the train exhibit’s 16th year at NorthPark Center and 27th year in Dallas. The exhibit is open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. It opens Saturday, November 22, 2014 and runs through Sunday, January 4, 2015. (Early closings are scheduled for Nov. 26, Dec. 24, Dec. 31 and Jan. 1. The Trains at NorthPark will be closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.)

Thousands visit The Trains at NorthPark every year. For the last 27 years, the exhibit has raised money for the Ronald McDonald House of Dallas. This fundraiser provides the funds for nearly one-third of their annual operating budget. The Ronald McDonald House of Dallas has served more than 35,000 families of seriously ill or injured children who have traveled to Dallas seeking medical treatment in area hospitals.

The exhibit is run by more than 1,500 volunteers working as individuals or in groups in three-hour shifts. For more information on how to volunteer or purchase a hand-painted railcar, visit thetrainsatnorthpark.com.