Train Ride

 Let's take a train ride.

On a real train!

Say hello to the conductor.

Bring your cousins. All aboard!

It's a beautiful day... enjoy the open air passenger car.

Enjoy a tasty snack from the refreshment car.

Lovely day. Now back to the station.

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The Lebanon Mason Monroe Railroad is a local attraction that offers all sorts of themed train rides in authentic, original passenger cars built in the 1930s and used for 40 years as commuter trains in New Jersey. It departs out of the quaint, historic town of Lebanon. Our trip was The Cat in the Hat theme, and we took a 40 minute train ride to a park where we disembarked for some activities, and then loaded up and returned to the station.

Adam was not interested in meeting The Cat but did enjoy the other "stations" -- games to play to win small prizes such as bubbles and bouncy balls and playing on the playground. The LMMR also offers other themes, such as date nights, rides with other characters (Thomas, Curious George, Clifford), trips to the pumpkin patch and the Apple Festival, transportation to Cincinnati's annual Labor Day fireworks, and a special North Pole Express. Another local train, the Cincinnati Railway Company, offers a dinner train in vintage dining cars. We are excited to explore a lot more of these opportunities.

We coordinated this event during a visit from Michael's sister and Adam's two cousins.  Since moving from Florida we don't see them as often, and when they are in town we make it a point to get all the family together as much as possible.

All but one of the Moreland cousins!
From left, clockwise -- Channing, Austin, Noah, Sam, Alyssa,
Carter, Adam, Sophie and Emma

Framing that one for sure.