Ever since he was a teensy baby, Daniel has adored trains. He
was born in London: I attribute my water breaking and the start of
labor pains to a bumpy Tube ride. And for the first few months of
his life we rode the Central line everywhere: I remember
him being lulled to sleep in his snuggli - relaxed and even
comforted - by the crowded, noisy Tube. So it's no surprise that
Daniel loves trains. While he no longer plays with his Thomas
and Friends very often, he is still fascinated by all forms of
public transportation involving trains.
Yesterday, we visited the Christmas train show at the
Lincoln Park Conservatory. Admission is free,
and you can always find parking in the nearby side streets off
Clark. Take off your coats and enjoy the warm, fresh-spruce
scented, oxygen-rich air as you watch tiny trains make their way
through flowery forests, over rivers and lakes.
Other sites in Chicago for train lovers:
- The Choo-Choo Cafe in Desplaines. I always take Daniel to
this retro diner around his birthday, where hamburgers and
candle-topped cupcakes are served via miniature train.
- The DuPage Historical Museum where 2,000 feet of miniature
tracks highlight the history of the western suburbs.
- The John Hancock
Holiday Railroad is the the perfect stop to
appease the kids while you get your holiday shopping done on
Michigan Avenue!

Amy Bizzarri is a mom of two living in Logan Square. She also blogs at tiramisumom.com.
See more of Amy's stories here.

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