Sonoma Train Town Railroad

Jia was really excited when he saw Sonoma Train Town Railroad online - it has train rides, different train models, even a turn table. So he proposed to take KK to get this new experience. I wasn't able to go out with them in the past month due to recovering from child birth. But since it is Father's Day, we would like to celebrate together so I prepare my pumping gears and off we went!

It is a long ride from South Bay to Sonoma so we stopped by Koret Playground in the city on the way. It is the first time we were there - a good playground with play structure and an indoor merry-go-round. We got lunch from the hot dog/pretzel stand. 

We were hoping KK would sleep after lunch while we continued driving. But he didn't. We arrived at the Sonoma Train Town Railroad close to 2pm. And he was very excited to go in. Jia and he went on some rides but KK refused to go on the moving little steam train. For some reason, he is afraid of it. We were really surprised by that as he got on Caltrain and other train rides before and never really had a crazy reaction like that. We tried every way to persuade him and even promise him a candy ball after he rides the train but didn't succeed. 

I wonder what is going on in KK's almost 3 years old brain - it seems he is afraid of the tunnel - but he went through tunnels before. And he tried his best way to get the candy ball - he led us to go in a static train and went through the demo. Then he announced "I did train already. Now I can get the ball." Then we had to clarify that it needs to be the moving train. Then he comes up with "daddy goes to the moving train and I get the ball", this is a bit better as previously he didn't even let Jia to sit in the train. Anyway, we left the park with two train ride tickets in my purse - it doesn't seem to have a date. So maybe in the future we will come back and try again.

Would I recommend this park? If it is on your way and nearby, definitely take your kids there - they have many other things to keep them entertained. I probably wouldn't go just for it in the future.

Another good thing is that since we are in Sonoma, we stopped by Cornerstone on our way back to enjoy some delicious food and wine. When sipping wine and eating the salumi and cheese plate, Jia and I finally had some r&r as KK could entertain himself by going around the trees and played. So it somehow makes up to the trip of no train ride. :)