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Spend A Day Out With Thomas
One of my favorite memories as a mom is taking my boys to A Day Out With Thomas at the Grapevine Vintage Railroad. It was such a fun experience, and I had no idea there would be a real, moving face on the front of the train until we saw it in person.
Thomas is having a moment this year. Mattel just unveiled a refreshed look for Thomas the Tank Engine this fall, the first step in a full brand relaunch that honors more than 80 years of storytelling while giving the character a modern update for today’s kids. If your family has never experienced Thomas in person, this is the year to start, and Grapevine’s historic Main Street is, in my opinion, one of the most charming places in Texas to do it.
The day started like most days with toddlers: some rushing, a few things forgotten, and a couple of moments of pure chaos before we even got out the door. But it was all worth it the second we pulled up to the depot.
“Look, Mom!” my two-year-old shouted as we walked up to board. I melted on the spot. Watching his face light up at seeing a cherished character in real life, chugging along, was pure joy.
We hurried to the ticket line and boarded. Thomas was hitched to the Grapevine Vintage Railroad’s historic train, pulling the line’s restored 1920s Victorian coaches. We settled into bench seating in an air-conditioned car for the ride out and back.
My little one was so giddy he could barely contain himself. He kept bouncing in his seat with excitement. He loved listening to the fun songs and looking out the window, observing the changes in scenery.
Once we got back to the depot, we snapped a few pictures with Thomas and explored the rest of the event. The full gift shop was stocked with trains and toys, plus a display area for families to check out. Food stands lined the depot, and just beyond them were all of downtown Grapevine’s shops and restaurants.
We walked over to my favorite sandwich spot, Weinberger’s Deli, for lunch, then ducked into Little Orange Fish, the cutest kids’ boutique on Main Street, where we found the sweetest TCU polos and dresses. From there we wandered down to Rocket Fizz for some old-school candy, stopped at Kilwins for my favorite chocolate, and let the kids play upstairs at Talking Animals Books while I browsed downstairs. We wrapped up the day at the splash pad in front of Harvest Hall.
A Day Out With Thomas isn’t just fun for the train ride, though the ride alone would have made the trip worth it. It’s a full day of Thomas magic layered on top of some of the best food and shopping Main Street has to offer, all within walking distance of each other. No having to load the kids in and out of car seats.
With Thomas’s new look rolling out across the franchise this year, there’s no better time to introduce your own kids to the magic in person.
I didn’t know this before, but as I was preparing to write this article, I found out this event is actually in partnership with the Museum of the American Railroad in Frisco and the Grapevine Vintage Railroad. I had no idea this partnership has been going on for more than 20 years. It has become a tradition for our family, and I hope one day my kids are taking their kids to ride Thomas just as we did.
When you buy tickets, you help preserve the tradition, as the event acts as a fundraiser for the museum, and proceeds go toward educational programming and historic rail preservation.
This year’s theme is “Day Out with Thomas: The Let’s Rock, Let’s Roll Tour, so the live entertainment, the on-board entertainment, and the activities around the train will be themed around Rock and Roll.
Plan your visit: Arrive early and park in the garage at Hotel Vin. It’s one of the easiest, most reliable spots to leave your car within walking distance of the depot and all of Main Street.
