Ethans's Birthday Train Ride

For Ethan's 3rd birthday we drove over to Boise (a 5 hour drive, about the same mileage to get to Salt Lake), stayed the night in a hotel and then drove another 25 min north to a town called Horseshoe Bend. Horseshoe Bend is home of the Thunder Mountain Railway which runs small train rides every Saturday. The 20th they had a Frogwarts Express theme on part of the train. It was a lot of fun, Ethan had a blast looking at all the trains and going on the ride itself. The train left at 1:30 and got back into the station a little after 4. During part of the ride the staff, who were all dressed up in "Hogwarts attire", would have activities for the kids such as; wand making, spell work, potions and a little history. Part of the ride we went out to a car that was not covered to see the scenery. The train followed a river most of the way and it was fun waving to the people in the rafts and the kayaks.

Afterward we went into the gift shop and let Ethan pick out his birthday presents. He came home with a Thomas, Percy, James and Toby engines (from Thomas and Friends).

Ethan was so tired from the train ride and no nap he fell asleep in the car about 8 slept the rest of the way home which was a good 2.5 hours. We got him in the house and had him go lay on our bed while I finished putting the sheets on his bed. When we went to get him he hadn't made it to the bed, but fell asleep on the floor next to the bed.

It was definitely worth the drive over and we would do it again. They have an all you can eat pizza ride, doesn't that sounds good!