Life with Dylan

Category: Irvine Park Railroad

  • Just another Fall day at the pumpkin patch

    Dylan and I spent some time at the Irvine Regional Park this past weekend.  We wandered the grounds of the Irvine Park Railroad’s Annual Pumpkin Patch and said hello to some animal friends at the OC Zoo’s Zootacular. It was the perfect reminder of how wonderful the simple things in life really are. 

    A beautiful Fall day, walking through a pumpkin patch, listening to children’s laughter and watching the tranquility of an old watermill was just what I needed to help me refocus my priorities in life. 
         
    How often do you take time away from your busy life and enjoy the simple pleasures the world has to offer?

  • The Irvine Park Railroad Easter Eggstravaganza is Eggsellent!

    Here comes Peter Cottontail, hopping down the bunny trail train track, hippity-hoppity Easter’s on it’s way!

    Well, that isn’t exactly how the song goes. However, if you head over to Irvine Park Railroad that is the song you will be singing.  It’s springtime and the park is filled with flowers, bunnies, chicks, and your favorite bunny of all is visiting to wish you a Happy Easter.

    In true Irvine Park Railroad fashion, there is something for everyone … games, bounce house, cookies, hay rides, train rides, and an Easter egg hunt .. Oh my!

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  • Wordless Wednesday – Dylan’s transformation

    Last weekend on a visit to Irvine Park Railroad, Dylan wanted to get his face painted. What did he choose? Well, a white lion of course. 

  • Irvine Park Railroad Celebrates 16 years of Family Fun!

    Are you looking for something fun to do with the family this coming weekend? Why not head over to Irvine Regional Park and join the 16th anniversary celebration with Irvine Park Railroad. This coming weekend, February 25-26, Irvine Park Railroad will be rolling back their prices to those of 1996 when they first welcomed Orange County families. This includes $2 train rides, concessions, carnival games, and much more. Face painting and panning for gold will be $4. Plus, everyone gets free balloons! Who doesn’t love a balloon?

    My family loves going to Irvine Park Railroad for special events throughout the year like the Easter Eggstravaganza, Pumpkin Patch and Christmas Train, so we are really looking forward to helping them celebrate 16 years of family fun. I don’t think you are ever too old or too young to enjoy a ride on the train or a balloon.

    If you are new to the Irvine Park Railroad family, then this is something you won’t want to miss – more than just a day at the park – it’s a day of creating memories for the entire family.

    Cotton candy, corn dogs, popcorn, ice cream, and of course the train rides. Sounds fun right?

    Did you know that Irvine Regional Park has been around for over 100 years? Irvine Park Railroad will take you on a 12-minute narrated ride through the beautiful park where you will see lakes, peacocks, and trees that will make any photographer reach for their camera.

    Also, once you are inside the park don’t forget about the Wheel Fun Rentals – bike and paddle boat rentals or the OC Zoo (which is my son’s favorite stop)

    What I love most about visiting Irvine Regional Park and the Irvine Park Railroad is the family appeal.

    There is truly something for everyone.

    Irvine Park Railroad is located inside of Irvine Regional Park (at 1 Irvine Park Road, Orange 92869) and is open daily at 10 a.m. The parking fee to enter the park is $5 per vehicle.

    Follow Irvine Park Railroad on Facebook and twitter for more details about upcoming events.

    Photos courtesy of Irvine Park Railroad.

  • Take a ride to the North Pole at Irvine Park Railroad

    Anyone can visit Santa at the mall – Why not visit the jolly man at the North Pole this year?

    Irvine Park Railroad has been transformed into a winter wonderland. Start in Santa’s Village with some cookie decorating and stories with Mrs. Claus – then board the train for a magical ride directly to the North Pole.

    Dylan and I went last week and had so much fun. He loved decorating sugar cookies.

    The train ride is my favorite part. The park is so beautiful at night with all the lights. You forget you are in a park and feel like you really are traveling to the North Pole.

    And before you know it, Santa is welcoming you with open arms.

    Make sure you bring your wish list with you … but in all the excitement you forget … don’t worry because Santa knows everything. He even knew that Dylan wanted Legos for Christmas!

    All the details, including pricing and hours can be found here.

    While at the park, don’t forget to visit the Orange County Zoo and wish the animals a Merry Christmas too! The zoo is decorated in holiday cheer and has this great picture spot by the waterfall at the entrance.

  • The Dark Side of Halloween

    This Halloween was one of the best we have had. We started celebrating in early October by decorating the house and getting in the ghostly mood. Then it was time to start making the rounds … visiting the Irvine Railroad Pumpkin Patch, previewing OC Zoo-tacular, attending the ENC Fall Faire, and finally some Brick-or-Treat fun at LEGOLAND California! Whew, I’m exhausted just writing all of the things we did.

    But it didn’t stop there. We still had a pumpkin to carve and some trick-or-treating to do!

    Pumpkin carving has always been something I look forward to doing. It’s another outlet for my creativity – this year, I let Dylan be the creative one. I know, so selfless of me huh?

    He chose a simple design that he thought would be just scary enough for the neighborhood. Evil eyes, no nose, and a monsterish looking mouth filled with sharp teeth.

    The initial cut is always exciting because you never know what you will find inside. Will it be filled with seeds and “guts” that will take major elbow grease to get out, or will it be a hollow pumpkin that only takes a few scrapes to clean out? Dylan’s pumpkin was just about in the middle this year and it didn’t take too long before we started carving away.

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  • Fall Weather + Pumpkins = Halloween Fun!

    Recently Dylan and I got to spend the day at the Irvine Park Railroad’s Pumpkin Patch, which is located inside the Irvine Regional Park, and we had the most amazing day! The weather was cool, the leaves were turning colors, and the smell of hay filled the air. A couple weeks ago I wrote an article for OC Moms about the Pumpkin Patch, so I thought it was only fitting that Dylan and I be there opening day.

    From face painting to hay rides to John Deere tractor races … we laughed, we talked, and we lost all track of time … this was one of the best days we have had in a while. Once we walked through the fence, it’s as if we were transported out of Orange County and into a land of Midwest meets Halloweentown.

    If you are not familiar with the Irvine Park Railroad Pumpkin Patch, you can read my article over at OC Moms … this is something you can’t miss if you live in Orange County. The best way I can describe what you can expect is through pictures … the memories you will create will be priceless!

            

    Looks like fun doesn’t it? If you are planning on visiting the Pumpkin Patch, be sure to check out these helpful Mom Tips and after you visit you can share your pictures with the Orange County Register.