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Redwood Valley Railway
Rating Details »
Categories: Amusement Parks, Parks [Edit]
Grizzly Peak Blvd & Lomas CantadasOrinda, CA 94563
(510) 548-6100
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
27 reviews for Redwood Valley Railway
I have fond memories of this place from my own childhood and I'm happy to say I still enjoy it to this day. The staff are always very friendly, Tilden is absolutely gorgeous, and it's only $2.00/person! I'm pretty sure they allow you to take your animals on the trains, too.
Overall a great place for families! :)
A+ for a fun ~12min ride.
$2pp or $8 for 5.
Plenty of paved parking.
My wife and I went there with the kids she used to care for and rode the trains. Cheap, fun, entertainment that will interest/stimulate children of all ages, and wont bore the adults to death either. I really enjoyed it and highly recommend it.
It's not only alot of fun, it's a great opportunity for education as well. It's a great chance to spark your children's interest in railroads, trains, and to show them a real steam boiler in operation.
We'll definitely be back someday with our own kids.
This is good, old fashioned fun. I don't care how old you are, everyone loves a train ride. The trains are rather neat, working quarter scale replicas of the real things, all scratch built. Plus, it is $2 a person, how can you go wrong?
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Great fun and a must-do when visiting Tilden. The ride is just long enough for a toddler and the scenery is beautiful. Worth it to get a 5-ride ticket since they don't expire and you'll save $2.
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Nice scenery, kids under 2 free, 5 ride pass for $8. All around good fun!
For two dollars you can treat your heart and soul to a wonderful ride on a little steam train through the redwood forests of Tilden Park.
You can shout, meow, scream as you go through the tunnel; you can wave at the folks waiting for the next train, you can see lots of little folks with their engineer hats and train tee shirts softly saying, "Choo, Choo!" as you chug down the tracks.
It is a pure Heaven on Earth experience that I'll never grow tired of!
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1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/1/2006
I could give these trains SIX STARS!!! We have been coming
here for years! Even though our son has… Read more »
And a beautiful Sunday it was...
We just had one of the most amazing, sunny, bright, warm - who am I kidding: hot - weekends here in the Bay Area and I couldn't think of a better way to spend it than up in the hills at the Tilden Park Steam Trains.
A serious blast of nostalgia came over me when we neared the tracks; that train whistle was an all too familiar memory of my childhood and hearing it from a mile away sent shivers down my back. My hands got clammy, my heart started beating fast and I almost feared going back because I was scared that it wasn't going to be exactly how I remembered it 19 years ago. But it was. It definitely was.
My dad used to take my brother and me here almost every weekend when we were little. My god he was a patient man; I remember going around and around and around without realizing that hours had gone by. We laughed and screamed when we went through the tunnel and ooo'ed and awww'ed everytime there was a break in the trees, revealing a picturesque view of the bay. Its breathtaking every time. It was then, and it still is now.
I was a lucky little girl.
As always, the conductor was smiling, happy, and excited to be part of the memories that these kids - and adults - will carry with them for years. If I had to sum up my childhood to one event, riding these steam trains would be it. And I just found out from the nice woman who was selling tickets that dogs are welcome, and ride for free, as long as they're leashed! We all know what this means; Mochi can come too!!
Seeing all those smiling faces was icing on the cake for what turned out to be such a gorgeous weekend.
For just one day, one hour, I was able to be a kid again. And it was as wonderful as I ever remember it being (:
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We love the steam trains! Our 2 1/2 year old is train obsessed and has been since 1. We get our local train kicks here. Beautiful location, friendly staff. Dogs are also allowed on the train.
LOVED this place. It was beautiful and friendly and all the things you hope your weekend afternoon will be...
We had the perfect afternoon riding the train with our toddler and then wandering around the botanical gardens...
I can't wait to go back.
BRING CASH!!!
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Good train fun for all ages. Beautiful outdoor setting. Only a few bucks.
This is a mini-train with open cars. You ride through Tilden Park with the sound of the clickety clack on the track and a loud, awesome whistle. Steam blowing through your hair. It's got a tunnel, water tank and even a little roundhouse.
There are also smaller railroads (one still big enough to be rideable) down below, that are run by enthusiasts and sometimes open on the weekends. And when you're all done...it's just a short drive to the merry-go-round.
If you like trains...check out my Chugga Chugga list.
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Little Q is obsessed with trains. Small surprise, since it seems to be a genetic signifier in 2.5 year old males. He's been to Traintown in Sonoma, ridden the Little Puffer at the SF Zoo, has his own engineer's cap, and has a wide assortment of trains in his playroom.
It was, then, inevitable that we would find our way to Tilden Park to ride the Redwood Valley Railway. We showed up at opening time on Sunday morning, and were worried that the line of other like-minded parents would leave us standing and waiting for ride #2 of the day. That's right, a line of parents and their toddlers rattling the gates and shouting, "Attica!" at 10:30am on the most important Sunday in Football. Ah, how priorities change.
However, the train is long, with many open air cars and a few covered cars, and offered plenty of seats for everyone. We never had to "wait for the next train" and we only had to wait a couple of minutes in line for tickets.
The 12-minute ride is beautiful. Really. I'm not just saying that because it makes it easier for me to justify just how many times in a day I'd be willing to ride that train. It is a gorgeous ride through a beautiful portion of Tilden, with views of the valley, the Bay, a fire station (fire truck recognition is also genetically hard-coded into Little Q at this point, even through a dense forest on a moving train), and the smaller Golden Gate Railroad down the hill.
Tickets are inexpensive at $2/ea or 8 for $5. There are only two drawbacks:
1) There is nothing else to do at the trains. Ride 'em, get bored, hop back in your car and drive to the carousel. Or walk across the road to the picnic grounds and wait for some riders on horseback to come through (horses = also genetically coded).
2) Sit too close to the engine and the ride gets stinky. Sit farther back, it's quieter, more peaceful, and the smell of the boiler is mostly gone by the time your car enters the tunnel.
Still, the best train bang for your buck in the Bay Area!
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I've recently been reunited with the Redwood Valley Railway after a twenty-odd year hiatus... and I can confidently say that this is the best kid-sized railroad I have ever seen. With several steam engines, dozens of outdoor and semi-indoor cars, redwood forest, bridges, canyons, spectacular Bay views and a 12-15 minute ride (How long do you think those rides on the zoo train are? Maybe 4 minutes?), what's not to like?
So now I just have to thank my parents for introducing me to this magical place when I was a train-loving little boy. We didn't have Thomas in my day, but that didn't stop me from worshipping the trains all the same. And yes, you can expect to find me here these days with my own little train enthusiasts, who like to pretend the locomotives are Diesel 10 ("Remember me, twinkle toes?"), Gordon ("Hurry, hurry, hurry") or Thomas himself ("Peep peep!").
[Insider tip: it gets chilly up here in the hillside redwood grove even on warm days, so be sure to pack an extra layer for your littlest engineers.]
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If you have an aspiring little train engineer on your hands like I do... well.. heh boy is this the place to spend your next Sunday afternoon.
Came here for Father's Day 2007 and I think that my husband and I enjoyed the day just as much as jr. Located just off Grizzly Peak Drive, it's easy to get to. Pack a picnic lunch, and you are set for a cute afternoon of fun. The drive alone was a nice break from the City. (did I just say that?)
All the staff there were really nice and this organization has done a great job of creating an awesome loop that winds between beautiful trees, crosses little bridges and even a tunnel. What a treat. And for $8 for a five ride pass, it was more than worth it to see the kid's face light up with awe.
This makes for a great day any day of the week. But I call out Sunday's specifically because the Golden Gate Steamers are located right there too and on Sundays from Noon -3 (?) they have free rides on their rail! They do it for the love of it. So be sure to drop your donation in the box.
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Snagged a loaner kid from my friends so that I wouldn't look like a lurking adult on this amazing train ride. We rode in the caboose and on the open air cars and I think I prefer the open air cars because you can see more.
Went around 3 times and I think my activity was the hit of my friends trip. Great for 2 year olds and up. The whistle can be a little scary if not expected but nothing beats the steam engines.
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My son will no longer admit that he likes the steam trains, because he's a big-boy-on-campus 2nd grader. But he does.
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My 20-month old son has been train crazy for a few months and this is the best thing for it. (There are always a few other 1-2 yr olds there clutching their Thomas the Trains - aside: those Thomas books are rather bad...) We like to go at the end of the day and ride the last couple of rides as the sun is going down across the bay. A deer leapt across the track ahead of us not long ago. Then stick around and watch them put the train cars away as the woods darken - one of the most peaceful experiences I've ever had and certainly an oasis of peace in a busy toddler family. Buy the five-ride pass. Kids under 2 ride free and love it.
My son's first mimicked sound was "Woo, Choo!" at 9 months , which quickly grew into a minor obsession with all things train. Thus, we will be forever indebted to the genius' who built the steam trains in Tilden. Our little guy was awestruck by his first sight of the train rounding the bend, and mesmerized by the old school steam whistle. He sat in my lap absolutely silent and bug eyed for the whole 12 minute ride. We went through redwood forests, rounded scrubby hills, coasted over narrow bridges and through dark tunnels, all the while enjoying the aromas, sights, and sounds. When the train stopped, I set the baby down to stand by the tracks and say "goodbye" to the train.Instead, he let out a triumphant "Woo, Choo!!" and tried to hop right back on! Such a great, old-fashioned experience!
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we went Sun 5/21/06 but I didn't read Andrew S. review until afterwards. It's the small steam train at Tilden Park. It was a rainy afternoon when we went and we caught the last one for the day before they closed up due to the weather.
They raised the price--it's now $2 per person, or 5 tickets for $8. Still a neat short little ride for all ages. Seating in the open air part of the train is more fun, especially right behind the conductor!
Missed out on the Golden Gate Live Steamers (only Sun 12-3pm), but hope to do that another time during a nice sunny day. One porta-potty outside near the parking area.
Recommended.
choo choo! chugga chugga chugga... choo choo! =) that's my pathetic attempt to sound like a steam train.
Hearing this brought a huge smile to my face and made me feel like a kid! It reminded me of the super hot, humid summers I spent in Hong Kong watching Thomas the Tank Engine (that was the only cartoon in English so I watched almost every episode). I heard about this train back a few months ago while watching Bay Area Backroads, so I was super excited to come here this past weekend. Although we didn't have any little ones with us, Brownie came along for the ride! It was afterall, a gorgeous day so we couldn't keep her couped up inside the house.
There's a small booth that sells the tickets for $2 per ride. I asked if we needed to purchase one for Brownie, and the little old lady working said "dogs rule!" and that they get to ride for free! yay! While waiting for our ride, we were waving and smiling to the passengers on the train. After a few minutes, it was our turn to get on board and experience 12 minutes of adventure! Brownie seemed nervous at first, but then started to enjoy it. We opted to ride in one of the open air cars so she stuck her little head out, sniffing away, and letting the wind flap her ears back. =) It was an amazing ride - we went through a short little tunnel with some people making spooky noises, I witnessed spectacular views, and best of all, it was so peaceful just riding through the park.
I'm so glad we discovered this place! There were lots of families with kids of various ages having a blast! Alan and I both agreed that we would be back when we have our own little ones!
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What a wonderful place to take my 70-year-old mom and my 2-year-old son, chugging through the redwoods and around a mountain top, squealing in the tunnels and shouting BYE-BYE! at the folks on the platform. It's really one of the Bay Area's hidden gems.
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I rode yesterday wtth Gayle and her 1 year-old grandaughter. It was the first time for both and they loved it. I manage a ride or two every year with my 11 year-old son and we never get tired of it. The view, the trees, and the variety of people make this long and soothing ride a generational favourite. It's also part of our Tilden "trifecta" along with Little Farm and the "Merry Go Round".
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Ride a miniature steam train in the Berkeley hills for $2. It's a great place to take visitors from out of town, and it's very senior-friendly. You can even take dogs on the trains.
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a secret hidden gem, i tell you. i kinda hope it stays that way but at the same time, i would love for everyone to experience the magic of these steam trains.
i also love how my friends and i are always the oldest kids there (we're in our mid 20s). [ ;
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easily berkeley's best kept secret.
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This place is the BEST. The people here are super nice, the trains are amazing, just a really super place for kids of all ages. The price is super reasonable, it is PERFECT! All of the people who work here really take pride in what they do, and it shows, and it makes the entire day that much better.
This place is so neat! These are the miniature steam trains that you've probably heard about up in Tilden Park. My fiance and I took our three nieces (ages 7, 8, & 11) up here this afternoon and we all had a great time. For only $1.75 per person (or $7 for a 5-ride family ticket) you can ride an authentic, but small, steam train over an approximately 1.25 mile loop that takes you through the hills, over a couple of bridges, twice through a tunnel, and past many miniature buildings. The ride takes about 15 minutes, and is a lot of fun for all ages (well, teenagers would probably scoff at it, but too bad for them). The kids will love the ride on the train in the open air cars, the sights and smells of the steam locomotive, and the sound of the bell and the steam whistle. This place is truly a gem. If you come on Sunday during the afternoon, you might also get a chance to ride the trains right next door at the Golden Gate Live Steamers (see my other review for more info on that).
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