If you ever need to take kids on a train in the Austin area, I’d recommend Austin Steam Train.  They always have something going on, from 2hr Storybook train rides for the young’ns to Murder Mysteries to full Hill country excursions with lunch and shopping rides to Burnet.

Jaden’s 5th birthday is coming up this Thursday, so his “party” was aboard one of these trains, where they read “The Little Engine That Could.”  They also had balloon clowns roaming the coach and lounge cars making aliens, spidermans, swords and all sorts of plastic magic for the kids.  Their schedule boasts a Harry Potter special later in the year, and of course they do a Polar Express special near Christmas.  I hear the XMAS Light special is a wonderful trip to see all sorts of great Christmas lights.