I’ve been having such a good time looking at pictures and posting about Southern California this week, that I thought I’d add one more – and offer one more suggestion for those of you that are inclined to take your children on outings involving any kind of train.
The Port of Lost Angeles has restored some of the famous Red Line trolley cars and a mile and a half of track in San Pedro. The ride starts at the site where people taking cruises get on their boats, and continues to the San Pedro Marina, making a few stops on the way. Tickets are a dollar.
In the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, this system served all of Los Angeles on over a thousand miles of track before the advent of the freeway system.
The day we went, we didn’t have to wait long on the platform for the shiny red car to pull up. The windows were down and the honey-colored seats gleamed in the bright sunlight. Ads for Lifebuoy Soap and Arrow collars lined the ceiling. The driver joked with me that the conductor had said “What a cutie is on the platform”
“I was sure he meant you,” he said, cocking his head and winking, “but it turns out he meant your boy.” I wasn’t offended. The conductor was a chatty man who grew up in Pasadena and used to ride the trains, trolleys, and subways whenever he got the chance. We were the only passengers, and he served as our tour guide, pointing out interesting sights like the hangar housing the world’s largest fireboat. It was very pleasant to sit there with Tommy and look out the windows at the boats and tanker cars and gantry cranes.
This outing is also in close proximity to the Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific, another outing I highly recommend for kids (and adults) of all ages. You could easily do both things and make a day of it.
For today’s Photo Friday at Delicious Baby. Please stop by there and check out the other wonderful posts.
I've taken with my children and those I want to take. Explore and you'll find family travel tips, information about vacation destinations, and lots of stories about our adventures! 
So cute. Thanks for more of that train info. I thought I’d covered every train in the west, well at least that’s what it seems like. I guess I have so many more to ride!
Love love love that little hat!
Oh my goodness, look at that hat! That’s just too cute. Thanks for the info on this activity.
What is it about kids and their trains?! My little guy loves trains so much that they become magical to me and I have been on lots of them!
What a very sweet shot – you both look so content
Guess kids’ fascination with trains explains the whole Thomas thing. (I’m probably thinking of Thomas because we just got the mailing for its appearance at The Henry Ford in metro Detroit)
Sounds like a great trip, and how nice that you got your own private tour!
Sweet! Lovely activity ideas too! Too bad they pulled out so many trains in California and round the US, as they tend to be horrible compared to Europe. ( Not this little cute one, but trains in general).
As oil peaks and gets more expensive, we are going to need more trains and less cars.
We have grown fond of trains, freighter ships and all the old fashion forms of travel. Life in the slow lane, refreshes!