It’s not all that often that a character transcends time like Thomas the Tank Engine has. Although he left the depot more than 65 years ago, little boys (and girls) still get just as excited as ever watching, reading about, or playing with him and his friends on the Island of Sodor. Lucky for kids, there are two ways to spend time with Thomas here this summer.
The first is with a visit to the Minnesota Children’s Museum where there’s plenty of fun—and learning—to be had with Thomas as a part of its exhibit Thomas and Friends: Explore the Rails (through Sept. 21). Here visitors will find themselves at locations like Knapford Station and Sodor Steamworks, and will be asked to help Thomas and his friends be really useful engines by tapping into their science, technology, engineering and math skills. You can hop inside Thomas’ cab and see the engine’s inner workings, dress up as the conductor and sell train tickets, load Percy’s coal box so he can deliver the mail, plan a route to locations on the Island of Sodor, and more.
The second is with a trip to Duluth, where Day Out with Thomas: The Thrill of the Ride Tour 2014 (Aug. 1-3 & 8-10) will take place at the North Shore Scenic Railroad. And while the Day Out with Thomas Tour has been around for 19 years, this time something new will happen when he chugs into town: you’ll hear Thomas talk. On top of a ride aboard the engine, you’ll also get the chance to meet Sir Topham Hatt and participate in activities at the Imagination Station, such as arts and crafts and playing with trains, as well as hear stories about Thomas and his friends, watch videos of them, and listen to live music.
