Tourists and residents alike enjoy visiting scenic Irvine Regional Park in Irvine, California. It's a great place to go to forget about stressful things like selling real estate in Arlington or your kids' jam packed after school activity schedule. You can chill out on the grass, rent a bike and go for a ride, ride a pony, or even visit the animals at the Orange County Zoo. However, if you want to do something different, perhaps for a family gathering or a child's birthday party, why not consider a visit to one of Irvine Park's other prominent features: the Irvine Park Railroad.

The Irvine Park Railroad is a one-third size replica of the historic steam trains that helped to open California up to new residents. The train chugs its way through the whole scenic park, which can make it a relaxing ride for a stressed out architect in Canada or a fun venue on which to have a party. You can show up at the park any day (except holidays like Thanksgiving and New Year's) from 10-4 for a ride or book in advance for a group of 20 or more. The cost of a ride is $4 per person or $45 for a 15-ride book of tickets. The ride lasts about 15 minutes.

On holidays the Irvine Park Railroad pulls out all the stops for special extravaganzas. There's the Halloween Pumpkin Patch just behind the railroad station for Halloween, and a special Christmas train ride that runs all of December. It involves dozens of fuse holders to support its tunnel of light, and the train takes passengers all the way to the North Pole where they can disembark and sit on Santa's lap. As evidenced by the crowds, it's a big hit every year.

The Irvine Park Railroad is about more than just fun, however. It also helps to impart some of California's fascinating history to school groups through its 4th Grade California History Education Program. No more listening to dry lectures about industrial water treatment chemicals in a classroom - you can get out and experience it for yourself by train. There's the train ride on the "transcontinental railway," the trip down the mine, panning for gold, living life in a miner's camp, and transport by wagon.

If your kid is crazy for trains, you can also host his birthday party here. The kids can sit eat next to the railway, ride it, and even plan in a moon bounce. The railway can even cater events for up to 80 people, kids or adults. To get there after your home sale in Whitby, fly into John Wayne Airport then drive 20 minutes north to the foothills of Orange.