If you are interested in a day trip via train, just hop on board the Metrolink (if you are in LA or OC, the most affordable option over Amtrak) and make your way down to San Juan Capistrano stop. Check out the Metrolink website for schedules and there are 2 stops in the morning and 2 in the afternoon. The roundtrip ticket from Santa Ana, cost me $14 since my kids were free.

My 5 and 3 yo boys and I did the following during the 4 hour stay: we went to the petting zoo, looked at a very early outdoor jail, stopped in a few shops, saw a train converted into a fancy restaurant (several times), walked to an open field park, explored an antique shop (which sparked interesting conversation), talked about the SJC swallows, got a coffee treat at Starbucks for mommy, and ate at an authentic taco stand. It was all really fun. I was surprised that my 3 yo did really well without a stroller. It was really a great, low-key day excursion.

When they are older, I plan to add the visit to the Mission to this train excursion. Also, next time, I will add a trip to Ruby's Diner, a `40s-style restaurant with lots of memorabilia, model trains, a modern-day chain restaurant of an old-fashioned diner. As another blogger describes it, "A Santa Fe Superchief locomotive (HO scale I believe) sat on display near the center of the restaurant and another HO scale model train was seen running on another display in a corner of the restaurant."

The petting zoo is just across the train tracks (opens at 10 a.m.). The zoo is called Zoomars and provides a very nice sampling of bunnies, guinea pigs, goats, and other farm animals to feed and a variety treats to choose from. Pony and train rides are available too. Bring some extra cash if you want the kids to have a treat to take home from the gift shop (my kids appropriately choose penguins!). The various prices add up pretty quickly at the petting zoo since there is an admission charge.

For those of you who think the excursion would be too long, buy a one way ticket on Metrolink and leave from a major destination. That way you can buy an Amtrak one-way ticket for the trip back. For example, for us, we left from the Santa Ana station (an Amtrak serviced station), even though the Orange station is probably closer.