Like many preschoolers, Zachary, age 4, is a huge fan of locomotives, and simply standing close to a real train, let alone riding one, is a thrill. Multiply his excitement by ten, and you'll understand the energy generated by our group as we scrambled aboard to find spots on the wooden benches of the open-air vista car (there are also covered passenger coaches, circa 1920). The kids kneeled on their seats and leaned against the railing so they could see everything, chattering nonstop.

Finally, the train set off. It hugged the mountainside, running along the state park and through groves of sequoias. Some of these immense trees are more than 1,400 years old. The train rattled over an old steel-truss bridge, then entered a long, pitch-black tunnel. At last, we emerged from tree cover and finished the trip under open sky.

Pulling into Santa Cruz, we passed Victorian houses and waved to the drivers of cars forced to stop as the train inched through town. The journey came to an end alongside the boardwalk, and the kids caught sight of the rides and stands full of snacks and treats. That settled it: although we could have caught the next train back to Felton in an hour, we opted to stay at the boardwalk and return later.

We shelled out $29 per kid for all-day passes to the boardwalk's attractions, but plenty of the 35 rides were perfect for our young crew, so we got our money's worth (older kids would love the Giant Dipper coaster and the Haunted Castle). The parents' favorite was the 1911 Looff Carousel, complete with a ring to grab and toss into a painted clown's mouth as we rode by.

On the trip back, the kids munched on popcorn and cotton candy. They were completely exhausted, but the thrills still hadn't worn off. We congratulated ourselves on a fantastic outing, a day of chugging along the rails with our friends and creating memories along the way.

Rail details: Roaring Camp Railroads, 831-335-4484; roaringcamp.com; $21 for adults, $16 for kids ages 3 to 12.