Best of 2000: Best Tot Train

Balboa Park Railroad
Balboa Park, next to the carousel
and the zoo
Runs weekends and holidays
(619) 239-4748

Balboa Park Railroad is a fun, inexpensive cure to childhood boredom. The scaled-down version of a Santa Fe locomotive pulls a dozen tiny passenger cars -- big enough for Mom and Dad -- on a clickety-clackety open-car ride over "bridges," through tunnels, and round numerous bends. It has the look and feel of the Real Thing. The side-to-side rocking, the wind in the kiddies' hair, and the bon voyage waves from folks watching you from the carousel will put some spring in Junior's step, and at $1.25 a ride, his college fund will stay intact.