Wine Country’s Best Kid’s Activity Has a 4 Scale Mile Train Ride–and Alpacas

SONOMA, CALIFORNIA – Wine Country’s best kid-friendly stop Isn’t a tasting room at all—it’s Sonoma TrainTown Railroad, a 10-acre miniature empire that pairs a four-scale-mile train ride with a petting zoo full of alpacas, fainting goats and more.

A Quarter-Scale Steam Locomotive Pulls You Through Redwoods and Tunnels

Built to one-quarter real size, the locomotive whistles past waterfalls, trestles and a hand-carved canyon before stopping at a tiny lakeside town.

Four “Scale Miles” Equals Twenty Real Minutes of Smiles

The loop clocks in at 20 minutes—just long enough to feel epic to kids, short enough to keep grandparents comfortable on the wooden benches. It’s not actually 4 miles–that’s the distance the track would be if the engine was full scale–so it’s still a manageable length for families.

An Island Town Stop Lets Kids Feed Alpacas and Goats

Mid-ride, passengers disembark at Lakeview, where fenced enclosures hold fluffy alpacas, miniature donkeys and Nigerians dwarf goats eager for 25-cent feed pellets.

Rides Range From Ferris Wheel to A Mini Roller Coaster

Back at the depot, pint-sized thrill seekers can ride a roller coaster or head up on the ferris wheel for aerial views of wine country.

Grab Kid Friendly Bites

A train themed snack stand offers kid-friendly bites like pretzels, hot dogs, and snacks.

You Don’t Need a Reservation—or a Winery Itinerary

Admission to the grounds is free; train tickets sell at the window, first-come, first-served, making TrainTown the easiest unplanned detour between tastings.