Ride the Love Train: Family Valentine's Day Train Rides & Crafts in Saint Paul

At 193 Pennsylvania Ave E in Saint Paul, Minnesota, the Love Train invites families to spend a day aboard vintage railcars and celebrate the season of love. This all-day event runs 10:00am to 4:00pm and stitches together short train rides, hands-on crafts, a scavenger hunt, and sweet valentines treats into a single, easygoing loop for kids and adults alike. Climb into painted coaches and a caboose to feel the creak of restored wooden benches beneath you while conductors steer gentle laps around the yard. The key features are simple and joyful: multiple short train rides ideal for toddlers and primary-school kids, craft tables where small hands make keepsakes, and a scavenger hunt that turns the museum grounds into a gameboard of discovery. Treat stations scatter seasonal sweets along the route; food vendors are on site but meals are not included with admission. What makes Love Train a standout in Saint Paul's outdoor and cultural scene is its accessiblity and focus on intergenerational play. The event takes the city's rail heritage—preserved cars, period signage, and the mechanics of old rolling stock—and turns it into an invitation for play rather than a static exhibit. Photographers will find close-up textures in riveted steel and painted lettering, while little ones will remember the tug of a bell and the smell of popcorn. Practical notes are straightforward: check in at the ticket window on arrival, and you may arrive anytime during the 10:00–16:00 window. The program is family-friendly, requires no special skills, and is manageable for visitors with strollers. Expect urban wildlife like songbirds and squirrels darting between platform timbers; there are no notable geological features at the site, but mature maples and elms frame the yard in season. The Love Train works as a short, celebratory day out or the anchor for a longer Saint Paul weekend—pair it with nearby parks, bakeries, or a walk along the Mississippi River. Bring comfortable shoes, a camera for candid moments inside historic cars, and a light jacket for fluctuating spring or fall weather. Whether you're chasing the perfect family photo in a caboose doorway or teaching a child to spot a semaphore signal, the Love Train is a practical, playful way to make one afternoon feel like a small, shared adventure. Tickets are available through the event's booking site or at the window; bring a printed or mobile confirmation from the provided referral link and allow a few extra minutes for check-in on busy days. Restrooms and bench seating are available on site, and street or lot parking is nearby. Be mindful not to touch fragile restorations without staff permission; donations and volunteer time are the direct ways visitors can support ongoing preservation of historic rail equipment.