The N.C. Transportation Museum's first family event of the spring includes train rides, treats, and a furry friend to help welcome the season. Easter Bunny Express train rides are available . The event has expanded from past years, with more to enjoy, and a big finale March 26, 2016.
The Easter Bunny Express is a 25 minute train ride around the museum's 57 acre historic property while the big bunny rides along, handing out treats and taking photos with all aboard. Following the ride, ticket holders can enjoy temporary tattoos, crafts, coloring and pictures with the Easter Bunny just behind the Gift Station, bubbles and chalk near the Back Shop, Thomas play tables in the Roundhouse, face painting, and a great model train layout from the Central Carolina N-Scalers. By visiting following the Hippity Hop Carrot Trot map to visit each area, kids can receive a special treat to take home.
A new addition to this year's event is Meals With the Easter Bunny, with the choice of breakfast, lunch, or snacks. Meals with the Easter Bunny will be enjoyed in a stationary vintage railroad dining car.
Tickets to the Easter Bunny Express are $15 for adults, $13 for seniors and active military, and $11 for children 3-12. Children 2 and under are free. Tickets include the train ride, museum admission, and all associated activities. Museum members are eligible for discounted tickets. More details on ticketing options can be found at www.nctrans.org.
The museum's big Easter Bunny Express finale happens Saturday, March 26, with all scheduled activities, as well as the annual Easter Egg Hunt and an appearance by the Lehigh Valley #126 steam locomotive.
A train horn will sound the start of the Easter Egg Hunt at noon. The hunt is available for children from birth through age 10. Children will be divided by age. Each age range will search for a special "golden Easter Egg" redeemable for an Easter Treat Basket in the N.C. Transportation Museum Gift Station.
Also March 26, guests will hear that whistle that only a steam locomotive can make, as the Lehigh Valley Coal #126 steam locomotive will pull the museum's caboose train. Six colorful cabooses will travel behind this authentic steam engine, created in 1931.
With the addition of the Caboose Train, a special combo ticket will be available March 26. Combo tickets include museum admission, tattoos and crafts in the Gift Station and both the Easter Bunny Express train ride and the Steam Powered Caboose Train. Those special combo tickets are $21 for adults, $19 for seniors and active military and $17 for children 3-12. Regularly priced Easter Bunny Express tickets, without the steam engine caboose train ride, will also be offered March 26.
Easter Bunny Express train rides will be offered March 25-26, 2016.
Submitted by Mark Brown,
NC Transportation Museum