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One of my very first memories of living in Arizona is going to the McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park in Scottsdale. The year was 1983, we had just moved to Arizona, and my parents were looking for reasonably priced fun. As a kid, the Railroad Park was the ultimate playground. There were wide open spaces to run around, not-your-average playground equipment, and of course, the train. I even won a coffee mug at a raffle that was happening that day. My parents probably still have that mug!
These days, the Railroad Park is better than ever. For a couple dollars, you can ride the Paradise & Pacific Railroad train in a giant figure-8 around the Railroad Park. There are now also two large modern play structures with shade sails. Beyond that, a carousel, model railroads, the Scottsdale Railroad Museum, and the Arboretum Train (tiny train) add to the experience.
My Favorite Things at the Railroad Park in Scottsdale
This Swiss Railroad Clock was donated by the City of Interlaken, Switzerland (Hey, I’ve been there!), in commemoration of the Sister Cities partnership between Interlaken and Scottsdale.
The Train!
Kids love riding the train in this boxcar. Parents get extra bonus points for riding in there with their kids! Super extra bonus points are awarded if the temperature is above 100°F that day!
The train is making its way around the Railroad Park and is on approach to one of my favorite areas.
This is old school, and I love it! As a kid, I loved climbing to the rooftop of this play area. There is a pole to slide down somewhere inside and so many different rooms to run in & out of. Scottsdale is known as “The West’s Most Western Town,” so this play area just makes sense!
Oh yeah…the bank & the depot!
Read more about our Arizona road trip HERE & HERE. We love having the freedom to travel with our kids whenever!
What’s your favorite road trip? Please share in the comments below!
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Thanks for the railroad park memories!!! 🙂
This looks awesome, my girls would love it.
This seems like such a fun place to visit!
Good suggestion for Scottsdale – I haven’t been there yet, and I am always looking to add destinations to the list!
Saving this for the grandkids!
Looks like a great escape. Fun!
My job has an office in Tempe, AZ I wonder how far this is from there.
It’s about 12 miles from Arizona State University, which is in Tempe.
Looks like fun! We have a similar train ride at Lakes Park in Fort Myers, FL. My grandson loves it!
This looks like so much fun! I’m gonna have to take my nephew, he loves trains!
That’s so neat. My train obsessed nephew would love this.
Looks like such a fun place to visit!
This looks like such a fun park! I used to visit a similar park when I was a child in Calfornia and always loved it.
OMG! I absolutely love the look of the playground! I love how the buildings look in Arizona. It’s where I was born and spent my younger years!
It reminds me of the little train outside the San Diego Zoo. It’s something we did when I was a kid and now that I’ve grown up it is something that we still do every time we go to Balboa Park or the zoo. Brings back great memories and creates new ones.
I know the train you’re talking about. Been there too!
The little train looks cute! My kids would think it is exciting!
That sounds like fun!! Thanks for sharing.
This is so cute and different, I’d love to take my little niece when she gets a bit older (: