Bilingual Preschool Story Time

10:30-11 a.m. Thursdays. Downtown Yakima Library, 102 N. Third St. 452-8541.

Toddler and Preschool Studio

10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Fridays. Open studio time for toddlers and preschoolers to explore art. Cost: $5 per child. Red Art Gallery, 30 N. Third St., Yakima. 469-2766.

Terrace Heights Story Time

PRESCHOOL STORY TIME. 10:15-11 a.m. Terrace Heights Library, 4011 Commonwealth Drive. 457-5319.

Michaels Kids Club

MICHAELS KIDS CLUB. Kids ages 5-12 are invited to join 30-minute craft sessions at 10 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 11 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Cost: $2 per child. Michaels store, 1729 S. First St., Yakima. 452-6484. michaels.com

Official Yu-Gi-Oh! Duelist King Tournament

Noon to 4 p.m. Saturdays. Ron’s Coin & Book, 6 N. Third St., Yakima. 248-1117.

Summitview Story Time

PRESCHOOL STORY TIME. 11 a.m. Tuesdays. Summitview Library, 5709 Summitview Ave. 966-7070.

MOPS — Selah Covenant Church

9 a.m. second and fourth Fridays. Cost: $3, includes child care. Selah Covenant Church, 560 McGonagle Road. Call Stephanie, 307-5160, or Ashley, 698-5036.

Tractor Run

8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Look for about 35 old tractors filing down U.S. Highway 97 from Union Gap to Wapato during the annual Tractor Run. Departing from the Central Washington Agricultural Museum in Union Gap’s Fullbright Park at about 8:30 a.m., this 10-mile-per-hour spectacle will putter down U.S. Highway 97 to West Wapato Road, where they’ll head for lunch in Harrah. For a change of scenery, they plan to return via Lateral A, arriving back in Union Gap about 4 p.m. 966-8105.

Mother’s Day

Mother’s Day is May 11.

Children and Adults with ADHD

6:30-8 p.m. second Tuesdays. Support group for friends, family and teachers of children and adults with ADHD. Children’s Village, 3801 Kern Road, Yakima. Call 833-4340, 910-0329, or 966-8957.

Imagination Library Story Hour

Circle of Success program for children up to age 5. Free. Second Wednesdays at 10 a.m. in English; noon in Spanish. YWCA, 15 N. Naches Ave., Yakima. 469-9888.

Preschool Story Time with Craft

10 a.m. Selah Library, 115 W. Naches Ave. 698-7345.

Bilingual Preschool Story Time

10:30-11 a.m. Thursdays. Downtown Yakima Library, 102 N. Third St. 452-8541.

NW tourist trains

All Aboard!
We’ve tracked down Northwest tourist trains within driving range of Yakima for a day trip or weekend getaway. Here’s a schedule, including drive times from Yakima.

YAKIMA VALLEY TROLLEYS | Yakima |
Yakima’s own historic trolleys take a short but affordable ride up Pine Street on weekends throughout the summer.

Trolleys depart several times a day on weekends and holidays, Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day.

Catch a ride from the car barn, located at Third Avenue and Pine Street. Also, tour the Electric Railway Museum, featuring antique streetcars and electric locomotives.

Fare: $4; free for children 5 and under sitting on a lap. Museum admission is free.
Phone: 249-5962. On the Web: yakimavalleytrolleys.org

NORTHERN PACIFIC RAILWAY MUSEUM | Toppenish | 20 minutes
Explore railroad history at this local museum, located inside a restored 1911 Northern Pacific Railway depot. The museum is open Tuesday-Sunday, May 3 through October.

Free caboose rides in the depot yard during special events: 10th Annual Toppenish Rail and Western Art Show (Aug. 15-17); Whistlestop! bluegrass festival (Aug. 23); Pumpkin Runs (Oct. 24-26, 29-31); and Toy Train Christmas (Nov. 29, Dec. 6, 13-14, 20-21).

Admission: $5 adults, $3 children 17 and under.
Location: 10 S. Asotin Ave. in downtown Toppenish, 20 minutes south of Yakima on U.S. Highway 97.
Phone: 930-7210. On the Web: nprymuseum.org

NORTHWEST RAILWAY MUSEUM | Snoqualmie, Wash. | 2 hours
Ride aboard antique rail coaches during this 75-minute round trip excursion between Snoqualmie and North Bend, where you can hop off to explore downtown and catch a later train back to the depot. On the return trip, pause at the top of Snoqualmie Falls to enjoy the scenery.

Trains depart several times a day on weekends, April through October. Fare: $7-$10; children under 2 are free. Museum admission is free.

Day Out With Thomas: 25-minute excursions depart throughout the day on July 11-13 and 18-20. Public ticket sales open April 19. Fare: $18 for ages 2 and up.

Location: About 3 miles off I-90 at North Bend, just shy of a two-hour drive from Yakima.
Phone: 425-888-3030. On the Web: trainmuseum.org

MOUNT HOOD RAILROAD | Hood River, Ore. | 2 hours
Enjoy scenic views of Mount Hood, forests and fruit orchards aboard this railroad’s enclosed Pullman coaches or red caboose. Choose from 2.5- or 4-hour excursions ($15-$30), with layover stops in Odell or Parkdale. Brunch and dinner runs and other special events also available.

Location: Columbia Gorge, 60 miles east of Portland on Interstate 84. Drive time from Yakima is two hours.
Phone: 541-386-3556 or 800-872-4661. On the Web: mthoodrr.com

SEATTLE CENTER MONORAIL | Seattle | 2 hours
Built for the 1962 World’s Fair, this was the nation’s first full-scale commercial monorail system. Each trip takes two minutes to cover the one-mile route, which connects downtown Seattle to the Seattle Center (across from the Space Needle).

Departs at least every 10 minutes from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily.

Fare: $1.50-$4 round-trip. Free for children 4 and under.
On the Web: seattlemonorail.com

MOUNT RAINIER SCENIC RAILROAD | Mineral, Wash. | 2.5 hours
Explore the picturesque foothills of Mount Rainier on a two-hour journey that crosses an impressive curved wooden trestle. On the return, the steam locomotive proves it’s the engine that can, putting on a great show as it pulls the train up a steep hill to Divide. Open air cars and enclosed window cars available.

Regular excursions depart from the historic logging town of Mineral each weekend, May 24 through September. Special events throughout the year.

Fare: $15-$20; $4 children ages 1-3.
Location: 120 miles west of Yakima via U.S. Highway 12.
Phone: 360-492-5588 or 888-783-2611. On the Web: mrsr.com

CHEHALIS-CENTRALIA RAILROAD & MUSEUM | Chehalis, Wash. | 3 hours
Steam trains depart from Chehalis, between Seattle and Portland on Interstate 5, winds through scenic hills, farmland, and over several wooden trestles.

Regular excursions run weekends, May 24 through September. Choose from 12-mile (1.5 hours) or 18-mile routes (2 hours). Fare: $8-$14; free for children 3 and under.

Phone: 360-748-9593. On the Web: steamtrainride.com

CHELATCHIE PRAIRIE RAILROAD | Yacolt, Wash. | 4 hours
Experience the darkness of a 330-foot tunnel and cross a trestle over the Lewis River while riding in open-air cars during this 10-mile excursion. Stretch your legs during a stop at Moulton Falls.

Excursions run at least one weekend each month, February through December.

Fare: $8-$15 per person, kids under 2 are free.
Location: 40 miles northeast of Portland in the foothills of Mount St. Helens.
Phone: 360-686-3559. On the Web: bycx.com

Toddler and Preschool Studio

10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Fridays. Open studio time for toddlers and preschoolers to explore art. Cost: $5 per child. Red Art Gallery, 30 N. Third St., Yakima. 469-2766.

Michaels Kids Club

Kids ages 5-12 are invited to join 30-minute craft sessions at 10 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 11 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Cost: $2 per child. Michaels store, 1729 S. First St., Yakima. 452-6484. michaels.com

Official Yu-Gi-Oh! Duelist King Tournament

Noon to 4 p.m. Saturdays. Ron’s Coin & Book, 6 N. Third St., Yakima. 248-1117.

Maryhill Fun Day

1-4 p.m. All About Landscapes: Be inspired by landscapes of the gorge created by Percy Manser and create your own landscape using oil pastels. This Family Fun Day coincides with the museum’s annual Members’ Day programs that feature gallery walks and presentations. Also, the child-friendly EyeSEE Resource Room features games, special kid-friendly exhibits, and art work by kids from throughout the region. Maryhill Museum of Art, south of Goldendale on State Route 14. Cost: $7 adults; children under 17 free with paying adult. 509-773-3733. 

Preschool Story Time with Craft

10 a.m. Selah Library, 115 W. Naches Ave. 698-7345.

Terrace Heights Story Time

PRESCHOOL STORY TIME. 10:15-11 a.m. Terrace Heights Library, 4011 Commonwealth Drive. 457-5319.

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