SeeCalifornia.com

This weekend people will head for all sorts of festivals and events to celebrate the beautiful weather and fall season. One of the most fun things to do to entertain the whole family is to ride an old-fashioned train.

Pictured in left photo is the Skunk Train Pumpkin Express (skunktrain.com) between Fort Bragg and Willits, stopping at Northspur  October 6, 13, 20 & 27, 2013. Skunk Train, which passes through tunnels and redwood forests, was named for the pungent odor originating when motorcars were introduced  in 1925 with gasoline-powered engines for power and a pot-bellied stove burning crude oil to keep the passengers warm. The combination of the fumes created a unique smell alerting you that a train was coming. In addition to the Pumpkin Express, the Skunk Train also hosts Christmas Train with visits from Santa during the ride.

Fillmore & Western Railway Pumpkliner (fwry.com) in Ventura County offers train rides to a pumpkin patch with games, food and fun on weekends in October, Murder Mystery Trains throughout the year, and three different Christmas train rides (right photo). You can take the Christmas Tree Train, Dinner with Santa Train or North Pole Express evening ride  Nov. 30-December 26, 2013.

Roaring Camp Railroad (roaringcamp.com) near Santa Cruz features the Harvest Fair & Steam Festival Oct. 12-13, Halloween Ghost Train Oct. 25 & 26 and Holiday Tree Walk Train Nov. 29 & 30 or Santa Cruz Holiday Lights Train Nov. 29-December 23, 2013.

If you’re looking to create holiday traditions, riding a train certainly can’t be beat!