Just outside Cape Cod is a hidden gem of an amusement park....perfect for the littlest thrill seekers but still offering enough to keep the biggest kids happy. This space has all the magic of a rich historical site but also boasts some brand new updates worth the price of admission.
When you enter Edaville, you might be underwhelmed. You look out on a large pond (the kids can try their hand at fishing here) and a tiny carousel. But looks can be deceiving. Once you get further into the park....your little Thomas fans will bust their buffers.
Historically, Edaville is regarded as one of the oldest heritage railroad museums in the country -- it opened in 1947 and visitors were welcome to ride locomotives around the large cranberry bog on the property. Not much of the original setup remains; however, the park was rededicated in 2015 as the new home to Thomas Land. I can't imagine a better place to bring your little engineer.
Walking through Thomas Land is actually like being on the Island of Sodor. You can visit Tidmouth Shed, see the post office, ride on the troublesome trucks (a pretty fun roller coaster), fly in the air with Harold the Helicopter, take a lift with Bertie the Bus, visit with the peg people, and so much more. The setting and decorations are so, so, so much like the show. My girls enjoyed all the rides; but their favorite was actually the Sodor Play Zone -- an indoor climbing station/obstacle course with slides, stairs, nets, and hiding spots. This attraction is for ages 4-12 and they could have spent the whole day there. FYI: you HAVE to wear socks here. If your kids wear crocs or flops for the season bring socks in your bag. And of course, in Thomas Land, you can actually ride Thomas the train.
Riding on the Thomas train is a great opportunity to recharge your batteries. It's a gentle, lengthy ride through the entire property -- if you need to feed an itty bitty here's your chance. The bigger kids will be enchanted by the conductor who comes by to punch their ticket and by watching the passing scenery. (No worries if you don't get a ticket when you board -- the conductor has extras on hand to pass out to little riders).
Edaville is a sure to be a big hit with little dino fans too. Their Dino Land is a walk-through attraction hosting 23 life-like dinosaurs and a themed kiddie coaster. Although we didn't see any on our visit, the website boasts lots of classic kids character meet and greets on specific days: the Berenstein Bears, Madeline, the Hungry Catterpillar, Curious George, Pete the Cat and more. Check the calendar link to see when your child's favorite friend may be at Edaville.
I adored the vintage rides -- all the classics: bumper cars, ferris wheel (what a beauty -- even when Faith and I got stuck at the top under a freak rain cloud...we'll never forget that ride), tilt-a-whirl, Scrambler. Edaville has all the rides I remember from when I was a kid and I loved being able to share them with the girls. There are so many other great kiddie rides too -- the spinning ladybug coaster was voted our personal favorite. All together, the park hosts 90 rides and attractions.
I appreciate the low-key vibe at Edaville. I can easily get overwhelmed at the big theme parks but it's a slower pace here. And Thomas Land and the kiddie rides are all grouped close together so it's easy to divide and conquer if the kids want to try different rides. It's perfectly stroller friendly and there are food options scattered throughout the park (popcorn, burgers, pizza, sandwiches, fried dough, candy shop). We brought a picnic to eat in the car. Parking is FREE.
If you have a Thomas fan I can't recommend this park enough. It's really magical for those who adore the little blue engine and his friends. And there are enough rides for the bigger kids that they'll be happy too. It's a great New England family destination. Residents of Massachusetts can purchase discounted tickets for only $30 by using this link (proof of residency required). Regular admission for ages 2 and up is $37. Kids under 2 are admitted FREE. There are a lot of special admission deals offered throughout the season as well -- for scouts, star students, military, teachers, etc. Follow these events and much more on their Facebook page.
Edaville is located at 5 Pine Street in Carver, MA. They are open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. during the season. There are special events off season as well. You can check it all out on their website.
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