From Teresa Plowright,
Your Guide to Family Vacations.
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-continued from Stanley Park BC

The Miniature Train in Stanley Park is located not far from the Vancouver Aquarium and from Lumberman's Arch. (See Stanley Park Map). Just a few steps away is the Children's Farmyard, where kids can see goats, sheep, cows, giant pig, and snakes.

While the 10-minute Miniature Train ride is a nice activity year-round for little kids, twice a year the ride transforms into a popular night-time themed event. Even older kids enjoy the Halloween Ghost Train and the Christmas Train.

Stanley Park Halloween Ghost Train

• For the month of October, Stanley Park's Miniature Railway becomes the Ghost Train: lots of fun, but be warned that tickets sell out fast! Fortunately, you can buy online through the Stanley Park Halloween Ghost Train site.
• the train ride runs from October 6 to Nov. 1 2006, 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm.
• ticket price includes entrance to the Children's Farmyard and Halloween Barn
• price is $8.40/adult, $4.95 for ages 2 to 18 (Canadian $)
• your ticket specifies a half-hour time window when you can ride the train
• purchase in advance, if possible. If not...
• a portion of the tickets for each day are not sold in advance, and go on sale at 3 p.m. at the Train Plaza by the Miniature Railway. If you arrive early you'll have a good chance of riding the train that night. While waiting for the train ride you can play at a nearby playground or stroll the seawall.

Theme for 2006
The 2006 Ghost Train has a retro-movie theme, "Attack of the Creatures from Lost Lagoon": ride the train and encounter The Brain That Wouldn't Die and The Frogman From Beyond! Come in costume if you like. Mask-making workshops and face-painting are on-site.

Bonus: Creatures of the Night
Thursday, Friday and Saturday, take a Creatures of the Night Walk with the Stanley Park Ecology Society. $4 for adults, $2 for kids; under-threes are free.