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Arts & Entertainment

Train Exhibit Perfect Holiday Field Trip

Don't miss 'Holiday Bells and Whistles,' including the multi-tiered holiday train layout on display at Los Altos History Museum through the holiday season.

The kids are out of school. Older siblings are home from college for a few days of good food and laundry service. Maybe out-of-town parents and friends also add to your planning matrix as you try to think of new ways to keep everyone entertained and in the holiday spirit. That could be exhausting.

But wait! There are trains!

Right now the Los Altos History Museum features  a fun and interactive holiday exhibit called "Holiday Bells and Whistles." It has a marvelous, multi-level, 12-by-12-foot set up with trains of different gauges, complete with townscapes and landscapes. Check out the ski run that works with magnets. There is also a train that runs under the Christmas tree by the museum's windows. 

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The trains and landscapes are all decked out for the holidays so kids can play "Where's Santa?" to see how many times he shows up in the display. 

If hands-on building is more your style, the exhibit features Meccano sets that pre-date Erector sets. Gaze at the display case featuring the historic creations, then try your hand at making your own construction at the worktable.

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Oh, and don't forget to look up at the walls of the main exhibit room. The beautiful, brightly colored quilts add to the holiday spirit and showcase some beautiful handiwork. The Hawaiian quilts have the most amazing stitching, and the bold designs are quite contemporary. Other quilts on display illustrate different patterns and techniques typical of other parts of the U.S. 

While you're at the museum, the kids will undoubtedly want to check out the train diorama upstairs, which shows Los Altos in the old days when the train predated the Foothill Expressway. An elevator makes it easy for kids of all ages to see it all.

Be sure to leave enough time to discover the treasures in the museum store. There are some unique gifts and stocking stuffers at great prices. Members enjoy a 10 percent discount. A final stop next door to enjoy the holiday decorations at the J. Gilbert Smith History House makes a warm finale to your holiday visit.

The "Holiday Bells and Whistles" exhibit runs through Jan. 2, 2011; it's closed Christmas Day but open Christmas Eve and the day after Christmas, from noon to 4 pm. For more information, visit the museum at losaltoshistory.org or call 650-948-9427.

The Los Altos History Museum is at 51 S. San Antonio Rd., between the Main Library and the Hillview Community Center. It's open Thursdays through Sundays, noon to 4 pm; admission is free.

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