# San Diego Model Railroad Museum Autumn Whistle Stop Weekend (Balboa Park)

> Event for families in the San Diego–Chula Vista–Carlsbad area (CA). Times are Pacific Time.

- When: Nov 28 – Nov 29 · 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Where: San Diego Model Railroad Museum (Casa de Balboa), 1649 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101
- Ages: All ages; dedicated Toy Train Gallery with step-stools for toddlers and wooden train play tables
- Price: $9 for youth (ages 4–11); $14.50 for adults; free for children ages 3 and under
- Organizer: San Diego Model Railroad Museum
- Official page: https://sdmrm.org/visit
- Last checked: Wed, Nov 4

Source: Grassy Knees is a directory of real family events, places and programs for kids across major U.S. metro areas, where every listing is researched from the organizer’s own page and shows the date we last checked it. https://grassyknees.com covers 42 metro areas as of Nov 11, 2026, with more added regularly. About: https://grassyknees.com/about
Freshness: listings are re-checked on a daily research run (latest check 2026-11-10), and new events are added as organizers post them. Sell-outs, weather cancellations and time changes show up on the live page first: https://grassyknees.com/san-diego/activities/san-diego-model-railroad-museum-autumn-whistle-stop-weekend-balboa-par--listing-1c086c68c729fe25b2d46f9f

## About

As the largest indoor model railroad museum in North America, occupying 27,000 square feet in Balboa Park's historic Casa de Balboa, this wonderland captivates kids and railway enthusiasts alike. Thousands of feet of miniature track feature scale models of historic California rail lines—including the San Diego & Arizona Eastern and Santa Fe routes—weaving through hand-crafted mountain gorges, desert trestles, and bustling urban depots. Over Thanksgiving weekend, the Toy Train Gallery welcomes families with interactive push-button train controls, hands-on wooden train play tables, and a scavenger hunt challenging young sleuths to spot hidden miniature animals and tiny figures throughout the layouts.

## Similar picks in San Diego

- [The New Children's Museum Thanksgiving Gratitude Art Studio & Clay Labs (Downtown San Diego)](https://grassyknees.com/san-diego/activities/the-new-children-s-museum-thanksgiving-gratitude-art-studio-and-clay-l--listing-18dc92ca675c8dc6446c6cfe) — Nov 27 – Nov 29 · 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM · The New Children's Museum · All ages · From $18 · checked Nov 7. Housed in a light-filled architectural masterpiece in downtown San Diego's Marina District, The New Children's Museum is an arts-based wonderland where kids think, play, and…
- [Thanksgiving Break Camp at San Diego Junior Theatre (Balboa Park)](https://grassyknees.com/san-diego/activities/thanksgiving-break-camp-at-san-diego-junior-theatre-balboa-park--listing-031c193765d37aa245ab6255) — Ongoing · San Diego Junior Theatre, Casa del Prado, Balboa Park · Ages 5–12 · From $250 · checked Oct 30. Elementary students rotate through drama, music, dance and art classes, ending with an Open Sharing for families on the last day. Campers must be fully potty-trained.
- [Coronado 5K Turkey Trot at Tidelands Park (San Diego Bay Skyline)](https://grassyknees.com/san-diego/activities/coronado-5k-turkey-trot-at-tidelands-park-san-diego-bay-skyline--listing-2dac08b8465596908457cc51) — Thu, Nov 26 · 8:00 AM – 10:30 AM · Coronado Tidelands Park · All ages · From $25 · checked Nov 4. Start Thanksgiving morning with breathtaking views of the downtown San Diego skyline and the soaring curves of the San Diego-Coronado Bridge at the Coronado 5K Turkey Trot…
- [Father Joe's Villages Thanksgiving Day 5K & Family Fun Walk (Balboa Park)](https://grassyknees.com/san-diego/activities/father-joe-s-villages-thanksgiving-day-5k-and-family-fun-walk-balboa-p--listing-4412f6e11828e91f178f2bd9) — Thu, Nov 26 · 7:30 AM – 11:00 AM · Balboa Park (Pan American Plaza & El Prado) · All ages · From $25 · checked Nov 4. San Diego's longest-standing Thanksgiving Day charity race welcomes over 7,500 runners, joggers, and strolling families through the heart of historic Balboa Park. The paved…
- [Father Joe's Villages Run for Hope Thanksgiving Day 5K in Balboa Park](https://grassyknees.com/san-diego/activities/father-joe-s-villages-run-for-hope-thanksgiving-day-5k-in-balboa-park--listing-7152599bf553c70903b5c066) — Thu, Nov 26 · 7:15 AM – 10:00 AM · Balboa Park (start at Cabrillo Bridge, festival at Plaza de Panama) · All ages · Paid · checked Oct 30. San Diego's original Thanksgiving Day turkey trot starts at the Cabrillo Bridge at 7:15 am and loops Balboa Park, with a festival in the Plaza de Panama from 8 to 10 am…
- [Fleet Science Center Thanksgiving Weekend Family Maker Lab (Balboa Park)](https://grassyknees.com/san-diego/activities/fleet-science-center-thanksgiving-weekend-family-maker-lab-balboa-park--listing-edd9764f9b4371aa87049030) — Nov 27 – Nov 29 · 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM · Fleet Science Center · All ages · From $19.95 · checked Nov 4. Located on Balboa Park's pedestrian El Prado, the Fleet Science Center is San Diego's premier interactive hands-on science playground. Over Thanksgiving holiday weekend, the…

## More for families

- [Things to do with kids in San Diego County, CA](https://grassyknees.com/san-diego/counties/san-diego-county-ca) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/san-diego/counties/san-diego-county-ca.md)
- [Things to do with kids in San Diego — November 2026](https://grassyknees.com/san-diego/events/2026-11) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/san-diego/events/2026-11.md)
- [This weekend in San Diego](https://grassyknees.com/san-diego/this-weekend) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/san-diego/this-weekend.md)
- [Things to do with kids in San Diego](https://grassyknees.com/san-diego) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/san-diego.md)
