What: Day Out with Thomas
Where: SAM ShortlineExcursion Train depot at Georgia Veterans State Park
When: Oct. 23-24 and 30-31, 2010, 9:30 am – 3:30 pm (rain or shine)
Cost: $18 per person (or you can win a four pack here!)

It’s that time of year again, Thomas the Tank Engine is set to roll into Georgia Veterans State Park for the “Day Out with Thomas” tour. During Day Out with Thomas, you and your children have the opportunity to take a 25 minute train ride led by none other than Thomas the Tank Engine. Other activities include a meet and greet with Sir Topham Hatt, storytelling, crafts and a play station with Mega Bloks. Veterans Park is in Moultrie, it’s about two hours from Atlanta. If you’d rather go the night before or spend the weekend, Lake Blackshear Resort and Golf Club looks like a very nice option for accommodations.

It took me three children to finally get to a Day Out with Thomas event. I’m not sure who was more excited about the afternoon. If you go, here are some tips:

• Best Time to Ride Thomas: Lunchtime is the best time for the train ride (12:45 adn 1:30 are generally slower) The morning rides (10:45 and 11:00 am) fill up quickly.
• There are lots of other activities surrounding the train ride. Sir Topham Hat comes out often, so there is never a really big line to see him. Train tables are also a favorite. Again, lunchtime is generally a tad slower, so maybe play at the train table and see Sir Topham Hat around 10:45 when most folks are riding the train and plan to ride the train around 12:45 or 1:30 pm.
• Veterans Park is fairly isolated, so there really aren’t restaurants nearby. There are several food vendors on site, or you might want to bring a picnic from home.

Want to win a family four pack of tickets? Ok, I know you do. Leave a comment below with your full name and tell me your favorite train from the Island of Sodor. We’ll announce the winner on Tues. Oct. 5.

Want and extra shot at winning?
Twitter: Follow @suerodman and Tweet “@suerodman is giving away tix to spend a ‘Day Out with Thomas’ @gastateparks SAM Shortline.”
Facebook: “Like” Field Trips with Sue and either upload a photo of your child and his trains (be sure to label the photo with YOUR full name) or tell me your favorite train from the Island of Sodor.

Still can’t get enough of Thomas?
Head to Six Flags Over Georgia’s Thomas Town.

Winner: Amy C. You are the winner of the Thomas the Tank Engine Train Pack. Please email me your address (sue@fieldtripswithsue.com). We’ll be back next week with more prizes, until then…

Nuclear Cowboyz at the Georgia Dome, Feb. 13
Atlanta Braves Community Caravan
Silver Scream Spookshow

The LEGO Store Mini-Model Lego Build at Discover Mills Mall (Info coming next week)
Atlanta Thrashers Open Practice
FTWS Ongoing Birthday Bash (lots of great prizes to come!)

Winner: Congratulations to the Callaway Gardens winner Brooke Werner McEckon! Brooke send me an email at sue@fieldtripswithsue.com with your address. FYI – All winners are chosen through random.org, I don’t actually pick the winners, I let the computer do that – the other way would be WAAYY too much pressure.

Now for our next present: We’re giving away a Thomas the Tank Engine Prize Pack. I know how much everyone LOVES Thomas and this is a GREAT package. Perfect Valentine’s Gift for that special little guy (or guys, there’s enough here to spread around.)

Here’s what’s included in the prize pack:
Talking Railway Knapford Station Set (Thomas Wooden Railway)
Join Thomas and his friends for an exciting stop at Knapford Station! This complete wooden set is a full layout destination pack that features exclusive engine recognition technology that allows Sir Topham Hatt to greet Talking Railway engines by name for hours of interactive fun! Hear Thomas, Percy and talk too!

Thomas & Friends: Hero of the Rails DVD
In this action-packed tale of friendship, determination and teamwork Thomas discovers an abandoned and broken down engine named Hiro from an exciting far away land. Fearing that he will be scrapped, Thomas enlists help from many friends including Victor, a new steam engine and Kevin, a new crane vehicle who both work at the spectacular Sodor Steam Works. But mishaps, mistakes and one boastful engine could foil their plans for a heroic rescue. Can the engine pals work together to help their new friend? Join the adventure and find out!

Repair and Go Station (Thomas Wooden Railway)
The Sodor Steamworks is ready for repairs! Lifte the engines with the crane to do a thorough inspection. Visit the repair stations to check the engines oil and replace and rest their wheels. After a visit to the Steamworks, the engines are ready to go! This is the newest destination on the Island of Sodor, as seen in Hero of the Rails!

Thomas Wooden Railway(tm) Engines: Victor & Hiro
Two of the newest engines on the Island of Sodor, Hiro and Victor help Thomas in his adventures in Hero of the Rails.

How to win the Thomas the Tank Engine Gift Pack: We’ll announce the winner Friday morning, so become a subscriber of Field Trips with Sue via email (it’s FREE) and leave a comment below to let me know you want to win. That’s it.

Want an extra shot at winning? Follow @suerodman on twitter and tweet this: I want to win a Thomas the Tank Engine Prize Pack in the Field Trips with Sue #FTWS Birthday Bash http://bit.ly/53XBco. Make sure you include the link.

What: A Day Out with Thomas 2009: The Hero of the Rails Tour
When: Oct. 30, 31 and Nov. 1 (Win tickets for Nov. 1 @ 11 am)
10 – 1 on Friday
10 – 4 on Saturday
10 – 3 on Sundays
Where: SAM Shortline Train at Ga. Veterans State Park in Cordele, Ga.
Cost: $18 plus tax for ages 2 and up plus $5 for parking or you could Win Tickets

This summer I wrote about A Day Out with Thomas in North Carolina. Well, Thomas is now visiting Cordele, a short two hour drive south of Atlanta.

As I said in my last post, if you have a Thomas fan, or a child that likes trains, this is a great excursion. The highlight of the experience is a 25 minute train ride on the real Thomas the Tank Engine. However, children also get to meet Sir Topham Hatt, the conductor of the railroad. Additional activities include arts & crafts, storytelling, Thomas videos, live music, hay bale maze, temporary tattoos (My youngest LOVES tattoos.), bounce houses and more. There is also a Thomas store, so if your holiday theme is trains, you’ll be set.

If you’d like to win tickets to see Thomas, Field Trips with Sue is giving away a family 4 pack and a Thomas the Tank Engine DVD. The tickets are for Sunday, Nov. 1 at 11 am. I know it’s a little early and I’m working on getting the option of a later time, but this is it for now. If you are interested in winning the tickets and the DVD, leave a comment below or on the Field Trips with Sue Facebook page (www.facebook.com/fieldtripswithsue). This one is a short turn-a-round, so we’ll announce the winner on Friday and your tickets will be at Will Call. We’ll mail you the DVD.