Little Kids' Vacation 2014, Pt. 6

We messed up, at the Chattanooga Choo Choo last year, by choosing a standard room over a train car. So, when I found out about The Red Caboose Motel in Ronks, Pennsylvania, I decided we just had to stay there.

We were assigned the B&O car. I was like: "No way! We got the Body Odor?" (Disrespectful, I know, but I played a lot of Monopoly as a kid, and we referred to B&O only as Body Odor.)

The truth about our train car is that the interior was straight-up 1970s: wood paneling, ratty carpet and blankets, formica table. The floor seemed ready to give way in one spot by our bed, and the ceiling was buckled in the bathroom. Jim asked: "Are you sure you want to stay here for three nights?"

And yes, because the further truth about our train car is that I loved it. It wasn't as nice as Erin's and Dave's train car in Chattanooga, but I found it homey and loved the novelty of the entire motel; thus, Jim and I spent the night of our seventh wedding anniversary holed up in a train car, eating Ramen noodles for dinner and making out while the babies slept nestled in bunk beds.

Jim did buy a Groupon so we could eat in the dining car, one night. I appreciated the dining car and the Reuben sandwich I ate there; I wish I'd taken photos. The dining car is off to the left in the photo, below.

(They'll leave the light on for you.)

The Red Caboose Motel is close to Lancaster and all its attractions but also just across from this:

Beautiful.

I photographed the sign, below, on the motel property. It blessed my heart. 

Jim says that, for the money, we can do better than The Red Caboose Motel. But I would totally stay there, again.