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It seems like every child at some point goes through that adorable Thomas the Train phase. My two-year-old is going through this now – but have you seen the price of the train tracks and trains?! Here I have rounded up a list of places that your Thomas lover can play with a train table for FREE. Your wallet will thank me later.

Where to Play with a Train Table
Barnes and Noble Bookstores
Vernon Hills, Deer Park, Deerfield
Daily, 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Kick back with your Starbucks from the Barnes & Noble cafe while your child plays with the train table in the children’s book section.

Fremont Public Library
1170 N. Midlothian Road, Mundelein, IL
Second Saturday of every month from 10:00-4:30 p.m.
While there is no train table, your child can build their own trainscapes with their tracks in the youth services room. Then you can go upstairs to see the model train run.
Kohl Children’s Museum
2100 Patriot Boulevard, Glenview, IL
The train table is free with admission. Their train table is neat as it has circles cut out in the middle so your child can stand in there and be able to reach all of the tracks. There are plenty of benches nearby for adults to sit on. Every time I have gone, there has also been plenty of trains for everyone who wants to play.

Learning Express Toys
315 South Rand Road Lake Zurich IL
Let them play while you shop!

Editor’s Note:
I don’t know if it’s permanent or just during the renovation but the Grayslake Area Public Library has moved its train table back to where the other toys and books are – away from the stairs! Yeah! Head over there any day to play but be aware, unlike the others these tracks aren’t attached to the table so you may need to do some construction.
Which place is your favorite place to get your little ones Thomas the Train fix?
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Gurnee toys r us also has one and it’s always filled with trains. We’ve been to the VA location and the trains are rarely there.
KIDS dentist has one too 🙂
Toys R Us in Vernon Hills closed quite some time ago 🙁