As if Richardson Farms Farm Market in White Marsh wasn't cool enough, they have a free holiday Train Garden this year. It's been set up by Harrison Trains and any donations collected go to the John Hopkins Children's Center.

I've written about this unique farm store before ("Fresh Local Produce and Luscious Plants at Richardson Farms"). Not only can you get great produce, it's become a community destination for meeting for lunch or attending one of their fun events (the spring Easter Egg hunt was so well done).

The train garden is housed in their giant greenhouse filled with a large selection of wonderfully smelly XMas trees for sale. It just oozes Christmas! The highlight of the set up is the Walt Disney World Castle with the iconic monorail making it's rounds every few minutes. Other personal favorites were the 1950s Diner and the band of Hobos camping out next to a box car. Not sure how, but their little pot boiling over the fire jiggled back and forth. The steam engine puffed out real steam and see if you can find Snoopy canoeing with his peeps....

SPECIAL TIP: My Mom and I took my youngest during the week so it wasn't crowded at all. In fact Eamon was able to madly chase the trains around without bothering anyone. We got to chat with the train master who showed us how to switch out the engines and divulged some inside scoop about how often they need to change the batteries in the monorail - 45 mins to be exact.

While you're there you can pick up some fresh farm produce, locally made goodies and of course your Christmas tree! Have fun and Merry Christmas from my family to yours!