You’ve Been Overpaying for Family Trips—This Summer, the Train Pays YOU Back (And Your Kids Get Free Crayons)
Sick of burning your paycheck for a family getaway? Here’s the dirty little secret parents are whispering about for summer 2025: Amtrak and Crayola just blew up the playbook. Forget stressing over gas prices or endless airport lines—there’s a sneaky way to score a colorful day out for peanuts, and you don’t even need a coupon or a cashback app. The catch? You gotta move fast, because deals like this get snatched up in a heartbeat.
Here’s what’s REALLY going down (sorry, airline CEOs):
- Book an Amtrak ride on select routes. Kids’ tickets? SLASHED in half.
- Snag FREE Crayola Experience passes—worth $100+—so your budget isn’t crying at the ticket desk.
- Art packs for the kids as soon as you hop on the train. No more paying for overpriced crayons or watching your iPad battery die.
Trains wrapped in rainbows. Kids distracted (in a GOOD way). Your money still in your wallet. It’s wild for 2025—and nobody’s talking about it…yet.
The Cheat Code Nobody Bothered To Mention (Until Now)
- Book fast and stack the deals—those half-off kid seats can save you $60 or more, and the free Crayola passes tack on another hundred.
- Four bags free per person = pack snacks, strollers, and the whole art setup. Airlines WISH they were this nice to parents.
- No rental car, no parking drama, no gas pump sticker shock.
And here’s the kicker—most families walk off the train, stroll straight to Crayola, and leave with their wallets barely scratched. Blogger Carla M.? She did it for under $150.
How to Snag It (And Outsmart the Other Parents)
- Check Amtrak’s site for eligible routes NOW—holiday dates will disappear first.
- Look for the special promo code in your confirmation—don’t delete that email!
- Prep your snack bag and print coloring pages before you leave. Every dollar counts.
5 Parent-Approved Moves to Stretch Your Savings
- Use your Amtrak Guest Rewards. Every penny sticks to your next trip.
- Ride Tuesdays or Wednesdays—extra empty, extra cheap.
- DIY snacks = extra cash for ice cream (that your kids WILL beg for).
- Claim the family booths to keep your little ones from getting bored—or lost.
- Print out coloring pages at home. Kids can decorate the whole train if you’re brave.
Crayola Experience: How to Dodge the Gift Shop Traps
- Early birds get the art stations—go straight there before the line explodes.
- Lunch outside, not at the overpriced cafe.
- Save the free token shopping for last. Trust.
- Leave a bit late—less meltdown, more ice cream time.
If you want to roll into summer 2025 with more money in your pocket and happy kids who never once scream about a dead tablet, THIS is the loophole the travel industry doesn’t want you to find. Don’t let the coupon clippers beat you. Book the rainbow train. Score those free crayons. Thank yourself later.
*Always check Amtrak for full promo details. Offer runs summer 2025 only. Sources: Amtrak, Travel and Tour World