About 30 minutes from San Diego, the small city of Poway is situated around the charming Old Poway Park, a 5-acre community park designed to feel like a small turn-of-the-century village.
The park maintains a back-in-time atmosphere with elements such as a working narrow-gauge railroad, a blacksmith shop, and historic buildings, situated among meandering paths and lawns.
You can see Old Poway Park at its best on Saturdays, when the volunteer-run Poway-Midland Railroad is running at full steam, and the community comes out for a popular farmers market.
Poway-Midland Railroad
A team of volunteers is beyond operations at the Poway-Midland Railroad, a small operating railroad system in the park that uses vintage equipment, including a 1907 Baldwin steam locomotive, a cable car, and a small “speeder” motor car.
Right now, the railroad is running its $5 steam locomative on Saturdays from 10am to 2pm, and either its $5 cable car or $4 speeder on Sundays from 10am to 2pm. They do not operate on the second Saturday of each month.
🌐 Website: Poway Midland Railroad
Farmers Market
Old Poway Park’s popular farmers market also operates on Saturdays from 8am to 1pm, featuring more than 65 vendors with certified local produce, handmade pastries, flowers, and artisan products.
🌐 Instagram: @powayfarmersmarket
More about Old Poway Park
Just beyond the park’s main lawn, you can step inside several preserved historic buildings, like Templar’s Hall and the Nelson House, which help tell the story of Poway’s early ranching and farming community through interpretive signage and displays.
Between the shady picnic tables, an old-fashioned gazebo, a small stream, and wooden boardwalks, the park feels like a living historical village, perfect for a memorable weekend outing in Southern California.
🌐 Website: City of Poway