taking in forgotten towns

[Maybo]

It may soon be obsolete, but the Jungle Train is still a nostalgic jaunt across the heart of the Malay Peninsula, taking in forgotten towns steeped in colonial history. (Malaysia's iconic 'Jungle Railway': One of Southeast Asia's greatest train journeys by Marco Ferrarese)

I looked up "take in" and found the dictionary says this phrasal verb is "old-fashioned or humorous" when it means "watch or visit". Is that true?
(Dictionary)

 

[emsr2d2]

Old-fashioned? A bit, yes, but definitely still used.
Humorous? Not at all.

 

[Skrej]

I wouldn't even consider it old-fashioned. I really don't get why it suggests humor at all.