The Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum and Planetarium takes you back to the days of early Egypt without leaving California. The museum  houses the largest collection of Egyptian artifacts on exhibit in the western United States.  Inside the museum you will find an extensive collection of artifacts, jewelry and displays about ancient Egyptian.  Kids will enjoy exploring the tomb in the basement and checking out the free planetarium show.  More than 30,000 children visit the place every year with school groups and clubs.  Your ticket buys you admission to a fully air conditioned museum, a planetarium show, and the option to walk around the museum grounds. The Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum is a hidden gem in San Jose and a fun trip for the whole family.
Egyptian Museum & Planetarium
1342 Naglee Ave, San Jose, CA
Tel: (408) 947-3636

The San Diego wild animal park inland near the city of Escondido California. The Park is visited by over 2 million people annually, has an area of 1,800 acres and has more than 400 species and 3,500 species of unique plants. The wild animal park is the perfect family destination for a day of fun and educational day. For an up close look at the wild animals you will need to ride The Journey into Africa tour, a wheeled tram which brings visitors eye to eye with wildlife from different parts of Africa. There is also a tethered balloon ride that takes visitors high in the air for a bird’s eye view of the exhibits. Another favorite with kids is SpongeBob SquarePants 4-D ride which costs extra. The Wild Animal Park is approximately 35 miles north of the Zoo, near the city of Escondido. The San Diego Zoo is located in Balboa Park, near downtown San Diego. Buy your ticket online and save money.

The Griffith Park Observatory has been  restored to better than original condition and is open for visitors.  One of Los Angeles major attractions and perhaps one of the most kid friendly. There are three floors of hands on exhibits to explore plus the Planetarium show. Admission and parking are with the exception of the Planetarium which has a small charge. Kids will love this place and will keep busy for several hours. Mom and Dad can enjoy views of the Los Angels skyline and the Hollywood hills. Be sure to bring along a camera and take a family picture with the Hollywood sign in the background. There is a small parking lot at the observatory which fills up fast. You can also park on adjacent road and walk up the hill. Griffith Observatory 2800 East Observatory Road Los Angeles, CA 90027.

Griffith Park Southern Railroad miniature trains have been taking riders on a one mile trip since the park opened in 1947. Two trains run along the track an old fashion locomotive called the Colonel Griffith and a more modern train called Freedom Train. The fun ride takes you on a round trip ride over a fifty year old truss style bridge and through a tree line section of Griffith Park. Fares are only $2.50 each and the train journey lasts about 15 minutes. Next door to the train kids can ride ponies and horses on an oval track. Parking is free and there is plenty of shady areas for a picnic lunch. The Griffith Park railroad is located at Located at the Los Feliz entrance to the Park. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Weekdays and until 5 p.m. On weekends and holidays.

 If you are visiting San Francisco chances and end up at Fisherman’s Wharf check out San Francisco’s Aquarium of the Bay. This medium size aquarium  focuses on  aquatic creatures that live in and near the San Francisco Bay.  The Aquarium of the Bay has two huge walk through  tunnels where you can view the various types of sea life. A touch pool area is great for kids the gift shop is full books and souvenirs. The Aquarium has lots of programs for kids and you can also host your child’s birthday party there.  Aquarium of the Bay is located at Pier 39 on Beach Street San Francisco, CA 94133Phone: 1-415-623-5324

Nut Tree Theme Park in Vacaville California is a small family friendly park perfect for younger children.  All the rides are designed with younger kids in mind. The most popular is the Nut Tree Railroad, other rides are a roller coaster, bumper cars, California Carousel, and other custom kid rides. The park is a modern reincarnation of the Nut Tree park that existed for decades until the ’90s. Locals will miss the old park but the new park is surrounded by an outlet mall so all is not lost. Nut tree Theme Park is located on I-80 in Vacaville, California between San Francisco and Sacramento. 16891 E. Monte, Vacaville California 956880.

Where is the first place your kids ask to go when you are going out for dinner. Chances are it’s McDonalds hamburger restaurant. The very first McDonalds is in San Bernardino California and has been turned into a museum. The outside of the McDonalds museum is decorated with many pieces of nostalgic including Route 66 signs and giant hamburgers your kids can climb all over. Inside you will find McDonalds memorabilia of every size and shape. No hamburgers here but a real McDonalds is close by. The museum is has been restored by Albert Okura, who also owns the Juan Pollo restaurant chain. Admission to the museum is free and it is open 10am to 5 pm daily. McDonald’s Museum 1398 N E Street San Bernardino, California

Cobb Ranch is in Fresno California and along with being a working farm, welcomes visitors of all ages to enjoy their farm. Throughout the year you will find different activities including,  a pumpkin patch, corn maze, Christmas trees and a animal farm. One of the most interesting things on the farm is the Pizza Farm.  All the ingredients of a pizza are grown in this pizza shaped lot. Cobb ranch the only farm in the San Joaquin Valley that actually grows pizza. Tours of the pizza farm are open March through September and cost six dollars. Schools are welcome and many come by the bus load to visit this historic farm. Cobb Ranch is located on Highway 41, across from Children’s Hospital and is a great family destination any time of the year. For More Information Call - (559) 439-0606 Cobb Ranch 8805 North Highway 41, Fresno California.

Palm Springs Aerial Tramway takes you from the hot desert floor to the cool mountain top. This thrilling adventure is taken aboard rotating tram cars that can hold up to eighty people at a time. The tram climbs 5,873′ feet in about 15 minutes rotating 360 degrees several times during the accent. Each time the tram passes over one of the towers there is a slight drop which usually gets a few screams form the kids inside. Once on top, you can go hiking or just hang around the mountain top station and enjoy the view. (more…)

Sonoma Train Town has been a favorite family destination for over 20 years. Originally this 10 acres of land was a cow patch out in the country.  Today visitors find a miniature railway which takes you on a  journey over five bridges and trestles and through two tunnels.  The train makes one stop on it’s trip at a petting zoo and mock town.  There is also a Merry Go Round, carousel, mini slow coaster, plane ride, scrambler, fast swings and air hockey.  Admission: all ages $4; Rides: $2 per ticket. Hours: June 1-Labor Day daily 10AM-5PM; September 1-May Friday-Sunday 10AM-5PM, closed Thanksgiving and Christmas;   Sonama Train Town 20264 Broadway Sonoma, CA, 95476

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The Santa Cruz Boardwalk is an old fashion amusement park located on the beach in Santa Cruz, California. Admission is free all you need to do is buy tickets for the rides.  The main attraction is the world famous Giant Dipper roller coaster. The dipper is certainly not the biggest coaster in California but is defiantly one of the most fun. Other rides include Cave Train Adventure,  Haunted House, The Skyglider, Fireball, Logger’s Revenge, Rock-O-Plane, Hurricane,  and the historic Ferris Wheel.  (more…)

The Birch Aquarium at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in San Diego is the perfect size for a family trip.  With a perfect location on the cliffs above La Jolla and it’s smaller size younger children will not get worn out. Inside are many different tanks display various aquatic life and one huge 70,000 gallon kelp forest tank. Outside there is a hands-on tide pool area where kids can touch different sea creatures. (more…)

Old Faithful Geyser is located in the upper Napa Valley near the town of Calistoga. The Calistoga geyser is only one of three “old faithful’s” in the world. Every thirty minutes or so this geyser shoots a stream of scalding steam up to 75 feet into the air. Another attraction is the small herd of fainting goats, a breed that faints when startled. (more…)