free field trips california

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CALIFORNIA Field Trips

To help plan March curriculum focused classroom activities, field trips and school assembly programs, these March themed celebrations might be a helpful focus. MONTHLY : Music in Our Schools. Craft Month. National Nutrition. National Women’s History. National Ethics Month. DAILY : Mar. 1: Peace Corps Day. Mar. 3: National Anthem Day. World Wildlife Day. Mar. 4: National Grammar Day. Mar. 8: International (Working) Women’s Day. Mar. 10: Harriet Tubman-Birthday. Mar. 11: Genealogy Day. Johnny Appleseed Day. Mar. 12: Plant a Flower. Mar. 14: Learn about Butterflies. National Pi Day. International Day of Mathematics. Mar. 15: Ides of March. World Consumer Rights Day. Mar. 16: Freedom of Information Day. Mar. 18: National Quilting.  Mar. 20: Earth Day (Vernal Equinox). World Folklore Tales and Fables Week (March 20- 26). Mar. 21: International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. National Common Courtesy Day. World Poetry Day. Mar. 26: Make Up Your Own Holiday Day. CLICK on the ACTIVITY FILTER below for further field trip information. For those unable to travel to these locations, have the fun come to you. Check out the Outreach Field Trips & School Assembly Programs  section.

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  • History, Heritage & Civics Outreach Field Trips
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free field trips california

Aerospace of Museum California

The Aerospace Museum of California is a private non-profit aviation museum located in North Highlands, California, outside of Sacramento, California, on the grounds of the former McClellan Air Force Base.

free field trips california

Boxtales Theatre Company

High quality Boxtales’ virtual shows, along with new Social Emotional Learning (SEL) focused teacher guides, (plus extensions), and designed for maximum engagement on ZOOM platforms. 20-60 minute length.

free field trips california

California Academy of Sciences

California Academy of Sciences is an aquarium, planetarium, rainforest, and natural history museum—and a powerful voice for biodiversity research and exploration, environmental education, and sustainability across the globe.

free field trips california

Fulcrum Adventures

Fulcrum Adventures programs actively engage youth groups with hands-on opportunities to lead, solve problems, make decisions, and work as a team.

free field trips california

Pinstripes San Mateo

Dine, Play, Celebrate! The best field trips happen at Pinstripes, an esteemed dining and entertainment destination that offers a kids-friendly Italian-American menu and a modern spin on bocce and bowling.

free field trips california

Pinstripes Topanga

free field trips california

African American Museum and Library at Oakland

The African American Museum and Library is dedicated to the discovery, preservation, interpretation, and sharing of historical and cultural experiences of African Americans in California.

free field trips california

America's Teaching Zoo

America’s Teaching Zoo is the hand-on classroom for the Exotic Animal Training and Management students AND a community attraction in a beautiful hilltop setting.

free field trips california

American Bookbinders Museum

The American Bookbinders Museum is a small, not-for-profit museum dedicated to showcasing the artistry, history, and craft of bookbinding. Contact regarding age-appropriate tour and activity for your group.

free field trips california

American Museum of Ceramic Art, AMOCA

American Museum of Ceramic Art champions the art, history, creation, and technology of ceramics (clay) through exhibitions, collections, outreach and studio programming.

free field trips california

Angels Camp City Museum

Angels Camp Museum is a history museum that focuses on the history of the California Gold Rush. Angels Camp Museum is located on 3 acres of the original land claim for Angels Mine.

free field trips california

Antique Gas & Steam Engine Museum

The Antique Gas & Steam Engine Museum collects, preserves and displays examples of mechanical ingenuity and crafts associated with the early days of the American farm and rural community. 

[email protected]

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WILD EXPLORERS FIELD TRIPS

Bringing the classroom to life

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PLAN YOUR NEXT ADVENTURE WITH WILD EXPLORERS FIELD TRIPS

Our mission is to inspire curiosity through interactive hands-on educational experiences. 

WHAT WE OFFER

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DAY FIELD TRIPS

We offer all ages field trips as well as age specific opportunities - all led by knowledgeable

 well-trained staff, guides and venue docents

Some of our favorite tours have included Tahoe Tree Top Adventures, Alcatraz, California Gold Rush, The Crocker Art Museum, Monterey Bay Aquarium, The California Museum, Monterey Bay Whale Watch, The California State Capitol, Six Flags Great America Education Days, Placer Nature Center, Sacramento State Planetarium, Long Dream Farm, B Street Theatre, Aerospace Museum and Moaning Caverns to name a few

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OVERNIGHT NATIONAL AND STATE PARK TOURS

We offer group camping trips to California's State and National Parks. Included in this package is a guided tour led by a park ranger - explaining the history, ecology and geology in an age specific environment. Each child has the opportunity to become a Junior Ranger and earn a Junior Ranger badge. In addition, we offer short hiking excursions to some of the park's most popular destinations as well as exploring the Visitor's Center and park Museums

Some of our popular destinations include:

Angel Island, Yosemite, Mackerricher State Park, Bodega Bay, Indian Grinding Rock State Park, Mount Diablo, Lassen National Park, Death Valley National Park, Redwood National Park and Joshua Tree ​ ​

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Check out our Upcoming Field Trips page to see current field trip offerings. 

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Can't make a field trip but want to visit a venue or museum on your own time? Check out our A La Carte options.

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Do you have a group that you would like us to plan a field trip for? Contact us and let us know how we can help.

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300+ Southern California field trips for fun and education.

Field trip to Coachella Valley Museum and Cultural Center

FREE Interactive Virtual Field Trips – PORTS On-Demand

The California State Parks and Recreation PORTS Program is proud to offer FREE interactive virtual field trips for K-12 students to stay connected to our state’s natural, cultural, and historical resources.

Connecting your students to California State Parks allows them to explore our parks guided by California State Parks interpreters working in parks across the state. We are proud to continue offering PORTS On-Demand Programs for 15 years and counting!

Teachers and educators can now book interactive virtual tours online!   View a list of participating parks or schedule your Capitol Museum tour.

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School Field Trips

SchoolBus_MarioSánchezPrada school field trip ideas

© Mario Sánchez Prada

Each year, more than 1,600 schools visit the Academy on a field trip. School field trips are available for formal school groups bringing grades preK-12, including preschool, on a trip with their classroom teacher. Bring one class, or the entire grade!

School field trip reservations are available for formal California school groups of students in grades pre-K through 12, including preschool.

  • Field trips occur when your school is in session, with classroom teacher(s) in attendance.  
  • To receive the school group rate, you must bring more than 10 people on your field trip, entering the building together at one time, adhering to chaperone ratios and other relevant policies.  
  • San Francisco school groups receive free admission during the academic year.  
  • For other California school groups, pricing is a discounted flat rate of $14.95 per person, regardless of Title I status.  
  • Eligibility for these free or discounted rates is at the discretion of the Academy, as subsidized admission is available thanks to generous annual donations to the Academy for All initiative, many of which have restrictions.  
  • Payment must be received in full at least two weeks prior to your visit date, although you may modify your headcount before submitting payment. We accept mailed checks or payment by credit card over the phone to 877-227-3311.  
  • More details can be found in our Frequently Asked Questions .  
  • You'll sign these School Group Guidelines on the morning of your field trip.

Generally, field trips can be scheduled on most dates with the exception of holidays and school breaks. Your school's academic calendar plays a role: a field trip must occur on a school day, not on weekends, afterschool, or during any dates that are off for students.

For those interested in reserving seats in the Morrison Planetarium for your school group, be sure to review the calendar of student shows to select a date when a grade-appropriate show is playing. Seats are limited; reservations for schools usually book by the end of December for dates through the following May.

For additional planning tips and day-of resources, visit our Plan a Field Trip page.

Find a reserved program

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© Kabsik Park

This show for students in grades 3-5 is offered on select weekdays at 10:30 am throughout the school year.

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© Alan Tough

This show for students in grades 6-8 is offered on select Wednesdays at 10:30 am from October to February.

Cassiopeia A, a supernova remnant in x-ray

A supernova turns a star inside out, scattering an abundance of elements into space. Cassiopeia A is one such supernova remnant, and this visualization shows a computer simulation of that object, replicating a view in x-rays. Image credit: California Academy of Sciences / Salvatore Orlando, Università Ca’ Foscari Venezia

Journey across space and time as we explore the remnants of stellar explosions to trace how elements form.

Constellations_CallumHayton

© Callum Hayton

This show for students in grades K-2 is offered on select weekdays at 10:30 am throughout the school year.

Field trips are available through May 31, 2024. For summer visits, email [email protected] , instead.

The Rock Fund Program is open to K-5 classes in the city of San Francisco. This unique opportunity includes free field trip programming and needs-based transportation scholarships.

Contact Us We're happy to help! Our Contact Center is open 8 am-5 pm Monday-Friday and 9 am-5 pm on weekends. To reach Education staff, try [email protected] . [email protected] (877) 227-3311

Transportation Scholarships

Schools in 9 Bay Area counties with 70%+ FRPM population

Low-income schools in Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo, and SF

Oakland public or charter schools

The School Field Trips program is generously supported by an a Anonymous donor, Genentech, Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation, the Hearst Endowed Fund for Science Education, Jacques M. Littlefield Foundation, and Koret Foundation. Additional support is provided by the Academy’s local business donors.

Koret Foundation

Academy Day is for everyone! (Especially you.)

Flutter in on April 4 for a celebration of science and community. Make a gift to support affordable access and get a cool keychain in return!

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  • Last Updated On
  • May 30, 2023

30 Free Things to Do in Southern California — Places to Go for Free!

Lyam Lavigne

Southern California has a lot more to offer than Hollywood.

There are sculpted deserts, magnificent mountains, and cosmopolitan towns brimming with culture and the arts,

What’s more, Southern California features hundreds of miles of enticing coastline and legendary beaches.

Not to mention, it has fabulous mountain resorts ideal for a quick getaway from the busy city life featuring unending views.

This may be Hollywood’s turf, but that doesn’t mean you have to spend your entire life savings to have fun.

Luckily, we’ve got you covered with this list of the can’t-miss free things to do in Southern California for the whole gang.

1. Point Dume Nature Preserve

Point Dume Nature Preserve

Malibu, CA 90265 (310) 457-8143

The Point Dume Nature Preserve is a dome-shaped peak overlooking Malibu Beach in the northwest area of Santa Monica Bay.

Why We Recommend This Free Activity

Some of the free things in Southern California you can take advantage of are the stunning views it offers, and this is one vantage point you won’t want to miss.

It’s a fun hike to the top with some memories you can make in between, so feel free to go with friends or family.

Once you reach Point Dume, you’ll want your cameras ready for the views up there.

You also might want to visit the memorial plaque at the top, where you’ll learn some fascinating historical facts about the point and a certain British sea captain.

We recommend you visit this spot from early December to mid-May, so you don’t miss out on the gorgeous gray whales migrating along the coast near the beach.

2. Chinatown, Downtown Los Angeles

Chinatown, Downtown Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA 90012

Chinatown is a neighborhood in downtown Los Angeles dedicated to the culture of China and its festivities.

If you’re looking to attend free events in Southern California while on a budget, Chinatown is filled with a few surprises.

This charming area in LA is filled with Pagoda-style buildings adorned with red lanterns, housing several Chinese restaurants, gift shops, specialty grocery stores, and even some bakeries.

Go window shopping this weekend and find cheap deals, or explore some art galleries and temples along the way.

We recommend visiting during Chinese New Year when the dragons dancing and other festival activities truly come to life.

3. Leo Carrillo Ranch, Carlsbad

Leo Carrillo Ranch, Carlsbad

6200 Flying Leo Carrillo Ln Carlsbad, CA 92009 (442) 339-5042

The Leo Carrillo Ranch is a 27-acre historical park owned by the late Leo Carrillo, an actor who acted in almost 100 different films in the mid-1900s.

A visit to this charming historical landmark may be what you need for free things to do in Southern California with kids, especially when they see the peacocks.

The park’s appeal is enhanced by the presence of these gorgeous but loud, Peafowl, which may be seen in just about any place in the park.

Apart from that, this desert location boasts many beautiful plants, lush trees, and vibrant flowers surrounding the old buildings.

You can do a self-tour of this place, or you could ask for a tour guide so you could learn about the fascinating history.

You’ll want to wear comfortable shoes when exploring this gem, especially when it’s filled with many areas with uneven terrains.

Recommended Hotel Nearby: Ayres Hotel Vista Carlsbad

Also See: Free Things to Do in San Francisco, CA Free Fun Things to Do in Los Angeles, CA

4. Getty Villa

Getty Villa

17985 E Pacific Coast Hwy Pacific Palisades, CA 90272 (310) 440-7300

The Getty Villa, one of the J. Paul Getty Museum’s two locations, is a museum and educational center devoted to studying the arts and civilizations of classical antiquity, particularly those of ancient Rome, Greece, and Etruria.

It was established in 1954 by J. Paul Getty.

This stunning villa is like having a little piece of Ancient Greece right within your grasp, and it’s one of the free attractions this city offers that will never fail to fascinate.

With stunning sculptures and landscapes that depict times in old Rome and Greece, you’ll be spending hours here just admiring the architecture.

Not to mention you’ll be learning fascinating stories from the thousands of artifacts inside the museum.

You must get a free ticket from their website a few days in advance before being allowed to enter.

Recommended Hotel Nearby: Oceana Santa Monica, LXR Hotels & Resorts

5. Orange County Nix Nature Center

Orange County Nix Nature Center

18751 Laguna Canyon Rd Laguna Beach, CA 92651 (949) 923-2235

The Orange County Nix Nature Center is a 3,600-square-foot space dedicated to preserving wildlife and educating the public on nature.

Exhibits and windows into animal sanctuaries may be found at the Nix Nature Center.

Scavenger hunts are fun for the whole family.

You can use this site to learn about upcoming free wildlife activities, including encounters with real animals, demonstrations of Native American traditions, and opportunities to make your own crafts.

If you’re ever on a hike on this trail and happen to stumble across this modern and stunning glass box, trust me, the view from the inside is even more breathtaking.

Try to visit during sunset, and bring a camera to capture the stunning sight over the desert.

You could also get a trail map from here, so you don’t get lost while hiking with your family.

Recommended Hotel Nearby: Renaissance ClubSport Aliso Viejo Laguna Beach Hotel

Related: Things to Do in Southern California

6. Old Town San Diego

Old Town San Diego

San Diego, CA 92110

Old Town San Diego is a 230-acre historic neighborhood known for its rich Mexican history dating back to the 1800s.

Visiting Old Town San Diego isn’t only one of the best free activities in Southern California but is also fun.

This charming little town brings the beautiful culture of Mexico to the spotlight, bringing its passion and beauty into vibrant colors and music.

Stroll through the streets here during the day and go window shopping, have some authentic Mexican food, and visit iconic monuments.

And if you’re free tonight and you’re wondering what to do, the streets here come to life like in the movie “Coco” from Disney.

You might want to join in the festive fun then.

Visit the Whaley House Museum for a creepy yet fun experience.

It’s one of the two old houses in California to be officially designated as haunted.

Recommended Hotel Nearby: Pendry San Diego

7. Mission San Luis Rey

Mission San Luis Rey

4050 Mission Ave Oceanside, CA 92057 (760) 757-3651

Mission San Luis Rey is also known as the “King of the Missions” and is the largest of all the California Missions.

It was established in 1798.

For free places to go in Southern California that are as fascinating as it is incredible, visit the Mission San Luis Rey.

Such a tranquil and beautiful setting makes it easy to imagine the daily lives of the Native Americans and Franciscan Friars who lived at the Mission over two centuries ago.

Not to mention the incredible architecture of this place; the hand-hammer copper, hand-carved wooden doors, and vivid hand-painted walls and murals are just some of its highlights.

Learn about its fascinating history, admire the designs, and snap a few pictures for memories.

During the weekends, they offer “behind the scenes” tours, which are a little more exciting than regular tours.

Recommended Hotel Nearby: Courtyard by Marriott San Diego Oceanside

Also See: Free Stuff to Do in San Diego Things to Do in Sacramento for Free

8. Citrus State Historic Park

Citrus State Historic Park

9400 Dufferin Ave Riverside, CA 92503 (951) 780-6222

Intending to create a “living outdoor historical museum” that chronicles the whole history of the citrus business in California, the California Citrus State Historic Park opened to the public in 1993.

You may not know that much of the “California Dream” credits go to this historic landmark, and it’s certainly an exciting way to spend the day.

You’ll learn about the crucial role of immigrants such as the Chinese, Japanese, Native Americans, and Koreans in the city’s development and get newfound respect.

It’s a fascinating tour, to say the least, with plenty of areas to spend time with family or just walk around.

Bring snacks and drinks for the picnic areas available on site, and bring a camera to take pictures with some artifacts.

Recommended Hotel Nearby: Hampton Inn & Suites Riverside/Corona East

9. San Pedro Fort MacArthur Museum

San Pedro Fort MacArthur Museum

3601 S Gaffey St San Pedro, CA 90731 (310) 241-0846

The Fort MacArthur Museum is a 20-acre military museum that was formerly a United States Army installation in 1914.

It’s fascinating when you visit a museum that talks about a specific location, and it’s a different kind of awesome when the museum is located on the site itself.

The Spanish Colonial Revival architecture of this place has a fascinating contribution to the early 1900s, as well as its part in the entrance to the Los Angeles Harbor.

Walk around to see old military vehicles and historic items, see actual newspapers and articles from the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, and much more.

If you’ve got nothing better to do today and are looking for free fun in Southern California, this is worth the visit.

Jacob’s Ladder Sculpture can be found near this museum and is easily accessible with public transportation.

Recommended Hotel Nearby: Travelodge by Wyndham Harbor City

Related: Things to Do with Kids in Southern California

10. Solvang Danish Village

Solvang Danish Village

Solvang, CA 93463

Solvang is a city in Santa Ynez Valley known as “The Danish Capital of America”, with origins dating back to the early 1800s.

Visiting this city is like stepping into a new European country without expensive plane tickets.

Here you’ll find beautiful Danish-style buildings with rich histories and legacies that now house several restaurants, stores, and gift shops you could explore.

This picturesque town feels like Christmas year-round, with plenty of Danish culture to keep you charmed.

This town is famous for its baked Danish goods, and we recommend Olsen’s Danish Village Bakery for the best ones.

Recommended Hotel Nearby: Vinland Hotel and Lounge

11. Griffith Park Observatory

Griffith Park Observatory

2800 E Observatory Rd Los Angeles, CA 90027 (213) 473-0800

When it comes to live planetarium displays, Griffith Observatory is one of the few remaining prominent institutions.

Since its opening in 1935, the theater has hosted more than 100,000 performances.

If you’re still looking for free stuff to do in Southern California, this is the best thing you’ll ever spend your time on.

You get stunning views over the entire LA basin, and the views of the city and the skies from this spot will just steal your breath.

You can even see the Hollywood sign from here, and there are plenty of exhibitions and activities you could join inside the planetarium.

Get ready to have your minds blown by checking out the different telescopes and vantage points.

The best time to visit this observatory is during sunset, just before dark.

You’ll get a beautiful sunset over the city and enjoy some stargazing as the day slips into the night.

If you want to see the views during the day, try to come in before noon to grab a free parking space.

Recommended Hotel Nearby: Loews Hollywood Hotel

Also See: What to Do in Santa Barbara for Free Free Fun Things to Do in Orange County

12. Whitewater Preserve

Whitewater Preserve

9160 Whitewater Canyon Rd Whitewater, CA 92282 (760) 325-7222

Whitewater Preserve is a 2,851-acre land surrounded by the San Gorgonio Wilderness.

It features the Whitewater River through a desert canyon.

Some of the best free stuff in Southern California and anywhere around the world is the privilege of seeing its beautiful natural spots.

The Whitewater Preserve is a beautiful and peaceful gem in Whitewater that you won’t want to miss.

The serene waters reflect the blue skies and the surrounding gorgeous rock walls, making it a stunning backdrop for a relaxing picnic with friends and family.

You can hike some trails nearby and see some wildlife along the way.

You might want to bring bird food since there’s a bird feeding station where you’ll find plenty of birds hungry for a little snack.

Recommended Hotel Nearby: Miracle Springs Resort and Spa

13. Goat Hill Junction Railroad Train Ride

Goat Hill Junction Railroad Train Ride

2480 Placentia Ave Costa Mesa, CA 92626 (949) 548-7246

Goathill Junction Railroad Station, located near the park’s eastern end, is operated by the Orange County Model Engineers.

They provide free model train rides every month on the third Sunday.

It was founded in 1977 and had its first public run in 1989.

This next free activity provides fantastic fun for kids and is a delight for adults.

Take a full-sized train you’d see on a railroad in the 1900s and shrink the size about ten times.

What you get is the cutest train ever to exist and can take kids and even adults on a 15-minute ride over five miles of track.

You can try five different trains, each with a different color and design.

Although this is a free ride, kids are required to be at least 31 inches tall and should be able to walk by themselves.

Recommended Hotel Nearby: Best Western Plus Newport Mesa Inn

14. Paramount Ranch

Paramount Ranch

2903 Cornell Rd Agoura Hills, CA 91301

Paramount Ranch is an Old West prop town used for movie scenes and was established in 1927.

If you like watching movies about the Old West, chances are you’ve probably seen this location in one of its backgrounds.

The Paramount Ranch looks like a town from an old movie, and Hollywood has taken a few shots from this place.

From a mock railroad station to a rugged prison and even a church, you’re free to explore and discover what life in the Old West for cowboys used to be like.

This is a place that makes your inner cowboy or cowgirl jump in joy, along with some Old West charm you could feel from the atmosphere.

Sadly, in 2018, several of the buildings burned down in a fire.

However, you can still hike the trails and see the church and railroad station.

Recommended Hotel Nearby: Courtyard by Marriott Thousand Oaks Agoura Hills

15. Bolsa Chica Wetlands

Bolsa Chica Wetlands

Huntington Beach, CA 92649 (714) 846-1114

Between the Tijuana River Estuary and Monterey Bay, the Bolsa Chica Wetlands is the most extensive saltwater marsh at 1,449 acres.

Explore five miles of stunning nature and wildlife at this reserve, where thousands of rare and endangered species live.

This is an excellent trail for walking, jogging, or bird-lovers who love taking photos of all things nature offers.

Not only will you be having fun here, but there’s plenty to learn from the reserve about how wetlands came to be and what purpose they serve in the ecosystem.

This wetland is home to rattlesnakes, coyotes, and even black widows, so it’s important to stay on the designated trails here.

You can download the map on their website.

Recommended Hotel Nearby: SpringHill Suites by Marriott Huntington Beach Orange County

16. Little Saigon

Little Saigon

Westminster, CA 92683 (714) 895-7964

Little Saigon was established in 1988 and is known to have the largest concentration of Vietnamese stores in the world, apart from Vietnam itself.

Little Saigon is not so “little” when you discover over 2,000 different Vietnamese stores and restaurants here to explore.

This little town is as Vietnamese as it gets.

And as you walk along, you’ll see roast ducks hung outside restaurants.

There are also phos, beautiful Vietnamese dresses, souvenir stores, and bakeries here.

It’s one of the most memorable cheap things to do in Southern California, especially when you admire another culture in depth.

If you’re coming to visit during the weekends, we recommend you go early, before 10 AM, so you can still get a parking space and explore before the streets get too crowded.

Recommended Hotel Nearby: Ayres Hotel Huntington Beach/Fountain Valley

17. Treasure Island Park

Treasure Island Park

30799 S Coast Hwy Laguna Beach, CA 92651 (949) 497-3311

Treasure Island Park is a public park with an overlook facing the Pacific Ocean and Laguna Beach.

Treasure Island Park is not the -pirates-and-treasure thing you might be thinking about.

Instead, it showcases a different kind of treasure, the kind that Mother Nature made for you to admire.

With the gorgeous scenery of the endless Pacific Ocean and the stunningly vibrant flowers, no camera on earth can do this view any justice.

You’ll feel the gentle breeze of the wind as you listen to the calming waves of the ocean, and it’s worth the drive.

Sunset offers the best views here, but it can get quite crowded, so we recommend you visit at least 30 minutes to an hour before the sun dips low.

Recommended Hotel Nearby: Casa Laguna Hotel & Spa

18. Hollywood Forever Cemetery

Hollywood Forever Cemetery

6000 Santa Monica Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90038 (323) 469-1181

Hollywood Forever Cemetery is a 25-hectare full-service cemetery known as one of the oldest cemeteries in Los Angeles, California.

It was founded in 1899.

This cemetery is more than just a burial site for some of Hollywood’s most renowned and famous people.

It’s also a beautiful landscape of sculptures and fascinating monuments.

Apart from its fascinating history, this cemetery also offers some events celebrated in the heart of Hollywood.

There are cultural events and even movie screenings here you can join for free, apart from the beautiful grounds you could explore.

You can spend hours here, looking through graves bearing influential names, having a peaceful stroll, sitting on one of the benches to admire the views and more.

See if you can locate the tombstone dedicated to Dorothy’s dog, Toto, from The Wizard of Oz.

Peacocks are free to wander in a particular cemetery area, so you should look out for them and snap a few pictures.

Recommended Hotel Nearby: Thompson Hollywood

19. Coronado Beach

Coronado Beach

919 Ocean Blvd Coronado, CA 92118 (619) 435-1867

Coronado Beach in San Diego, California, is a large, sandy beach that stretches for about 1.5 miles in front of the famous Hotel del Coronado.

The multi-award-winning Coronado Beach stretches for nearly two miles. It has activities and facilities, such as swimming, firepits, beach volleyball, and a beach specifically for dogs.

And it boasts some of the most breathtaking sunsets in California.

If you visit at night, you might get lucky and witness the brilliant blue light of bioluminescence emanating from the ocean sand.

Keep a look out for dolphins and catch a few seals on some sunbathing action.

If you’ve brought extra money, you can head to the Hotel del Coronado, rent some chairs, and enjoy some food and drinks from there.

Recommended Hotel Nearby: Andaz San Diego – a Concept by Hyatt

20. Sunset Cliffs

Sunset Cliffs

San Diego, CA 92107

Sunset Cliffs have a total area of 68 acres and are spread over a distance of 1.5 miles along the western coastline of the Point Loma peninsula.

It is located about 9 miles due west of the downtown area of San Diego.

Sunset Cliffs is the place of dreams, with dramatic cliffs made of sandstone rising above the beaches.

The stunning views offered here are spectacular during all moments of the day, but during sunset, it’s like you’ve stepped into fantasy land.

You could explore some beaches here, although getting to them can get tricky.

However, if you’re down for an adventure, you enjoy lounging on a secluded beach, surfing, or exploring nearby caves and stunning stone arches.

Sunset Cliffs tend to get very crowded in the mornings and the time before and after sunset, so if you want to reserve a spot for the views, you’ll want to come earlier.

This location is also near the Cabrillo National Monument.

Recommended Hotel Nearby: Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego

21. Embarcadero

Embarcadero

San Diego, CA 92101

Embarcadero is a historic cruise-ship port known for its souvenir and seafood shops.

This is also where you’ll find the Seaport Village.

There’s plenty to see and do at the Embarcadero, more than the many yachts parked right along the docks.

Head to the Seaport Village to shop for some souvenirs or get your hands on fresh seafood.

Then go to the Headquarters, which used to be a police command post but is now home to charming restaurants and chic boutiques.

You could also spend the day at Waterfront Park or the two marina parks to enjoy the beautiful lush green lawns and Pacific ocean views.

You’ll find the USS Midway Museum here, a fun spot of flight simulators and fascinating restored planes that might fascinate the young ones.

Recommended Hotel Nearby: Moxy San Diego Gaslamp Quarter

22. Huntington Beach

Huntington Beach

Orange County, CA 92646

Huntington Beach is a city in Orange County known for its surf beaches and several recreational places.

Welcome to the “Surf City” of California, where you can find over 10 miles of beautiful white coastline.

This is where you’ll find high-class oceanfront resorts, spacious sandy beaches, and some chic and classy restaurants.

This is a small little spot of paradise friends and families can indulge in, whether for biking, kayaking, swimming or sitting around a beach bonfire to share some stories.

This is also where you’ll find the famous Huntington Beach Pier, which allows you to take in the stellar ocean views.

So our tip for this one is to wear comfortable beach clothes and bring a camera.

And, of course, a surfboard.

Recommended Hotel Nearby: Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort and Spa

23. Old Towne Orange

Old Towne Orange

300 E. Chapman Ave Orange, CA 92866 (714) 744-2225

Old Towne Orange is a historic landmark that encompasses a one-square-mile district surrounding the original place of Orange in California.

It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1997.

You’ll be stepping back in time when you visit Old Towne Orange, where you’ll find a plethora of some of the oldest buildings in the nation.

Spend a lazy day here for a stroll and see unique boutiques and interesting restaurants.

You’ll also find some antique stores tucked away in between chic souvenir shops, and they’ve got an exciting thing or two you could check out.

We recommend visiting this downtown area during Labor Day when you’ll get to witness the Orange International Street Fair’s fantastic cuisine, live music, and lively entertainment.

Recommended Hotel Nearby: ALO Hotel by Ayres

24. Crystal Cove Perimeter Loop

Crystal Cove Perimeter Loop

E Coastal Peak Newport Coast, CA 92657

The Crystal Cove Perimeter Loop is a 15.1-kilometer loop trail next to Laguna Beach in California and offers many recreational activities.

If you’re down for a hike and rewarding views, this is a trail you might want to check out.

It’s a moderately challenging route, but the views you get between the hikes are breathtaking.

Take your gang for a camping trip here, or challenge yourself for a run through scenic ridges and fascinating valleys.

Then reward yourself with a relaxing few hours at the beach before returning.

You’ll want to double up on sunscreen and bring an extra water bottle since there are no shades along the trail, and it can get quite hot during a hike.

Recommended Hotel Nearby: Marriott’s Newport Coast Villas

25. Palomar State Park

Palomar State Park

19952 State Park Drive Palomar Mountain, CA 92060 (760) 742-3462

The Palomar State Park is a 1,862-acre public forest park located on top of Palomar Mountain on the West Side.

When it gets too hot in California, this is a park you can add to your list for a day of relaxation.

The shady trees offer refuge from the burning sun as you explore the beautiful nature around you, and there are plenty of stunning birds you’ll see here too.

There are also plenty of picnic tables scattered throughout the park where you can have a quiet spot for an intimate snack while breathing in the fresh mountain air.

As popular as it is during the summer, this park turns into a winter wonderland straight out of Narnia during winter, so you should check it out then too.

Recommended Hotel Nearby: Fabulous Family Retreat

26. Old Orange County Courthouse

Old Orange County Courthouse

211 W Santa Ana Blvd Santa Ana, CA 92701 (714) 973-6605

The Old Orange County Courthouse is a Romanesque Revival tower built in September 1901.

This historic courthouse is a must-visit for history buffs or people fascinated with old buildings and artifacts.

There’s an exhibition gallery that showcases local and regional legacies, with hands-on programs for everyone.

You can head to the museum to learn more about this magnificent granite building or read about it in the library on-site.

There are also plenty of government offices you could tour that still contain old items from the past, and you can even catch a glimpse of how a courthouse used to function a hundred years ago.

There are several theme parks you can find near this landmark, so head over for a shot of adrenaline after a relaxing day with history.

Recommended Hotel Nearby: Holiday Inn Express & Suites Santa Ana – Orange County, an IHG Hotel

27. Balboa Park – San Diego

Balboa Park - San Diego

San Diego, CA 92101 (619) 239-0512

Balboa Park is a 1,200-acre public urban park home to several museums and gardens and has a history of 150 years.

This cultural oasis is the epitome of what San Diego is and what it stands for.

There are over seventeen museums you can find here that showcase the rich diversity of San Diego’s culture and stunning architecture, and these exhibits are captivating.

With a beautiful fountain right in the middle and surrounded by fascinating architecture, the gardens provide more than just a peaceful stroll.

The new and old mix in this park feels like you’re traveling to two places at once; San Diego’s past and future.

There are many cultural events that happen here, and it offers a magical experience you won’t want to miss.

You can find the next festival on their website.

Recommended Hotel Nearby: Courtyard by Marriott San Diego Downtown

28. Pioneer Town – Inland Empire

Pioneer Town - Inland Empire

San Bernardino, CA 92268

Pioneertown, California, is an unincorporated settlement in the Morongo Basin section of San Bernardino’s High Desert.

The municipality was founded in 1946 and became part of San Bernardino County in 1960.

Pioneer Town is like the modern version of the Old Wild West, and you’ll often see horses trotting freely on the streets.

It’s a charming community filled with friendly people and beautiful local stores, restaurants, and entertainment centers.

Enjoy the fresh air and surrounding beauty, visit the Pioneertown Film Museum for historic films set in this town, or go bird watching at the Big Bear and Morongo Valley nearby.

Just because this is a small town doesn’t mean there’s nothing to do, and just being here feels like you’re already a part of history.

There’s a limited cellular service here and a weak signal, so you’ll want to ensure you know exactly where you’re going or set up a rendezvous point to meet up with friends.

We also recommend visiting during the weekends, since this tends to be a ghost town during the weekdays when many stores are closed.

Recommended Hotel Nearby: AutoCamp Joshua Tree

29. Orange Empire Railway Museum – Perris

Orange Empire Railway Museum - Perris

2201 S A St Perris, CA 92570 (951) 943-3020

The Southern California Railway Museum, originally known as the Orange Empire Railway Museum, is a train museum in Perris that was established in 1956.

California has a rich history when it comes to railways and trains, and this museum is just the place to visit for any train enthusiast you might know.

Here you’ll find trains galore, from modern models to trains built in the 1800s, and it’s fascinating just to see the difference in technology over the years.

After their valuable lives, several of the locomotives on exhibit were saved from being scrapped, and you can even have a ride in them to explore the insides.

Trolley vehicles from the past have also been brought back from the dead and renovated for the enjoyment of rail fans, so there’s truly plenty to see.

It’s best to plan your trip here during the weekends because that’s when most of the trolleys and trains are running on the tracks.

The grounds here are also pretty extensive, so you’ll want to wear something comfortable for the long tours.

The tickets to ride the trains come for a small fee, so bring a little extra pocket money.

Recommended Hotel Nearby: Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Menifee

30. Bonita Avenue in San Dimas

Bonita Avenue in San Dimas

W Bonita Ave San Dimas, CA 91773

Bonita Avenue is a 2,700-square-foot space in San Dimas, known for its many antique stores and unique restaurants.

There is an art to discovering antique items, and exploring this small avenue is one of the many fun, free things to do in Southern California for all ages.

The street is lively and vibrant with the many stores and restaurants that line the sidewalks, and you’ll find many locals grabbing a cup of coffee or stopping by a hair salon for a new hairdo.

But the spotlight here goes to the local antique stores, run by fabulous people passionate about bringing to life old things from the past.

From 1800s furniture to vintage ceramic dolls and pans made in the 1900s, it’s a place where you can hold a tiny piece of history in the palm of your hand or have a piece of it in your home.

It’s located near the City Hall and Old Town, so head over for more exploring when you’re satisfied here.

Recommended Hotel Nearby: Best Western San Dimas Hotel & Suites

Map of Free Things to Do in Southern California

30 Things to Do in Southern California for Free in 2024

  • Point Dume Nature Preserve
  • Chinatown, Downtown Los Angeles
  • Leo Carrillo Ranch, Carlsbad
  • Getty Villa
  • Orange County Nix Nature Center
  • Old Town San Diego
  • Mission San Luis Rey
  • Citrus State Historic Park
  • San Pedro Fort MacArthur Museum
  • Solvang Danish Village
  • Griffith Park Observatory
  • Whitewater Preserve
  • Goat Hill Junction Railroad Train Ride
  • Paramount Ranch
  • Bolsa Chica Wetlands
  • Little Saigon
  • Treasure Island Park
  • Hollywood Forever Cemetery
  • Coronado Beach
  • Sunset Cliffs
  • Embarcadero
  • Huntington Beach
  • Old Towne Orange
  • Crystal Cove Perimeter Loop
  • Palomar State Park
  • Old Orange County Courthouse
  • Balboa Park – San Diego
  • Pioneer Town – Inland Empire
  • Orange Empire Railway Museum – Perris
  • Bonita Avenue in San Dimas

30 Free Things to Do in Southern California — Places to Go for Free!

1020 O St., Sacramento, CA 95814 (916) 653-7524 [email protected]

Explore This Section

  • For Educators
  • Field Trip Information
  • Activism & Democracy
  • California Missions
  • California’s Journey
  • Time of Remembrance
  • Women Inspire
  • Virtual Programs
  • Online Field Trip Scholarship Application
  • Traversi Scholarship Application
  • Classroom Resources
  • Museum Resources
  • Summer Camp

free field trips california

California Missions Field Trip

Now booking reservations.

The California Missions Field Trip chronicles the history of the 21 settlements founded by missionaries along the El Camino Real, providing students with an in-depth case study on the decisions that were made in establishing the first California Mission, San Diego de Alcalá.

Includes a 30-minute docent-led classroom presentation on the history of the mission system and its impact on Native peoples, followed by completion of an activity sheet and self-guided tours of “ California Indians ” and “ California Missions ,” plus pre- and post-visit activities. Groups may choose to explore the Museum after the program for an additional 60 minutes (90 minutes total). Aligned with 4th grade History-Social Science and Common Core ELA.

Upon receiving a booking, the education department tailors the program to the specific grade level requested; an individual program is not appropriate for multiple age groups.

Availability:

Scholarship :.

Kim Traversi Memorial Scholarship

California Title 1 schools are eligible for a free field trip scholarship thanks to the Kim Traversi Education Fund. For details and information on how to apply, visit the link above.

Please plan your visit in advance and review current  visitor protocols during COVID-19 .  For questions or assistance, contact  [email protected]  or (916) 654-1729.

*To receive discounted admission, reservations for a minimum of 20 paid participants are required and must be made a minimum of 14 days in advance. Groups with fewer than 20 participants subject to $120 flat rate.  

free field trips california

2023–2024 School Visits to OMCA

We’re excited for the 2023–24 school year. We look forward to greeting you and your students with onsite programs that help students reflect, connect, and contribute to their communities. 

Come explore the many stories of California and its people, learn about the natural, artistic, and social forces that affect the state, and investigate your own role in both its history and its future.

Whether in OMCA’s Galleries of California Art, History, or Natural Sciences, or one of our special exhibitions, all of our cross-disciplinary programs are rooted in inquiry, dialogue, and creative expression, centering joy and justice.

If a program is sold out, you are welcome to join our waitlist .

Stay up-to-date through our teacher mailing list.

Teacher Fellowship

Apply for OMCA’s 2024 Teacher Fellowship! Partner with fellow teachers and OMCA staff to build and prototype new learning experiences for your students. This year’s fellowship will focus on art as a tool for social and political engagement for individuals and communities, for grades 3–5.

The fellowship kicks off with Teacher Summer Camp, when participants spend 5 days on OMCA’s campus. Start the week by exploring and finding inspiration in the exhibits and galleries during special tours and gallery talks. Connect with OMCA curators, gallery and exhibit collaborators, collections staff, and peers on what will resonate with students.

In the second half of the week, partner with peers and OMCA staff to imagine and build inquiry-based curricula that explore important questions and empower student voices.

By the end of the week, teachers will have co-created draft curriculum resources to support a field trip to OMCA, along with lesson plans to prepare students for the field trip, and post-visit activities to help students apply and make sense of what they explored during the field trip, and add their own voice.

To support Teacher Fellows as they plan for and implement the learning experiences with students in the classroom and at OMCA, monthly Zoom check-ins with the cohort will provide support, a creative soundboard, and chance to share what participants are learning.

Dates & times

  • June 24–28, 2024: Teacher Summer Camp, 9 am–4 pm, in person at OMCA
  • Fall and early winter 2024: 3–4 group Zoom check-ins
  • Spring 2025: Present as part of a curriculum slam or share-out during OMCA’s spring Teacher Night

What does OMCA provide?

  • Curriculum development support
  • Free OMCA field trip for fall 2024, including bus transportation for your class
  • Breakfast and lunch are provided during Teacher Summer Camp
  • Teacher fellows will receive a stipend of $1,500 at the end of the program

What’s the commitment for Teacher Fellows?

  • Attend the 5-day Teacher Summer Camp
  • Collaboratively develop curriculum resources to support an inquiry-based field trip to OMCA, along with pre- and post-visit classroom components
  • Attend Zoom check-ins, which serve to provide a creative sounding board for fellows, to keep momentum, and for support around implementing curriculum resources
  • Assist in the evaluation of Teacher Fellowship and OMCA education programs

Who are we looking for?

This year we’re looking for Bay Area teachers in grades 3–5, who are interested in partnering with peers and OMCA staff to build and prototype new learning experiences for their students. All teachers are welcome to apply. OUSD, BIPOC and teachers who can participate with a partner at the same or neighboring school are encouraged to apply. Because a field trip to OMCA is part of the experience, teachers will need to be within “field trip” or short driving distance of OMCA.

How to apply

  • Applications are due by March 31, 2024
  • Participants will be notified by April 19, 2024

Have questions? Contact [email protected] .

onsite field trips

Visit OMCA in-person for a guided gallery visit, performance, or self-guided field trip. Please note: if a program is sold out, you are welcome to join our waitlist .

free field trips california

Grades K–8. Experience an interactive performance that celebrates the dreams and accomplishments of Black musicians and leaders. Oakland a cappella group SoVoSó will lead students on a musical journey through themes related to the experiences of the African American community.

free field trips california

Grades 4–8. How and why do people come to California? Investigate diverse experiences of immigration and migration.

free field trips california

Grades PreK–12. Create your own experience for students to explore the Galleries of California Art, History, and Natural Sciences or special exhibitions in person at OMCA.

free field trips california

Grades 3–6. Explore how healthy watersheds support healthy communities and our role in protecting California’s regional habitats.

free field trips california

Grades 2–5. How do artists use their voice to speak out about issues on the environment, identity, and community?

Plan Your field trip

Field trips scheduled using our online registration system require a credit card for payment. To pay by invoice, email [email protected] before registering.

Scholarships & Discounts

OMCA offers a 30% discount for Oakland Unified School District groups, and a 50% discount for Title I schools on all programs and self-guided visits. A limited number of bus scholarships for Oakland and Richmond schools are available, which can be requested during registration. Priority is given to OUSD and Title I schools.

Cancellations & Rescheduling

If you need to reschedule or cancel your field trip, please contact [email protected] at least two weeks before your scheduled visit to receive a refund.

Walk-up Groups

We ask that all groups book in advance. Due to limited same-day availability, we may not be able to accommodate a walk-up group. Walk-up groups are required to pay the standard group rate in order to gain entry to the museum, plus a $25 walk-up fee. No additional discounts are available for walk-up groups.

Join our waitlist  if the program you are interested in is currently sold out. If a program spot opens up that matches your request, we’ll contact you to make your reservation.

The Museum requires these chaperone to student ratios through grade 12:

1:10 minimum 1:4 maximum 1:6 in the OMCA Store

A maximum of 10 chaperones are allowed per reservation. Please note, if the ratio of adult chaperones to students exceeds 1:4, there will be a charge of $9.50 per additional adult.

School Group Entrance

The OMCA School Group Entrance is located in the Amphitheater on 10th Street, at the intersection with Fallon Street.

Transportation & Parking

We encourage groups to take public transportation when possible. We are located one block from the Lake Merritt BART Station and a 15 minute walk from 12th Street BART Station. Check out BART’s field trip discounts . Buses may drop off at the School Group Entrance on 10th Street. The Museum parking garage may be full at times. If you drive, please allow extra time for parking. Learn more.

Lunch & Backpack Storage

Please leave student backpacks at school or on the bus. A limited number of first-come, first-served lockers are located outside of the Gallery of California History, and cannot be guaranteed available. Please do not bring valuables to the Museum. Adults with backpacks must hand-carry them at their side or front while in the galleries. Lunches can be stored at OMCA’s School Group Entrance during your visit. Bag lunches can be eaten in the Museum garden or at the picnic tables near the Koi Pond, but are not allowed in the Town Fare cafe or at the tables on the cafe terrace.

Accessibility

OMCA is committed to accessibility for all. Guests using wheelchairs should enter at the Oak Street Plaza entrance, which is accessible by ramp from the sidewalk on Oak Street. A limited number of wheelchairs and assistive listening devices are available for loan onsite. An elevator is available to access the three levels once within the Museum. Please reserve at least three weeks in advance and email [email protected] if you would like a program adapted to the special needs of your group.  Learn more .

Museum Guidelines

Please review the Museum’s rules ahead of time with students and chaperones. Learn more .

Explore OMCA

While you’re at OMCA, be sure to check out our Gallery of California Art, Gallery of California History, Gallery of California Natural Sciences, and Garden. Please note that the OMCA Kids: Nature Playspace was designed for children ages 2 to 5. We ask that K–12 school groups refrain from entering this area. Learn more .

Contact us at [email protected] .

TEACHER RESOURCES

Whether you’re planning a lesson for your classroom, or a trip to the Oakland Museum of California, our materials provide information and ideas to use with your students. Browse OMCA’s online collection resources, curriculum, and other materials for your classroom or Museum visit.

Uncover the history behind the building of the Transcontinental Railroad and practice visual literacy skills, using the online tool Picture This to closely examine historical photographs from the Oakland Museum of California’s Andrew J. Russell Collection.

This digital archive showcases the socially conscious work of documentary photographer Dorothea Lange, including notable photographs, personal quotes, and historical context illustrating some of America’s most defining moments.

These Day of the Dead curriculum materials offer teachers and students an opportunity to experience a living and evolving cultural tradition. The materials provide resources for integrating lessons related to history, culture, and art.

Dorothea Lange: Politics of Seeing explores the enduring legacy of her photography through the lens of social and political activism. These teacher resources provide a platform for students to dive deeper into major themes explored in this exhibition, and feature a variety of primary sources pulled from the Oakland Museum of California’s Dorothea Lange Archive.

OMCA has an extensive collection of objects. Thousands of artifacts and artworks, each with images and descriptions, can be browsed on the Online Collection website. 

Learn about the rich cultural diversity of California using primary source images from the OMCA’s collections.

Download a written guide to help students and teachers explore issues of identity through dialogue and connections to other OMCA resources. 

Resources to support your self-guided, teacher-led experience at the Museum. The Student Guide provides printable gallery-based activities for students and teachers to choose from.

Explore the themes of joy, community, and inspiration, using our Into the Brightness student conversation guide. 

Por el Pueblo Conversation Guide explores the impact of Chicano artist, Malaquías Montoya, whose legacy as an artist, activist, and community leader.

Gallery of Natural Sciences: Student Guide is a resource to support your self-guided, teacher-led experience at the Museum.

School programs and tours are made possible in part by generous support from the Oakland Women’s Board, Kaiser Permanente, Koret Foundation, and PG&E.

Additional support is provided by The Barrios Trust, Dodge & Cox, the East Bay Municipal Utility District, The Joseph and Mercedes McMicking Foundation, The Morrison & Foerster Foundation, Pixar Animation Studios, Port of Oakland, The Nora Eccles Treadwell Foundation, Union Bank, and by an Anonymous Foundation.

Womens Board, Kaiser Permanente, Koret and PG& E logos

SoCal Field Trips

19 Space Field Trips for Kids in Southern California

Do your kids love space? Check out this list of 19 Space Field Trips for Kids in Southern California! Kids will learn about astronomy, rocketry and the solar system during a tour and show.

Calling all Space Cadets!  10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1……blast off!  Southern California is home to numerous Space Field Trips for Kids , where children can learn and explore our outer universe!  Whether playing at Moon Park in Costa Mesa to watching the night sky at the Palomar Observatory, children have the opportunity to go more in depth with this topic.

So pick a place and take your child on one of these 19 Space Field Trips for Kids today!

Check out this list of 19 Space Field Trips for Kids in Southern California! Kids will learn about astronomy, rocketry and the solar system during a tour and show.

Space Field Trips for Kids in California

California Science Center , Los Angeles

The California Science Center has over 100 hands-on exhibits in their exhibit halls, which makes science concepts easy to grasp and fun to explore for the whole family.  All exhibits are free except for traveling exhibits.

Guests who come to see The Space Shuttle Endeavour begin their experience in Endeavour: The California Story, a companion exhibit featuring images and artifacts that relate the shuttle program to California, where the orbiters were built.  Following their visit to The California Story, guests are directed to the Samuel Oschin Pavilion to see the Endeavour.

Space Field Trips for Kids in Southern California

After your all-day science adventure, watch an IMAX film on the science center’s seven-story IMAX.  Experience an IMAX movie and get the big picture! 

Columbia Space Memorial Center , Downey

The Columbia Memorial Space Center is the only space science learning center in the Los Angeles area dedicated to hands-on robotics and boasts LA’s only Challenger Learning Center.  During your visit, you will learn about Downey’s place in the exploration of space flight, from the Apollo capsules to the Space Shuttle Orbiters.

Field trips last approximately two hours and are appropriate for all ages.  Included is quality exploration time on their two exhibits floors, an interactive STEM activity, and a programming lesson in the Robotics Lab.

Columbia Space Memorial Center Field Trip

credit: The Downey Patriot

For 5th grade and up, the center offers a field trip to their Challenger Learning Center.  Here students are transformed into scientists, engineers, and researchers on a simulated space mission, complete with mission control and spacecraft.  Advance reservations are required for groups of 16-36 participants per mission.

The center also hosts a club called Columbia Astronomers for kids that meets the third Saturday of every month at 7 pm.  Kids and parents are invited to expand their knowledge of the universe, share their love for the night sky, and talk all things astronomy.  Following every monthly club meeting, telescope viewing is set up in front of the Columbia Memorial Space Center.

Columbia Space Memorial Center Field Trip For Kids

credit: Columbia Space Memorial Center

Discovery Science Cube OC , Santa Ana

We have been to Discovery Science Cube OC on numerous occasions.  One of my daughter’s favorite exhibits is the Planetary Research Center.  Here students can view the earth on a suspended, animated globe from a completely unique vantage point.  Explore weather patterns, observe historic storms and relive catastrophic earthquakes and observe flight patterns around the globe as lights soaring across the night sky.

Discovery Science Cube LA , Sylmar 

Similar to the Discovery Science Cube OC, the Cube in Los Angeles has a Planetary Research Station as well.  They offer very similar field trips.

Discovery Cube LA Field Trip

credit: Discovery Cube LA

Donald E. Bianchi Planetarium , Cal State University, Northridge

The Donald E. Bianchi Planetarium provides bi-weekly star shows and other programs for the many communities of the San Fernando Valley and surrounding areas.  At the heart of the 100-seat star theater lies the Spitz-512 Star Projector, capable of recreating the night sky on our 40-foot dome with accuracy and brilliance.

Over 2,000 stars, the five visible planets, and all of the apparent motions of the sky come alive overhead in a unique and relaxing environment.  The Bianchi Planetarium is also equipped to support large format image projection and captivating digital sound. 

Donald E. Bianchi Planetarium Field Trips

El Camino College Planetarium , Torrance

This fun planetarium has GOTO Chronos planetarium projector with star plate technology that projects 8,500 stars (down to magnitude 6.5), planets, and the Milky Way.  Thirteen of the brightest stars in the sky are projected in their natural colors.  In addition to stars, the Chronos projector can accurately display 26 of the most popular celestial objects like the Adromeda Galaxy and the Orion Nebula with dedicated projectors for the Magellanic clouds.  They host regular public viewings and school groups.

OCC Planetarium , Costa Mesa

The Orange Coast College Planetarium is committed to providing an innovative, immersive, and illuminating experience for Orange County and beyond.  They offer field trip experiences for the local school community from kindergarten through high school which include spectacular star shows, spherical science, and more.  Field trips are scheduled into two blocks each weekday, at 9:00 am and 11:00 am and public programs operate on Friday evenings and weekends.

OCC Planetarium Field Trips

George F. Beattie Planetarium , San Bernardino

The 57-seat Planetarium features a star projector that can provide views from the North Pole to the South Pole, showing all the stars that can be seen with the un-aided eye on the darkest and clearest nights.  All public shows are at 7 p.m. on Friday nights.  One of the most popular shows is “The Christmas Star,’’ which is presented three times in December.

Griffith Observatory , Hollywood

At Southern California’s most popular observatory, visitors can look through telescopes, explore exhibits, see live shows in the Samuel Oschin Planetarium, and enjoy spectacular views of Los Angeles and the Hollywood Sign.  Admission is free.

Science Field Trips for Kids in Southern California

photo credit: Matthew Field

Jet Propulsion Laboratory , Pasadena

JPL’s educational tours are designed for schools and educational groups of 20 people or more.  The tour is specifically geared for children in 3rd grade and up for comprehension of information.  However, we had younger children in our group when we went a few years ago and it was fine.  

First, we saw a short multimedia presentation about JPL entitled “Journey to the Planets and Beyond,” which provides an overview of the Laboratory’s activities and accomplishments.  Next, we visited the von Karman Visitor Center, the Space Flight Operations Facility, and the Spacecraft Assembly Facility.  It is truly an amazing field trip!

Space Field Trips for Kids in Southern California

Moon Park , Costa Mesa

Moon Park commemorates the July 20, 1969 Moon landing.  The 30-foot cratered gray concrete dome, which simulates the lunar surface, is a prominent feature of the park.  The park is located at 3337 California Street, Costa Mesa.

RCC Planetarium , Riverside Community College, Riverside

This planetarium hosts monthly public showings that start at 7 pm.  To schedule a field trip your home or school group, please call their Community Education Department at 951-222-8090.

Riverside Community College Planetarium Field Trips

Tessman Planetarium , Santa Ana Junior College, Santa Ana

Families can see one of the planetarium’s 75 minutes interactive astronomy shows and discover the wonders of the universe.  All of their shows contain information about the latest discoveries in astronomy and science.  Field trips are aligned with the K-12 State of California Science Content Standards.  Every December they present a special Holiday show called “The Star of Bethlehem” that takes a trip through time to see how the sky looked 2000 years ago.

Space Field Trips for Kids in Southern California

Palomar College Planetarium , San Marcos

This specific planetarium is the 5th largest planetarium in California.  The theater has 138 seats that sit under a 50-foot Astrotec dome.  The planetarium hosts field trips for area schools each Tuesday & Thursday morning all year long. 

At the planetarium students are given a brief tour of current constellations and the night sky.   The students are then taken on a n informative virtual journey through the Solar System.

Palomar College Planetarium Field Trips

Palomar Observatory , Palmor Mountain

Palomar Observatory is owned and operated by the California Institute of Technology.  The Observatory is a popular destination in Southern California and receives tens of thousands of visitors a year from all over the world.  Most come to see the famous 200-inch (5.1-meter) Hale Telescope — for decades the largest effective telescope in operation.   They also offer guided tours of the facility.

Space Field Trips for Kids in Southern California

photo credit: Coneslayer

Reuben H. Fleet Science Center , San Diego

Join the Science Center on the first Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m. or 8:15 p.m. for a special program called The Sky Mountain, a tour of the solar system narrated by the Fleet’s astronomer.  

For optimal viewing, each show is limited to 250 attendees. Avoid sold-out shows by purchasing tickets in advance.   For ages 5+.   Free telescope viewing with the San Diego Astronomy Association os available outside after the shows, weather permitting.

The John Drescher Planetarium , Santa Monica College, Santa Monica

At its heart of this planetariums is the Evans & Sutherland Digistar II planetarium projector, which was the first of its kind on the West Coast.  Using digital technology, audiences can fly beyond the solar system and soar among the stars.  They are open to the public every Friday night, offering public planetarium shows designed for the whole family, and provide weekday special shows for schools and other groups.

UCLA Planetarium and Telescope Shows , Los Angeles

Public planetarium shows (free and suitable for all ages) are given by current astronomy and astrophysics graduate students.  Content varies with presenters, but commonly includes discussion about the current night sky, constellations, astronomical phenomena, and more.  Every Wednesday night at 7 pm they host a show for the public!  See website for show listings.

Space Field Trips for Kids in Southern California

Victor Valley College Planetarium , Victor Valley

The planetarium has a regular schedule of shows open to the public for a small fee in the evenings.  All seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.  Seating is limited to 50 persons per show.   Reservations are not normally accepted, but groups of six or more may call in advance with their name, date of attendance, and size of party.

Do you know of any places that host space field trips for kids in Southern California?  Please let us know and we will be happy to add it to the list.

Happy Field Tripping!

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California Field Trips

Field trips are a great way to reboot a bad homeschooling week, get out of the house when everyone has cabin fever, and learn about your local area. Before heading out, check out Jeanne's tips for improving homeschool field trips .

California Homeschool Field Trips

Our listing of California field trips for homeschoolers is ordered alphabetically by city. If you would like to submit a California field trip destination, you may do so using the red button above.

An asterisk * after the title indicates that a virtual field trip is also available.

More than 250,000 gold-seekers & farmers crossed into to the gold fields & rich farmlands of California during the 1840's and 1850's. 1,000 miles of trail ruts and traces can still be seen to remind us of early American travelers and settlers.

California National Historic Trail website

Pony Express National Historic Trail website

The Benicia Historical Museum offers education programs that bring history to life. Our wide variety of educational programs are offered for K-12 groups and include guided tours of our exhibits and grounds, as well as a selection of hands-on history activities. Become an archeologist and dig up artifacts or learn about early California and stake a claim on ranch land. The museum also offers Traveling Trunks where students can explore different time periods- Early California, California Gold Rush, and California in the Civil War.

Benicia Historical Museum at the Camel Barns website

Once used to film numerous movies and TV shows, such as Planet of the Apes and M*A*S*H, the park was the center of Chumash Native American life for centuries. Malibu Creek features hiking, fishing, bird watching and horseback riding opportunities.

Malibu Creek State Park website

This site is used by local Native Americans as a ceremonial meeting place. The park features special events and tours. Gathering Day, held the third Saturday of October, includes demonstrations of dancing, crafts and basket weaving.

Wassama Round House State Historic Park website

This state beach was named in memory of State Assemblyman Robert W. Crown, who campaigned for the site's preservation as public parkland. Known as Alameda Beach from the 1880s until the outbreak of World War II, it was an amusement center and day-trip destination for San Francisco and Bay Area residents. The beach is a great achievement of landscaping and engineering. After wind and water action had eroded the beach dangerously, it was restored in early 1982 with sand from San Francisco Bay, pumped ashore by pipeline from a barge. More sand has been added since then, and groins have been constructed to keep it in place.

Robert W. Crown Memorial State Beach website

SUA's beautiful two-story, 8,000 square foot Founder's Hall Art Gallery is open M-F from 9AM - 5PM. Entrance is free.

Soka University Founders Hall Art Gallery website

Open Seasonally - By appointment only and on days when mine tours are scheduled. Located in a livery stable (ca. 1900) that later served as the town's General Store for over 50 years.

Underground Gold Miners of California Museum website

Oak Canyon Nature Center is a 58-acre natural park nestled in the Anaheim Hills. A year-round stream meanders through the park. Consisting of three adjoining canyons, four miles of hiking trails traverse one of the few remaining areas of oak woodland and coastal sage scrub in our region. Native wildlife makes the canyon their home and is just waiting to be discovered. Also located on site is the John J. Collier Interpretive Center, a small museum with live animal and regional natural history exhibits.

Oak Canyon Nature Center website

A theme park aimed at kids.

Adventure City website

This beach is known for its fishing pier and concrete freighter, The Palo Alto. Unfortunately, the ship is unsafe and closed to the public. Only the pier is open for fishing. The beach is also a popular swimming spot. There is a long stretch of sand backed by bluffs. There is a covered picnic facility. The park also has an interpretive center.

Seacliff State Beach website

The park offers rugged semi-wilderness, rising from sea level to steep coastal mountains of more than 2,600 feet. Once the site of logging operations until the 1920s, visitors can still find evidence of logging operations, mill sites and trestles in the park.

The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park website

The mission of the Humboldt State University Natural History Museum, through its collections, exhibits, and programs, is to inspire in North Coast residents and visitors of all ages an understanding and appreciation of the dynamic natural world and to provide a learning laboratory for Humboldt State University students.

Humboldt State University Natural History Museum website

The Sierra Nevada Logging Museum is a non-profit regional museum in Arnold, California that tells the history of loggers and logging-related industries in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California -- from the discovery of gold in 1848 to the present day. The geographic scope of the Museum encompasses the 18 counties of the Sierra Nevada range, from Lassen County in the North to Kern County in the South.

Sierra Nevada Logging Museum website

Calaveras became a State Park in 1931 to preserve the North Grove of giant sequoias. This grove includes the "Discovery Tree", the first Sierra redwood noted by Augustus T. Dowd in 1852. This area has been a major tourist attraction ever since, and is considered the longest continuously operated tourist facility in California.

Calaveras Big Trees State Park website

Oceano Dunes is the only California State Park where vehicles may be driven on the beach. Passenger cars can easily drive on the northern portion of the beach.

Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area website

The Charles Paddock Zoo is home to hundreds of species from all over the world. A number of the animals are part of globally managed programs to preserve animals and their habitats.

Charles Paddock Zoo website

A museum in which faithfully restored historic aircraft is exhibited for public enjoyment. The collection encompasses nearly sixty restored vintage military aircraft ranging from pre-WWII to the present on approximately twenty acres of beautifully-maintained grounds. In addition to the outdoor displays the museum is complemented by an indoor museum which houses a fascinating collection of wartime memorabilia including aircraft engines, military uniforms, historic photos, and personal military artifacts from the past century.

Castle Air Museum website

Any celebration of Auburn's history would be incomplete without information on early Chinese residents, and their role in town development and growth. The Auburn Joss House, built in 1909 and located on the corner of Sacramento Street and Brewery Lane, is one of the best-known buildings in Old Town Auburn and symbolizes the role of the Chinese in local history.

Auburn Joss House website

Once teeming with thousands of gold miners, the area is now a natural area offering a wide variety of recreation opportunities to over 500,000 visitors a year.

Auburn State Recreation Area website

With a behind the scenes tour of the center, an introduction to the history and etiquette of bowling, teams of six and a seamless sign in, everyone is sure to have a memorable experience to take through the school year. Alongside the engaging and inclusive sport of bowling, our center offers drinks/beverages, arcade games, and a photo booth! With light weight balls and bumper bowling for the littles!

Foothills Bowl website

The Catalina Island Museum celebrates the Island's rich cultural heritage. Current exhibits include an award-winning exhibit featuring the romantic era of Catalina's steamships, Native Americans, a large relief map of the Island, Avalon's evolution into a resort community, Catalina pottery and tile, early communication, sportfishing, the Chicago Cubs spring training, and much more!

Catalina Island Museum website

The museum features 56 historic exhibits, many in relocated structures, an award winning hands-on oil exhibition Black Gold: The Oil Experience and the Lori Brock Children's Discovery Center for youth eight and under. The museum is consistently recognized for providing some of the most outstanding educational programs in the state of California, such as Native American Life, and Frontier Life. In addition, the museum hosts temporary exhibitions and special events in an effort to achieve its mission.

Kern County Museum website

The Buena Vista Museum promotes the scientific and educational aspects of earth history, particularly paleontology, biology, geology and anthropology. This is done through public education, research, and by serving as a repository for fossils, and other natural history items. High priority is given to documenting and displaying the rich, unique aspects of the natural history of Kern County. The museum is the repository of the Bob and Mary Ernst Collection, the largest private collection of Sharktooth Hill Miocene fossils in the World.

Buena Vista Museum website

The vision of the Bakersfield Museum of Art is to be recognized as a destination for fine art exhibitions that enrich the quality of life for residents and visitors of the San Joaquin Valley and as a leader in the area of art education for children and adults.

Bakersfield Museum of Art website

The park is on the banks of the Merced River. Fishing is popular for catfish, black bass and perch. There are picnic, camping and play areas.

McConnell State Recreation Area website

Located between Los Angeles and Las Vegas, the Mojave National Preserve boasts of singing sand dunes, volcanic cinder cones, and Joshua tree forests.

Mojave National Preserve website

The mission of the Benicia Historical Museum is to engage the community in the evolving history of Benicia and the Arsenal and their influence in the development of our country. The Museum complex is the center where history is seen, enjoyed and preserved. Through exhibits, events and educational programs we enlighten the public about the history of this unique city.

Benicia Historical Museum website

Benicia State Recreation Area covers marsh, grassy hillsides and rocky beaches along the narrowest portion of the Carquinez Strait.

Benicia State Recreation Area website

Benicia Capitol State Historic Park is the site of California's third seat of government (1853-54.) It is the only pre-Sacramento capitol that survives. The original building has been restored with reconstructed period furnishings and exhibits. The interior includes a board-for-board reconstruction of the building's original floor with ponderosa pine. The desks, three of which are originals from the Benicia period or earlier, are furnished with a candlestick, a 19th century newspaper, a quill pen and a top hat.

Benicia Capitol State Historic Park website

Founded by parents and educators in 1992 to meet the unique needs and interests of infants, toddlers and preschoolers in a safe and appropriate community setting. Habitot founders have created a hands-on play and learning center where young children are the 'big kids' -- exploring the arts and culture in a safe setting designed especially for small hands and bodies and growing minds.

Habitot Children's Museum website

The park includes tidelands and upland property along 8.5 miles of shoreline of the San Francisco Bay. The park extends from the City of Richmond in the north to Emeryville and Oakland in the south, ending near the east anchorage of the San Francisco Bay Bridge. The tidelands comprise rich tidal marshes, sub tidal areas, and mudflats that extend bay ward from the shoreline including the Emeryville Crescent, Albany Mudflat, and Hoffman Marsh. Much of the existing upland area is the result of fill placement in the Bay west of the historic shoreline. The shoreline reflects the unique influences of both natural systems and human intervention.

Eastshore State Park website

Play online games, download activities to do at home, and more cool stuff. Lawrence Hall of Science (LHS) is a renowned resource center for preschool through high school science and mathematics education, and a public science center with exciting hands-on experiences for learners of all ages.

Lawrence Hall of Science website

An extensive collection of artifacts, featuring exhibits from the indigenous Serrano Indians, the gold mining era, cowboys and cattle ranching, logging, fox farming and early winter sports.

Big Bear Valley Historical (Eleanor Abbott) Museum website

The Alpine Slide at Magic Mountain is open all year and is Southern California's only authentic bobsled experience.

Alpine Slide at Magic Mountain website

The park features breathtaking views of the Big Sur Coast, the beauty of the redwoods, the rugged coast and the cultural history of limekilns.

Limekiln State Park website

This beautiful park features redwoods, conifers, oaks, sycamores, cottonwoods, maples, alders and willows - plus open meadows. Wildlife includes black-tail deer, gray squirrels, raccoons, skunks, and birds, such as water ouzels and belted kingfishers. Hikers can enjoy the many scenic trails, including a self-guided nature trail. Some campsites are along the Big Sur River.

Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park website

In the spectacular Big Sur area, this park is still relatively undeveloped and offers visitors great hiking, fishing and beachcombing. Miles of trails wind through meadows, beaches and hilltops. A primitive walk-in trail camp, popular with hikers and bikers, is located approximately one third mile from the parking area.

Andrew Molera State Park website

The purpose of John Little State Reserve, in Monterey County, is to preserve and protect an area of steep, rugged cliffs on the Big Sur coast where Lime Creek enters the Pacific Ocean. The unit contains the original 1917 cabin of early conservationist Elizabeth K. Livermore.

John Little State Natural Reserve website

The Bolinas Museum is the premier fine art museum in Marin County. The beauty of the land and proximity to the metropolitan Bay Area has always attracted highly creative people to this region. The Bolinas Museum focuses on the diverse interests and rich pool of artistic talent of Coastal Marin, while stimulating the appreciation of visitors from all over the world.

Bolinas Museum website

The largest state park in California. Five-hundred miles of dirt roads, 12 wilderness areas and miles of hiking trails provide visitors with an unparalleled opportunity to experience the wonders of the California Desert. The park features washes, wildflowers, palm groves, cacti and sweeping vistas. Visitors may also have the chance to see roadrunner, golden eagles, kit foxes, mule deer and bighorn sheep as well as iguanas, chuckwallas and the red diamond rattlesnake.

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park website

Our mission is to preserve the history of the San Lorenzo Valley through collecting and exhibiting artifacts, gathering historical information, and providing education through the San Lorenzo Valley Museum and our educational outreach programs.

San Lorenzo Valley Museum website

Big Basin has a full schedule of interpretive programs during the Summer and on weekends during the Fall and Spring as staff allows. Visitors to the park should look for flyers for additional information, programs and updates.

Big Basin Redwoods State Park website

The City of Brea Art Gallery presents quality exhibitions throughout the year and the facility's 6,000 square foot exhibition space is home to artwork from around the world. In addition to all the inspiring artwork, the Gallery also offers a gift shop featuring work by regional artists and special one-of-a kind items.

City of Brea Art Gallery website

Bodie State Historic Park is a genuine California gold-mining ghost town. Visitors can walk down the deserted streets of a town that once had a population of 10,000 people. The town was founded by Waterman S. Body (William Bodey), who had discovered small amounts of gold in hills north of Mono Lake. In 1877, the Standard Company struck pay dirt and a gold rush transformed Bodie from a town of 20 people to a boomtown.

Bodie State Historic Park website

Virtual field trip online Come see new museum displays including the Lynx Women's Softball Team from the 1940s, a pictorial history of Buena Park's entertainment venues and photos of the Dreger Clock in various stages of its "life".

Whitaker-Jaynes Estate and the Bacon House Museums website

Knott's Berry Farm is a human adventure, created for people of all ages. We salute the lure and lore of California and the West. We celebrate the cultures, traditions and unique spirit of the extraordinary American Experience. For over 50 years Knott's has been different - and the difference is Real. Adventures In Education can open your mind, expand your spirit and, perhaps, even touch your heart. When you participate in our educational field trips, Knott's Berry Farm becomes your own interactive, state-of-the-art classroom (and ultimate playground for after class). We've worked with leading educators and subject-matter experts to offer the best in content and impact for learning at all grades and levels.

Knott's Berry Farm website

Chivalry in action, educational matinee at Medieval Times. In the beginning there is an approximate 30 minute presentation about medieval history with educational vignettes focusing on good citizenship and the code of chivalry. This is all being played out while the students are enjoying a boxed lunch. The, they will witness knights on horsebacks compete in tournament games, authentic jousting matches and swordfights as we bring history to life.

Medieval Times website

Burbank was born during the Southern California land boom of the 1880's when thousands of Americans came West during the railroad rate war between Santa Fe and Southern Pacific. Movies were big news in Burbank as early as 1920's with production companies shooting many scenes on City streets. Museum which includes an 1887 Victorian house, a memorabilia building including a Lockheed Aviation display and other historical artifacts, a vintage vehicle building, a salon and the Ray Sence addition in which 19th century era rooms are shown.

Gordon R. Howard Museum website

Film and television fans can find information about TV and movie sets.

Warner Bros VIP Studio Tour website

The park's centerpiece is the 129-foot Burney Falls, which is not the highest or largest waterfall in the state, but possibly the most beautiful. Additional water comes from springs, joining to create a mist-filled basin. Burney Creek originates from the park's underground springs and flows to Lake Britton, getting larger along the way to the majestic falls.

McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park website

Bidwell Mansion State Historic Park is a beautiful, three story, 26 room Victorian House Museum that stands as a memorial to John and Annie Bidwell. John Bidwell was known throughout California and across the nation as an important pioneer, farmer, soldier, statesman, politician and philanthropist. Annie Ellicott Kennedy Bidwell, the daughter of a socially prominent, high ranking Washington official, was deeply religious, and committed to a number of moral and social causes. Annie was very active in the suffrage and prohibition movements.

Bidwell Mansion State Historic Park website

This off road area provides good beginner terrain for off-road enthusiasts. The clay used to build Lake Oroville was taken from the Feather River Valley, three miles west of Oroville. The resulting depression -- a large shallow pit ringed with low hills -- is the site of this recreation area. It is a motorcycle, all-terrain vehicle, and dune buggy use area. There is also a rifle range.

Clay Pit State Vehiclular Recreation Area website

Tule Elk State Reserve protects a herd of tule elk, once in danger of extinction. In the 1880s, vast herds of tule elk were greatly reduced in number by hunting and loss of habitat. The elk are most active from late summer through early autumn. Visitors are encouraged to bring binoculars for better viewing. The park has picnic areas and interpretive exhibits.

Tule Elk State Natural Reserve website

Located in the northernmost part of the San Joaquin Valley, Bethany Reservoir State Recreation Area is a popular place for water-oriented recreation, especially fishing and windsurfing. It also features a bike trail (along the California Aqueduct Bikeway) - and many windmills. It is also the northern terminus of the California Aqueduct.

Bethany Reservoir State Recreation Area website

The Leonis Adobe was the home of Miguel Leonis, known as the King of Calabasas. The museum features his authentically furnished two-story Monterey-Style adobe with original buildings, period livestock, gardens and a vineyard--all part of Leonis' recreated ranch where he once ruled the territory. Although the Leonis Adobe is over 150 years old, the everyday life on the ranch is much the same. Upon entering the wrought-iron gates, the huge White Oak tree still shades the property and one immediately travels back to the 1880 period.

Leonis Adobe Museum website

The Desert Tortoise Natural Area (DTNA) is a 39.5-square-mile (102 km2) area in the western Mojave Desert, located in eastern Kern County, Southern California. It was created to protect the native Desert Tortoise (Gopherus agassizii), which is also the California State Reptile. It has an interpretive center for visitors. Good for all ages.

Desert Tortoise Natural Area website

Salvation Mountain is Leonard's tribute to God and his gift to the world with its simple yet powerful message: "God Is Love." Leonard's passion has lovingly created this brilliant "outsider art " masterpiece resplendent with not only biblical and religious scripture such as the Lord's Prayer, John 3:16, and the Sinner's Prayer, but also including flowers, trees, waterfalls, suns, bluebirds, and many other fascinating and colorful objects. Salvation Mountain must be seen to be fully appreciated as those who have made the journey will attest. Its 50 foot height and 150 foot breadth is made totally of local adobe clay and donated paint and is truly unique in the United States and probably the world. From its Sea of Galilee at the bottom, to the big red heart in the middle, to the cross at the very top, the reoccurring theme of "Love" is everywhere at Salvation Mountain.

Salvation Mountain website

Robert Louis Stevenson State Park is the place where the famous author of Treasure Island and Kidnapped spent his honeymoon in 1880. Although nothing remains of Stevenson's cabin, the site is identified on the trail to the summit.

Robert Louis Stevenson State Park website

The Sharpsteen Museum's permanent exhibits are designed to present the history of the upper Napa Valley from its pre-history to post World War I with an emphasis on people and changes brought by the period of U.S. emigration and development. In addition to its many historical exhibits, the Museum uses unique and extraordinarily extensive dioramas to depict Calistoga during its period as the elegant 1860s Hot Springs resort developed by pioneer, promoter, publisher, entrepreneur, and California's first millionaire, Sam Brannan.

Sharpsteen Museum's website

San Simeon State Park is one of the oldest units of the California State Park System. The coastal bluffs and promontories of the scenic park offer unobstructed views of the ocean and rocky shore. The park includes the Santa Rosa Creek Natural Preserve, the San Simeon Natural Preserve and the Pa-nu Cultural Preserve which were established in 1990.

San Simeon State Park website

Ainsley House is a restored English Tudor style building in Campbell, California. It is now a museum open to the public. The 15 rooms are furnished with much of the original furniture from the era when the house was one of the grand homes in the Santa Clara Valley.

Campbell Historical Museum & Ainsley House website

The town of Owensmouth was referred to as the "Baby Town" of the San Fernando Valley in 1912. Developers used the image of a baby-delivering stork in their promotional material. The Stork Plaque, symbolic of the birth of Owensmouth on March 30, 1912, was a gift to prospective buyers on the opening day of land sales in the new town.

Canoga/Owensmouth Historical Museum website

Red Rock Canyon State Park features scenic desert cliffs, buttes and spectacular rock formations. The park is located where the southernmost tip of the Sierra Nevada converge with the El Paso Range. Each tributary canyon is unique, with dramatic shapes and vivid colors.

Red Rock Canyon State Park website

The beach features picnic areas, swimming, fishing and a nearby forest of Monterey pine and Coastal Live Oak. The camping area is on a bluff overlooking northern Monterey Bay.

New Brighton State Beach website

The Capitola Historical Museum maintains extensive collections of photographs and artifacts related to Capitola's history, and offers changing exhibits on the history and art of the area, as well as on special seasonal and topical themes. Museum grounds now include a reconstructed cottage from the era of the early 20th century beach resort. Restoration of a wash house is a new, ongoing Museum project.

Capitola Historical Museum website

Located on the San Diego Coast, San Elijo State Beach offers swimming, surfing, showers and picnicking. The narrow, bluff-backed stretch of sand has a nearby reef popular with snorklers and divers.

San Elijo State Beach website

The Cheatham Grove is an exceptional stand of coast redwoods. The park is a quiet place to camp, hike, fish, swim and picnic. The Van Duzen River flows beside the campground.

Grizzly Creek Redwoods State Park website

Carlsbad State Beach is located on the San Diego Coast. It offers swimming, surfing, scuba diving, fishing and beachcombing. This small beach is located at the foot of coastal bluffs, south of the town on Carlsbad.

Carlsbad State Beach website

On Carmel Bay, the mile-long beach features a bird sanctuary in a lagoon (just before the Carmel River empties into the sea) featuring a wide variety of waterfowl and song birds. Monastery Beach, also known as San Jose Creek Beach, is part of the park and is popular with scuba divers. Ocean and swimming and wading are extremely dangerous.

Carmel River State Beach website

The park has two miles of beach front, with coastal hiking and a 50-foot climb to a beautiful view of the Pacific. The park offers diverse coastal vegetation with trails running from ocean beaches into dense redwood groves. The park also features outstanding coastal headlands at Soberanes Point. Sea lions, harbor seals and sea otters frequent the coastal waters and California gray whales pass close by during their yearly migration.

Garrapata State Park website

Offers a dynamic variety of fun activities including children, adult and school programs, nationally renowned interactive exhibits, educational workshops and many opportunities for volunteering. Visitors can see live wild animals, browse our Discovery Shop for books, toys and unique gifts, or tour the replica of a Maidu Indian summer village. Enjoy our 77-acre nature preserve featuring interpretive trails that meander through the riparian woodlands along the American River. See deer, coyotes, migratory songbirds and wild turkeys as you explore the preserve's lush oak woodlands.

Effie Yeaw Nature Center website

The Carpinteria Valley Museum of History provides a fascinating glimpse into the Valley's past. A variety of unique exhibits examine the three major cultures that made this valley their home. The Carpinteria Valley Historical Society, a nonprofit educational organization, created, maintains, and operates the Museum and research library. The Society is dedicated to collect, preserve, interpret, and exhibit objects of historical significance related to the Valley.

Carpinteria Valley Museum of History website

Twelve miles south of Santa Barbara, Carpinteria State Beach offers a mile of beach for swimming, surf fishing, tidepool exploring and camping. The Spanish named the area Carpinteria because the Chumash tribe, which lived in the area, had a large seagoing canoe-building enterprise, or "carpentry shop" there, because of naturally-occurring surface tar which was used to seal the boats. Seals and sea lions can be seen in the area December through May, as well as an occasional gray whale. Tidepools contain starfish, sea anemones, crabs, snails, octopi and sea urchins.

Carpinteria SB website

We bring our world-class collection of antique, printing machinery to life for people of all ages through our award-winning school programs, interactive museum tours, live entertainment with Benjamin Franklin in our Heritage Theater and our hands-on Book Arts tour. Our general museum tour is available Saturdays from 10 am to 4 pm and Tues-Fri by appointment. Group tours options include a presentation by Benjamin Franklin, an interactive Constitutional Convention, or hands-on printing on a variety of presses as well as book binding! A totally unique and awe inspiring museum.

The International Printing Museum website

The University Art Gallery opened in 1978, and is considered to be one of the major exhibition spaces of the South Bay area. The gallery supports and enhances the Art Department instructional program while giving students from all disciplines and interested community members a valuable opportunity to explore and experience contemporary and historical works of art from many cultures.

University Art Gallery -Dominguez Hills website

The park features a 2.5-mile self-guided nature trail called The Ecological Staircase which explores five wave-cut terraces formed by glacier, sea and tectonic activity that built the coast range.

Jug Handle State Natural Reserve website

Castaic Lake State Recreation Area is a reservoir of the State Water Project. It is one of the Project's largest recreational lakes and the terminal of its west branch. The site includes 29 miles of shoreline. A major attraction is the 425-foot tall Castaic Dam.

Castaic Lake State Recreation Area website

The park offers swimming and fishing in the Sacramento River, hiking in the back country, and a view of Mount Shasta. There are 76 developed campsites and six environmental campsites. The park features 28 miles of hiking trails, including a 2.7 mile access trail to Castle Crags Wilderness, part of the Shasta-Trinity National Forest. The Pacific Crest Trail also passes through the park. The park is named for 6,000-feet tall glacier-polished crags.

Castle Crags State Park website

Cayucos is a charming little beach town rich in history and popular for its great beaches. It is known for its fishing pier, beautiful beach and historical buildings. Many of the buildings left over Suferfrom the prospering old town still stand as a variety of shops such as restaurants, antique stores, and speciality items.

Cayucos State Beach website

This historic park, located in Los Angeles County where the Simi Hills meet the Santa Susana Mountains, is rich in natural, historical and cultural significance. Here in the western part of the Transverse Ranges, the land is dominated by high, narrow ridges and deep canyons covered with an abundant variety of plant life. The park offers panoramic views of the rugged natural landscape as a striking contrast to the developed communities nearby.

Santa Susana Pass State Historic Park website

This park preserves a fine example of a disappearing natural resource - the riverine habitat. The river's various landscapes display great scenic beauty and constant change. The riparian plant and animal communities here depend strongly on each other. Massive oaks and cottonwoods give the dense shade needed for the survival of cool-water creatures. Thick understories of elderberry, wild grape, blackberry, wild rose and numerous perennials provide shelter to a diversified wildlife population. The park offers a great setting for observing and learning about the riparian community.

Bidwell-Sacramento River State Park website

Housed in a former Carnegie Library building in downtown Chico, the Chico Museum has hosted more than 90 exhibits celebrating the distinct heritage of Chico since it opened in February 1986. Exhibits change several times a year and include prestigious traveling exhibits as well as those created by the Museum focusing on local Chico and Butte County history.

The Chico Museum website

The worlds largest public display of yo-yo's and contest history is open year round. Admission is free and tours are always being given.

National Yo-Yo Museum website

Party Kingdom is an indoor amusement fun park for the entire family. There is a trampoline park, toddler fun zone, as well as a complete obstacle course of slides and various fun surprises.

Party Kingdom website

Frosty's Pumpkin Patch has 2 locations (Yorba Linda and Chino Hills) and will open the first week of October annually. The Yorba Linda location offers 8-10 inflatable rides, petting zoo, pony rides, carnival style games, target paintball and pumpkins of course. The Chino Hills location offers a 4 acre themed corn maze, target paintball, separate haunted maze on weekends, 13-15 inflatable rides, carnival style games, pony rides, petting zoo, large concession area, u-pick pumpkins off the vine and picked for you pumpkins. Both locations offer discounted fieldtrip/group packages.

Frosty's Pumpkin Patch website

Chino Hills State Park, a premier natural open-space area in the hills of Santa Ana Canyon near Riverside, is a critical link in the Puente-Chino Hills biological corridor. It encompasses stands of oaks, sycamores and rolling, grassy hills that stretch nearly 31 miles, from the Santa Ana Mountains to the Whittier Hills. Chino Hills is vitally important as a refuge to many species of plants, and as a link between natural areas essential to the survival of many animal species.

Chino Hills State Park website

The Living Coast Discovery Center is an interactive learning environment displaying San Diego Bay's native wildlife. Over 20,000 school children enjoy field trips to our facilities each year.

Living Coast Discovery Center website

A century of southern California history awaits you at the Homestead Museum! This six-acre site dates from the era when California was still part of Mexico through the decade of the 1920s when Los Angeles had become a major American city. Its historical significance, park-like landscaping, meticulous restoration, and educational programs have received numerous awards at the regional, state, and national level, making it one of California's true historic treasures.

Workman and Temple Family Homestead Museum website

Founded in 1993, the Ruth Chandler Williamson Gallery presents four annual exhibitions spanning a wide range of art. Whether historical or contemporary, Western or Asian, exhibitions enrich the teaching of art and humanities at Scripps as well as the cultural community of Claremont and environs.

Ruth Chandler Williamson Gallery website

Our unique institution is located on the beautiful campus of The Webb Schools. In fact, we are the only paleontology museum located on a high school campus in the nation. Our museum mission is to serve Southern California as an educational resource, to act as a center of paleontological research for the international scientific community, and to provide a unique curricular ingredient for The Webb Schools.

Raymond M. Alf Museum of Paleontology website

California kids vacations are like ocean waves filled with opportunity. They are exciting, unpredictable and beautiful to feel, watch and enjoy. They offer learning experiences and bonding opportunities for Kids traveling with mom, dad, grandma, grandpa, relatives and family friends. I liked this site as it addresses ideas for dealing with kids who see their parents on weekends, traveling with disabled children and traveling during holidays.

California kids vacations website

Colma is believed to be an Ohlone Indian word, meaning "many springs". The City of Souls. In 1849 the gold rush brought hundreds of thousands to San Francisco and with them they also brought disease leading to a high death rate. Twenty six cemeteries had been established and most were almost filled by the 1880s.

Colma Historical Museum website

The purpose of Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park is to secure for the people and to make available for their observation, inspiration, and enjoyment, the gold discovery site and its environs as an accurate portrayal of the story that unfolded at the time of the discovery and Gold Rush. The park's interpretive program primarily embraces the period from 1847 through 1852, but also shows the town of Coloma as it developed. Visitors have the opportunity to try panning for gold in the American River and enjoy hikes and picnics under the riparian oak woodlands. Overlooking the beautiful river canyon, where the gold discoverer rests today, see California's first historic monument, the statue of James Marshall pointing at his gold discovery site .

Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park website

The town's old Gold Rush-era business district has been preserved, with shops, restaurants and two hotels. Visitors have the chance to time-travel to the 1850s, imagining life when gold miners rubbed shoulders with businessmen and the other residents in Columbia. Visitors can experience a bygone era watching proprietors in period clothing conduct business in the style of yesterday. There are opportunities to ride a 100 year-old stagecoach, hire a "fine steed" for a horseback ride through the "diggins," pan for gold, or tour an active gold mine.

Columbia State Historic Park website

Riverbank cottonwoods and willows shelter one of the finest fishing stretches in California, with king salmon, steelhead, rainbow trout and striped bass some of the catches. The river is on a major migratory route for birds of the Pacific flyway and provides home to an amazing number of species. The River Patwin Indian tribe once lived nearby the area and in 1872 John Muir camped near what is now the park.

Colusa-Sacramento River State Recreation Area website

Franks Tract State Recreation Area is only accessible by water and is located southeast of Brannan Island between False River and Bethel Island. Franks Tract Flooded in 1936 and again in 1938. Very few land forms remain exposed, with the exception of remnant levees. During the fall and winter, a large variety of waterfowl can be found in Franks Tract. The Delta holds a key position in the Pacific flyway. Year round residents include gulls, great blue herons, terns, swallows, crows, blackbirds, cormorants and kingfishers.

Franks Tract State Recreation Area website

Corona del Mar State Beach is a popular place for swimmers. The half-mile long sandy beach framed by cliffs and a rock jetty that forms the east entrance to Newport Harbor. The beach is also popular with surfers and divers.

Corona Del Mar State Beach website

Silver Strand State Beach features extensive beaches on both the Pacific Ocean and San Diego Bay. Combined with the area's mild climate, the beaches make Silver Strand one of the area's finest recreation destinations. Camping, swimming, surfing, boating, water-skiing, volleyball, and picnicking are popular activities. Anglers can fish for perch, corbina, grunion and yellow-fin croaker.

Silver Strand State Beach website

To encourage and promote the appreciation, knowledge and understanding of Coronado's unique art, architecture, history and other historical resources.

Coronado Historical Museum website

The Orange County Museum of Art provides free guided exhibition tours for school age children, grades 2-12. These interactive tours provide a meaningful art experience in an exciting learning environment.

Orange County Museum of Art website

This park takes in some of the finest wetlands habitat on California's northern coast. An ancient sand dune complex that has evolved into several distinct ecological communities, Tolowa Dunes encompasses ocean beach, river, open and vegetated sand dunes, wooded ridges, and wetlands. A diverse assortment of birds, animals and plant life thrive here, and the area serves as an important stopover on the Pacific flyway for thousands of migrating ducks, geese and swans. The Smith River is a good place for salmon and steelhead fishing, and cutthroat trout can be taken at Lake Earl. The basic amenities are provided for campers at two primitive campgrounds, including a ride-in horse camp and six walk-in sites.

Tolowa Dunes State Park website

An amazing diversity of life exists at Redwood National and State Parks (RNSP). The ancient coast redwood ecosystem preserved in the parks contains some of the planet's most majestic forests. Here, banana slugs, gray whales, Douglas-fir, black bears, and sea anemones are equally at home with redwoods.

Redwood National and State Parks website

The Main Museum has a wealth of interesting displays. One room is devoted to artifacts of the local Tolowa and Yurok Native Americans. It includes one of the finest Native American basket collections in Northern California. Musical instruments, old radio, phonographic and photographic equipment, excellent needlework, early logging and mining tools and equipment, and many fashions and furniture from yesteryear are just some of the objects and subjects represented and on display in the Main Museum.

Del Norte County Historical Society Museum website

The park, established in 1927, has approximately 50% old growth coast redwood and eight miles of wild coastline. The mixed understory includes tanoak, madrone, red alder, big leaf maple, and California bay. Ground cover is dense with a wide range of species. Vegetation is predominately red alder which will eventually give way to fir and second growth redwood.

Del Norte Coast Redwood State Park website

The mission of the Cupertino Historical Society and Museum is to create a passion for lifelong learning, preserve a vanishing past and serve as a bridge to a shared future. Located in the Quinlan Community Center, the museum is open to the public Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Cupertino Historical Museum website

The area is at the northern reaches of the Santa Cruz range. The park provides Bay Area visitors with day-use facilities, hiking trails, and beautiful views of the city and the bay. The park is home to a wide variety of birds and animals as well as several endangered plant and butterfly species.

San Bruno Mountain State Park website

Doheny State Beach is two parks in one - with camping in the southern area (with some campsites only steps away from the beach) and day use in the northern area, where there is a five-acre lawn with picnic facilities and volleyball courts. Surfing is popular, but is restricted to the north end of the beach. Surf fishing is also popular.

Doheny State Beach website

America's only Nobel Prize winning playwright, Eugene O'Neill, chose to live in Northern California at the climax of his writing career. Isolated from the world and within the walls of his home, O'Neill wrote his final and most memorable plays; The Iceman Cometh, Long Day's Journey Into Night, and A Moon for the Misbegotten. Reservations are required to visit this site.

Eugene O'Neill National Historic Site website

The facility encompasses nearly 70,000 square feet with four exhibition galleries, an Automotive Reference Library & Museum Store, Special Events Area, Board Room and state-of-the-art catering kitchen.

Blackhawk Museum website

The Museum of the San Ramon Valley is dedicated to preserving and celebrating our rich history and heritage. The collections and exhibits reflect our human experiences, institutions and cultures that were shaped by the valley's landscape, environment and early settlers.

Museum of San Ramon Valley website

The Center occupies a ranch-style house and grounds which were once the home of Hulda Hoover McLean. It now consists of an intimate, protected courtyard surrounded by a main meeting room, exhibit rooms, gift shop, and a large deck overlooking Waddell Valley and the Pacific Ocean. Waddell Beach, located across Highway 1 from the park entrance, is known worldwide as one of the best spots for windsurfing. The steady strong northwest winds and good surf provide ideal conditions for this demanding sport. For those interested in birding, botany, intertidal marine life and riparian habitat, the Waddell Beach and the many Rancho del Oso trails offer superb recreation for the amateur or professional naturalist. Regular surfers, boogie boarders, and surf fishermen also find it an ideal spot to pursue their activities.

Rancho Del Oso State Park website

A regional hands-on science center with the mission: "To involve people in science experiences that touch all our lives."

Explorit website

The UC Davis Arboretum is a living museum and a refuge of great beauty where visitors can step away from their busy lives and reconnect with nature. Visitors may wander through the Arboretum on their own or join public tours. The Arboretum gardens are open 24 hours a day, every day of the year, and there is no charge for admission.

UC Davis Arboretum website

The museum presents TRANS-4-MATIONS, a four-part research project delving into the personal stories and institutional history that has contributed to the growth of the Design Program from its beginnings in the Department of Home Economics, to emerging as the most diverse free-standing Design Program in the University of California.

U.C. Davis Design Museum website

A Land of Extremes: Hottest, Driest, Lowest: A superlative desert of streaming sand dunes, snow-capped mountains, multicolored rock layers, water-fluted canyons and three million acres of stone wilderness. Home to the Timbisha Shoshone and to plants and animals unique to the harshest deserts. A place of legend and a place of trial.

Death Valley National Park website

Old growth coast redwoods park is bisected by the last major free flowing river in California, the Smith River. Almost all of the park land is water shed for the Smith River and Mill Creek, a major tributary. The park has about 20 miles of hiking and nature trails, river access, a visitor center with exhibits and a nature store. Drive Howland Hill Road (gravel-not recommended for trailers) and stroll in the Stout Grove.

Jedediah Smith Redwood State Park website

Since the fires that came through the park in the fall of 2003, the park has recovered beautifully. Through the diligent efforts of Park volunteers and staff, the park is open for camping, hiking, horseback riding, and biking. The rebuilding, recovery, and restoration of park facilities continue daily. We invite you to come and enjoy the park. The meadows are beautiful and still abundant with wildflowers and native grasses. The mighty oaks are thriving and pine seedlings are flourishing. The post-fire recovery is an opportunity to see, first-hand, the wonders of the natural cycle of fire and re-growth in our California wild lands. You will be surprised at the resilience of the environment and how well the park is recovering.

Cuyamaca Rancho State Park website

A unique Hopi inspired Pueblo hand-made by Cabot Yerxa over 24 years. This multi-level building includes 35 rooms, 150 windows and 65 doors, all crafted from found materials. The museum houses Cabot's collection of Native American pottery, early 20th century photographs and artifacts from his Alaskan adventures. The museum grounds, including a picnic area, are beautifully landscaped with native plants and home to many rustic period items -- early 1900's tools, machinery and housegoods.

Cabot's Old Indian Pueblo Museum website

Patrick Ranch is currently host to a number of popular events throughout the year. The Country Supper, Threshing Bee, California Nut Festival, Agribee, and more all call Patrick Ranch home.

Patrick Ranch website

n 2008 California State Parks will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the founding of a unique town dedicated to the dignity of the human spirit. Come learn about Colonel Allen Allensworth and the courageous group of families and individuals who believed they could create their own version of the "American Dream." Come experience the inspiring story of the people who came to an isolated spot in the southern San Joaquin Valley to build a place of their own--a place where hard work, dedication, and faith would allow them and their children the opportunity to control their own discrimination-free destiny. Come home to Allensworth during its centennial year.

Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park website

Greenwood State Beach offers beach access and a picturesque view of the pacific ocean. The visitor center is in the middle of town and provides a glimpse of what life was like in this lumber town during the late 1800s.

Greenwood State Beach website

Swimming, surfing, fishing and picnicking are popular at this small, rocky beach. The beach access is via an improved trail at the foot of Leucadia Boulevard.

Leucadia State Beach website

This wide, sandy beach offers swimming, surfing and fishing. Facilities include volleyball and tennis courts, recreational equipment rentals and a snack bar. The "moonlight" in the name of this beach comes from the fact that local residents used to come to the area for midnight picnics early in the early 1900s.

Moonlight State Beach website

Features over 35 acres of exhibits, including rare bamboo groves, desert gardens, a tropical rainforest, California native plants, Mediterranean climate landscapes, the Undersea Succulent Garden, Landscaping for Fire Safety and a subtropical fruit garden. In April of 2003, Quail introduced the West Coast's first interactive children's garden, the Seeds of Wonder.

San Diego Botanic Garden website

Collects, preserves and interprets the local history of the San Dieguito river area--which includes the communities of Leucadia, Encinitas, Olivenhain, Cardiff, Solana Beach, Del Mar, and Rancho Santa Fe.

San Dieguito Heritage Museum website

The Seeds of Wonder garden includes such delights as living topiaries, a grassy "rolling hill," an exotic Baby Dinosaur Forest, and the "Secret Garden," as well as sculpture and interactive nature-play features.

Seeds of Wonder Children's Garden website

This California rancho includes the original nine-room de la Ossa Adobe, the two-story limestone Garnier building, a blacksmith shop, a natural spring, and a pond.

Los Encinos State Historic Park website

San Pasqual Battlefield State Historic Park, east of Escondido, honors the soldiers who fought in the battle between the U.S. and Californio forces on December 6, 1846 in the midst of the Mexican-American War. Generals Stephen Kearny and Andres Pico both claimed victory. The battle was only one of the military encounters in California in the war, but it proved to be the bloodiest and most controversial as to the outcome. The park has been set aside, not as a monument to war, but as a reminder of the human ideals, actions and passions that can drive nations to bloodshed.

San Pasqual Battlefield State Historic Park website

1800 acre wildlife preserve houses over 3500 animals representing 260 species and is a botanical garden.

Wild Animal Park website

The Education Department at the California Center for the Arts, Escondido welcomes you to participate in our 2008-09 programs. We've got something for everyone! From Center Stage: Performances for Youth, Dance Master Classes, Internships, Museum Artist Talks, to Special Events for Families, our programs complement the Center's Performing Arts Season and Museum Exhibitions. So nurture your creative side whether you're a teacher, student, arts enthusiast, or someone just curious to learn more.

California Center for the Arts, Escondido website

Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens, the historic Spanish Colonial Revival estate of San Clemente founder Ole Hanson, embodies the Romance and Reality of the Southern California experience. Its stunning setting is a place for people of all ages to explore and understand Southern California history, architecture, ecology and culture.

Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens website

The Escondido Children's Museum fills a community need by offering a wholesome, educational, and appealing gathering place for families, schools, and other groups that serve children. ECM programs and exhibits cultivate school readiness and lifelong learning. As only a children's museum can, ECM affirms diverse children as they develop and helps them understand the world they will inherit. The Second Saturdays Program at the Escondido Children's Museum offers added value to visitors with a guided, hands-on activity on a special theme. Museum volunteers work with diverse guest-educators to create truly unique learning experiences.

San Diego Children's Discovery Museum website

Established in 1976 as a bicentennial project, the History Center includes buildings from Escondido's early development that were moved to Grape Day Park. Heritage Walk Museum includes the city's first library, a turn-of-the-century Victorian home, barn, 2 windmills, working blacksmith shop, city's Santa Fe railroad depot, a railroad car, a ten-ton Native American metate (grinding rock), tankhouse, herb garden, and outhouse.

Escondido History Center website

This remote military post was established in 1853 to assist in conflict resolution between Native Americans and gold-seekers and settlers who had begun flooding into the area after the discovery of gold in the northern mines. During its first few years that Fort Humboldt saw one of its most famous residents: the young Captain Ulysses S. Grant.

Fort Humboldt State Historic Park website

For a small entrance fee, you can join us for a self guided tour! Reservations are not required. Factory tours are offered daily. Featuring HD/4K quality videos to give you an up-close-and-personal look at our candy manufacturing, Interactive exhibits, A self-guided walk along the elevated, 1/4 mile long tour lane to give you a bird's-eye view of the entire operation.

Jelly Belly Factory website

See California's towering redwood forests from two historic railroads on your next visit to the San Francisco or Monterey Bay Areas. Travel by steam train up a narrow-gauge track through the Big Trees to Bear Mountain or by beach train down the scenic San Lorenzo River to the sunny beaches of Santa Cruz. It all happens on the Roaring Camp Railroads in Felton.

Roaring Camp Railroads website

Henry Cowell Redwoods is home to a centuries old Redwood Grove that features a self-guided nature path. It also boasts other old-growth woods such as Douglas fir, mandrone, oak and a stunning stand of Ponderosa pines. The park has a picnic area above the San Lorenzo River. Anglers fish for steelhead and salmon during the winter. The park has a nature center and bookstore.

Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park website

Over 4000 photographs of people, industries such as blacksmith, firemen, dairy, farms, coopers. We have a complete blacksmith shop that is operational. Periodically, we have a demonstration in the blacksmith shop given by a local smithy. We have farm, logging, and dairy equipment on display in our annex along with a nice array of machinist tools and old belt driven machines. Humboldt County is where the machine to cut and wrap sticks of butter was invented. We also invented and perfected the making of powdered milk.

Ferndale Museum website

When the Earthquake and Fire of 1906 destroyed most of San Francisco, the Fillmore was untouched and for several months afterwards served as the commercial and political center of the city. One of the groups displaced by the 1906 Fire, San Francisco's large Japanese-American community, made its new home in the Fillmore. Ninety years later, it's still here, in spite of the illegal mass internment of Japanese-American citizens during World War II.

Fillmore Museum website

Descanso Gardens is an urban retreat of year-round natural beauty, internationally renowned botanical collections and spectacular seasonal horticultural displays. In 1953, Descanso founder E. Manchester Boddy preserved these 160 acres of gardens, woodlands and chaparral for future generations to experience the natural heritage and beauty of Southern California. Accredited by the American Association of Museums, Descanso Gardens welcomes thousands of visitors annually, from local members to international travelers.

Descanso Gardens website

Completed in 1915, the Lanterman House (or "El Retiro," as it was then known) was built by the second generation of La Canada's founding family, the Lantermans. Dr. Roy Lanterman commissioned architect A. L. Haley to design a fireproof bungalow of reinforced concrete for his family.

Lanterman House website

Beneath a grassy mountain valley in central Colorado lies one of the richest and most diverse fossil deposits in the world. Petrified redwood stumps up to 14 feet wide and thousands of detailed fossils of insects and plants reveal the story of a very different, prehistoric Colorado.

Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument website

SeaQuest is an interactive zoo and aquarium that believes the best way to educate children is through hands-on learning. Tailored for homeschooling families seeking both educational and entertaining outings, our field trips blend learning with the joy of connecting with like-minded peers. During your guided tour students will learn fun facts and interact with animals from around the planet. Mark your calendar for our exclusive homeschool field trips, happening on the 1st and 3rd Monday of each month. For groups of 25 or more, you can schedule your visit at a time that best suits your group's needs.

SeaQuest Folsom website

Located at the base of the Sierra foothills, the lake and recreation area offers opportunities for hiking, biking, running, camping, picnicking, horseback riding, water-skiing and boating. Fishing offers trout, catfish, big and small mouth bass or perch. Visitors can also see the Folsom Powerhouse (once called "the greatest operative electrical plant on the American continent"), which from 1885 to 1952 produced 11,000 volts of electricity for Sacramento residents.

Folsom Lake State Recreation Area website

The Folsom Powerhouse is part of a colorful chapter of Sacramento history and is also an example of the tremendous advance in the commercial application of electricity.

Folsom Powerhouse State Historic Park website

The Museum of Local History is located at 190 Anza Street, Fremont, California. It is a non-profit all volunteer group of people dedicated to researching and preserving the diverse history of Washington Township (Today the cities of Fremont, Union City and Newark). This web site is an introduction to the content and capabilities of the museum and a welcome for you to visit us when you're in the area.

Museum of Local History website

The site lends itself to not only telling the story of the colony farm system and the development of the raisin industry but the story of the development of agribusiness in California's Central Valley and the Valley's transformation into the most productive agricultural region in the world.

Kearney Mansion Museum website

The Fresno Art Museum collects, preserves, and exhibits to the public tangible objects valuable to art and history. Exhibitions include a wide range of contemporary as well as modern works by local, national and international artists. With additional emphasis on Mexican art from pre-Columbian times to the present, and with the planned bequest of significant collections of pre-Columbian ceramics and French post-impressionist graphics, the Museum is working to serve as both an educational facility and a repository for important collections from the Central Valley.

Fresno Art Museum website

The animal staff has been very busy lately updating habitat spaces and bringing in new animals for visitors to enjoy. The reptile/amphibian house has seen lots of growth with new frog species and lots of updates.

Fresno Chaffee Zoo website

The Fresno Historical Society and National Civil War Association present the largest living history reenactment of the Civil War in the Western United States. at Kearney Park, Fresno, California. This beautiful park is transformed into encampments for Union and Confederate soldiers and Civilians to the amazement of spectators. Two battles daily with field hospital reenactments following the battles. October

Civil War Revisited website

The lake was created by construction of the Friant Dam across the San Joaquin River in 1944. With over 40 miles of shore land for water sports, this SRA offers visitors swimming, fishing, and boating. The hills surrounding the lake provide good hiking opportunities. Wildlife in the park includes ground squirrels, cottontails, mule deer, badgers and bald and golden eagles. During winter, the park has special boat tours to view the bald eagles.

Millerton Lake State Recreation Area website

The Fullerton Arboretum is a 26-acre botanical garden with a collection of plants from around the world, located on the northeast corner of the California State University, Fullerton campus in Fullerton, California, in the United States. It is the largest botanical garden in Orange County, with a collection of over 4,000 plants. The Arboretum saves species that are extinct or near extinction and serves as a learning place for agricultural history. The gardens of the Fullerton Arboretum are open daily 8:00 to 4:30.

Fullerton Arboretum website

Dedicated to developing and presenting the best in multi-disciplinary exhibitions and educational programs in the areas of history, science, and art.

Fullerton Museum Center website

Free! Second Sundays of Each Month. Picnic in our park-like setting, visit our Arts & Crafts Faire, tour the villa and galleries, participate in quarterly art openings, bring your food & beverages into our theater and for about the price of a movie, you can also see our live stage shows such as FCLO!

Muckenthaler Cultural Center website

The Rae House was built in 1868 by John Rae, a pioneer who had tried his luck in the gold fields, settled for a time in Hicksville, worked for a while as an interior plaster finisher, and eventually became one of Galt's biggest ranchers. John Rae's work as an interior plaster finisher, according to his daughter, Alice, included work in the State Capitol. The finishing work around the ceilings in his home was done by him as well. The museum has been open on a regular schedule and has given special tours for school children and adult organizations. It has offered art exhibits, craft demonstrations, annual Christmas festivities, yearly Old-Fashioned Ice-Cream Socials, and a High Tea.

Rae House website

A wayside park that is located in Mendocino County to preserve and protect 38 acres of old growth Coast Redwoods and Douglas firs. The park offers hiking.

Reynolds Wayside Campground website

Richardson Grove State Park is where you first encounter significant old growth redwood forest when coming north. The 9th tallest coast redwood, a fallen tree ring study conducted in 1933, and a walk-through tree are immediately available. Camping, hiking, swimming, and just relaxing are popular activities throughout much of the year. Fishing for salmon and steelhead is popular during the winter.

Richardson Grove State Park website

Kids will have a blast here playing on the concrete animals or sliding down the sea serpent slide. All of the other expected playground amenities are here as well, from swings to climbers. There are plenty of areas for picnicking under the trees and a picnic area for parties or large groups. Adults are not allowed without kids, and kids are not allowed without adults, so it's the perfect chance for a little together time.

Atlantis Play Center website

California's only horticultural theme park designed for families with young children and garden lovers featuring 21 rides, 27 attractions, 6 majestic gardens and the world famous Circus Trees. Attractions are designed to educate guests and foster a greater appreciation of the natural world and man's ability to shape it.

Gilroy Gardens website

A memorial to writer and adventurer Jack London, who made his home at the site from 1905 until his death in 1916. The park was once part of the famous writer's Beauty Ranch. The park contains the cottage residence where he wrote books, short stories, articles and letters while he oversaw various agricultural enterprises.

Jack London State Historic Park website

The Doctors House, an authentically restored Queen Anne-Eastlake style home built about 1888, is the result of a community-wide endeavor to preserve a reminder of Glendale's earliest days.

Doctors House Museum website

Experience the permanent collection of western bronzes, stained glass, historical American pieces, original paintings and cultural artifacts. Walk in the labyrinth or enjoy a presentation of Leonardo DaVinci's the Last Supper recreated in stained glass.

Forest Lawn Museum Exhibits and Educational Series website

Refugio State Beach offers excellent coastal fishing as well as trails and picnic sites. Palm trees planted near Refugio Creek give a distinctive look to the beach and camping area. A bike trail along the beach bluff connects the beach with El Capitan State Beach 2.5 miles east.

Refugio State Beach website

El Capitan State Beach offers visitors a sandy beach, rocky tidepools, and stands of sycamore and oaks along El Capitan Creek. It's a perfect setting for swimming, fishing, surfing, picnicking and camping. A stairway provides access from the bluffs to the beach area. A bike trail connects the park with Refugio State Beach, 2.5 miles away.

El Capitan State Beach website

Empire Mine State Historic Park is the site of one of the oldest, largest, deepest, longest and richest gold mines in California. The park is in Grass Valley at 10791 East Empire Street. In existence for more than 100 years, the mine produced 5.6 million ounces of gold before it closed in 1956. (5.6 million ounces of gold is equivalent to a box seven feet long, seven feet high, and seven feet deep filled with gold.) The park contains many of the mine's buildings, the owner's home and restored gardens, as well as the entrance to 367 miles (the distance, as the crow flies, from Grass Valley to Magic Mountain) of abandoned and flooded mine shafts. Guided tours and audio-visual presentations are offered throughout the day at various times.

Empire Mine State Historic Park website

Groveland Yosemite Gateway Museum website

Three reservoirs, named for corresponding dams on the Gunnison River, form the heart of Curecanti. Blue Mesa Reservoir is Colorado's largest body of water, and is the largest Kokanee Salmon fishery in the U.S.

Curecanti National Recreation Area website

Housed in the former Merced County Justice Court/Jail. It is located at 397 4th Street, Highway 33, Gustine. This historic building, built in 1911 served the City of Gustine until abandoned in 1980. The building was leased to the Gustine Historical Society in 1985. It reopened in 1990 after extensive renovation as the Gustine Museum. In 1996 the building was designated a California Point of Historic Interest.

Gustine Museum website

The area includes a protected, driftwood-strewn estuary at the back of a wide, sandy beach - with grassy bluffs along the coast. The estuary is home to many birds and small animals. California Historical Landmark 26 commerates the passage of Spanish Explorer Captain Gaspar de Portola through this area in October 1769.

San Gregorio State Beach website

The beach (a.k.a. Devil's Slide) features a sheltered cove surrounded by cliffs that drop abruptly into the Pacific. A steep trail leads down to the beach. There is a small picnic area on the bluff above Gray whales can often be seen close to the shore the beach.

Gray Whale Cove State Beach website

Visitor Center is open Saturdays and Sundays. Entrance to the Visitor Center is free. The Visitor Center is completely accessible to those with disabilities. Come on in and learn about the exciting world of the beach and experience the cultural history of the Coastside.

Half Moon Bay State Beach website

Located on the east side of San Francisco Bay in California, the Hayward Area Historical Society preserves the diverse history of the Hayward, Castro Valley, and San Lorenzo area. Through educational programs, interpretive exhibitions, and the preservation of historic sites and artifacts, we show the relevance of events that happened in the past to our community today. We strive to inspire our community to know, understand and be proud of our past and connect it with our future.

Hayward Area Hist. Soc. Museum website

The mission of the Healdsburg Museum and Historical Society is to record the history of the Healdsburg area through the collection and preservation of historical materials; to actively foster the appreciation of local history of the Healdsburg area through educational programs, activities and historical research; and to provide finances for, and to support, operate and manage the Healdsburg Museum, Edwin Langhart, Founder.

Healdsburg Museum and Historical Society website

Education Enrichment Programs and Exhibits

Fingerprints Youth Museum website

So Cal Mini Horse Sanctuary is a non-profit miniature horse rescue located in West Hemet. Join us for a 1.5 hour educational tour and interact with the rescued mini horses at our ranch. The tour will include a short lesson in basic horse care, including general anatomy, grooming, feeding and safe practices for interacting with horses. Reservations required, please call or email in advance. Cost: $15 per person.

So Cal Mini Horse Sanctuary website

Operated entirely by volunteers, presents a panorama of local history in the freight house of Hemet's Historic Santa Fe Depot.

The Hemet Museum website

Welcome to the 86th jubilee of the nation's longest running outdoor drama. You and your family will enjoy the experience of this classic story of the many struggles of early California. The natural beauty of the Ramona Bowl Amphitheatre and the love of land and family all combine in this award winning presentation of RAMONA, California's official state outdoor play.

Ramona Bowl Amphitheatre website

Silverwood Lake was formed by the 249-foot Cedar Springs Dam. At 3,350 feet, it is the highest reservoir in the State Water Project. The park features hiking trails, swimming beaches and designated areas for boating, water-skiing and fishing. The lake has trout, large-mouth bass, catfish and bluegill. There is a marina with a launching ramp, boat and equipment rentals, and a store. The park has picnic areas, including three that can only be reached by boat. The lakes attracts waterfowl, raptors and songbirds. Canada Geese and an occasional bald eagle can be seen in the area.

Silverwood Lake State Recreation Area website

An eleven-mile-long redwood tunnel to the sea. The redwood forest along the Navarro River is a magnificent sight. Visitors to the Navarro River Redwoods State Park can enjoy picnicking, swimming, and camping at the Paul M. Demmick campground. The park is popular with anglers, canoeists, and kayakers in the late winter and spring. Second growth redwood groves stretch the length of the park. They are home for raccoons, black-tail deer, and river-oriented birds such as the belted kingfisher.

Navarro River Redwoods State Park website

This park is in the San Joaquin valley and is surrounded by the Merced River. The park has many trees and is home to various wildlife, especially birds. Swimming, fishing and picnicking are popular activities. George J. Hatfield served as U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of California from 1925-33 and was the Lieutenant Governor of California from 1935-39. This state park is named after him.

George J. Hatfield State Recreation Area website

The last remaining portion of the Mexican land grant. This land has been a horse and a cattle ranch since 1843 and has breath taking views of the Central Valley to the east and the Santa Clara Valley to the west. Among the historic features of the park are an old line shack used by Henry Miller's cattle company in the 1800s, part of the old Butterfield Stage line route, and the remains of the original Pacheco adobe. There is also a wind turbine farm which generates enough clean electrical power for 3,500 homes.

Pacheco State Park website

This area is a motorcycle, four-wheel drive, all-terrain vehicle, and dune buggy use area. Four-wheel drive and dune buggy visitors should call ahead as this area can be closed for special events.

Hollister Hills State Vehicular Recreation Area website

Little River State Beach features dunes and a broad open beach. The beach is bordered on the north by Little River and on the south by Clam Beach County Park which provides camping and day use facilities.

Little River State Beach website

Located in the heart of California's coast redwood country, this park's dense forests of spruce, hemlock, pine, fir and red alder stretch over an ocean headland with lovely wildflower-festooned meadows. A dramatic shoreline ranging from broad sandy beaches to sheer cliffs that rise high above the Pacific Ocean offers great opportunities to explore tide pools, search for agates and driftwood, watch whales, sea lions and brilliant sunsets.

Patrick's Point State Park website

To provide power for the new development in the valley, a concrete dam was constructed across the south fork of the Eel River in 1928. The dam not only provided power but also created Benbow Lake. Today the park consists of campsites and a large day-use picnic area. Hiking, picnicking and camping are popular summer time activities, while salmon and steelhead fishing are popular in the winter.

Benbow Lake State Recreation Area website

A popular place for visitors who like to fish.

Harry A. Merlo State Recreation Area website

Bolsa Chica State Beach is a popular place for surf fishing for perch, corbina, croaker, cabezon and sand shark. Also popular is in the summer is bare-handed fishing for California grunion, a species that only spawns on sandy southern California beaches.

Bolsa Chica State Beach website

Huntington Beach International Surfing Museum website

The Huntington Beach Art Center is a community arts and cultural center serving Huntington Beach and the Southern California region. The Center presents the works of artists producing in all media. Through exhibitions, performances, film/video screenings, lectures and educational programming, the HBAC serves to advance public awareness and understanding of cultural, historic, and contemporary perspectives. The HBAC creates opportunities for local, regional and national artists and the community to share in a climate of experimentation, education and experience.

Huntington Beach Art Center website

Huntington State Beach contains a nesting sanctuary for the California least tern, a rare and endangered species. The beach is also sanctuary for the threatened snowy plover. The park offers bicycle trail, surfing, skating and surf fishing.

Huntington State Beach website

Tijuana Estuary is a small intertidal coastal estuary on the international border between California and Mexico. The estuary is primarily a shallow water habitat, though it is often termed an "intermittent estuary," as it is subjected to extreme changes in streamflow at different times of the year. Extended periods of drought leave parts of the estuary dry during some periods, while flooding inundates the same areas during others. For this reason, Tijuana Estuary is considered to be a very unique part of the National Estuarine Research Reserve System.

Tijuana Estuary Point of Interest website

This area has land that was part of the Imperial County Park System. It is primarily used for off-road recreation, however, camping, picnicking, and baseball are also popular activities in the park.

Heber Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area website

In 1942, the United States government ordered more than 110,000 men, women, and children to leave their homes and detained them in remote, military-style camps. Manzanar War Relocation Center was one of ten camps where Japanese American citizens and resident Japanese aliens were interned during World War II. The website offers historical information about the park for those who cannot visit in person.

Manzanar National Historic Site website

The Eastern California Museum in Independence has been the repository for Inyo County and Eastern Sierra history for eight decades. That history, from dinosaur bones to Native American baskets to pioneer saddles to famous Sierra mountaineers to the famous "Water War" between Los Angeles and the Owens Valley, is on display in the museum building and on the museum grounds.

Eastern California Museum website

The Coachella Valley Museum opened in 1984 and is located in a Mission style, adobe structure, the former home of Indio's first doctor, built in 1925. Extensive landscaped grounds. Three special gardens: Rose Garden, Japanese Garden, and Desert Garden. Displays consist of local Indian artifacts and Story of formation of Salton Sea. History of development of water resources in the Desert. History of Agriculture in the Desert, specifically the Date industry which is vital to Coachella Valley. Pioneer souvenirs and family keepsakes. Sun-colored Glass. Railroad information. Complete 1926 Kitchen. Large collection of horse-drawn farm machinery, Old-fashioned Blacksmith Shop, an authentic Submarine and an 1909 Schoolhouse in process of restoration.

Coachella Valley Museum and Cultural Center website

The day-use park features four gently sloping, surf-free beaches, protected from winds by Inverness Ridge, the backbone of the Point Reyes Peninsula.

Tomales Bay State Park website

Tanaka Farms provides educational and entertainment for families, schools, and groups of all ages every season of the year.

Tanaka Farms website

Its name comes from the Spanish word for seagull. Marked by a tall Southern Pacific railroad trestle that crosses Gaviota Creek high above the day-use parking lot, the park is a popular spot for swimming, picnicking, surf fishing and camping. A pier on the west end of the beach is used by anglers, and scuba divers and surfers use a boat hoist on the pier to access the waters of the Santa Barbara Channel. Visitors can explore the rugged upland portions of the park from a trailhead in the parking area. Ambitious hikers can climb to Gaviota Peak that offers a spectacular view of the coast and the Channel Islands.

Gaviota State Park website

Farmer Bob's World is a unique, educational facility in Ivanhoe, CA that offers covered wagon tours to local schools, businesses, individuals, and visitors from around the world. The mission is to foster the relationship between farmers, food, and families by offering a real farm experience. The wagon tour navigates through more than 4 varieties of oranges, offering education on planting, watering, protecting, and harvesting oranges at McKellar Family Farms. The visitors have the opportunity to enjoy the U-Pick garden, the sights, smells and tastes of oranges from a real citrus farm.

Farmer Bob's World website

Located in Jamestown, in the heart of California's Gold Country about 100 miles southeast of Sacramento, Railtown 1897 State Historic Park is home to the Historic Jamestown Shops and Roundhouse--an intact and still-functioning steam locomotive repair and maintenance facility, portions of which date back to 1897. This one-of-a-kind attraction combines industrial heritage and railroad history with the lore of Hollywood's film industry. The Railtown 1897 Interpretive Center, the authentic roundhouse and shops, and the Depot Store (a railroad specialty gift shop) are among the Park's unique year-round offerings. Railtown 1897 State Historic Park is open daily (April-October, from 9:30 to 4:30 p.m.; November-March, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.), except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day.

Railtown 1897 State Historic Park website

This pristine reserve contains second-growth redwood, Douglas fir, grand firs, tanoaks, and a plethora of rhododendrons. Each May these spectacular flowers burst into bloom and color the deep green of the forest with brilliant pink blossoms.

Kruse Rhododendron State Natural Reserve website

Clear Lake State Park is on the shores of California's largest freshwater lake. The area is popular for all kinds of water recreation, including swimming, fishing, boating and water-skiing. Anglers can catch large mouth bass, crappie, bluegill and channel catfish. The park is the nesting place for waterfowl. Hikers enjoy the Indian Nature Trail, a self-guided trail that shows how the Pomo people, who lived in the area for centuries, utilized the area's resources. The trail passes through the site of what was once a Pomo village. The park visitor center features displays about the area's natural and cultural history.

Clear Lake State Park website

Ponderosa Pine and small brush covering the park's 700 feet of lake frontage area. This day-use only area is popular for water sports during the summer.

Kings Beach State Recreation Area website

Open all year and featuring camping, picnicking, fishing, swimming, boating, water skiing, and clean country air, the area offers visitors an opportunity to see the wonderful variety of native plant life that once flourished alongside the rivers of the San Joaquin Valley.

Turlock Lake State Recreation Area website

Celebrating 30 years of learning and discovery! Serving Children and Families in Southern California

The Children's Museum at La Habra website

State reserves have outstanding or unusual natural or scenic values. Torrey Pines State Reserve is a wilderness island in an urban sea. This fragile environment is the home of our nation's rarest pine tree - Pinus torreyana.

Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve website

This wide, sandy beach stretches 4 1/2 miles from Del Mar past Los Penasquitos Lagoon to the base of sandstone cliffs at Torrey Pines Mesa. Swimming, surfing and fishing are popular. Red-hued bluffs and wet sand make strolling on the beach popular at low tide. A picnic area and parking lot are near the entrance on North Torrey Pines Road.

Torrey Pines State Beach website

MCASD offers a range of diverse opportunities for tours and group visits at the Museum's La Jolla and Downtown locations including, guided tours, school tours, public tours, self-guided visits, and more.

Museum Of Contemporary Art, San Diego website

Birch Aquarium at Scripps brings to life the exciting discoveries of world-renowned Scripps Institution of Oceanography. For more than a century, the aquarium has inspired visitors with the wonders of the ocean. Enter the world of sharks, seahorses, living coral reefs and more, and discover a stunning variety of Pacific marine life in more than 60 habitats. Interact with exhibits that showcase the cutting-edge discoveries of Scripps Oceanography explorers through hands-on displays and multimedia.

Birch Aquarium website

Revealing the beauty of use in folk art, craft and design from all eras and cultures of the world. Explore Southern California's largest and richest collection of mingei -- art of the people.

Mingei International Museum website

The Stuart Collection at the University of California, San Diego seeks to enrich the cultural, intellectual, and scholarly life of the UCSD campus and of the San Diego community by building and maintaining a unique collection of site-specific works by leading artists of our time.

Stuart Collection - University of California, San Diego website

The museum includes archives, a research area, a catering kitchen, three galleries, a museum store, and a multipurpose room featuring a history-themed mural by Andre Blanche. The two-story Spanish Colonial Revival style building will host local and traveling exhibits, programs, lectures, and cultural activities.

La Quinta Museum website

Manresa State Beach features a beautiful expanse of sea and sand, with surf fishing, surfing, and recreation

Manresa State Beach website

The Crystal Cove Historic District is a 12.3-acre coastal portion of the 2,791-acre Crystal Cove State Park. The federally listed Historic District is an enclave of 46 vintage rustic coastal cottages originally built in the 1920's and 1930's nestled around the mouth of Los Trancos Creek. It is one of the last remaining examples of early 20th century Southern California coastal development.

Crystal Cove State Park website

The Museum focuses on the cultural heritage of our huge, diverse and powerful state, and on the unique history and accomplishments of Laguna Beach, a community of the American West located on the shore of southern California, about fifty miles below the city of Los Angeles.

Laguna Art Museum website

Samuel P. Taylor State Park has wooded countryside in the steep rolling hills of Marin County north of San Francisco. The park features a unique contrast of coast redwoods groves and open grassland. The park features a variety of flowers and trees, including oak, tanoak, madrone, live oak, laurel and Douglas fir. California native wildflowers include buttercups, milkmaids, and Indian paintbrush. The most common animal in the park is the black-tailed deer. There are also raccoons, striped skunks and gray foxes. Silver salmon and steelhead trout migrate up Papermill Creek to spawn.

Samuel P. Taylor State Park website

Anderson Marsh State Historic Park contains oak woodlands, grass-covered hills, and tule marsh. One of the largest groups of people in prehistoric California, the Southeastern Pomo, knew this land as home. Today, descendants of those people still live nearby. Anderson Marsh's archaeological sites hold clues to the lives of the Pomo. Some sites are over 10,000 years old, making them among the oldest in California. The park protects several habitats including freshwater marsh, oak woodland, grasslands, and riparian woodland.

Anderson Marsh State Historic Park website

This man-made lake was formed by the tallest earth-filled dam (770 feet above the stream bed of the Feather River) in the country. The lake offers a wide variety of outdoor activities including camping, picnicking, horseback riding, hiking, sail and power boating, water-skiing, fishing, swimming, boat-in camping, floating campsites and horse camping. Lake Oroville Visitor Center has a museum, exhibits, videos and a store. The view from the 47-foot tower, with two high-powered telescopes, is a spectacular panoramic view of the lake, Sierra Nevadas, valley, foothills, and the Sutter Buttes mountain range (smallest in the world). The area includes the Feather River Fish Hatchery, built by the Department of Water Resources to replace lost spawning areas for salmon and steelhead. Displays on the State Water Project and the area's natural and cultural history are featured at the visitor's center.

Lake Oroville State Recreation Area website

The Pomo Indians' excellence in basket making has never been equaled by any other Indian tribe or by any other people throughout the world. Thousands of stone tools and more than 300 baskets from Lake County have been acquired by the Museum since the 1930s.

Lake County Historical Courthouse Museum website

The Desert Experience- Like Nothing Else! Saddleback Butte, elevation 3,651 feet, is a granite mountaintop that towers some thousand feet above the broad alluvial bottom land of the Antelope Valley about fifteen miles east of Lancaster, on the western edge of the Mojave Desert. The state park surrounding Saddleback Butte was created in 1960 to protect the butte (one of many similar land features in the Antelope Valley) and examples of native Joshua Tree woodlands and other plants and animals that were once common throughout this high desert area.

Saddleback Butte State Park website

California's most consistent poppy-bearing land. Other wildflowers: owl's clover, lupine, goldfield, cream cups, and coreopsis, to name a few, share the desert grassland to produce a mosaic of color and fragrance each spring. As unpredictable as nature - the intensity and duration of the wildflower bloom varies yearly.

Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve website

California's State Regional Indian Musuem representing Great Basin Indian Cultures.The exhibits and interpretive emphasis are on American Indian groups (both aboriginal and contemporary) of the Southwest, Great Basin, and California culture regions. The Antelope Valley Indian Museum is closed indefinitely for stabilization. For comprehensive interpretive and research information and a complete catalogue of the AVIM artifacts, visit www.avim.parks.ca.gov.

Antelope Valley Indian Museum State Historic Park website

The park protects and preserves an impressive stand of native Joshuas and junipers which once grew in great abundance throughout the valley. Today, only remnant parcels of this majestic woodland community remain in the valley, the rest having been cleared for farming and housing.

Arthur B. Ripley Desert Woodland State Park website

Fort Tejon is located in the Grapevine Canyon, the main route between California's great central valley and Southern California. The fort was established to protect and control the Indians who were living on the Sebastian Indian Reservation, and to protect both the Indians and white settlers from raids by the Paiutes, Chemeheui, Mojave, and other Indian groups of the desert regions to the south east. Fort Tejon was first garrisoned by the United States Army on August 10, 1854 and was abandoned ten years later on September 11, 1864. There are restored adobes from the original fort and the park's museum features exhibits on army life and local history. The park also has a number of beautiful 400 year-old valley oak trees.

Fort Tejon State Historic Park website

The reserve was established to preserve the spectacular "tufa towers," calcium-carbonate spires and knobs formed by interaction of freshwater springs and alkaline lake water.

Mono Lake Tufa State Reserve website

This park is ideal for picnicking, horseback riding, boating, fishing and swimming.

Lake Del Valle State Recreation Area website

Micke Grove Zoo is home to native animals and exotic species from all over the world, including several endangered species like the Cotton Top Tamarin and Black and White Ruffed lemur. Exhibits include the Tropical Forest Canopy with Green Iguanas and Prevost's Squirrels and the Island Lost In Time featuring lemurs and radiated tortoises from Madagascar.

Micke Grove Zoo website

The San Joaquin County Historical Museum reveals the fascinating history of the region, from the Yokuts and Miwok through Captain Charles Weber (founder of Stockton and first farmer in the area) and the development of modern agriculture. The Museum has eight exhibition buildings, four historic buildings -- including the Charles Weber cottage (1847) and Calaveras School (1866) -- and features room dioramas of Weber family furnishings, a children's gallery, and large displays of hand tools and agricultural equipment.

San Joaquin County Historical Museum website

Dedicated to the proud era of the steam engine, complete authenticity is the hallmark of the Museum. On display is a Southern Pacific Railroad Steam Locomotive (1902-1960) and Tender. Nearby stand a 1910 Union Pacific Caboose and a modern all-steel Santa Fe caboose. On display at the annex are a 1923 Union Oil tank car and a 1913 Southern Pacific outside-braced wood box car. Also check out our Water Tower.

Lomita Railroad Museum website

La Purisima Mission was the eleventh mission of the twenty-one Spanish Missions established in what became California. Mision La Purisima Concepcion de Maria Santisima was founded on December 8, 1787 by Franciscan Padre Presidente Fermin Francisco Lasuen.

La Purisima Mission website

Established in 1969, the Lompoc Museum exhibits document the archeology and history of the Lompoc Valley and Santa Barbara County. The Museum was established in Lompoc's former Carnegie Library to display the Clarence Ruth Collection of Chumash and other Native American artifacts.

Lompoc Museum website

La Purisima Mission State Historic Park is considered the most completely restored mission in California, with ten of the original buildings fully restored and furnished, including the church, shops, quarters, and blacksmith shop. The mission gardens and livestock represent what would have been found at the mission during the 1820's. Special living history events are scheduled throughout the year. A visitor center features information, displays and artifacts, and a self-guided tour gives visitors the opportunity to step back in time for a glimpse of a brief, turbulent period in California's history.

La Purisima Mission State Historic Park website

Come aboard the legendary Queen Mary. Book the Behind the Scenes Guided Tour of the historic ocean liner and World War II troopship, and see restored areas that have been under wraps since the final voyage in 1967, including the Isolation Wards and the aft Machine Rooms.

Queen Mary website

Mission: to instill a sense of wonder, respect, and stewardship for the Pacific Ocean, its inhabitants, and ecosystems.

Aquarium of the Pacific website

Japanese gardens outside of Japan.

Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden website

The community is invited to participate in the programs, services, and activities presented by the Education Department. Programs are designed to engage a variety of audiences with our collections and exhibitions through inquiry and an appreciation of the creative process.

Long Beach Museum of Art website

MOLAA's mission is to educate the public about contemporary Latin American art and culture through the presentation of a significant permanent collection, dynamic exhibitions and related cultural and educational programs.

Museum of Latin American Art website

Come to the Rancho for a celebration of California's cultural landscape heritage. Attend seminars focused on the implementation of garden design using California natives along with Mediterranean plants and water wise gardening practices. Enjoy on-going tours of the ranch house and gardens. Visit with representatives from Southern California public parks, gardens, historic sites, and conservancy organizations. Visit the plant sale and holiday shop for unique home and garden items.

Rancho Los Alamitos website

University Art Museum docents provide tours for CSULB students, K-12 school classes, college classes, and community groups interested in visiting the UAM. Tours are conducted by the UAM Docents, who provide a variety of meaningful experiences to accommodate the diverse needs of our visitors.

University Art Museum, Long Beach website

Each year, all Los Altos third-graders and fourth-graders attending Los Altos School District public schools are invited to participate in three-hour morning theme days held at the Los Altos History Museum. The curriculum for both field trips is especially designed to be age-appropriate for elementary school children and carefully aligned to the California History Social Studies Standards. Lessons are taught by credentialed teachers and history museum-trained docents.

Los Altos Historical Museum. website

32 acres of open space directly adjacent to Chinatown, park visitors can wander pathways and enjoy a view of downtown, as well as discover and celebrate the natural and cultural heritage of Los Angeles. Design plans for the park are in the conceptual stage and aim to provide the public with a world class park. Partnerships with educational institutions and community organizations allow for creative and innovative public events such as Junction (a multimedia project in cooperation with UCLA), the Red Nation Pow Wow celebrating American Indian culture, and Safe Moves "Walk, Ride and Roll" which teaches kids how to ride bicycles safely and provides them with free helmets. State Parks invites you to engage in the past, present and future of Los Angeles at Los Angeles State Historic Park.

Los Angeles State Historic Park website

A living history museum reflecting the settlement and development of Southern California from the Civil War to the early 20th Century, Heritage Square Museum offers visitors a look into the everyday lives of Southern Californians at the close of the 19th Century.

Heritage Square Museum website

The Museum of Latin American Art features modern and contemporary work from Latin American and Latino artists. In addition to artwork, it\'s a great source for cultural programs and information. If you can\'t visit MOLAA in person, you can find a large collection of artwork, articles, online events, and other educator resources online.

Rio de Los Angeles (LA River) State Park is surrounded by industrial and residential areas, yet restoration of the park's natural river wetlands allows a serene opportunity to all visitors who enjoy hiking trails, being surrounded by native plants and viewing returning wildlife. The park also encompasses sports fields, a children's playground and a recreation building.

Rio de Los Angeles State Park website

The Watts Towers are a complex set of 17 separate sculptural pieces built on a residential lot in the community of Watts. Two of the towers rise to a height of nearly 100 feet. The sculptures are constructed from steel pipes and rods, wrapped with wire mesh, coated with mortar, and embedded with pieces of porcelain, tile and glass. Using simple hand tools and cast off materials (broken glass, sea shells, generic pottery and ceramic tile) Italian immigrant, Simon Rodia spent 30 years (1921 to 1955) building a tribute to his adopted country and a monument to the spirit of individuals who make their dreams tangible. The Watts Towers are one of only nine works of folk art listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Watts Towers of Simon Rodia State Historic Park website

Museum and exhibits profile, IMAX schedule, and calendar of upcoming events for the interactive learning facility.

California Science Center website

The Institute of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, formerly known as the Santa Monica Museum of Art, was based at the Bergamot Station Arts Center in Santa Monica, California until May 2015. As an independent and non-collecting art museum, it exhibits the work of local, national, and international contemporary artists.

Institute of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles website

A beloved icon of Los Angeles and world leader in public astronomy. Since 1935, the Observatory has given tens of millions of visitors the opportunity to become observers. Griffith Observatory offers exciting shows in the Samuel Oschin Planetarium, public telescopes, and observing and astronomy exhibits.

Griffith Observatory website

Nurturing Wildlife and Enriching the Human Experience

The Los Angeles Zoo & Botanical Gardens website

The park sits between Dodger Stadium and South Pasadena and boasts a cutting-edge environmental education center and ecological monitoring program within a city park.

Audubon Center at Debs Park website

Our mission is to serve youth through sport and to increase knowledge of sport and its impact on people's lives. The LA84 Foundation supports a wide array of youth sports programming. We award grants to youth sports organizations within the eight southernmost counties of California. We also conduct our own. youth sports and coaching education programs, a number of which have become models for similar programs nationwide

Amateur Athletic Foundation of Los Angeles website

The Autry National Center explores the experiences and perceptions of the diverse peoples of the American West, connecting the past with the present to inform our shared future.

Autry National Center website

CAAM's Education Department strives to enhance the cultural interests of individuals and groups. As educators, our focus is to provide a variety of learning experiences to a variety of audiences, to serve as a resource for diverse communities, to broaden public awareness of the artistic, historical and cultural contributions of African Americans and to assist other organizations promoting the growth of human potential.

California African American Museum website

The Corita Art Center plays an active roll in bringing arts programming to the community

Corita Art Center website

Explore the world of craft and folk art with hands-on programs for all ages

Craft and Folk Art Museum website

Since 1991, exhibitions have been viewed in the FIDM Museum and Galleries on the ground floor of the college. The FIDM Museum and Galleries presents two major exhibitions: "The Art of Motion Picture Costume Design" and "The Outstanding Art of Television Costume Design". These exhibitions feature costumes from the previous year's best films and television programs including samplings of Academy Award nominated and Emmy Award-nominated costumes.

F.I.D.M. Museum website

Played a unique and significant role in the development of art in California. We are a nonprofit corporation that was formed in 1975 in Los Angeles with a commitment to and passion for contemporary art. Supported by an active and enthusiastic membership drawn primarily, but not exclusively, from Southern California, it includes collectors and individuals knowledgeable about art, as well as those who feel the passion and want to learn more about the art of today.

Fellows of Contemporary Art website

Located in the south-east wing of the Allan Hancock Foundation Building, the Hancock Memorial Museum is comprised of the four public rooms from the original Hancock mansion. Built in 1909 at the northeast corner of Vermont Avenue and Wilshire boulevard, where it stood for 30 years, the mansion was designed by John C. W. Austin, in part in classical Palladian style after the famed Villa de Medici in Florence, Italy.

Hancock Memorial Museum website

The Getty Center presents the Getty's collection of Western art from the Middle Ages to the present against a backdrop of dramatic architecture, tranquil gardens, and breathtaking views.

J. Paul Getty Museum website

The National Museum strives to create a unique learning environment that enhances classroom activities and provides rich experiences that spark a passion for lifelong learning in the minds of young people.

Japanese American National Museum website

Encouraging cultural diversity by bringing art to the students through the employment of visual arts projects related to depictions of cultural identity and through the exploration of multicultural concepts by way of tours of local museums, tours of private art studios, and artist-led workshops.

Korean American Museum website

Founded in 1952, its mission is to promote, interpret, and present to the art of emerging, mid career, and established artists from culturally diverse Southern California. The Gallery showcases art from other parts of the world that is of relevance to the people of the City of Los Angeles.

Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery website

LAMH dedicates itself as a primary source institution, one that commemorates those who perished and those who survived by housing the precious artifacts that miraculously weathered the war, the ghettos, and ultimately, the death camps. LAMH is committed to providing free education to the public. We are the only Jewish/Holocaust organization in Los Angeles which guarantees dialogue with an actual survivor, a living embodiment of history.

L.A. Museum of the Holocaust website

Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions website

Los Angeles County Museum of Art website

Founded in 1979, MOCA is the only museum in Los Angeles devoted exclusively to contemporary art. It is committed to the collection, presentation, and interpretation of work produced since 1940 in all media, and to preserving that work for future generations.

Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles website

The Paley Center for Media, with locations in New York and Los Angeles, leads the discussion about the cultural, creative, and social significance of television, radio, and emerging platforms for the professional community and media-interested public.

The Paley Center for Media website

he Museum of Tolerance provides a unique and provocative experience that challenges visitors to become witnesses to history, confront the dynamic of intolerance that is still embedded in society today. Through powerful interactive exhibits, arts and lectures, special events and customized educational programs for youths and adults, the Museum engages visitors' hearts and minds in a journey of discovery to inspire change.

Museum of Tolerance website

Visit one of the world's most extensive and valuable collections of natural and cultural history. As the largest natural and historical museum in the Western United States and an active research center, NHM safeguards more than 35 million spectacular, diverse specimens and artifacts covering 4.5 billion years of history.

Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County website

Virtual field trip online Explore the evolution of the Automobile and its impact on our culture. Experience the last 100 years of automotive history at our museum and here on our web site. There is always something new to discover for the whole family.

Petersen Automotive Museum website

Hailed by The New York Times as "a lesson on how to connect the eye to heart and mind," the Skirball Cultural Center has established itself as one of the world's most dynamic Jewish cultural institutions, and among the most prominent cultural venues in the United States. Its mission is to explore the connections between four thousand years of Jewish heritage and the vitality of American democratic ideals.

Skirball Cultural Center website

The Southwest Museum currently holds one of the nation's most important collections related to the American Indian.

Southwest Museum of the American Indian website

The Travel Town Transportation Museum is an outdoor museum which preserves and celebrates the railroad heritage of the western United States, its history and its artifacts. Particular thematic emphasis is placed on the history of Southern California and how the railroads aided its development.

Travel Town Museum website

The Fowler Museum explores art and material culture primarily from Africa, Asia and the Pacific, and the Americas, past and present.

U.C.L.A. Fowler Museum Of Cultural History website

The Hammer contains a small collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art. The museum holds over 7500 works by French satirist Honore Daumier, the largest collection outside of Paris. In recent years, the Hammer has become well known for its collection of contemporary art works on paper. It also has fine paintings by Rembrandt, Titian and Chardin.

U.C.L.A. Hammer Museum website

Virtual field trip online Discover art spanning five centuries at USC Fisher Museum of Art, the museum of the University of Southern California and the first museum established in Los Angeles devoted exclusively to the exhibition and collection of fine art.

USC Fisher Museum of Art website

Managed by the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation, includes large areas of native coastal sage scrub habitat, lawns and landscaped areas, picnic sites, tot lots, fishing lake, lotus pond, community center and five miles of trails. There are six restrooms; the community center has four administrative offices and a small meeting room.

Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area website

Will Rogers State Beach extends one and three-quarters mile along the shore. The beach features swimming and skin diving. Facilities include volleyball courts, playground and gymnastic equipment, as well as a bike path and walkway. A number of movies and TV shows have been filmed at this beach.

Will Rogers State Beach website

Nestled in the grassy hills of the western San Joaquin Valley near historic Pacheco Pass, San Luis Reservoir State Recreation Area is noted for boating, board sailing, camping, and picnicking. But it's anglers who find the unit's three lakes most inviting.

San Luis Reservoir State Recreation Area website

YSI focuses on hands-on learning of life sciences, physical sciences and social sciences, including biology, chemistry, physics, geology and astronomy. Programs are conducted at its three Science and Nature Centers in Vasona, Sanborn and Alum Rock parks, in schools and at community events. Centers feature live mammals, birds, insects, amphibians and reptiles in some combination.

Youth Science Institute website

An educational institution dedicated to presenting art of America's wilderness so participants of all ages gain a greater appreciation of the art and a better understanding of the importance of preserving our natural heritage.

Wildling Art Museum website

This Reserve features ancient sand dunes covered with centuries-old coast live oak trees. According to botanists, five major plant communities thrive within the reserve. They are coastal sage scrub, central coastal scrub, dune oak scrub, coast live oak forest, and riparian (streamside). The oak communities exist close to each other, but each has its own character. The oak scrub has dwarf oak trees growing on the ancient (relict) sand dune. Though they are coast live oak trees, they rarely grow more than six to eight feet tall. The larger coast live oaks are located where the soil is moister. These giants can grow to 25 feet in height. Their massive trunks and gnarled branches twist into all sorts of fantastic shapes

Los Osos Oaks State Natural Reserve website

This park features rugged cliffs, secluded sandy beaches, coastal plains, streams, canyons, and hills, including 1,347-foot Valencia Peak. Naturalists and backpackers enjoy the solitude and freedom found along the park's trails. There are also mountain biking and equestrian trails. The best-known beach is Spooner's Cove, across from the campground. The park's name, "Mountain of Gold," comes from the golden wildflowers that bloom in spring. Wildlife in the park includes black tailed deer and the black oystercatcher. The park includes primitive and equestrian campsites.

Montana de Oro State Park website

"Madera" is the Spanish word for "lumber", the first industry in the County. Part of the historic Sugar Pine Railroad remains as a tourist attraction. A huge flume once ran from the high Sierra Forest area down to Madera. One of the engineering marvels of early California, its history is preserved in articles and photos in the County Museum located in the beautiful old granite Courthouse in Madera. A replica of a section of the flume is on display.

Madera County Historical Museum website

The park has 1.5 miles of beach for swimming, surfing, windsurfing, surf fishing and beachcombing. The beach also has tide pools, coastal caves and reefs for exploring. Giant sycamores shade the main campgrounds. The park also features back-country hiking. Nature walks and campfire programs are offered and a small visitor center has interpretive displays.

Leo Carrillo State Park website

On the east side of Malibu Creek Bridge, the famous Malibu Pier allows for excellent saltwater fishing. On the west side of Malibu Creek Bridge, visitors will find picnic tables and a nature area, excellent for bird watching and a the study of a greatly diminished eco-system a Southern California saltwater marsh. The Adamson House, a National Historic Site located in Malibu Lagoon State Park, is a showplace of Malibu historical artifacts. Completed in 1929 by the Rindge's daughter, Rhoda Adamson, the Spanish-Moor revival residence features tile from the renowned Malibu Potteries and sits on a spectacular overlook of the Malibu Pier and Surfrider Beach.

Malibu Lagoon State Beach website

Robert H. Meyer Memorial State Beach is made up of a number of cove or cliff-foot strands known as "pocket beaches" along the west end of the city of Malibu.

Robert H. Meyer Memorial State Beach website

Located in the cliffs and canyons of the Santa Monica Mountains, Topanga State Park features 36 miles of trails through open grassland, live oaks and spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean.

Topanga State Park website

Charmlee Wilderness Park coversᅠ532 acres of the best of the Santa Monica Mountains Coastal Slope environment. The park includes picnic areas as well as 8 miles of hiking trails, native plant displays and a nature center. Programs include a volunteer Docent program, school and group nature programs and a variety of public hikes and interpretive programs.

Charmlee Wilderness Park Nature Center website

Hosts musicals, performances and theatrical shows.

Frederick R. Weisman Museum of Art website

A Geologic Wonder: Established in 1911 by presidential proclamation, Devils Postpile National Monument protects and preserves the Devils Postpile formation, the 101-foot high Rainbow Falls, and pristine mountain scenery. The formation is a rare sight in the geologic world and ranks as one of the world's finest examples of columnar basalt. Its columns tower 60 feet high and display an unusual symmetry.

Devils Postpile National Monument website

The Mammoth Ski Museum is home to the Beekley International Collection of Skiing Art and Literature. Five hundred years of the sport and culture of skiing exhibitions and research library. Revisit early Sierra and Mammoth ski history. Dave McCoy, founder of Mammoth Mountain ski area and the ski pioneers of the Sierra share their legendary stories through evolving exhibits and films in the Pioneer Theater and Gallery.

Mammoth Ski Museum website

One of the main attractions is the excellent steelhead and salmon fishing in the park's two streams, Brush Creek and Alder Creek. The park features a variety of coastal wildflowers, including sea pinks, poppies, lupines, baby blue eyes and blue irises. The park provides habitat for tundra swans. The San Andreas Fault runs into the sea at the park.

Manchester State Park website

A family friendly resort good for all ages with 500 guest rooms and conference center. Located in Manteca, CA with a 94,000 sq. ft. indoor heated water park open year around, 5 on-site restaurants, and several indoor attractions for families to enjoy such as mini golf, mini bowling, a ropes course and more! Homeschool rates available for groups or individuals, please visit my FB page for the latest homeschool dates! Or if you would like to set up your own group date please contact us directly at [email protected] or 209 707 2227. Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id+100069893

Great Wolf Lodge Northern California website

Manteca was first settled by a few pioneer farmers in the early 1850's. Before the first settlers came, there were few Indians living permanently here because of the extreme summer heat and the scarcity of useful vegetation on what was then known as the "sand plains". As the California Gold Rush subsided, permanent settlers came to the area. The principal products were grain and cattle on the first large land holdings. A local historical museum of which the entire community can be proud. Support for this endeavor has poured forth in the form of generous contributions of photographs, documents, artifacts, other memorabilia, volunteer work time, and money.

Manteca Historical Museum website

March Field Air Museum serves as home to over 70 historic aircraft and displays over 2,000 artifacts.

March Field Air Museum website

The beach area includes a boardwalk that winds through the Marina Dunes Natural Preserves. The beach is known for hang-gliding. Radio-controlled gliders and kites are also popular. The beach is a favorite site for picnics.

Marina State Beach website

Considered to be one the best museums in America by the Smithsonian Institute. Our mission is to portray the people and lifestyle of Mariposa County from the Native Indian and Spanish periods to the California Gold rush as well as the late 1800's and early 1900's time frame with great authenticity. Original documents, artwork and artifacts, Gold displays and Native American baskets are just a few items to enjoy while you visit.

Mariposa Museum & History Center website

The most Authentic Civil War Reenactment West of the Rockies! Friday is a no cost Education Day dedicated solely to registered schools, with educational stations for Civil War Presentations for all attending students. There will also be a battle reenactment on Friday complete with tactical foot and horse skirmishes and cannon fire. Saturday and Sunday both include two battles each day, with a host of other events coinciding with battle reenactments. On Saturday, the public is also invited to attend a May Day Celebration, Parade, and Civilian Tea at the Mayors Tent Camp. Check website for details of event held in April.

Las Mariposas Civil War Days website

With Yosemite National Park only an hour away, the Mariosa Museum is a prime field trip destination for school children of all ages and backgrounds. We are the #1 destination for all activities in Mariposa, and thousands of students travel from all over California each year to learn about the California Gold Rush. When they leave, they have learned about Yosemite National Park, and that Mariposa County was not only a gold rush town, but home to the Southern Sierra Miwuk for thousands of years.

Mariposa Museum and History Center website

This is where explorers John C. Fremont and Kit Carson found the rich Mariposa Vein and opened the first mill to crush ore and extract gold in California. You are invited to discover for yourself California's mineral wealth, colorful history and geologic diversity as you view the official mineral collection of the state of California. The collection, which began in 1880, contains over 13,000 objects including mining artifacts, rare specimens of crystalline gold in its many forms, as well as beautiful gem and mineral specimens from California and around the world. The collection was moved to Mariposa in 1983 after residing in San Francisco, for over 100 years. The museum became a state park in 1999.

California State Mining and Mineral Museum website

Grover Hot Springs State Park is located on the east side of the Sierra at the edge of the Great Basin Province, characterized by open pine forest, and sagebrush and meadows. The park has a pool complex with a hot pool and a swimming pool hot springs, a campground, picnic area and hiking trails.

Grover Hot Springs State Park website

On a hill overlooking Markleeville, the Alpine County Museum Complex provides the visitor with a glimpse into the rich past of Alpine County. The focal point of the Complex is the Old Webster Schoolhouse built on this site in 1882 and which is on the National Register of Historic Places. Other buildings on the site are the original Markleeville Log Jail, the main museum building, a Carriage Shed, and historic four Stamp Mill used in early Alpine County.

Alpine County Museum website

The Marconi Conference Center is situated on wooded hills overlooking scenic Tomales Bay in Marin County.

Marconi Conference Center State Historic Park website

Virtual field trip online Our present displays are part of the on-going effort to keep interest alive in our community's history and encourage repeat visitors. All displays, cataloguing, housekeeping, gardening, and other duties are performed by volunteers.

Martinez Museum website

Largest Homeland Disaster during World War II. Reservations are required to visit this location. The website offers historical information about the park for those who cannot visit in person.

Port Chicago Naval Magazine website

One of the world's largest inland seas, Salton Sea was created by accident in 1905 when increased flooding on the Colorado River allowed water to crash through canal barriers and for the next 18 months the entire flow of the Colorado River rushed downhill into the Salton Trough. By the time engineers were finally able to stop the breaching water in 1907, the Salton Sea had been born - 45 miles long and 20 miles wide - equalling 110 miles of shoreline. This 360 square-mile basin is a popular site for boaters, water-skiers and anglers.

Salton Sea State Recreation Area website

A historic home built in 1861, which offers exhibits on the cultural heritage of the Mendocino Coast. It interprets Mendocino's logging and shipping industries and the unique Victorian architecture for which the town is recognized as a National Historic Preservation District. The setting is enhanced by a pond and gardens.

Kelley House Museum website

The purpose of Mailliard Redwoods State Reserve, in Mendocino County, is to preserve and protect, in an essentially natural condition, the coast redwood forest and associated wildlife habitat which occurs along the Garcia River and adjacent watersheds.

Mailliard Redwoods State Natural Reserve website

Near picturesque downtown Mendocino, this park features grass-covered headlands and a beach, with access from the mouth of the Big River south of town. Trails are popular with hikers and joggers. In winter, the park provides a site for whale watching. The Ford Museum features weekend lectures on area wildlife.

Mendocino Headlands State Park website

This park is known for the heavily forested Russian Gulch Creek Canyon, a headland that features the Devil's Punch Bowl (a large, collapsed sea cave with churning water), and a beach that offers swimming, tide pool exploring, skin diving and rock fishing. Inland, there is a 36-foot high waterfall. Hikers enjoy miles of hiking trails. The park also has a paved three-mile bicycle trail.

Russian Gulch State Park website

Van Damme State Park consists of beach and upland on the Mendocino Coast. Of all park system units along the Mendocino coast, Van Damme is perhaps the richest in terms of historical resources connected with the redwood lumber industry. Its story is a prime example of the struggles and eventual failures of a small, independent lumber operation.

Van Damme State Park website

MacKerricher State Park offers a variety of habitats; beach, bluff, headland, dune, forest and wetland. Tidepools are along the shore. Seals live on the rocks off the park's Mendocino coast. More than 90 species of birds visit or live near Cleone Lake, a formal tidal lagoon. During winter and spring, the nearby headland provides a good lookout for whale watching. The park is popular with hikers, joggers, equestrians and bicyclists. Fishing is also popular, with trout in two fresh-water lakes. The park has a wheelchair accessible nature trail.

MacKerricher State Park website

Montgomery Woods State Reserve, in the heart of the Coast Range, has redwoods, where visitors can walk along one of the park's many trails. It is an excellent example of both a magnificent coastal redwood grove and a beautiful fern forest.

Montgomery Woods State Natural Reserve website

Westport Union-Landing State Beach covers over 3 miles of rugged and scenic coastline, with 46 campsites on the bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The magnificent vistas, sunsets and tree covered mountains in the background provide inspiring challenges to both amateur and professional photographers.

Westport-Union Landing State Beach website

State beaches are areas with frontage on the ocean, or bays designed to provide swimming, boating, fishing, and other beach-oriented recreational activities. This area has miles of undeveloped beach adjacent to the headlands and a panoramic ocean view. The beach is a good place to watch for migrating gray whales. Fishing is also popular off the beach.

Caspar Headlands State Beach website

Caspar Headland State Reserve is located on the Pacific Coast in Mendocino County approximately 4 miles north of the town of Mendocino. The reserve is shared by a residential community in Caspar South, which lies on a bluff overlooking the ocean. Bordering the reserve to the north is Caspar Beach and RV Campground, and further north the town of Caspar. State reserves have outstanding or unusual natural or scenic values. This Reserve contains a small strip of rugged coastline featured sculpted rocks, wildflowers and surf.

Caspar Headlands State Natural Reserve website

Our museum houses 8500 square feet of exhibits, both permanent and rotating, which depict the history of Merced County as well as the settlers of the Great Central Valley. We are located in the county's three-story courthouse built in 1875, one of the oldest historical buildings in California. On the National Register of Historic Places, the architectural style of the building is Italianate, designed by State Capital Architect, Albert A. Bennett. Our museum is staffed by volunteers who devote their time into preserving and passing on the history of this great land to generations to come.

Merced County Courthouse Museum website

"This is the best tree-lovers monument that could possibly be found in all the forests of the world," declared conservationist John Muir when describing the majestic coast redwoods of Muir Woods.

Muir Woods National Monument website

Witness a brief moment in the ancient battle between the earth shaping forces of creation and destruction in Northern California. Nestled within Lassen's peaceful forests and untouched wilderness, hissing fumaroles and boiling mud pots still shape and change the land, evidence of Lassen's long fiery and active past.

Lassen Volcanic National Park website

Bringing you the wonders of science and nature. See, Touch, and Experience the past and present.

Great Valley Museum of Natural History website

Within the museum there are a complete dentist's office, a general store and a recreated blacksmith shop using wood and square nails from a century old house. Other exhibits include gold mining paraphernalia, original fire fighting equipment, along with a collection of cattle brands from Stanislaus County.

McHenry Museum website

This beach is a popular location for visitors who can explore the beach tide pools or go surf fishing. The beach is bounded by low hills both to the north and south. Restaurants and grocery stores are nearby. Point Montara has a lighthouse that offers overnight accommodations. It is operated by Hostelling International, a non-profit group.

Montara State Beach website

Built to serve as a public school and town meeting hall, Colton Hall now offers visitors a re-creation of the meeting room where California's first Constitution was drafted in October 1849 and exhibits on early Monterey. Colton Hall is a landmark in the City of Monterey, once the capital of Alta California.

Colton Hall website

The Presidio of Monterey Museum exhibits lead visitors through Monterey's various stages of military development -- from the indigenous period which highlights the area's native populations; through the Spanish and Mexican periods; and up to present day. Because of the important role of the military in Monterey between 1902 and today, the majority of the museum is dedicated to the development of the Presidio as a training base. The Museum and Lower Presidio Historic Park were created by a partnership between the City of Monterey and the Presidio of Monterey.

Presidio of Monterey Museum website

The Museum collects, preserves and interprets American art, in particular the work of artists active on the Monterey Peninsula and the West Coast. The Museum also collects Asian Art. The collection includes works by artists such as Armin Hansen, William F. Ritschel, Gottardo Piazzoni, and world-renowned photographers including Edward Weston and Ansel Adams.

Monterey Museum Of Art website

Monterey State Historic Park preserves and interprets places and objects of statewide historic significance. Monterey served as California's capital under Spanish, Mexican and U.S. rule. The U.S. flag was first officially raised in California here on July 7, 1846, bringing 600,000 square miles, including California, into the Union. Ten buildings, including the Custom House, built in 1827, and California's First Theatre (1846-47), and several residences (now museums) built in the 1830s, preserve the area's rich history of early California.

Monterey State Historic Park website

We offer full service guided Family Friendly whale watching tours year around in the third largest deep submarine canyon in the world. On our whale watching tours you'll get a once in a lifetime educational experience. There is something for all ages and everyone in the family.

Chris' Whale Watching Tours website

Monterey Bay Aquarium website

Ride the world-famous Giant Dipper roller coaster and enjoy our spectacular beachfront setting on beautiful Monterey Bay. The ADMISSION FREE Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk amusement park has something for everyone!

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk website

The beach protects one of Monterey Bay's most interesting sand dune areas and is home to many species of wild birds, including Western meadowlarks, hawks, jays, valley quail, finches, towhees and sparrows as well as shorebirds that winter along the bay. The beach is a popular fishing site.

Salinas River State Beach website

The Hearst's tours are lively and informative tours designed to enhance visitors' appreciation for each exhibition. A brief tour of the William Keith Room may included. A study table full of reference books and catalogues is included with most exhibitions; a DVD created by an award-winning San Francisco documentary film company is always available in the Keith Room.

Hearst Art Gallery, St. Mary's College website

Coe Park is the largest state park in northern California of wild open spaces. The terrain of the park is rugged, varied, and beautiful, with lofty ridges and steep canyons. Once the home of Ohlone Indians, the park is now home to a fascinating variety of plants and animals, including the elusive mountain lion. Within Coe Park are the headwaters of Coyote Creek, long stretches of the Pacheco and Orestimba creeks, and a wilderness area.

Henry W. Coe State Park website

The Museum of Natural History - the only one in the California State Park system -- opened in 1962. It served over 10,000 visitors in its first two years alone, and now some 65,000 thousand people visit the Museum annually, including 14,000 children who participate free-of-charge in the docent-led school group programs that support California's required science and social studies standards.

Morro Bay State Park Museum of Natural History website

Family Friendly whale watching tours will excite and delight all ages (3+). Learn why whale watching Monterey Bay is one of the best places in the world as our marine biologists narrate for a true educational experience. You will learn about humpback whales, gray whales, killer whales aka Orca's, dolphins and many other species including their migratory patterns. Monterey has both resident and transitory whales making it a year-round destination!

Whale Watching Monterey Bay with Sea Goddess Whale Watching website

The beach is a popular fishing area, featuring perch, kingfish, sole, flounder, halibut, bocaccio (tomcod), jacksmelt, lingcod, cabezon, salmon, steelhead and occasional rockfish. The beach features the Pajaro River estuary, where a natural preserve has been set aside. The sandy beach is also popular with bird watchers and equestrians. Horses are only allowed near the waterline. Swimming and water sports are hazardous because of strong rip-currents.

Zmudowski State Beach website

Mount Shasta City was known as the town of Sisson until it was renamed in 1924. The museum building was erected in 1906 and served as the main hatchery building of the California Department of Fish and Game Mount Shasta Fish Hatchery until it was declared no longer usable 72 years later. A group of civic minded citizens obtained a lease on the building and start-up funding from the state under the umbrellas of the local Chamber of Commerce, and the building was renovated depending heavily on donated material and labor. The Museum has welcomed over 300,000 visitors since it opened in 1983, and we hope you will visit soon.

Sisson Museum website

Offers museums and attractions in multiple countries focusing on odd and amazing things. Provides videos, details about exhibits, and their history.

Ripley's Believe It Or Not Museum website

Exciting, family friendly dinner theater featuring an authentic medieval tournament and feast with jousting knights, and live horses.

Considered the most significant collection of Bay Area art in the world, the di Rosa Preserve: Art & Nature provides opportunities for creative enrichment and enjoyment of art and the environment year-round. The Preserve houses approximately 2,200 works of art by more than 900 artists.

di Rosa website

Daytime visitors can enjoy a leisurely stroll in Ritchey Canyon on the Redwood Trail to view the delicate ferns and listen to the water splashing down the rocky creekbed. Bring your wine and cheese and picnic under the towering Douglas Firs. On hot summer days, grab a swimsuit and towel and come enjoy a dip in the park's swimming pool open on weekends, beginning on Memorial Day weekend through mid-June, then daily through Labor Day, from 12- 6 p.m. There is an additional fee for the use of the swimming pool, to be paid at the park entrance.

Bothe-Napa Valley State Park website

The site of California's largest "hydraulic" mine. Visitors can see huge cliffs carved by mighty streams of water, results of the gold mining technique of washing away entire mountains to find the precious metal. Legal battles between mine owners and downstream farmers ended this method. The park also contains a 7,847 foot bedrock tunnel that served as a drain. The visitor center has exhibits on life in the old mining town of North Bloomfield.

Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park website

Learning history is easier and more fun with participation in one of the school days programs at the Stagecoach Inn Museum Complex.

Stagecoach Inn Museum website

A Member of the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, William S. Hart Park is less than an hour's drive from most areas of Los Angeles. It is the former home and ranch of William S. Hart, silent film cowboy star and director. The Museum sits atop a hill within a large park area. The Spanish colonial Revival style mansion contains original furnishings, an impressive collection of western art, mementos of early Hollywood and Native American artifacts. In addition, there is a furnished 1910 ranch house which is open for unguided tours.

William S. Hart Ranch and Museum website

Whale Watching is an enriching and educational experience! And we have discounted rates for home school groups! Nov-May is Gray Whale Season May-Oct. is Blue Whale Season April-Oct. Humpback Whales are in our area Late Dec.-Jan. Orca Pods have been sighted in the area And throughout the year we see Common, and Bottlenose Dolphin, Fin Whales, Minke Whales, Sea Lions, and Sea Birds. The thrill of seeing large marine mammals swim alongside our boat is an experience that students will never forget, and a great way to integrate marine science into your curriculum.

Newport Landing Whale Watching website

Native California fan palms thrive in many locations but rarely in such numbers as in the canyons of the Indio Hills. Here, along a line where the San Andreas fault captures groundwater that nurtures the palms, is a wild parkland which is part of the adjacent Coachella Valley Preserve. The park contains some fine palm groves that include Hidden, Pushawalla, Briska, Macomber and Horseshoe palms. The nearest groves are relatively easy to reach from the trailhead and parking area 4-miles north of Indio.

Indio Hills Palms Park Property website

"Everyone mount up!" This became a familiar call from Spanish Captain Juan Bautista de Anza. In 1776, as Americans fought for their independence in the East, Anza led almost 300 people over 1200 miles to settle Alta California. It was the first overland route established to connect New Spain with San Francisco. Walk in their footsteps from Nogales, Arizona to San Francisco, California.

Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail website

The Art Galleries at California State University, Northridge, are the major art exhibition space in the San Fernando Valley. Serving the University campus, the San Fernando Valley, and the greater Southern California communities, the Art Galleries offer an exhibition program that reflects the extraordinary diversity of the art world today and of our many audiences. Through a program of innovative and often provocative exhibitions, the galleries utilize regional resources to give fresh perspectives on international art and the broad interrelationships of today's visual world. This approach is clearly evident in the over 500 exhibitions we have sponsored since 1980, including several off-campus sites. Lectures, films, concerts, and other events are often given in conjunction with exhibitions.

C.S.U. Northridge Art Galleries website

The Novato History Museum, founded by Mrs. Margaret "Peg" Coady in 1976, is located in the home of Novato's first Postmaster, Henry F. Jones. The building, possibly the oldest dwelling in Novato, may have been one of several houses constructed by Ramon Pacheco circa 1850. It stood in the original "Old Town" on South Novato Blvd. near Yukon Way. Every spring the Novato Historical Guild leads Novato's 3rd graders through a historic tour of Novato. The cost is free. The museum has an on-going community oral history project. We will provide training for anyone interested in volunteering for this project.

Novato History Museum website

The name "olompali" comes from the Miwok language and may be translated as "southern village" or "southern people." The Coast Miwok inhabited at least one site within the area of the present-day park continuously from as early as 6,000 BC, until the early 1850s. Olompali contains "kitchen rock," a large boulder used as a mortar in which early people ground acorns and seeds into a fine flour for food preparation. Many women would gather near such grinding rocks to prepare food and socialize.

Olompali State Historic Park website

The Oakdale Cowboy Museum contains the sights, sounds and smells of our western heritage. Upon entering the Cowboy Museum, one quickly notices the memorabilia that illustrates the lifestyle of the American Cowboy. The unique skills of the leather crafter are seen on the finely tooled leather saddles that surround the two galleries of the Museum. The action photographs that fill the spacious walls along with several personal collections tell the story of our early western beginnings. The many tools of the rancher such as branding irons, boots, spurs and chaps are displayed for a "hands on" experience

Oakdale Cowboy Museum website

chool groups can choose classes in astronomy, life sciences, physical sciences, computer technology, or environmental education. All school group visits include a show in our state-of-the-art Ask Jeeves Planetarium and time to explore CSSC's permanent exhibits.

Chabot Space and Science Center website

Dedicated to all the children of the East Bay, the Junior Center of Art and Science encourages children's active wonder and creative responses through artistic and scientific exploration of their natural urban environment. The Junior Center's classes, workshops, exhibits, and events integrate art and science to promote children's fresh, hands-on and personalized interaction with their world. The Junior Center contributes to the development of citizens who value nature and appreciate the importance of art and science in our community.

Junior Center of Art and Science website

The Oakland Museum of California provides unique collections, exhibitions and educational opportunities designed to generate a broader and deeper understanding of and interest in California's environment, history, art and people. Museum programs are responsive, accessible and meaningful to the public, including school children, teachers, scholars, the immediate Oakland community, and an increasingly diverse California population.

Oakland Museum website

More than 80,000 people have visited and sailed aboard former President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's beloved "Floating White House," the USS Potomac, since it opened to the public in the summer of 1995. $5 million has been spent over a 12-year period to restore the 165-foot-long vessel as a memorial to the president who authored the New Deal and led the United States during the Great Depression and the World War II years.

Potomac Association website

The Oakland Aviation Museum provides a vital resource to the San Francisco Bay area inspiring interest in the rich aviation history of Oakland and the Bay Area, fostering growth in aviation education and awareness, and promoting community for local groups.

Oakland Aviation Museum website

Offering top quality educational, family and volunteer programs.

Qakland Zoo website

This educational, informative exhibit celebrates a small fraternity of surfers who, by their exceptional conceptual abilities and considerable crafting talent, radically altered surfboard design and, in some cases, manufacturing techniques. It's a dynamic array of talent, each personality accompanied by photos and the respective signature board. It traces surfboard design from its early roots in the Pacific to the tri-fin Thruster that helped solidify Simon Andersen's place in surfing history.

California Surf Museum website

The museum's mission is to provide the schools and general public with a much needed educational resource on the archaeology and prehistory of the southern California desert and mountains. There is evidence of human habitation here for thousands of years. The museum is currently the repository for more than 9,000 artifacts gathered from over 8,800 recorded archaeological sites throughout the Imperial Valley.

Imperial Valley College Desert Museum website

The Ojai Valley Museum has an extensive collection of Art, Native American Baskets, Pioneer Tools, and photographs of early days in Ojai.

Ojai Valley Museum website

The Ontario Museum of History & Art (OMHA) preserves, interprets and celebrates the history and cultural heritage of Ontario and the surrounding area.

Museum of History & Art Ontario website

Students will get fired up about math, physics, and engineering when they see it come to life in a state-of-the-art vertical wind tunnel. Our highly trained STEM educators guide students through an immersive and thrilling hands-on experience. Interactive presentations relating to indoor and outdoor skydiving. Lab activity and immersive experiments based on grade levels. A physics demonstrations in the wind tunnel. Students get to experience the dream of flying one-on-one with a certified world-class iFLY flight instructor.

iFLY Indoor Skydiving Ontario website

The purpose of Mandalay State Beach is to make available the sandy ocean beach and adjacent coastal dunes for public recreational day use and enjoyment. In general, all public beach-related recreational activities may be provided that can be accommodated without impairing the scenic or natural integrity of the site. Also, the dune and wetlands (marshland) ecosystem is recognized for its important natural values and shall be managed for its protection and perpetuation.

Mandalay State Beach website

McGrath State Beach is one of the best bird-watching areas in California, with the lush riverbanks of the Santa Clara River and sand dunes along the shore. A nature trail leads to the Santa Clara Estuary Natural Preserve. Two miles of beach provide surfing and fishing opportunities, however, swimmers are urged to use caution because of strong currents and riptides.

McGrath State Beach website

Promoting creativity, learning and growth in the careers of artists, and to inspire passion and appreciation for arts and culture in Oxnard and Southern California.

Carnegie Art Museum website

The mission of the Museum is to provide a rewarding museum experience based on the age of sail and to enhance the understanding of our rich maritime heritage through world-class maritime art, unique ship models, dynamic exhibits, and educational programs.

Channel Islands Maritime Museum website

The purpose of the Pacific Grove Art Center is to educate the public in art appreciation and stimulate interest in art; to display all types of art to the general public on a non-discriminatory basis; to hold art classes, lectures, forums, exhibits, music concerts, and other educational functions for the general public; to provide art shows and exhibits which the public and school children can visit to continue their education in art and culture; and to promote the exhibition of art, with special emphasis on the encouragement of local artists.

Pacific Grove Art Center website

Asilomar State Beach is part of the Pacific Grove Fish Garden Refuge and the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.

Asilomar State Beach website

In the early 1930s, Will Rogers was the most popular and highest paid actor in Hollywood. From his start in vaudeville theater with a trick During the 1920s, he bought land in Santa Monica, where he developed a ranch. Eventually, the Rogers' owned 186 acres overlooking the Pacific Ocean, in what is now known as Pacific Palisades. At his untimely death in a plane crash in 1935, Will Rogers' ranch consisted of a 31-room ranch house, a stable, corrals, riding ring, roping arena, polo field, golf course, and hiking trails. When his widow, Betty, died in 1944, the ranch became a state park. The Park is undergoing a major historic renovation project that will restore the landscape to its appearance during Will Rogers' time. Details of the restoration program may be found in the Historic Landscape Management Plan. The Park Interpretive Staff offers tours of the ranch house and grounds. However, you and your family can enjoy many features of our Park on your own using the Self-Guided Ranch Tour Card.

Will Rogers State Historic Park website

This is a wide crescent-shaped beach that marks the northern gateway to the coastline stretching south of San Francisco.

Pacifica State Beach website

An Ancient Volcano: Rising out of the chaparral-covered Gabilan Mountains, east of central California's Salinas Valley, are the spectacular remains of an ancient volcano. Massive monoliths, spires, sheer-walled canyons and talus passages define millions of years of erosion, faulting and tectonic plate movement.

Pinnacles website

Desert conservation through preservation, education and appreciation. To preserve a portion of the Colorado Desert in its natural state. The Living Desert has set aside 1,000 acres of natural desert habitat. To foster, through interpretive exhibits, programs and publication, an awareness of and an appreciation for, the variety of plants and animals in worldwide desert ecosystems.

Living Desert website

The Palm Springs Art Museum strives to serve diverse communities as one of the outstanding mid-size art museums in the country. Its mission is to promote enjoyment, education and involvement with visual art of the highest quality, and enhance appreciation of the performing arts. By collecting, preserving, exhibiting, and interpreting art from a broad chronological and geographic range according to the highest professional standards, and presenting a varied program of performing art, the museum seeks to maximize its public service to audiences of all ages and social backgrounds and to make art a dynamic part of their lives.

Palm Springs Art Museum website

The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway offers free membership programs. The Tramsters Club, for children ages 3 to 12, and the Alpine Club for companies with more than 100 employees.

Palm Springs Aerial Tramway website

The Museum of American Heritage (MOAH) offers many educational programs for adults and children.

Museum of American Heritage website

Science-hands-on activities indoor, a tree house in the middle of the small zoo, a playground outside the museum. Easy to find parking nearby and around. You can bring your lunch to eat in the outdoor areas. The museum has clean bathrooms, an area for infants (12mo and under) for safe free play, and small pods for breastfeeding/relaxing.

Palo Alto Junior Museum and Zoo website

Palomar Mountain State Park features spectacular views of the Pacific, camping, picnicking, hiking, and fishing (trout) in Doane Pond. Coniferous forests cover much of the 1,862 acres, in contrast to the dry lowlands surrounding the mountain. This is one of the few Southern California areas with a Sierra Nevada-like atmosphere.

Palomar Mountain State Park website

The Gold Nugget Museum was incorporated in 1973. Our mission is to preserve and protect The Ridge heritage through our collection and artifacts and with community education programs. More...

Gold Nugget Museum website

The Pasadena Museum of History offers a variety of educational, entertaining, and stimulating programs and events that further enhance our knowledge and enjoyment of the west San Gabriel Valley's rich heritage.

Pasadena Museum of History website

Kidspace features many fun, educational, and interactive programs and activities throughout the year that combine exhibit themes with learning initiatives. Kidspace's indoor exhibits and outdoor learning environments offer many opportunities for visitors to explore and investigate the natural world and express themselves in creative ways.

Kidspace Children's Museum website

Virtual field trip online A walk on the grounds of the Pioneer Museum takes one back in time. An El Camino Real bell marks a walkway past a jail and farm equipment to a one-room schoolhouse.

Paso Robles Pioneer Museum website

Lake Perris was built in the early 1970's as the last reservoir in the California Water Project to provide drinking water to Southern California residents. Nestled between Moreno Valley and Perris, Lake Perris SRA provides a place to escape the heat in the summer and to escape the bustle of city life all year round. There are many recreational activities to enjoy at Lake Perris SRA such as: Hiking, biking, water skiing, boating, jet skiing, fishing, swimming, horse back riding, camping and picknicking.

Lake Perris State Recreation Area website

Perched on a cliff on the central California coast, 50 miles south of San Francisco, the 115-foot Pigeon Point Lighthouse, one of the tallest lighthouses in America, has been guiding mariners since 1872. Its five-wick lard oil lamp, and first-order Fresnel lens, comprised of 1,008 prisms, was first lit at sunset, November 15, 1872. The lens stands 16 feet tall, 6 feet in diameter, and weighs 8,000 pounds. It sits in a lantern room that had been constructed at the Lighthouse Service's general depot in New York before being shipped around the Horn. Although the original Fresnel lens is no longer in use, the lighthouse is still an active U.S. Coast Guard aid to navigation using a 24 inch Aero Beacon.

Pigeon Point Light Station State Historic Park website

Lonely, undeveloped, wild. Elephant seals, sea lions, and other marine mammals come ashore to rest, mate, and give birth in the sand dunes or on the beaches and offshore islands. It is a unique and unforgettable natural spectacle that hundreds of thousands of people come to witness each year.

Ano Nuevo State Natural Reserve website

The beach features fishing, picnicking and beachcombing. Visitors can explore tide pools with anemones, crab, sea urchins and other marine inhabitants. The beach also has a self-guided nature trail.

Bean Hollow State Beach website

Butano State Park is located in a secluded redwood-filled canyon. Guided nature walk and weekend campfire programs are offered during the summer.

Butano State Park website

Weekend tours of historic Petaluma led by costumed docents. Public lecture series, guided museum tours, Outreach Program to schools, Annual Victorian Tea, Assisted research, Museum Association Membership, Internships, and Special events through the year.

Petaluma Historical Library & Museum website

Petaluma Adobe State Historic Park was the main residence of Rancho Petaluma, the agricultural empire that General Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo one of the most powerful men in the Mexican Province of California from 1834 to 1846. Vallejo ran his cattle, hide and tallow business, raised sheep, bred horses, and grew numerous crops. The adobe contains authentic furniture and exhibits depicting early rancho life. The huge adobe building, the largest private rancho in California between 1834 and 1846, was the center of activity on one of the most prosperous private estates established during the Mexican period.

Petaluma Adobe State Historic Park website

Forever Wild is a sanctuary for rescued exotic animals including Big cats (lions, tigers, servals) along with many other mammals (bears, monkeys, etc), birds, and reptiles (alligators.) All ages welcomed. ADA accessible (dirt paths). Events and school tours welcome. Reasonable admission and free parking. (Dirt road access)

Forever Wild Exotic Animal Sanctuary website

The park features two virgin redwood groves; Big Hendy with a self-guided discovery trail and Little Hendy. The Navarro River runs the length of the park. Located in the middle of the Anderson Valley wine district, this park is warmer and less foggy than redwood parks along the coast. The park is well known for a fallen redwood stump that was home for a man known locally as the Hendy Woods Hermit.

Wendy Woods State Park website

The park includes the Chaw'se Regional Indian Museum. The museum gives visitors a view of exhibits and artifact collections from Sierra Nevada Indians. A Miwok village with a ceremonial roundhouse has been reconstructed in the middle of the small valley. Teachers's Guide available in PDF format.

Indian Grinding Rock State Historic Park website

Historic George Key Ranch is an historic house, museum, garden and orange grove, located in the City of Placentia. This beautifully landscaped site totals 2.2 acres. Located within the park is the George Key home, built in 1898 and listed on the National Register of Historic Landmarks, a collection of farm equipment and hand tools, a one-acre orange grove and 3/4-acre verse garden.

George Key Ranch website

Take an informative tour, wander among the historical artifacts, or research a family ancestor. The El Dorado County Historical Museum is the place to learn about the fascinating history of El Dorado County, one of California's original and most historic counties.

El Dorado County History Museum website

Dockweiler State Beach features a three mile long shoreline with a picnic area and concession stand. The wide beach is beneath the takeoff path from Los Angeles International Airport.

Dockweiler State Beach website

The Museum on Main tells the fascinating stories of those who came before -- illustrating characters, places and events that have shaped our community. These tales capture the hearts of people in our community today, enabling them to connect with our rich heritage.

Museum on Main website

Climb to the top of one of the tallest Pacific Coast Lighthouses as Keepers have done for over 100 years! Guided tours of the light station as well as self guided tours of the grounds are available daily. Afterward, spend some time browsing through our Lighthouse Gift shop featuring unique souvenirs, interesting gifts, custom made Abalone Jewelry, beautiful collectibles, and lighthouse clothing.

Point Arena Lighthouse Keepers, Inc. website

The beach and headlands preserve a scenic spot along the Mendocino Coast and offers a stunning perch for watching sunsets, or merely sitting in the grass as the afternoon sun glistens on the waters below. Fishing, picnicking, and surfing are popular activities here.

Schooner Gulch State Beach website

Welcome to Point Reyes National Seashore From its thunderous ocean breakers crashing against rocky headlands and expansive sand beaches through its open grasslands to its brushy hillsides and forested ridges, visitors can discover over 1000 species of plants and animals. Home to several cultures over thousands of years, Point Reyes preserves a tapestry of stories and interactions of people. Point Reyes awaits your exploration.

Point Reyes National Seashore website

The Sensory Spot is an Applied Behavior Analysis center-based clinic designed to integrate much needed sensory input through play and has a mixture of equipment (sensory gym) programs and classes outlined to increase skills and improve skill deficits in all areas. All children are welcome. We do offer Open Play !

The Sensory Spot website

The Porterville Historical Museum was founded in 1965 and is housed in the old Southern Pacific depot, constructed in 1913. Prior to the arrival of early explorers, the San Joaquin Valley was occupied by the Yokuts Indians. The museum contains examples of their handiwork. Representing the first pioneers are saddles, chaps, and other western paraphernalia. Items used by the settlers include household items, furniture, toys, and other accouterments of early Porterville life. In the yard are examples of vehicles which serve to remind the visitor of the agricultural roots upon which Porterville's economy has been based.

Porterville Historical Museum website

The concept of an active "living museum" is evidenced by the dozens of different exhibits, events, meetings and functions held at the Plumas County Museum. Permanent exhibits include an outstanding collection of baskets woven by the area's original Mountain Maidu Indians. The Industrial History Wing features Railroads of Plumas County, Gold Mining on the Feather River, and TIMBER!, an exhibit about the lumber industry of the county. Other developing collections include natural history specimens, audio-visual resources, the Chinese influence, and the historically accurate Andrew Lynch Memorial Garden.

Plumas County Museum website

Ramona California is the gateway to the mountains and deserts. The Santa Maria Valley is located in the hills to the East of the city of San Diego. The Iipay Indians, who inhabited the area for centuries, called it the Valle de Pamo. Spaniards, who entered the valley in 1778, named it after Saint Mary, and its first settlement, now called Ramona, was originally named Nuevo. The colorful history of the area has traveled through the Santa Maria Valley. Miners heading for the gold mines in Julian; cowboys and vaqueros driving herds of cattle to the ranchos of Alto California; the stagecoach arriving from Julian on its way to San Diego; The Jackass Mail on its route from San Diego to Yuma, Arizona; General Kearney, Kit Carson and 151 dragoons on their way to San Pasqual where they encountered a small Mexican army in the only major battle of the Mexican War fought in California; Jose Joaquin Ortega and Edward Stokes, joint owners of Rancho Santa Maria, a 35,000 acre land grant, hauling provisions from San Diego for their holiday fiesta; a raiding party of Diegueno Indians on its way to attack the Spaniards at the Presido in San Diego; and Major Edward Rigg, Commanding Officer of nearby Camp Wright, moving his soldiers into position to intercept a group of Confederate sympathizers who were attempting to leave California to join the South in the Civil War.

Guy B. Woodward Museum website

A family-focused educational institution dedicated to enriching the lives of local residents and visitors to the Sacramento region by encouraging the exploration of history, science, and space.

Sacramento Children's Museum website

The Wignall Museum/Gallery is dedicated to presenting innovative exhibitions and programs that reflect the scope and diversity of the art of our time. A vital component of the academic and cultural life of the Chaffey Community College District, the Wignall aspires to engage broad and diverse audiences, create a sense of community, and provide a place for contemplation, stimulation, and discussion of contemporary art and the questions that shape and inspire us as individuals, cultures, and communities.

Wignall Museum / Gallery, Chaffey College website

The Children's Discovery Museum of the Desert is the best destination to enhance and build new skill sets in a hands-on environment.

Children's Museum Of The Desert website

William B. Ide was named president of the short-lived California Bear Republic - which lasted for 22 days. The adobe memorial to him is located in a picnic area overlooking the Sacramento River. The park features the old adobe home, carriage shed, blacksmith shop and a small visitor center.

William B. Ide Adobe State Historic Park website

A rich gathering of period pieces and artifacts to adorn the aesthetic 1880s Victorian Home atmosphere as when it was built. On display is 19th century art, architecture, and artifacts of Northern California and the local community.

Kelly-Griggs House Museum website

Visit the ranch and learn about boundaries, awareness, predictability, teamwork, social skills and horses in a safe and relaxed environment. Our specially trained staff ensure activities are tailored to the ability level and ages of your participants. Activities may include feeding, grooming and tacking, leading a horse through an obstacle course, and a quick mounting and dismounting experience. Come learn in a safe and relaxed environment.

Roughout Ranch website

This educational and entertainment complex includes the McConnell Arboretum and Gardens and a butterfly conservatory.

Turtle Bay Exploration Park website

Kimberly Crest, a picturesque French chateau style home built in 1897, is a well preserved example of the Victorian Era in California. The 7,000 square foot, three-story chateau sits on a six and one quarter acre estate two miles south of downtown Redlands, at 1325 Prospect Drive, and is enjoyed by more than 11,000 visitors annually.

Kimberly Crest House & Gardens website

The San Bernardino County Museum, in Redlands, California, is a regional museum with exhibits and collections in cultural and natural history. Special exhibits, the Exploration Station live animal discovery center, extensive research collections, and public programs for adults, families, students, and children are all part of the museum experience.

San Bernardino County Museum website

Housed in the old San Mateo County Courthouse, the History Museum is where we preserve the rich history of the county, and make it accessible to the public. We offer educational activities for school children. We host exhibits detailing the history and development of the county. We host a wide range of events concerning the history of the county -- from tours of the old courthouse and other historic sites, to lectures, discussions and family programs.

San Mateo County Historical Association Museum website

Purchased by the State of California in 1983 this historic ranch property is hidden in a pristine valley south of Half Moon Bay. The area offers solitude, groves of mature eucalyptus, and a rich assortment of wildlife.

Burleigh H. Murray Ranch Park Property website

Preserves and interprets the stories and places of our nation's home front response to World War II.

Rosie the Riveter/World War II Home Front National Historical Park website

We are a Museum of the cultural history, natural history and geology of the Northern Mojave Desert emphasizing our Indian Wells Valley.

Maturango Museum website

The China Lake Museum Foundation Invites you to participate in the support and operation of a new Navy museum--a museum that preserves and displays unique achievements in naval air armament and technology.

U.S. Naval Museum of Armament & Technology website

Brannan Island State Recreation Area is a maze of waterways through the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. This park northeast of San Francisco Bay, has countless islands and marshes with many wildlife habitats and many opportunities for recreation, including boating, windsurfing and swimming.

Brannan Island State Recreation Area website

The park is located along the Stanislaus River near the town of Ripon, California. The park protects a fine example of the threatened and still declining riparian oak woodland, which once flourished throughout California's Central Valley. Caswell is home to several endangered animal species, including the riparian brush rabbit which is not known to occur anywhere else.

Caswell Memorial SPState Park website

The Mission Inn Foundation preserves, interprets, and promotes the cultural heritage of the Mission Inn, Riverside, and the surrounding southern California communities through its museum services, educational programs, and outreach activities.

Mission Inn Museum website

The Museum offers fun and educational programs for all ages: workshops, demonstrations, lectures, children and family programs, youth projects, tours, school presentations, festivals, special events and more.

Riverside Municipal Museum website

The Sweeney Art Gallery is an artistic laboratory that engages diverse audiences with exhibitions and programs that are committed to experimentation, innovation, and the exploration of art in our time. The Sweeney places a special emphasis on inspiring projects that explore new ideas and materials and re-envision the relationship between art and life.

Sweeney Art Gallery, U.C. Riverside website

Castle Park charges NO fee for Admission. Tickets for ride wristbands can be purchased online, or inside the park. Game tokens, and Golf may be purchased at Castle Park. And please visit our incredible championship miniature golf courses. Nestled in palm trees with 18 waterfalls, rapids, and fountains, each course is a work of art.

Castle Park website

This park preserves some of the rapidly vanishing cultural landscape of the citrus industry and to tell the story of this industry's role in the history and development of California. The park recaptures the time when "Citrus was King" in California, recognizing the importance of the citrus industry in southern California.

California Citrus State Historic Park website

The Maidu Interpretive Center and Historic Site offer a safe, fenced natural haven for families and individuals who want a brief respite from the hustle and bustle of city life. Graced by oak trees and bordered on the south by a branch of Linda Creek/Strap Ravine, the nature area offers a loop trail that takes you past ancient petroglyphs and hundreds of bedrock mortars for grinding acorns,evidence of Nisenan / southern Maidu occupation of the site for thousands of years. Inside the museum you'll find exhibits portraying the Maidu way of life.

Maidu Interpretive Center website

iFLY Sacramento offers incredible STEM supported educational programs that focus on science, technology, engineering and math geared specifically to Elementary, Middle and High School students. The programs are a unique combination of formal learning and FUN! STEM instructors provide a standard learning space with experiments, live data, and they can even incorporate any element that you would like to focus on during the learning.

iFLY Sacramento website

The Mansion is now open to the public as a museum. It also serves the citizens of California as the state's official reception center for leaders from around the world. The Leland Stanford Mansion is a stunning example of the splendor and elegance of the Victorian era in California.

Leland Stanford Mansion State Historic Park website

A cluster of noteworthy, early Gold Rush commercial structures. Historic buildings include the 1849 Eagle Theater; the 1853 B. F. Hastings Building, once home to the California Supreme Court; and the 1855 Big Four Building. Old Sacramento's historical significance comes from it being the western terminus of the Pony Express postal system, the first transcontinental railroad, and the transcontinental telegraph.

Old Sacramento State Historic Park website

A United States Army Museum Activity.

California State Military Museum website

A complex of historic facilities and unique attractions. Widely regarded as North America's most popular railroad museum, there is something here for everyone! Throughout the year, experience lavishly restored trains, engaging exhibits, and unique special events.

California State Railroad Museum website

The California Museum is the ONLY museum that provides insight into California's legacy by uniquely showcasing the stories of inspirational people and events. These people include Sally Ride, Ronald Reagan, Rita Moreno and Jackie Robinson. These events include the birth of Hollywood, the discovery of gold, the earthquake of 1906 and the table grape boycott.

California Museum website

In addition to the books and journals, there are 16 display cases showcasing medical artifacts collected and donated to the Society over the years. There are cases featuring collections in the fields of Surgery, Clinical Diagnosis, Infectious Disease, Pharmacy, Radiology, Chinese Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology and Medical Quackery. The museum has room to grow and we are giving thought to adding displays or exhibits of interest to elementary school children.

Sierra Sacramento Valley Museum of Medical History website

The California State Railroad Museum (CSRM) in Old Sacramento is the world-class tribute to the role of the "iron horse" in connecting California to the rest of the nation. Our museum features 21 lavishly restored locomotives and cars, some dating back to 1862. There is a full-scale diorama of an 1860s construction site high in the Sierra Nevada as well as a bridge elevated 24 feet above the museum floor.

The mission of the Sacramento Zoological Society is to inspire appreciation, understanding and respect for all living things through stimulating education, wholesome recreation and innovative species management.

Sacramento Zoo website

California's executive mansion, popularly known at the Governor's Mansion. Guests see marble fireplaces from Italy, gold framed mirrors from France, and exquisitely handcrafted hinges and doorknobs, all of which are reminders of the Gallatins and the Victorian era. Outside some of the Mansion's abundant vegetation includes flowers, shrubs, and trees dating back to 1877. But when visitors look behind the grape stake fence and see Governor Brown's swimming pool built in 1959, they are reminded that the Governor's Mansion State Historic Park is really a walk through time.

Governor's Mansion State Historic Park website

Home of the California Legislature since 1869, the State Capitol underwent a major renovation that restored much of the building's original look. Visitors can tour the restored historic offices of the Secretary of State, Treasurer, and Governor of the State of California. The building features exhibits and tours - and possibly an opportunity to watch the legislators debate a bill or cast a vote.

California State Capitol Museum website

MCARLM's interpretive period is the last quarter of the 19th century through World War II. The collections are principally agricultural related implements, house museum furnishings, and historical objects related to specific local history. The museum complex has 6 buildings: the Exhibit Barn, Olson Blacksmith Shop, and the History of Irrigation Museum; plus the historic Spreckels House (1898), La Gloria Schoolhouse (1887), and the King City Train Depot (1903). All are completely furnished with turn-of-the-century artifacts. There are outside exhibits of antique farm equipment dating from the late 1800s into the 1940s. The main Exhibit Barn features displays following the development of Salinas Valley agriculture and rural life from the late 1700s to 1940. We also have meeting rooms, picnic facilities and camping through the auspices of the Parks Department.

Monterey County Agricultural & Rural Life Museum website

Visit the National Steinbeck Center to experience a journey through John Steinbeck's world, where literature jumps off the printed page and into your imagination. Discover Steinbeck's works and philosophy through interactive, multisensory exhibits for all ages and backgrounds, priceless artifacts, entertaining displays, educational programs and research archives.

The National Steinbeck Center website

Welcome to San Clemente State Beach. Since 1937 San Clemente has been one of the most popular beaches in California. A dramatic setting and invigorating air satisfy its many visitors, whatever their interest, energy level or state of mind. The mile long beach stretches between the curling ocean surf and the foot of a steep bluff. Midway between Los Angeles and San Diego, the park attracts water sports enthusiasts and those seeking respite from the inland heat or an escape from nearby metropolitan areas.

San Clemente State Beach website

San Onofre State Beach is a rare 3,000-acre scenic coastal-canyon park with high environmental values and recreation use. The park includes three distinct areas: San Onofre Bluffs, San Onofre Surf Beach, and San Mateo Campground.

San Onofre State Beach website

Experience the history of early San Diego by providing a connection to the past. Experience life in the Mexican and early American periods of 1821 to 1872. Five original adobe buildings are part of the historic park, which includes museums, unique retail shops, and several restaurants.

Old Town San Diego State Historic Park website

Virtual field trip online The MCRD Command Museum boasts one of the most extensive and comprehensive displays of Marine Corps historical items in the Nation.The Museum has over 150,000 annual visitors and occupies 22,233 square feet of indoor space.

MCRD Command Museum website

The mission of the Museum of Photographic Arts is to inspire, educate and engage the broadest possible audience through the presentation, collection, and preservation of photography, film and video.

Museum of Photographic Arts website

Welcome to the San Diego Automotive Museum. Come and see the beauty and history of the automobile. Feast your eyes on some of the rarest and most beautiful cars ever created.

San Diego Automotive Museum website

Here you will not only find a collection of intriguing exhibitions that chronicle San Diego's diverse history, but also our Research Library. This is home to over 45 million pieces of paper and 2.5 million images that document the people, places and events of San Diego's past. In addition to the exhibitions at the Museum of San Diego History, the museum also presents a number of public programs including lectures, workshops and educational programs.

Museum of San Diego History website

The Junipero Serra Museum, in Presidio Park, is one of the most familiar landmarks in San Diego. As a major symbol of the city, it stands atop the hill recognized as the site where California began. It was here in 1769 that a Spanish Franciscan missionary, Father Junipero Serra, with a group of soldiers led by Gaspar de Portola, established Alta California's first mission and presidio (fort).

Junipero Serra Museum website

One of San Diego's finest examples of the Arts and Crafts architectural movement. Completed in 1905 for prominent merchant and civic leader, George W. Marston and his family, this 8,500 square-foot home is surrounded by four acres of rolling lawns, manicured formal gardens, and canyon pathways. The interior features spacious hallways juxtaposed with close, intimate living areas that evoke the "hearth and home" aesthetic of the Arts and Crafts Movement. It is furnished with Mission style pieces like those designed by brothers, Gustav, Leopold and John George Stickley, and a variety of decorative pottery, paintings, and textiles created by world-renown Craftsman artisans.

Marston House Museum website

The region's primary resource for exhibitions and collections of fine art for more than 80 years. Located in the heart of Balboa Park, our galleries offer opportunities for learning, introspection, and connection with cultures from around the world. Please browse our site and discover our many exhibitions, classes, and performances. Join us and visit the Museum soon.

San Diego Museum of Art website

Narrated one and two hour Harbour Cruises. Dinner, brunch, lunch and Whale Watching Cruises.

Flagship Cruises website

A cultural and physical anthropology museum. We collect, preserve, interpret and communicate evidence of human development, creativity and artistic expression. We teach people about people!

San Diego Museum of Man website

The San Diego Natural History Museum traces its roots to an enthusiastic group of amateur naturalists, who formed the San Diego Society of Natural History in 1874.

San Diego Natural History Museum website

Demonstration and Display of Pacific Southwest Railroad History

Pacific Southwest Railway Museum website

Organizes and presents exhibitions of contemporary art by regional, national and international artists, providing a forum for artwork of a culturally-diverse and issue-charged nature. The Gallery also offers educational programs, such as lectures and gallery talks. The Gallery is committed to presenting viewers with avenues of experience that expand awareness, promote understanding and foster appreciation of today's visual arts.

University Art Gallery, S.D.S.U. San Diego State University website

Climbing out of his boat and onto shore in 1542, Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo stepped into history as the first European to set foot on what is now the West Coast of the United States. In addition to telling the story of 16th century exploration, the park is home to a wealth of cultural and natural resources. Join us and embark on your own Voyage of Discovery.

Cabrillo National Monument website

The Museum, an environmentally sustainable building designed by architect Rob Wellington Quigley, provides a dynamic, playful public space and community center for children and families -- a place to experience exciting art exhibitions, hands-on studio projects, performances, birthday parties, in-depth classes, camps and educational programs.

The New Children's Museum website

Narrated one and two hour Harbour Cruises. Dinner and Whale Watching Cruises

Hornblower Cruises website

Lego Building Blocks Themed Amusement Park with over 40 rides and attractions, including Roller Coasters.

Legoland website

Sea World - San Diego website

San Diego Zoo website

Border Field State Park is on the very southwestern corner of the United States and 15 miles south of San Diego. Border Field is located within the Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve, an important wildlife habitat. The sand dunes and salt marshes give refuge to critically threatened and endangered birds such as the Western Snowy Plover, the California Least Tern, and the Light-footed Clapper Rail.

Border Field State Park website

"The Reuben H. Fleet Science Center seeks to inspire lifelong learning by furthering the public understanding and enjoyment of science and technology."

The Reuben H. Fleet Science Center website

The mission of the San Diego Model Railroad Museum is to preserve the heritage of railroading through a series of miniature representations of California railroads; research and preserve the history of model railroading; and educate the public in the many different aspects of railroading.

San Diego Model Railroad Museum website

Enjoys a worldwide reputation for excellence in restoring, maintaining and operating historic vessels. The museum has one of the world's finest collections of historic ships, including the world's oldest active ship Star of India.

Maritime Museum of San Diego website

Located downtown in San Diego at Navy Pier, Midway provides a dynamic and enriching experience "from boiler to bridge." A visit to Midway instills a greater appreciation for courage, freedom, and service to country.

USS Midway Museum website

Celebrate aviation and space flight history through preservation of significant artifacts, presentation of dynamic exhibits, and commemoration of the men and women who forged aerospace history.

The San Diego Air & Space Museum website

Adjacent to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, this area has desert terrain, from below sea level to 400 foot elevations. It is a motorcycle, four-wheel drive, all-terrain vehicle, and dune buggy use area.

Ocotillo Wells State Vehicular Recreation Area website

The mission at Children's Creativity Museum is to nurture creativity and collaboration in all children and families. Believing that creative expression, innovation, and critical thinking are core to fostering the next generation.

Children's Creativity Museum website

Our mission is to inspire and empower Californians to make the past a meaningful part of their contemporary lives. The current CHS headquarters accommodate the administrative offices, North Baker Research Library, exhibition galleries, and museum store.

California Historical Society website

The Cartoon Art Museum is committed to fostering and promoting a greater appreciation of cartoon art. This it achieves through collecting, cataloging, preserving and displaying the finest representations of original cartoon art as well as providing innovative educational programs designed to enrich the cultural life of our community.

Cartoon Art Museum website

Comprising the de Young in Golden Gate Park and the Legion of Honor in Lincoln Park, we are the largest public arts institution in the City of San Francisco and one of the largest art museums in the United States.

Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco website

As featured on A&E's America's Castles' "Castles by the Bay," this exuberant Queen Anne-style Victorian was built in 1886. It is the only intact private home of the period that is open regularly as a museum, complete with authentic furniture and artifacts. The House has elaborate wooden gables, a circular corner tower and luxuriant ornamentation. Volunteer docents lead tours through the House and explain the Victorian architecture of the exterior. A display of photographs in the downstairs supper-room describes the history of the home and the family that lived here until 1972.

Haas - Lilienthal House website

This facility houses and presents the Museum's collection of over 12,000 culturally and artistically significant objects, providing a magnificent home in which the cultural life of Latino communities can be voiced and shared for generations to come.

Mexican Museum website

Time seems to stand still at old Mission Dolores. The oldest building in fabulous San Francisco, the mission church came through the great earthquake and fire of 1906 unscathed. Its interior differs little from its original appearance. Decorated redwood ceiling beams remain as created by Indian workmen. Wooden columns remain painted to resemble Italian marble which they are not. Outside the church, only the old cemetery is as in yesteryear. Modern Mission Dolores Basilica and the teeming city by the Golden Gate crowd around the venerable church, which is the only remaining mission building.

Mission San Francisco de Asis website

Offers a unique haven where children and adults can explore the creative aspects of art and science and make discoveries about nature and the environment by direct participation in classes, workshops, special events, and clubs.

Randall Museum website

Our landmark building features a soaring atrium topped by our signature turret and oculus skylight. The MuseumStore offers the West Coast's finest selection of modern and contemporary art books, as well as exceptional design objects, furniture, jewelry, and children's products. Meanwhile, our cafe serves gourmet fare in a light-filled space with indoor and outdoor seating.

San Francisco Museum of Modern Art website

On the site where Wells Fargo first opened for business in 1852, this museum features a Concord Coach used by Wells Fargo in the 1860s and an impressive display of gold dust and ore from California's Gold Country.

Wells Fargo History Museum San Francisco website

Established in 1850, The Society of California Pioneers is a not-for-profit museum, library, and cultural organization dedicated to advancing the knowledge and appreciation of early California history for the benefit of present and future audiences of all ages.

Seymour Pioneer Museum website

The San Francisco Botanical Garden Society builds communities of support for the Garden and cultivates the bond between people and plants

San Francisco Botanical Garden website

Founded in 1895 in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park, the de Young Museum has been an integral part of the cultural fabric of the city and a cherished destination for millions of residents and visitors to the region for over 100 years. Designed by the renowned Swiss architecture firm Herzog & de Meuron and Fong & Chan Architects in San Francisco, the new de Young provided San Francisco with a landmark art museum to showcase the museum's priceless collections of American art from the 17th through the 20th centuries, and art of the native Americas, Africa, and the Pacific.

Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco - The de Young and Legion of Honor website

Stand on the stern of Balclutha, face west to feel the fresh wind blowing in from the Pacific Ocean. Located in the Fisherman's Wharf neighborhood, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park offers the sights, sounds, smells and stories of Pacific Coast maritime history.

San Francisco Maritime NHP website

For 218 years, the Presidio served as an army post for three nations. World and local events, from military campaigns to the rise of aviation, from World Fairs to earthquakes, left their mark. Come enjoy the history and beauty of the Presidio. Explore centuries of architecture. Reflect in a national cemetery. Walk through an historic airfield, forests, or to beaches, and admire spectacular vistas.

Presidio website

The museum of science, art and human perception. Online since 1993, the Exploratorium was one of the first science museums to build a site on the World Wide Web. The site contains over 18 thousand award-winning Web pages exploring hundreds of different topics.

Exploratorium website

Golden Gate National Parks chronicle two hundred years of history, from the Native American culture, the Spanish Empire frontier and the Mexican Republic, to maritime history, the California Gold Rush, the evolution of American coastal fortifications, and the growth of urban San Francisco.

Golden Gate National Parks website

Fort Point protected San Francisco harbor from Confederate & foreign attack during & after the U.S. Civil War. Its beautifully arched casemates display the art of the master brick mason from the Civil War period.

Fort Point National Historic Site website

A close-up look at the site of the first lighthouse and US fort on the West Coast, the infamous federal penitentiary long off-limits to the public, and the 18 month occupation by Indians of All Tribes which saved the tribes. Rich in history, there is also a natural side to the Rock - gardens, tide pools, bird colonies, and bay views beyond compare.

Alcatraz Island website

Festival marketplace near Fisherman's Wharf offers shopping and dining guides, departures for Alcatraz tours, and the sea lions.

Pier 39 website

Wax Museum at Fisherman's Wharf website

The Education Department supports the conservation mission of the Zoo by offering experiences that inspire an appreciation of wildlife and an understanding of our relationship to the natural world. There are children's programs for toddlers through 12-year-olds, featuring a rich array of activities such as wildlife crafts and games, keeper talks, Zoo tours, close-up animal encounters, and a Junior Keeper Club for youths interested in animal careers.

San Francisco Zoo website

A multimedia arts and technology museum with a mission to foster creativity and innovation in young people of all backgrounds, communities and learning styles. By providing hands-on experiences in four core creative processes (animation, sound and video production, live performance and visual arts), we encourage youth to share their stories, build their voices, and use multimedia tools for creative self-expression.

Zeum website

USS Pampanito (SS-383) is a World War II Balao class Fleet submarine museum and memorial that is open for visitors daily at San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf.

USS Pampanito website

Celebrates the history of rail transit in San Francisco and explores its significant impact on the quality of urban life in this great city throughout its storied history.

San Francisco Railway Museum website

Houses a collection of historic cable cars, photographs, mechanical displays and gift shop run by the Friends of the Cable Car Museum - a nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation of cable car history.

Cable Car Museum website

Virtual field trip online The new Academy's building will feature many exciting exhibits including the Rainforest, Pendulum, Planetarium, California Coast, Swamp, and more.

California Academy of Science Center website

From Candlestick Point State Recreation, visitors can enjoy panoramic views of the San Francisco Bay, the East Bay Hills,San Bruno Mountain as well as relax in the peaceful scenery of the park itself. Its location on the western shoreline of the San Francisco Bay provides a variety of recreational opportunities from windsurfing, fishing, bird watching and walking. The trails, group picnic sites and fishing piers at this urban park offer a get-away of open space and outdoor activities. Candlestick Point SRA was the first California State Park unit developed to bring state park values into the urban setting. From historic wetlands to landfill to landscaped park, Candlestick Point demonstrates major land use changes of the San Francisco Bay. Its name is derived from 19th century locals who thought the burning of nearby abandoned sailing ships and their flaming masts in the bay resembled lighted candlesticks.

Candlestick Point State Recreation Area website

The museum building was constructed in 1812 of adobe brick with a tiled roof. Originally, it was used as sleeping quarters for the mission fathers, and for storing books, some dating back to the early 1500s.

San Gabriel Mission Museum website

This off road area has challenging hill-type trail riding, hill-climbs and a professionally designed motocross track available. Elevations are up to 1,800 feet. It is a motorcycle, all-terrain vehicle, and (limited) four-wheel drive area. The park also has a four wheel drive obstacle course and a Observed Trials area.

Carnegie State Vehicular Recreation Area website

History San Jose aspires to provide innovative national leadership in preserving and sharing regional history by engaging diverse audiences in exploring the varieties of human experience that contribute to the continuing history of San Jose and the Santa Clara Valley.

History San Jose website

Textile art transcends cultural, ethnic, age and gender boundaries and encompasses traditional as well as contemporary forms. The museum provides a serious venue for all artists working with textiles, filling a void left by larger institutions with a narrower view of what defines artistic expression. Its exhibits and programs promote the appreciation of quilts and textiles as art and provide an understanding of their role in the lives of their makers, in cultural traditions, and as historical documents.

San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles website

Sarah Winchester built a home that is an architectural marvel. Unlike most homes of its era, this 160-room Victorian mansion had modern heating and sewer systems, gas lights that operated by pressing a button, three working elevators, and 47 fireplaces. From rambling roofs and exquisite hand inlaid parquet floors to the gold and silver chandeliers and Tiffany art glass windows, you will be impressed by the staggering amount of creativity, energy, and expense poured into each and every detail.

Winchester Mystery House website

The Tech Museum of Innovation is a hands-on technology and science museum for people of all ages and backgrounds.

The Tech - Museum of Innovation website

Architecturally inspired by the Temple of Amon at Karnak, the museum houses the largest collection of Egyptian artifacts on exhibit in the western United States -- including objects from pre dynastic times through Egypt's early Islamic era.

Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum & Planetarium website

Tours of the San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles are comprised of a 45-minute docent-led gallery tour and a 45-minute textile-based hands-on art activity. Each participant will have the chance to take their own personal artwork home after the tour. Tours are for K-12 students. The tour fee is $100 for a minimum of 10 students and a maximum of 30 students. Chaperones and teachers are free

San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles website

One of the largest museums of its kind in the nation, CDM's 150 interactive exhibits lead visitors to explore, understand and enjoy the world in which they live.

Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose website

Exists to provide an affordable, sustainable, conservation-centered outdoor adventure for families with children.

Happy Hollow Park and Zoo website

Inviting children and their families to visit the museum. The San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles offers tours and participatory activities that focus on textiles, quilts, and sewing.

This park is part of a nationally recognized historic landmark and can be found adjacent to the extant portion of one of California's 21 Spanish era mission church sites. The park and its Plaza represent what was once the "town square" of the largest town in central California and was a vital crossroad for travel between northern and southern California. In the park visitors can gain an appreciation of California peoples, from Native Americans, through the Spanish and Mexican cultural influences, right up to the American period in the late 19th century.

San Juan Bautista State Historic Park website

This park features expansive views of Monterey Bay, from its hiking trails in the grasslands of the higher peaks of the Gavilan Range. Other views include the San Benito Valley, Salinas Valley, and the Santa Lucia Mountains east of Big Sur. Pine and oak woodlands in the park are home to many birds and mammals. There are camping and picnic facilities in the park. The park also features an astronomical observatory with a 30-inch telescope, which is open for public programs on selected evenings.

Fremont Peak State Park website

San Juan Capistrano is Orange County's oldest community. It's the birthplace of Orange County and home to its oldest traditions. It has its swallows, history, legends, storybook heroes, and beautiful archeological monuments. Most of that history is wrapped up and epitomized by our living historic landmarks, the most beautiful and best known of the California missions, old Mission San Juan Capistran

Mission San Juan Capistrano website

Hundreds of animals to pet, feed, love and learn from.

Zoomars Petting Zoo website

The purpose of the Estero Bay property, in San Luis Obispo County, is to preserve and protect a rich, diverse and particularly scenic area of the Pacific Ocean coast, with sea stacks and intertidal areas, a substantial area of wetlands, low bluffs and coastal terraces punctuated by a number of perennial and intermittent streams, and containing a pocket cove and beach at Villa Creek. The property's rich diversity of habitat types includes marine, intertidal, estuarine, riverine, coastal salt marsh, freshwater marsh, coastal foredune, coastal and riparian scrub and grassland, collectively providing habitat for a number of endangered species, including the snowy plover. The property includes Native American occupancy sites.

Estero Bay website

The Library's rare books and manuscripts constitute one of the world's largest and most extensively used collections in America outside of the Library of Congress. The Art Collections are distinguished by their specialized character and elegant settings in three separate galleries. A fourth space, the MaryLou and George Boone Gallery, hosts changing exhibitions. The Botanical Gardens are divided into more than a dozen thematic areas on 120 acres and include more than 15,000 different species of plants. Research and Education The Huntington serves nearly 2,000 scholars each year from all over the world conducting advanced research in the humanities.

The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens website

CuriOdyssey houses a collection of fascinating hands-on exhibits that let children and adults alike experience the wonder of science and nature.

CuriOdyssey website

The beach has a mile-long shoreline with sandy coves, rocky cliffs, tide pools, fishing spots and picnic facilities. Across the highway is Pescadero Marsh Natural Preserve, a popular spot for bird watchers and other naturalists. The Reserve is a refuge for blue heron, kites, deer, raccoons, foxes and skunks.

Pescadero State Beach website

To preserve and protect a substantial area on the western slope of the central Coast Range inland from Ano Nuevo Point. The property contains a diversity of plant communities, including old growth forest freshwater marsh, red alder riparian forest and knobcone pine forest. Its four perennial streams support steelhead trout and coho salmon, and its wetlands are habitat to the rare San Francisco garter snake and red-legged frog. Cultural resources include the remnants of a prehistoric Native American village site and a number of structures from the nineteenth century Cascade Ranch.

Ano Nuevo State Park website

Discover the underwater world of Southern California...Cabrillo Marine Aquarium is a non-profit public aquarium which engages all visitors in education, recreation and research to promote knowledge, appreciation and conservation of the marine life of Southern California.

Cabrillo Marine Aquarium website

Dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of the history of Fort MacArthur, a U.S. Army post which guarded the Los Angeles harbor from 1914 to 1974. The Museum was established in 1985, and it is housed in the corridors and galleries of historic Battery Osgood-Farley. The Fort MacArthur Reservations hold an important collection of historical structures which were part of the U.S. Army's role in the defense of the American continental coastline from invasion. These structures clearly trace the development of American coastal defenses, from the all big gun era of the turn of the century to the missile era of today.

Fort MacArthur Museum website

The Los Angeles Maritime Museum creates an awareness and appreciation of the maritime history of coastal California, with an emphasis on the people and institutions of the port city of Los Angeles. The Museum is located in the 1941 Municipal Ferry Terminal, now on the National Register of Historic Places. From 1941-1963, a ferry system transported thousands of passengers to the canneries and military bases on Terminal Island, where they could also make connections to neighboring cities and towns.

Los Angeles Maritime Museum website

The Muller House Museum offers visitor guided tours, monthly exhibits, discussions of historical interest and special events. The house, purchased by shipbuilder William Muller, sits on a bluff overlooking San Pedro Bay.

Muller House website

Founded in 1935, the Marin History Museum celebrates the traditions of innovation and creativity of the people of Marin County. Through exhibitions and educational programs, the Museum inspires honor for the past, an understanding of the present, and an imagination of the future. Explore the links on the left side of this page to learn more about the Marin History Museum.

Marin History Museum website

The park has a natural watershed along the shores of San Francisco Bay. Features include an extensive intertidal salt marsh, meadow and oak habitats, that are home to a variety of wildlife, including deer, squirrels and numerous birds. A Chinese shrimp-fishing village thrived on this site in the 1880s. Nearly 500 people, originally from Canton, China, lived in the village. In its heyday, there were three general stores, a marine supply store and a barber shop. Fisherman by trade in their native country, they gravitated to the work they knew best. Over 90% of the shrimp they netted were dried and shipped to China or Chinese communities throughout the US.

China Camp State Park website

The beach is located near the historic town of San Simeon along Highway One and gives visitors the opportunity to hike, swim, fish and beachcomb. A popular beach spot, this protected cove also offers visitors pier fishing and deep-sea fishing from chartered boats. Ocean kayaking is also popular.

William Randolph Hearst Memorial State Beach website

La Cuesta Encantada, "The Enchanted Hill" high above the ocean at San Simeon, was the creation of two extraordinary individuals, William Randolph Hearst and architect Julia Morgan. Their collaboration, which began in 1919 and continued for nearly 30 years, transformed an informal hilltop campsite into the world-famous Hearst Castle -- a magnificent 115-room main house plus guesthouses, pools, and 8 acres of cultivated gardens.

Hearst San Simeon State Historic Monument website

Bowers Museum and Kiseum offer a wide variety of tour options and art classes for pre K-12 students visiting the museum

Bowers Museum Of Cultural Art website

The landmark Old Orange County Courthouse is Southern California's oldest court building, and as such has been witness to many of the events which shaped present day Orange County. From its dedication in 1901, this granite and sandstone building has been the traditional home of county government. Today the 30,000-square foot building has been restored to look much as it had at the turn of the last century. The building contains the Orange County History Center (which includes the Old Courthouse Museum, the Orange County Archives, and the library of the Pacific Coast Archaeological Society) as well as government offices. The building is on the National Register of Historic places and is a State of California Historic Landmark.

Old Orange County Courthouse website

The galleries' programming works in to provide students with art shows of prominent Southern California artists, to encourage participation and discussion in the art viewing community at large and to further enrich the cultural landscape of Santa Ana.

Santa Ana College Art Galleries website

Discovery Science Center is Orange County's leading Science Center specializing in hands-on science fun

Discovery Science Center website

Victorian gem tucked away in west Santa Ana. The historic plaza features several buildings from the 1890s set among extensive gardens and citrus groves. Among these is the Kellogg House, familiar to teachers and students throughout Orange County as a favorite field trip destination for nearly 25 years.

Centennial Heritage Museum website

The Bowers Kidseumv is both an interactive children's museum and learning center, serving as an extension of the main Bowers Museum. It offers multi-faceted art and cultural experiences for young children, their families and the community. Primarily dedicated to the pre-school and early elementary age, Kidseum's central focus is providing a 'hands-on' experience in keeping with the museum's mission to 'promote education and understanding by bringing the world's great cultural art to people of all ages'.

The Bowers Kidseum website

Come and learn aboard the 110' schooner Mystic Whaler in Channel Islands Harbor, Oxnard! Central Coast Ocean Adventures Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit committed to utilizing adventure through sailing and the sea to promote STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) comprehension, environmental stewardship, teamwork, self-confidence, and nautical skills.

The Tall Ship Mystic Whaler website

Visitors find in each of our parks a distinctive spirit that may stimulate or soothe, but is sure to satisfy. Cool redwood groves, wide open lawns for recreation, the picturesque Pacific, and two of California's most sought-after campgrounds. The assortment of landscapes and things to do is rather astounding. And then, of course, there is the option of kicking back and doing nothing at all.

Cachuma Lake Recreation Area website

Lotusland is a unique 37-acre estate and botanic garden situated in the foothills of Montecito to the east of the city of Santa Barbara. Explore our site and learn more about the many facets of Lotusland, including its intriguing history, exceptional gardens, outstanding educational programs and innovative horticultural practices. Learn also how you can help to preserve this oasis of beauty and tranquility for generations to come.

Lotusland website

The Story of Santa Barbara is the Museum's signature exhibition that tells our region's story from the age of the Chumash to the Space Age. Showcasing treasures from the collections, The Story of Santa Barbara fills three of the Museum's four galleries and offers visitors the opportunity to learn about the people who have called our region home for more than 14,000 years. Native American, Mexican, African-American, Italian, Chinese, Japanese and Vietnamese people have contributed to Santa Barbara's rich cultural heritage and ethnic diversity. They brought with them unique skills, foods and religious beliefs as well as their distinctive architecture, tools, clothing and objects of everyday life that are highlighted in our exhibition.

Santa Barbara Historical Museum website

As fellow educators, we invite you to use the Santa Barbara Museum of Art as a teaching resource. Learning through art is a powerful way to enhance the curriculum at every grade level. SBMA school programs emphasize verbal and visual literacy and link with the curriculum in language arts, social studies, and visual arts at each grade level.

Santa Barbara Museum of Art website

Main Campus: Set on eleven oak-shaded acres in historic Mission Canyon and crossed year-round by Mission Creek, the Museum campus features a cluster of Spanish-style buildings and easy nature walks. Sea Center: Located on Stearns Wharf, the Sea Center offers a window on the Santa Barbara Channel, numerous marine exhibits and aquaria.

Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History website

The University Art Museum is dedicated to creating a dynamic environment for the exploration of art and design.

University Art Museum website

Education is at the heart of our mission at the Santa Barbara Zoo. Through exhibits, graphics, interpretation, and programs, we hope to inspire guests about the wonders of the natural world.

Santa Barbara Zoo website

This is the site of the oldest building in Santa Barbara and the second oldest in California. Visitors can step back and view this historic site surrounded by modern buildings. El Cuartel, the oldest existing building in Santa Barbara, is all that remains of the last of four Royal Presidios (Spanish military outposts) built in Alta California.

El Presidio de Santa Barbara State Historic Park website

The de Saisset Museum at Santa Clara University

de Saisset Museum website

The Triton Museum of Art exists both to embrace and expand the lives of the people of Santa Clara County and the Greater Bay Area through a program of art, education and community involvement.

Triton Museum of Art website

California's Great America Theme Park website

"Home of the Hollywood Movie Trains". Exceptional dinner train service, Murder Mystery Theatre, and weekend excursion trains.

Fillmore & Western Railway website

Whether it's for a reward, end-of-year celebration or educational experience, California's Great America provides the perfect adventure for your students. Take your lesson plan on the road and show how your lessons apply to the world around us. Tickets may be purchased online or by mail, phone or fax.

California's Great America website

Also known as Point Santa Cruz, this area forms the northern boundary of Monterey Bay. It is one of the last open headlands in any California urban area. Surfers, tourists, birds - including the rare Black Swift and wintering Monarch butterflies are drawn to this area. Sea lions populate the offshore rocks. This is one of the places where Monarch butterflies winter along the California coast. Monarchs are unique because they migrate each winter to avoid freezing weather. The Monarchs wintering here, come from the west of the Rocky Mountains. Monarchs east of the Rockies go to central Mexico for the winter. The lighthouse is home to California's first surfing museum and is the location each Christmas for "Caroling Under the Stars," a Santa Cruz tradition which attracts hundreds of locals and visitors.

Lighthouse Field State Beach website

This beach, with its famous natural bridge, is an excellent vantage point for viewing shore birds, migrating whales, and seals and otters playing offshore. Further along the beach, tidepools offer a glimpse of life beneath the sea. Low tides reveal sea stars, crabs, sea anemones, and other colorful ocean life. The park also includes a large area of coastal scrub meadows, with bright native wildflowers in the spring. Moore Creek flows down to the ocean through these meadows, forming a wetlands in the sand.

Natural Bridges State Beach website

Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park is the site of a complex of buildings erected around the original Santa Cruz Mission. Part of the cluster, the Neary-Rodriguez Adobe was built in 1791 and is the last of the mission's many buildings to survive. The lovely, single-story adobe has been restored to its original appearance. Mision la Exaltacion de la Santa Cruz was the 12th mission built in California. It was completed during the 1790s. Damaged by several earthquakes, it collapsed in 1857.

Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park website

The beach has a mile of sandy shoreline, popular for swimming and picnicking. The park's adjacent Schwan's lake is a good location for bird watching.

Twin Lakes State Beach website

The park has 34 miles of hiking, biking and equestrian rails winding through coastal terraces and valleys. Several restored buildings once belonging to the Wilder family are preserved. The park has tours and living history demonstrations to help visitors explore the history of early ranchers and farmers along the Central Coast. The site was originally the main rancho supplying Santa Cruz Mission. It later became a successful and innovative dairy ranch. Surrounding grounds include Victorian homes, gardens, and historic adobe.

Wilder Ranch State Park website

UCSC Arboretum website

The Museum of Art & History is a non-profit educational institution that promotes a greater understanding of contemporary art and the history of Santa Cruz County, through its exhibitions, collections, and programs, for the benefit of residents and visitors to Santa Cruz County.

The Museum of Art & History @ the McPherson Center website

The Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History exists to foster relationships between people and nature, and to inspire stewardship of the natural world. Enjoy FREE Admission at the Museum every First Thursday of the Month!

The Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History website

The museum has an extensive library of historical reference material including books, maps, materials from the Santa Maria Geneological Society, and a collection of more than 5,000 photographs in a database. The museum volunteers will be happy to help you research local history, events, and family.

Santa Maria Valley Historical Society & Museum website

The Santa Maria Valley Discovery Museum is a non-profit organization dedicated to serving schools, families and youth groups from all over the central coast of California.

Santa Maria Valley Discovery Museum website

This beach is two miles long, has a picnic area, shops and pier. Visitor activities include volleyball, basketball and a running strip along the beach.

Santa Monica State Beach website

Built in 1894 by nationally renowned architect Sumner P. Hunt. The museum is housed in the two-story house once belonging to Santa Monica founder, John Percival Jones. Open to the public since 1980, this Historic Landmark building offers exciting exhibitions and programs year round. The Museum features a series of rooms exemplifying periods from the late 1890s to the 1930s, specializing in the decorative arts. In addition, there are changing exhibits and displays that depict California's culture and history, as well as contemporary art by southern California artists. Guided tours are given. The Museum hosts lectures, workshops, concert series, and a major photo archives.

California Heritage Museum website

Welcome to the Santa Monica Historical Society Museum. Since 1975, we have been collecting, preserving, and promoting the history of Santa Monica. Visit us today and discover the colorful history of Santa Monica.

Santa Monica Historical Society Museum website

The first museum of its kind in Los Angeles, the Cayton Children's Museum offers 21,000 square feet of discovery-based exhibits, immersive play and discovery-based learning for children ages 0-10. With robust public programs, workshops, classes, camps, and arts and cultural activities offered seven days a week, the museum is designed around core universal values, giving children, youth and families a unique space to practice being their best selves.

Cayton Children's Museum website

"To educate the public of all ages in aviation and its history, both in general, and as it relates to Santa Paula, and to inspire, motivate and challenge the younger generation to carry on the dreams of our aviation pioneers."

Aviation Museum of Santa Paula website

From fossils to fill 'er up, the California Oil Museum tells the story of the black bonanza that created wealth, work, and prosperity for generations of Californians. Operated by the City of Santa Paula Community Services Department, the Museum highlights the inner workings of the state's black gold industry through interactive displays, videos, working models, games, photographs, restored gas station memorabilia, and an authentic turn-of-the-century cable-tool drilling rig. Visitors can exercise their wits and luck as California wildcatters, see how the Indians used natural oil seeps, watch a miniature drilling rig bore into the earth, and explore the memorable brands of gas bought by early California car drivers. The Lundgren and Bennett Collections of gas station memorabilia are one of the largest displays of vintage gas pumps in California. In addition to the permanent petroleum exhibits, the Museum presents new exhibits of science, transportation, history, and art throughout the year. Lundgren Park is located on the Museum grounds and is available for picnics.

California Oil Museum website

For wildflower lovers, Annadel Park offers a great variety of flowers from early Spring until early Summer, especially on a hike around Lake Ilsanjo. The best months to see the park's wildflowers are April and May, but there are some plants in bloom as early as January and as late as September.

Annadel State Park website

The mission of the Charles M. Schulz Museum and Research Center is to preserve, display, and interpret the art of Charles M. Schulz.

Charles M. Schulz Museum website

Located in Bussman Hall on Santa Rosa Junior College's Santa Rosa Campus. The SRJC Museum houses collections of ethnographic art from throughout the Americas and parts of Africa, Asia, and the Pacific. Permanent exhibits include the following: Pomo Roundhouse Model and Basketry,Plains and Plateau, Southwest Jewelry, Hopi Pueblo Model with Kachina Dolls, and Pueblo Pottery. There are a number of rotating, temporary exhibits that change on a regular basis to serve the needs of Santa Rosa Junior College classes. These temporary exhibits include additional Native North American art, Mesoamerican and South American art, Hispanic art, African and African-American art, and Asian art.

SRJC Museum website

Discover the Home, Greenhouse, and Gardens where the famed horticulturist, Luther Burbank, experimented with plants for most of his 50-year career. This unique city park is located at the corner of Santa Rosa and Sonoma Avenues in Santa Rosa, California - across the street from City Hall and Juilliard Park. The Carriage House Gift Shop and Museum is open April through October. The grounds are open daily from 8:00 a.m. to dusk year-round for self guided tours and reserved Group tours. For information about walk-in Docent tours, Audio tours, and the Gift Shop and Museum during April through October

Luther Burbank Home & Gardens website

Founded in 1989, the Pacific Coast Air Museum (PCAM) is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the acquisition, restoration, safe operation and display of historical aircraft and provides an educational venue for students and the community. We also intend to honor those heroic aviators who have contributed so much to the growth and defense of our way of life.

Pacific Coast Air Museum website

The Sonoma County Museum celebrates and interprets the region's rich history, art, and culture by exhibiting and collecting relevant objects and artworks, by serving as a vital community gathering place, and by inspiring visitors with dynamic experiences that engage, educate, and enlighten.

Sonoma County Museum website

The Santa Ynez Valley Historical Museum and Parks- Janeway Carriage House celebrate the rich history of the Santa Ynez Valley, its pioneering settlers and the five early townships that formed the foundation of this unique region. Through its collection, exhibits and educational programs, the Museum honors the Valley's past for the enjoyment of generations to come.

Santa Ynez Valley Historical Museum and Parks website

Hands-on education with a focus on history, music, art, agritourism, and adventure! Hayrides, hoedowns, cider pressing, petting zoo, archery, tomahawks, candle dipping, jug band instruments, gardening, and more! Open to all ages. Pricing varies depending on event and size of group, but can be as low as $10.

Fort Cross Old Timey Adventures website

The Saratoga Historical Foundation offers educational programs at the Museum and McWilliams House. These programs are targeted for 3rd and 4th grade California History/Social Studies Standards, but can be adapted for adults, scouts, and other groups upon request. Contact Linda Hagelin using the form below to schedule a program.

Saratoga Historical Foundation website

Along the crest of the Santa Cruz Mountains, Castle Rock State Park embraces coast redwood, Douglas-fir, and madrone forest, most of which has been left in its wild, natural state. Steep canyons are sprinkled with unusual rock formations that are popular with rock climbers. The forest here is lush and mossy, crisscrossed by 32 miles of hiking and horseback riding trails. These trails are part of an even more extensive trail system that links the Santa Clara and San Lorenzo valleys with Castle Rock State Park, Big Basin Redwoods State Park, and the Pacific Coast.

Castle Rock State Park website

The Mission of the Bay Area Discovery Museum is to engage, delight and educate children through exploration of and connection with the local environment and the diverse communities that live here.

Bay Area Discovery Museum website

State beaches are areas with frontage on the ocean, or bays designed to provide swimming, boating, fishing, and other beach-oriented recreational activities. This beach is a favorite place for surfers and tidepool watchers. Fishing is popular, too. The cities of Monterey and Seaside share the park, which has three separate beaches approximately a mile apart. The underwater area of the park attracts scuba divers. Visitors also enjoy kayaking, kite-flying and volleyball. The flat beach is an excellent place for beachcombing.

Monterey State Beach website

This recently opened State Park has a 1,500 foot trail to 4 miles of ocean beach with beautiful views of Monterey Bay. From the parking area visitors may also take a stroll on the new boardwalk to a bluff top viewing platform. Eight educational panels have been installed that will inform the public about the natural and cultural history of the park. Existing park roads are open to bicyclists, hikers and dogs on leash.

Fort Ord Dunes State Park website

Shafter Depot Museum website

Six miles west of Redding a row of old, half-ruined, brick buildings remind passing motorists that Shasta City, the lusty "Queen City" of California's northern mining district, once stood on this site. These ruins and some of the nearby roads, cottages, and cemeteries are all silent but eloquent vestiges of the intense activity that was centered here during the California gold rush.

Shasta State Historic Park website

Ahjumawi is a place of exceptional, even primeval, beauty. Brilliant aqua bays and tree studded islets only a few yards long dot the shoreline of Ja-She Creek, Crystal Springs, and Horr Pond. Over two thirds of the area is covered by recent (three to five thousand years) lava flows including vast areas of jagged black basalt. The Park can only be reached by boat. There are no public roads to it and private motor vehicles are prohibited within.

Ahjumawi Lava Springs State Park website

The Central Sierra Historical Society's purpose is to create and operate a historical society and museum for the purpose of preservation and display of the history, antiques, artifacts and historical memorbilia of the Central Sierra mountain area.

Central Sierra Historical Society website

The stamp mills are silent excepting two times each day when the Kentucky Mine stamp mill is once again brought to life to give folks on the twice daily tours of the mine and stamp mill a close up encounter with an operating stamp mill.

Kentucky Mine Historic Park and Museum website

As a Presidential library administered by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), the Reagan Library, under the authority of the Presidential Records Act, is the repository of presidential records for President Reagan's administration. Our holdings include 50 million pages of presidential documents, over 1.6 million photographs, a half million feet of motion picture film and tens of thousands of audio and video tapes. Additionally, the Library houses personal papers collections including documents from Reagan's eight years as governor of California.

Ronald Reagan Presidential Library website

The purpose of the Simi Valley Historical Society is to acquire, preserve, maintain, identify and mark historical buildings, sites and landmarks; to collect artifacts of historical significance; to provide and maintain a sanctuary for such artifacts; to provide for the public a reservoir of historical information; to encourage and continue research in the history of the area.

Strathearn Historical Park & Museum website

Pelican State Beach offers beautiful ocean views. This undeveloped site is on the Oregon border. The small, secluded beach is perfect for walking and beachcombing. The beach has the distinction of being the northern-most state beach.

Pelican State Beach website

Located on the San Diego Coast, which has been called the Riviera of the West, Cardiff State Beach has a gently sloping sandy beach with warm water. The site offers swimming, surfing and beachcombing.

Cardiff State Beach website

To collect, preserve and exhibit the history and Danish culture of Solvang and to promote the arts.

Elverhoj Museum website

Society volunteers have developed and operated this fine museum and its historically significant collections. In addition to displays and exhibits, the Museum has a book/gift shop and an archival library of historical documents and maps, books on local history, and thousands of photographs.

The Depot Park Museum website

Rocky promontories, panoramic views, kelp-dotted coves, and the dramatic sounds of pounding surf; open grasslands, forested hills, pristine prairies, and pygmy forests- you can experience all of these coastal wonders within the Salt Point State Park. With 20 miles of hiking trails, over six miles of rugged coastline, and an underwater park, you can enjoy a variety of picnicking, hiking, horseback riding, fishing, skin and SCUBA diving, and camping.

Salt Point State Park website

The Ancient Coast Redwood is the tallest living thing on our planet! Armstrong Redwoods preserves stately and magnificent Sequoia sempervirens, commonly known as the coast redwood. These trees stand together as a testament to the wonders of the natural world. The Grove offers solace from the hustle and bustle of daily life, offering the onlooker great inspiration and a place for quiet reflection. The reserve includes a visitor center, large outdoor amphitheater, self-guided nature trails, and a variety of picnic facilities.

Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve website

Here you will discover deep tree-lined ravines cooled by year round streams; grassy hillsides burnished golden by the heat of summer sun and turned emerald by plentiful winter rains; oak capped knolls that seem to float like islands on lakes of lowland fog; and rocky mountaintops that offer glimpses of the Pacific ocean. A paradise for the hiker and equestrian, Austin Creek rewards the explorer with twenty miles of trails and panoramic wilderness views, back-country camping, and Bullfrog Pond Campground- accessible by vehicle. The park's rugged topography, with elevations ranging from 150-1500 feet in elevation, offers a sense of isolation from the accustomed sights and sounds of civilization.

Austin Creek State Recreation Area website

Fort Ross was a thriving Russian-American Company settlement from 1812 to 1841. This commercial company chartered by Russia's tsarist government controlled all Russian exploration, trade and settlement in the North Pacific, and established permanent settlements in Alaska and California. Fort Ross was the southernmost settlement in the Russian colonization of the North American continent, and was established as an agricultural base to supply Alaska. It was the site of California's first windmills and shipbuilding, and Russian scientists were among the first to record California's cultural and natural history. Fort Ross was a successfully functioning multi-cultural settlement for some thirty years. Settlers included Russians, Native Alaskans and Californians, and Creoles (individuals of mixed Russian and native ancestry.)

Fort Ross State Historic Park website

Washoe Meadows State Park consists of meadows and woodlands in the valley at the base of the escarpment leading to Echo Summit. The park was named for the Native Americans who inhabited the area for thousands of years. The park lands have not been developed

Washoe Meadows State Park website

The grandeur of the parks and their setting is a product of successive upheavals of the mountain-building processes that raised the Sierra Nevada. From promontories such as Rubicon Point in D.L. Bliss State Park you can see over one hundred feet into the depths of Lake Tahoe.

D. L. Bliss State Park website

n 1969, Emerald Bay was designated a National Natural Landmark for its brilliant panorama of mountain-building processes and glacier carved granite. The natural beauty, geology and history of this unique island make it one of the highlights of any visit to the Lake Tahoe area. The park features Vikingsholm, one of the finest examples of Scandinavian architecture in the western hemisphere. The "Tea House" on Fannette Island, the only island to be found in all of Lake Tahoe.

Emerald Bay State Park website

Ringed by mountains, Lake Valley State Recreation Area features a championship 18-hole golf course. Since the elevation is over 6,000 feet, shots carry farther in the thin mountain air. In the winter, the recreation area has snowmobiling and cross country skiing.

Lake Valley State Recreation Area website

Old Spanish National Historic Trail website

The Silverado Museum, which houses one of the world's most distinguished collections of Stevensoniana, opened its doors to the public on December 14, 1969, thus commemorating the 75th anniversary of the death of the author of such beloved classics as Treasure Island, Kidnapped, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and A Child's Garden of Verses.

Silverado Museum website

The park is the site of a water-powered grist mill that was built in 1846. It was once the center of social activity as Napa Valley settlers gathered to have their corn and wheat ground into meal or flour. The mill remained in use until the early 1900s. The mill and its 36-foot water wheel are protected as a state historic landmark and have been partially restored. A trail connects the historic park to Bothe-Napa Valley State Park. Additionally, the park includes the site of the first church in the Napa Valley as well as the Pioneer Cemetery.

Bale Grist Mill State Historic Park website

Admission is free. Galleries, gardens, Cool Cafe, and bookshop are all accessible by wheelchair. Stanford University

Iris & B. Gerald Cantor Center for Visual Arts website

California rafting trips suitable for kids that make great family vacations, to extreme California white water rafting adventures for the expert, and everything in between. With so many rivers to choose from, we know we have the right California whitewater rafting or American River Rafting trip for you. We pride ourselves on the excellence of our well qualified and personable employees that will make any rafting trip something to remember.

Tributary Whitewater Tours website

This park preserves one of few intact examples of native grasslands on the floor of the Central Valley and is part of the larger Grasslands Ecological Area (GEA) of federal, state and private lands all managed for wildlife values. Several rare and endangered plant and animal species inhabit the park, including alkali sacaton, a native bunch grass, and the Delta button celery (Erynium racemosum) a state listed endangered species found in the flood plain of the San Joaquin River.

Great Valley Grasslands State Park website

Located at 16993 Skyway, this two-story building will also house the offices of the Historical Society. Next door is the Library. Behind the main buildings is a storage and Workshop building.

Stirling City Museum website

The impressive brick building has stood in the center of Stockton's lush Victory Park for almost 90 years. The beautifully remodeled art galleries feature fascinating works of art, from 19th and 20th-century masters to "Golden Age" illustrator J.C. Leyendecker, while our history galleries offer a glimpse into San Joaquin County's past. Every second Saturday the museum is open to all for free. Coloring pages, activities and other educational tools are available on the website. Private tours available by request for a small fee.

Haggin Museum website

.to experience California as it was 100 years ago. Take an electric train trip through the peaceful, picturesque Montezuma Hills over the original historic main line of the Sacramento Northern Railway. As a living history museum, the Western Railway Museum gives visitors the opportunity to ride authentic historic streetcars and interurban electric trains from all over California and the western United States.

Western Railway Museum website

The purpose of the Verdugo Mountains property, in Los Angeles County, is to preserve and protect as urban open space a remnant of natural lands located near the city of Glendale in the north portion of the heavily urbanized Los Angeles basin. The property, a geologically detached piece of the San Gabriel Mountains, offers vistas towards the main range and contains only a moderate level of its original biological diversity.

Verdugo Mountains Park Property website

Poverty Encounter is an award-winning 16,000 sq ft exhibit that takes you into four immersive environments in the developing world. After taking a simulated flight on an airplane, you will visit a dump in Guatemala City, walk the earthquake-damaged streets in Haiti, go inside a brickyard in Nepal, and enter an underground sewer in Romania. Each environment highlights the story of a real child living in these circumstances. Onsite tours include a service activity, allowing you to respond biblically by providing both help and hope to those in need. All ages welcome! Advance tickets are required.

Poverty Encounter at Children's Hunger Fund website

In Tahoe City, near shopping malls and restaurants. Views of Ponderosa and Jefferey pine groves from park. Metal bear-resistant food lockers are provided in each campsite and are required by law.

Tahoe State Recreation Area website

Burton Creek State Park is located on the outskirts of Tahoe City. Six miles of unpaved roadway are available for hiking and cross-country skiing.

Burton Creek State Park website

The Gatekeeper's Museum is a reconstruction of the original Gatekeeper's Cabin -- home of the water master who controlled the flow of water out of Lake Tahoe. It now showcases Tahoe history, from its Native inhabitants through the logging era and the establishment of the tourism industry at Lake Tahoe. Exhibits include Native American baskets, resort memorabilia, historical photographs, clothing, oral histories, maps, archival documents, newspapers and artifacts.

Gatekeeper's Museum website

A world-class collection of over 800 utilitarian and fine baskets from 85 tribes throughout California and western North America.

Marion Steinbach Indian Basket Museum website

Watson Cabin Curios still stands on the original site where the cabin was finished in 1909, and remains an outstanding example of turn-of-the-century construction. Built by Robert M. Watson and his son, Robert, it is the oldest building constructed onsite in Tahoe City and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The first residents of the Cabin were Robert, his wife Stella and their daughter, Mildred -- one of the first year-round Tahoe families. While the cabin is a testament to the simplicity of pioneer life, it was one of the first in Tahoe City to have indoor plumbing! Originally, the cabin contained a living room, kitchen and an outdoor porch. Upstairs there were 2 bedrooms, a sewing room, and amazingly, indoor plumbing in the bathroom! Eventually, the outdoor porch was extended and enclosed to make room for the family of three who lived here year-round.

Watson Cabin Curios website

To stimulate an interest in and an understanding of Lake Tahoe's rich maritime history through the highest standards of historic preservation, innovative interpretation and public education.

Tahoe Maritime Museum website

Ed Z'berg - Sugar Pine Point State Park contains one of the finest remaining natural areas on Lake Tahoe. With nearly two miles of lake frontage, the park has dense forests of pine, fir, aspen and juniper. Another attraction is the Hellman-Ehrman Mansion (also known as Pine Lodge), a summer home built in 1903 in a grove of pine and cedar. From the turn of the century until 1965, the lands of what is now Ed Z'berg - Sugar Pine Point State Park were owned by financier Isaias W. Hellman, and later by his daughter Florence Hellman. The mansion provides an interesting view into the lifestyles of the wealthy on Lake Tahoe.

Ed Z'berg - Sugar Pine Point State Park website

The purpose of the Ward Creek property, in Placer County, is to preserve and protect an area of undeveloped upland forest and meadowland south of Ward Creek, located on the west side of the Lake Tahoe Basin. The property includes frontage on Ward Creek and provides regional open space which offers connections to other public forest and recreation ands.

Ward Creek Park Property website

The museum houses many artifacts representing the period from the 1860's through the 1940's. Over 600 pictures are on display showing life as it was in the valley. Mannequins model clothing worn in the past.

Indian Valley Museum website

Tomo-Kahni State Historic Park: Kawaiisu Native American Village was created as a unit of California State Parks in 1993 to protect and preserve the integrity of the location. Nestled atop a ridge in the Tehachapi Mountains, overlooking Sand Canyon to the east and the Tehachapi valley to the west, Tomo-Kahni, or "Winter Village," was the site of a Kawaiisu (Nuooah) Village. Tour Information (Advance reservations are required). Due to the extremely sensitive nature of the site, Tomo-Kahni is available to the public by tour only. These tours are led by trained State Park Volunteers on weekends during the spring and fall months.

Tomo-Kahni State Historic Park website

Located on the corner of 3rd and C Streets in Tehama, the Tehama County Museum showcases much of Tehama Country's colorful and varied past. View mastodon tusks, a video of "Ishi, The Last Wild Indian in America," original railroad spikes, artifacts from the cattle and farming industries, and period clothing, furnishings and photographs. I

Tehama County Museum website

Woodson Bridge State Recreation Area is a beautiful oak woodland park nestled along the Sacramento River. A boat launch ramp located across the road in the county park makes for easy access to the river for those who enjoy water sports. A broad sand and gravel beach provides the opportunity to enjoy the sun and enjoy the Sacramento River. Another special feature of Woodson Bridge is the preserve. This dense native riparian forest is a winter home to the Bald Eagle and a summer nest site for the Yellow Billed Cuckoo. This jungle like grove displays some of the last remaining riparian habitat to be found in California.

Woodson Bridge State Recreation Area website

Take a step back in time and experience the rich history of the Temecula Valley from its discovery to today. A visit to the Temecula Valley Museum promises a fun and informational day for the entire family. Picnic facilities and a children's playground just outside the museum's front door in a picturesque park completes a pleasurable day.

Temecula Valley Museum website

Children of all ages are welcome in the home of Professor Phineas T. Pennypickle, Ph.D.- scientist, time traveler and inventor of wacky and wonderful contraptions that amaze, delight, and educate. Your whole family can explore together his secret passageways, puzzles, machines, and whimsical gadgets and gizmos.

Pennypickle's Workshop Children's Museum website

The Satwiwa Native American Indian Culture Center hosts cultural programs and workshops throughout the year. Offering a Junior Ranger program for children.

Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area website

These two parks testify to nature's size, beauty, and diversity: Immense mountains, rugged foothills, deep canyons, vast caverns, and the world's largest trees! The parks lie in the southern Sierra Nevada, east of the San Joaquin Valley. Activities vary greatly by season and elevation.

Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Park website

n the middle of San Francisco Bay sits Angel Island State Park, offering spectacular views of the San Francisco skyline, the Marin Headlands and Mount Tamalpais. The island is also alive with history. Three thousand years ago the island was a fishing and hunting site for Coastal Miwok Indians. It was later a haven for Spanish explorer Juan Manuel de Ayala, a cattle ranch, and a U.S. Army post. Access to the Island is by private boat or public ferry from San Francisco, Tiburon and seasonal service from Oakland and Alameda.

Angel Island State Park website

The Torrance Historical Society and Museum was founded in 1973, and the Museum opened its doors in 1979. The purpose of the Torrance Historical Society is to promote interest in and education in the history of Torrance and the San Pedro Rancho; to promote historical research in Torrance; to collect, acquire, preserve, conserve and make available records, data, photographs, oral history, and related documents and information bearing on the history of Torrance through the operation of a museum and archives. The Historical Society's mission includes the promotion of history through a Plaque Program, by placing bronze plaques on significant historic landmarks throughout our community. This program is widely recognized, and has been ongoing for the past 20 years.

Torrance Historical Society & Museum website

The Jimmy Doolittle Air and Space Museum Foundation, with its Education Museum Foundation, is registered as a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. It brings together historical, educational and technological resources to create programs which preserve our aviation heritage in building an air and space museum for all ages that embraces California aviation, Travis Air Force Base, the U. S. Air Force and the history of the Doolittle Tokyo Raiders.

Travis Air Museum website

It is a short hike through the woods, across open bluffs, and past seasonal wildflowers down to the beach. Low tide is the best time to visit.

Trinidad State Beach website

A reserve for western azalea (Rhododendron occidentale). Each spring, a profusion of pink and white blossoms scents the air. There is a picnic area available. Plan to visit in April and May when azaleas are in bloom.

Azalea State Natural Reserve website

A marshland habitat has returned and supports a rich variety of marsh plants, birds and other animals. There are day use only picnic areas at the visitor center and at the north end of Stone Lagoon on the beach. The park offers boating, fishing, beach combing, hiking

Humboldt Lagoons State Park website

Truckee's historic jail museum is one of only a few surviving 19th century jailhouses of its kind in the West and one of the few remaining original buildings in Truckee. The old Bastille was used continuously from 1875 until May 1964, and ably withstood the many fires that swept the town in its early days. Although jails are usually sturdy, Truckee's is a virtual strongbox. The original building consisted of just the lower level, constructed of native stone. The walls are 32 inches thick at the lower level, with no windows unless one counts the small vents for each cell, which are set with irregular rows of two-inch steel bars. The ceilings are plate steel, insulated with dirt, and lined with narrow gauge railroad tracks. All doors are riveted steel, weighing an estimated 200 pounds each.

Jail Museum website

Located in the beautiful Sierra Nevada, Donner Memorial State Park offers the summer vacationer opportunities for camping, picnicking, boating, fishing, water-skiing, and hiking. In winter, visitors can cross-country ski and snowshoe on trails and enjoy the season's beauty. Visitors are welcome year-round at the Emigrant Trail Museum and at the Pioneer Monument, built to commemorate those who emigrated to California from the east in the mid-1800's. Included in the museum are displays and information about one of the earliest pioneer wagon trains, the Donner Party, forced by circumstances to camp at the east end of Donner Lake in the winter of 1846-47, resulting in human suffering and loss of life.

Donner Memorial State Park website

The Tulare Historical Museum preserves and showcases the history of the City of Tulare serving as a cultural center for the community.

Tulare Historical Museum website

A land of turmoil, both geological and historical. Over the last half-million years, volcanic eruptions on the Medicine Lake shield volcano have created a rugged landscape dotted with diverse volcanic features. More than 700 caves, Native American rock art sites, historic battlefields and campsites, and a high desert wilderness experience await you!

Lava Beds National Monument website

A fascinating variety of plants and animals that make their home in this land shaped by strong winds, unpredictable torrents of rain, and climatic extremes. Dark night skies, a rich cultural history, and surreal geologic features add to the attraction of this place.

Joshua Tree National Park website

An art, history and anthropology museum focusing on the lifeworks of artist Grace Carpenter Hudson (1865-1937) and her ethnologist husband, Dr. John W. Hudson (1857-1936). Changing interdisciplinary exhibitions and public programs feature Western American art, California Indian cultures, histories of California's diverse North Coast region, and the work of contemporary regional artists.

Grace Hudson Museum website

Universal Studios Hollywood, The Entertainment Capital of L.A.SM, includes a full-day, movie-based theme park and Studio Tour, the CityWalk entertainment, shopping and dining complex, the Universal CityWalk Cinemas and the Gibson Amphitheatre concert and special event venue.

Universal Studios Hollywood website

Located in a quiet, tree-shaded Victorian neighborhood in historic downtown, the purpose of the museum is to collect and preserve artifacts relating directly to the history of Solano County and to promote an awareness and understanding of county history and culture by offering interpretive exhibits and associated programs, events and workshops.

Vacaville Museum website

Six Flags - Magic Mountain website

Moaning Caverns is home to the largest single cave chamber in California. The Spiral Chamber Tour leads visitors on a tour into the marble deposit of the Calaveras Formation over 165 feet before funneling into smaller passageways. Visitors may view the cavern's main chamber by walking and climbing the narrow wooden staircase to a flat platform 65 feet underground. For the truly athletic and adventurous, from there, a ten story spiral staircase leads down to a second platform at the base of the chamber.

Moaning Caverns website

Preserves and exhibits the diverse and exciting history of the City of Vallejo and the former U.S. Naval Shipyard at Mare Island. The Museum is located in Vallejo's historic Old City Hall and features five galleries devoted to community and U.S. Navy history.

The Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum website

This beach features swimming, surfing and picnicking. The beach has two miles of sandy beach, sand dunes, picnic sites, a parking lot, a snack bar and a beach-equipment rental shop. Bike trails connect other nearby beaches. The beach is the site for a number of special events, such as the Pirate Festival, triathlon, and volleyball tournaments. A 1,700-foot pier has a snack bar, restaurant and bait shop.

San Buenaventura State Beach website

Encompasses five remarkable islands (Anacapa, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, San Miguel, and Santa Barbara) and their ocean environment, preserving and protecting a wealth of natural and cultural resources. Isolation over thousands of years has created unique animals, plants, and archeological resources found nowhere else on Earth and helped preserve a place where visitors can experience coastal southern California as it once was.

Channel Islands National Park website

The Library Collections include over 140,000 items relating to Ventura County history.

Ventura County Museum, History & Art website

Emma Wood State Beach popular for swimming, surfing and fishing. Catches include perch, bass, cabezon and corbina. The Ventura River estuary is at the mouth of the Ventura River at the southeast end of the park. It attracts a variety of wildlife including raccoons, songbirds and great blue herons. Dolphins are occasionally seen just offshore. The park also features the crumbling ruins of a World War II coastal artillery site. The offshore Channel Islands can be seen from the beach.

Emma Wood State Beach website

he park is a motorcycle, four-wheel drive, and all-terrain vehicle use area. There are about 130 miles of marked trails for all levels of off-highway vehicle (OHV) operators and hikers, from flat and level trails to steep and narrow. Also, over 150 miles of National Forest off-road routes available.

Hungry Valley State Vehicular Recreation Area website

Preserving Our History At Tulare County Museum

Tulare County Museum website

The purpose of the Delta Meadows property, in Sacramento County, is to preserve and protect one of the last remaining areas of the northern Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta that exhibits remnants of the natural conditions that existed prior to Euro-American settlement. The property's waterways, located on the Pacific flyway and influenced by Pacific Ocean tides through the lower Sacramento River, contain permanent and seasonal water areas, as well as adjacent uplands that support a variety of riparian plant and animal life, including the river otter, the delta smelt and the Sacramento chub. The property contains Native American occupancy sites, as well as remnants of such early farming and ranching activities as slough dredging and levee building.

Delta Meadows website

Come and discover the history of agriculture in this area of the country - including the crops, people, artifacts and farming practices that have made the Pajaro Valley what it is today.

Agricultural History Project website

The Temple of the Forest Beneath the Clouds The temple is the oldest continuously used Chinese temple in California. On display are art objects, pictures, mining tools, and weapons used in the 1854 Tong War. This Taoist temple is still a place of worship and a fascinating look into the role played by Chinese immigrants in early California history. The temple was built in 1874 as a replacement for another that had burned.

Weaverville Joss House State Historic Park website

The objective of the Trinity County Historical Society is to discover, collect, preserve and disseminate knowledge about the history of Trinity County

Jake Jackson Museum & History Center website

Humboldt Redwoods State Park encompasses nearly 53,000 acres, of which over 17,000 are untouched old growth coast redwoods. Created in 1921 with the small Bolling Memorial Grove the park has grown over the years to include a diverse ecosystem including the entire Bull Creek watershed and the Rockefeller Forest, the largest remaining old growth redwood forest in the world. This is the third largest California State Park and protects an environment unique to anywhere else on earth.

Humboldt Redwoods State Park website

The Rinks offers special event packages for birthdays, field trips and group outings at all seven of their inline and ice rinks. Skating is a fun activity for all ages and abilities. Event packages include access to a private room, skate rentals and a private skating lesson! The Rinks offers group discounts as well as many public sessions during the week for smaller groups. Private rink rentals are also available.

The Rinks website

The park features redwoods and is a popular spot for salmon and steelhead fishing. The area is also a favorite place for hikers and picnickers.

Admiral William Standley State Recreation Area website

Whiskeytown National Recreation Area is located at the juncture of the Klamath Mountain range and the northern edge of the Sacramento Valley, making it home to a special collection of animal and plant life. Some of the park's features are Whiskeytown Lake, Shasta Bally (6,209 ft.) and numerous waterfalls, providing outdoor enthusiasts opportunities for water recreation, hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding.

Whiskeytown website

The rugged wilderness that once characterized the entire Mendocino Coast can still be explored and enjoyed in the Sinkyone Wilderness State Park. Since there are no main highways near the coast in this vicinity, the area has come to be called the "Lost Coast."

Sinkyone Wilderness State Park website

Discover, collect, preserve, and display objects, documents, photographs, literary or artistic works, and other articles or materials which may establish or illustrate the history of Whittier, the Whittier area, and the State of California

Whittier Historical Society and Museum website

The Sacramento Valley Museum Association is dedicated to collecting, preserving, and promoting interest in the historical development of the Sacramento Valley during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This collection strives to connect a rich multi-cultural history of the area with the community that has been built since and exists today.

Sacramento Valley Museum website

The sprawling complex includes galleries, archives, research libraries, classrooms, and an Engine House with two railroad tracks for display of historic train engines and equipment, and is adjacent to the Willits Branch Library, Roots of Motive Power, Inc., newly completed Gordon Logan Memorial Athletic Fields, Willits Skate Park, Willits Frontier Days Rodeo Grounds and Recreation Grove with outstanding picnic facilities and children's playground help make your visit a complete experience.

Mendocino County Museum website

An interesting collection of historical artifacts from this community and surrounding areas. In late 1998 the museum added a new wing to house the collection of bigfoot/sasquatch research material donated by the estate of the late Bob Titmus.

Willow Creek - China Flat Museum website

Drum Barracks served as the Union Army Headquarters for Southern California and the Arizona Territory from 1862-1871. The museum is housed in the last remaining wooden building from the 60 acre camp. Visitors take a guided tour through the restored residence to view Civil War era civilian and military furnishings, uniforms and weapons. There are permanent exhibitions on the Army's Camel Corp, Civil War Technology, Civil War Medicine, and California's Role in the Civil War. Tours are appropriate for all ages. Reservation are required for groups of six or more.

Drum Barracks Civil War Museum website

General Phineas Banning, an early entrepreneur in Los Angeles, is credited with developing the Los Angeles Harbor into a viable economic entity and naming the area Wilmington (he was from Delaware). Part of his estate has been preserved in this 20-acre park. (The picnicking possibilities here are excellent.) A 100-year-old wisteria, near the arbor, blooms in spring. You can see the interior of the house on an hour-long, docent-led tour that take you through each room and fills you in on how Banning conducted business from his home office, peered over his land from the top tower, entertained his guests, and kept his family in the most luxurious creature comforts of the day. The nearby gift shop offers crafts and decorative boutique items.

Banning Residence Museum website

100 years ago Picacho was a gold mining town with 100 citizens. Today the site is a State Park, popular with boaters, hikers, anglers and campers. The park offers diverse scenery, including beavertail cactus, wild burros, bighorn sheep and thousands of migratory waterfowl. (The park is on one leg of the Pacific Flyway.)

Picacho State Recreation Area website

The Woodland Opera House Theatre offers five Mainstage Productions from September to June. The theatre also has a Summer Melodrama Program, a Youth Theatre Camp in August of each year and a Young People's Theatre Program. With our School Outreach Program, the Woodland Opera House and Yolo County schools bring local classes, grades K-12, to the theatre for professional and Young People's Theatre performances. Special events and guest artists' programs are held at the Woodland Opera House throughout the year. The theatre also has numerous rental events by local organizations for the public's entertainment.

Woodland Opera House State Historic Park website

The Museum houses collections of furnishings and artifacts depicting the various eras from the 1850's to the 1930's. In addition to being a house museum there are changing exhibits on various subjects related to the history of Yolo County. The outbuildings contain displays of agriculture and everyday life of the same period. Feel free to visit us anytime during public hours.

Yolo County Historical Museum Gibson House website

It serves as the site for the Yorba Linda Heritage Museum where visitors can glimpse some of Yorba Linda's unique heritage. Each room depicts a different period or aspect of the area's history,from Indian times to the first settlement by the Yorba family, and into the modern age. The grounds are planted in California native plants, and a small replica of the original botanic garden is located on the east side.

Susanna Bixby Bryant Ranch Museum website

One of the first wilderness parks in the United States, is best known for its waterfalls, but within its nearly 1,200 square miles, you can find deep valleys, grand meadows, ancient giant sequoias, a vast wilderness area, and much more. That 95% of Yosemite is designated Wilderness? In Wilderness, you can experience unparalleled opportunities for solitude while visiting some of the most beautiful places on Earth.

Yosemite National Park website

Dedicated to promoting the cultural and environmental heritage of the Napa Valley. Our special, changing exhibits represent a diverse range of subjects from fine arts to history to natural sciences. We are committed to presenting exhibits that will entertain and educate our local community and visitors from around the world.

Napa Valley Museum website

The Siskiyou County Museum was built in 1950 by the county to collect, preserve, disseminate and interpret the history of the area for future generations. Located within one hour of Lava Beds National Monument, the Marble Mountain Wilderness Area, majestic 14,162 foot Mount Shasta, and numerous gold-bearing rivers, the Museum features exhibits detailing Siskiyou County's colorful history from Indian cultures to 20th century themes. The Museum is an interpretive center for the history of Siskiyou County and includes exhibits, programs, and a research library.

Siskiyou County Museum website

Welcome to the Community Memorial Museum's Virtual Exhibit. We invite you to take a look at some of the wonderful images in our collection. This is only a small sample of the archives from the Museum's collection. Our hope is that you will visit us at the Community Memorial Museum in Yuba City to learn more about Sutter County and its history.

Community Memorial Museum of Sutter County website

A U-pick apple farm offers 1800s themed activities. The activities are historical, educational, hands-on, and just plain FUN. Visitors enjoy Corn Husk Dolls, Frontier Cabin adventure, Rope Making, Gold Panning, Hayride, and Archery.

Riley's Apple farm website

Dedicated to the process of education by exploring the natural, artistic, and cultural heritage of the Morongo Basin and High Desert. The Museum seeks to inspire wonder, discovery, understanding, and responsibility in its community and visitors through exhibitions, programs, and collections in the arts, history, and natural sciences.

Hi-Desert Nature Museum website

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The Best Homeschool Field Trips Southern California by County

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Homeschooling is becoming increasingly popular in Southern California, and for good reason. Parents are taking control of their children's education and providing them with unique opportunities to learn, explore, and grow. One of the advantages of homeschooling is the ability to go on field trips and explore the world around us.

Homeschool Field Trips Southern California: Best Places to Visit

Southern California is a treasure trove of educational opportunities for homeschooling families. From museums to science centers, historical sites to amusement parks, there is no shortage of places to visit and learn. Homeschool field trips in Southern California can be a great way for children to learn hands-on and make connections between what they are learning at home and the world around them.

Parents take the initiative to seek out opportunities for their children to visit places where their children can learn hands-on. Sometimes, those field trips are organized so that large groups can attend. With so many options available, it can be overwhelming to decide where to go and what to see. However, with a little research and planning, homeschool field trips in Southern California can be an enriching and rewarding experience for both parents and children alike.

Homeschool Field Trips Southern California: Best Places to Visit

Understanding homeschool field trips.

Homeschool field trips are an important part of the homeschooling experience. These trips provide students with an opportunity to learn outside of the traditional classroom setting. Field trips can be a great way to reinforce concepts learned in the classroom or to introduce new topics and ideas.

Field trips are typically organized by homeschooling parents or groups. They can be planned to coincide with a specific unit of study or to provide a general learning experience. Homeschool field trips can be taken at any grade level and are often tailored to the specific needs and interests of the students.

Homeschool Field Trips Southern California: Best Places to Visit

Field trips can take many forms, from visiting museums and historical sites to attending live performances and participating in hands-on activities. These trips can be an excellent way to provide students with interactive learning experiences that they may not otherwise have access to.

Many schools and education programs also offer field trips as part of their curriculum. Homeschooling parents may be able to take advantage of these school programs to provide their children with additional learning opportunities. Independent study programs may also offer field trips as part of their education enrichment programs.

Overall, homeschool field trips can provide students with a unique and valuable learning experience. They can help to reinforce classroom concepts, introduce new topics, and provide an interactive learning environment.

Exploring Southern California

Southern California is a treasure trove of educational opportunities for homeschoolers. With its rich history, diverse culture, and stunning natural beauty, there is no shortage of Homeschool Field Trips Southern California to explore and things to learn. From San Diego to San Bernardino County, from Orange County to the Bay Area, there are countless field trip options for homeschoolers in Southern California.

San Diego is home to some of the region's best museums and cultural attractions. The San Diego Natural History Museum is a great place to learn about the area's unique flora and fauna, while the San Diego Air & Space Museum offers a fascinating look at aviation history. For a more hands-on experience, the New Children's Museum encourages creativity and imagination through interactive exhibits.

In San Bernardino County, Chino Hills State Park is a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts. With over 90 miles of trails, visitors can hike, bike, or horseback ride through the park's scenic landscape. The Amazon Fulfillment Center Tour in San Bernardino also offers a unique behind-the-scenes look at how the retail giant operates.

Homeschool Field Trips Southern California: Best Places to Visit

Orange County is known for its theme parks, but there are also plenty of educational opportunities to be found. The Ocean Institute in Dana Point provides an immersive experience for students to learn about marine life and ocean conservation. The Discovery Cube in Santa Ana combines science and fun with interactive exhibits and hands-on activities.

Northern California and the Bay Area offer even more opportunities for homeschoolers. The Bay Area Discovery Museum in Sausalito is a popular destination for families with young children, with its indoor/outdoor exhibits and programs. The California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco is a must-visit for science enthusiasts, with its aquarium, planetarium, and natural history museum.

Central California also boasts some unique field trip options. The Sierra Nevada Logging Museum in Arnold provides a glimpse into the region's logging history, while Calaveras Big Trees State Park offers a chance to explore the giant sequoias that call the area home.

Whether exploring the great outdoors or delving into history and culture, Southern California has something for every homeschooling family.

Homeschool Field Trips Southern California: Cultural and Historical Trips

Southern California is rich in culture and history, and there are plenty of field trip opportunities for homeschool families to explore. Here are some of the best cultural and historical trips in the area:

Southern California is home to many museums that offer educational and cultural experiences for homeschoolers. The  California Science Center  in Los Angeles is a great place to learn about science and technology, while the  Museum of Tolerance  in Los Angeles provides an in-depth look at the history of discrimination and prejudice. The  Getty Center  in Los Angeles is a world-renowned art museum that features an extensive collection of European paintings, sculptures, and decorative arts.

Homeschool Field Trips Southern California: Best Places to Visit

Historical Sites

There are many historical sites in Southern California that offer a glimpse into the past. The  Mission San Juan Capistrano  in San Juan Capistrano is a 200-year-old mission that provides a look at California's colonial past. The  Autry Museum of the American West  in Los Angeles explores the history of the American West, including cowboys, cattle ranching, and indigenous serrano Indians. The Mount Rubidoux Memorial Park in Riverside is a historic park that offers stunning views of the city and the surrounding mountains.

Homeschool Field Trips Southern California: Best Places to Visit

Southern California is home to many exhibits that provide a unique learning experience for homeschoolers. The  Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County  features exhibits on dinosaurs, mammals, and other natural wonders, while the  Petersen Automotive Museum  in Los Angeles showcases the history of the automobile. The  Bowers Museum  in Santa Ana features exhibits on world cultures and art, while the  Nixon Presidential Library and Museum  in Yorba Linda explores the life and presidency of Richard Nixon.

Homeschool Field Trips Southern California: Best Places to Visit

Southern California also has a rich history in the logging and gold mining era, as well as early winter sports. The  Big Bear Historical Museum  in Big Bear Lake is a great place to learn about the history of logging and fox farming in the area. The  Mammoth Ski Museum  in Mammoth Lakes explores the early days of skiing and snowboarding in California.

Overall, Southern California has a wealth of cultural and historical sites that provide educational and enriching experiences for homeschoolers.

Homeschool Field Trips Southern California: Science and Nature Experiences

Southern California is home to a variety of science and nature experiences that are perfect for homeschool field trips. These experiences can be both educational and fun, providing students with hands-on learning opportunities.

One of the most popular destinations for science and nature experiences is the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. This museum offers a wide range of exhibits and programs that cover topics such as dinosaurs, mammals, and the natural history of Southern California. The museum also offers field trips and educational programs for homeschoolers.

Another great option is the California Science Center, which features interactive exhibits on topics such as space exploration, ecosystems, and the human body. The center offers a variety of programs and workshops for homeschoolers, as well as field trip opportunities.

Homeschool Field Trips Southern California: Best Places to Visit

For those interested in outdoor experiences, there are a variety of state parks and nature centers throughout Southern California. Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park, for example, offers a glimpse into the history of California's gold rush, while Yosemite National Park provides opportunities for students to learn about the natural world and explore the great outdoors.

Animal lovers will also find plenty of opportunities for learning and fun. The Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach features a variety of marine life exhibits, while the Charles Paddock Zoo in Atascadero is home to a variety of animals from around the world.

Homeschool Field Trips Southern California: Best Places to Visit

Other science and nature experiences in Southern California include the Jet Propulsion Laboratory/NASA in Pasadena, the Placer Nature Center in Auburn, and the Audubon Center at Debs Park in Los Angeles. Whether exploring the natural world, learning about science and technology, or getting up close with animals, Southern California offers a wealth of opportunities for homeschool field trips.

Interactive Learning Opportunities

Southern California offers a wealth of interactive learning opportunities for homeschoolers. From community gardens to festivals and hands-on activities, there are plenty of ways to engage with the world around you and learn something new.

One great option for hands-on learning is the Fingerprints Youth Museum in Hemet. This museum offers a variety of interactive exhibits and programs designed for children ages 2-12. Homeschool groups can schedule docent-led tours and participate in hands-on programs that cover a range of topics, from science and technology to history and culture.

For those interested in marine life, the Pacific Ocean is just a short drive away. The Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach offers a variety of educational programs and exhibits, including shark and ray touch tanks. Homeschool groups can also take advantage of special events and programs, such as the annual Homeschool Day.

Theaters and museums are also great places to find interactive learning opportunities. The Kidspace Children's Museum in Pasadena offers a variety of hands-on exhibits and programs designed for children ages 1-10. The Ainsley House in Campbell offers docent-led tours of a historic home, while the Castle Air Museum in Atwater features a collection of military aircraft and artifacts.

For those looking for a more active learning experience, Irvine Park Railroad in Orange offers a variety of outdoor activities, including train rides, pony rides, and paddle boat rentals. Fiesta Village in Colton also offers a range of outdoor activities, including go-karts, mini-golf, and batting cages.

Homeschool Field Trips Southern California: Best Places to Visit

When planning a homeschool field trip, be sure to consider the needs of your group. Some venues may require chaperones or have specific rules regarding group size and behavior. It's also a good idea to check for any upcoming special events or promotions that may be of interest.

Overall, Southern California offers a wealth of interactive learning opportunities for homeschoolers of all ages. Whether you're interested in science, history, or the arts, there's something for everyone to explore and discover.

Making Reservations and Planning

When planning a homeschool field trip in Southern California, it is important to make reservations in advance to ensure availability. Many popular destinations, such as museums and theme parks, require reservations for groups, including homeschool groups.

To make reservations, visit the destination's website or call their visitor center. Most websites have a dedicated page for group reservations, where you can find information on group rates, available dates, and reservation procedures. Some destinations may require a minimum number of participants to qualify for group rates, so be sure to check the requirements before making reservations.

When planning a field trip, it is important to consider the age and interests of the students. Southern California offers a wide variety of educational and entertaining destinations, from museums and historical sites to theme parks and outdoor adventures. Consider the educational goals of the trip and choose a destination that aligns with those goals.

It is also important to plan for transportation and meals. Some destinations offer on-site dining options, while others may require students to bring their own lunches. If transportation is needed, consider renting a bus or coordinating carpooling with other families.

Overall, planning a successful homeschool field trip in Southern California requires careful planning and organization. By making reservations in advance, considering the interests of the students, and planning for transportation and meals, families can ensure a fun and educational experience for all.

With over 120 awesomely fun field trip ideas for kids of all ages, you're sure to find the perfect field trip to fit your elementary school's curriculum.

*** Denotes organizations that support and host home school days and events.

Disclaimer: Please contact the location regarding hours, admission price and any free days as these things may change without my knowledge. I will try to keep this list as updated as possible, but there are no guarantees! Various Locations in Southern California:

  • Inland Pacific Ballet, Various locations in So Cal -Inland Pacific Ballet's mission is to build and sustain a professional ballet company of national stature in the Inland Empire of Southern California.
  • Journeys to the Past , Various locations in So Cal – Journeys to the Past is a California Indian presentation that shows the beauty of our culture and ignites others to discover their own!This unique program takes students on a journey into the lifestyle of the California Indian, in particular the Acjachemen Nation, which flourished in Southern California hundreds of years before the Spanish influx.
  • *** Manassero Farm , Various locations in So Cal – The tradition of local, sustainable farming and providing our community with the very freshest produce.

Homeschool Field Trips Southern California: Santa Barbara County:

  • Santa Barbara Maritime Museum , Santa Barbara – Education programs include the Tall Ship Program, Science Night, monthly Lectures, and the Book Club.
  • Santa Barbara Museum of Art , Santa Barbara – We believe in the power of art to ignite imagination, stimulate thought, and generate personally rewarding experiences.
  • Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, Santa Barbara – More than 3.5 million artifacts and specimens in the fields of anthropology, archaeology, vertebrate and invertebrate biology, geology and paleontology, art, library, and archives.
  • South Coast Railroad Museum , Goleta – The South Coast Railroad Museum, in Goleta, Calif., focuses on the history, technology, and adventure of railroading. Special emphasis is placed on the railroad's contributions to local history, on the Southern Pacific Railroad, and on the key historical role of the railroad depot in rural community life across America.

Homeschool Field Trips Southern California: Ventura County:

  • Carnegie Art Museum , Oxnard – Originally Oxnard’s Carnegie Library, it was built in 1906 as one of the free public libraries funded by industrialist Andrew Carnegie.
  • Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Library , Simi Valley – Located in Simi Valley, California the Library houses over 55 million pages of Gubernatorial, Presidential and personal papers and over 40,000 gifts and artifacts chronicling the lives of Ronald and Nancy Reagan. It now also serves as the final resting place of America’s 40th President. It sustains the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum, the Center for Public Affairs, the Presidential Learning Center and The Air Force One Pavilion.

Homeschool Field Trips Southern California: Los Angeles County:

  • Arboretum of Los Angeles County , Arcadia – The Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden is a unique 127-acre botanical garden and historical site located in what was the heart of the historic Rancho Santa Anita in the city of Arcadia.
  • *** Aquarium of the Pacific , Long Beach – Home to more than 11,000 ocean animals, representing nearly 500 species, the Aquarium celebrates the planet’s largest and most diverse body of water: the Pacific Ocean.
  • Autry Museum of Western Heritage , Los Angeles – Featuring everything from Native American beadwork to historic firearms, our museum galleries tell the amazing stories of the American West.
  • Battleship Iowa , San Pedro/Los Angeles – A field trip to Battleship IOWA presents an array of entirely novel stimuli to the student. The features of a battleship compel their attention as it confronts them with features unprecedented in their experience.
  • *** Bolsa Chica Conservancy, Huntington Beach – Science-Based Education Programs for Grades K-5. Explore Human and Wildlife Connections at Bolsa Chica!
  • California Science Center , Los Angeles – The Science Center offers self-guided experiences of Permanent and Special Exhibit galleries, Big Lab interactive programs, and IMAX Movies at discounted prices for Field Trips and Groups of 15 or more.
  • Children's Maritime Foundation, Long Beach – Children's Maritime Foundation invites you to sail aboard American Pride, the 130ft historic tallship of Long Beach, CA.
  • Columbia Memorial Space Museum , Downey – The Columbia Memorial Space Center, located in Downey, California, is a hands-on learning center dedicated to bringing the wonder and excitement of science and innovation to audiences of all ages and backgrounds.
  • Craft and Folk Art Museum , Los Angeles – The Craft & Folk Art Museum engages people through its diverse exhibitions and programs that challenge established ideas about craft and folk art and inspire a sense of inquiry and creativity within all people.
  • Descanso Gardens , La Canada – Descanso Gardens visitors come in all ages. Avid gardeners stop to take note of plants, while “regulars” do their morning walk beneath the leafy oak canopy. Children scamper the paths and play “spot the squirrel,” while parents try to keep up.
  • Discovery Cube LA , Los Angeles – We INSPIRE and EDUCATE young minds through engaging SCIENCE-BASED programs and exhibits to create a meaningful IMPACT on the COMMUNITIES we serve.
  • Eco Station , Culver City – Non-profit environmental education and exotic wildlife rescue center, dedicated to the mission of preservation through education.
  • Environmental Learning Center at Hyperion, Los Angeles –  The City of Los Angeles created the Environmental Learning Center to teach children and adults about sustainable water and solid resources management.
  • Franklin Murphy Sculpture Garden , Los Angeles – Among the most distinguished outdoor sculpture collections in the country, featuring more than 70 modern and contemporary works set in five beautifully-landscaped acres of the UCLA campus.
  • Getty Museums , Los Angeles/Malibu – The education department at the J. Paul Getty Museum seeks to inspire all of our audiences to engage with our collection and exhibitions through programs and resources at the Getty Center and the Getty Villa.
  • Griffith Observatory , Los Angeles – Southern California’s gateway to the cosmos! Visitors can look through telescopes, explore exhibits, see live shows in the Samuel Oschin Planetarium, and enjoy spectacular views of Los Angeles and the Hollywood Sign.
  • Heritage Square Museum , Los Angeles – A living history museum that explores the settlement and development of Southern California from the Civil War to the early 20th Century, offering visitors a look into the everyday lives of Southern Californians at the close of the 19th Century.
  • Hollywood Museum , Hollywood – The Hollywood Museum, the official museum of Hollywood, has the most extensive collection of Hollywood memorabilia in the world.
  • Huntington Library and Gardens , San Marino – The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens is a collections-based research and educational institution established in 1919 by Henry E. and Arabella Huntington.
  • iFly Indoor Skydiving, Hollywood – An iFLY wind tunnel is a marvel of math, science and engineering that connects classroom learning to the real world. On a field trip to iFLY Hollywood, your students will conduct experiments, receive flight and safety training, fly in the wind tunnel, and learn all about the STEM concepts involved in their flight. No experience necessary!
  • Kidspace Children's Museum , Pasadena – The mission of Kidspace Children's Museum is nurturing the potential of all children through kid-driven experiences, inspiring them to become joyful, active learners.
  • Long Beach Museum of Art , Long Beach – The Museum’s Education Department works to promote life-long learning that nourishes creativity and fosters self-expression.
  • Los Angeles County Museum of Art , Los Angeles – Since its inception in 1965, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) has been devoted to collecting works of art that span both history and geography, in addition to representing Los Angeles's uniquely diverse population.
  • Los Angeles Maritime Museum , Los Angeles – Spend a day at the maritime museum! Discover the history of the harbor, enjoy a front-row view of busy ship traffic, and explore all that the Museum and San Pedro have to offer.
  • Melody Ranch Motion Pictures Studio Museum , Santa Clarita – The Melody Ranch Museum made its debut in the Spring of 2001, during the Cowboy Poetry & Music Festival. This Hollywood haven houses one of the world’s largest collections of one-of-a-kind movie memorabilia from the last nine decades. The Museum, located on the 22 acre movie studio lot, offers silver-screen fans an opportunity to experience movie sets in the old west, military camps, 1930s gangster settings, never-before-seen photos from movie and television shoots, vintage cars, military tanks and original props.
  • Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden , Los Angeles – The Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden (MEMBG) is a living museum, having special collections designed to assist the undergraduate teaching mission at UCLA and to augment the capability for research on campus.
  • Mt. Baldy Environmental Education Center, Arcadia – This award-winning interpretive center is an historic 1920's schoolhouse which has been renovated to include an indoor nature trail, local history room and gift shop. On site are the Mt. Baldy Environmental Education classroom, a native animal room, reproductions of a gold-mining camp and Native-American (Tongva-Gabrielino) village, as well as picnic tables and restrooms.
  • Museum of Contemporary Art , Los Angeles – MOCA is the only museum in Los Angeles devoted exclusively to contemporary art.
  • Museum of Neon Art , Glendale – The only museum in the world dedicated to neon, electric and kinetic art.
  • *** Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County , Los Angeles – Protects over 35 million specimens, dating back 4.5 billion years, and is a resource for Southern California teachers. An authority on the “big picture” of the planet, the natural and the cultural world. Tracks the Earth's biodiversity, because knowing what is out there is the first step to conservation.
  • Norton Simon Museum , Pasadena – The Norton Simon Museum is known around the world as one of the most remarkable private art collections ever assembled.
  • Rancho Los Cerritos , Long Beach – Rancho Los Cerritos Historic Site is a public museum open for tours, programs and events. Built in 1844, the adobe home and grounds echo with the rich history of Spanish, Mexican and American California and with the families who helped transform Southern California from its ranching beginnings to a modern, urban society.
  • The Petersen Automotive Museum , Los Angeles – The education programs are built around the curriculum of the California educational system, making The Petersen an excellent place to take children on a field trip.
  • *** Six Flags’ Magic Mountain , Valencia Enter promo code “HOMESCHOOL”
  • Six Flag's Valencia , Christian Family Night
  • Skirball Cultural Center , Los Angeles – O ne of the world's most dynamic Jewish cultural institutions and among the leading cultural venues in Los Angeles.
  • South Coast Botanic Garden , Palos Verdes – Unique from the start, South Coast Botanic Garden is one of the world’s first botanical gardens to be developed over a sanitary landfill. The Garden is a masterpiece of creative land reclamation and environment improvement for all to share.
  • UCLA Fowler Museum , Los Angeles – The Fowler Museum at UCLA explores global arts and cultures with an emphasis on works from Africa, Asia, the Pacific, and the Americas—past and present.
  • UCLA Hammer Museum , Los Angeles – The Hammer Museum at UCLA believes in the promise of art and ideas to illuminate our lives and build a more just world.

Related Post:

  • Descanso Gardens: A Tranquil Retreat Amidst Blooming Wonders

Homeschool Field Trips Southern California: San Bernadino County:

  • *** Amy's Farm , Ontario – Amy's Farm is a real working farm that provides hands-on, guided tours to school children of all ages.
  • Chino Creek Wetlands & Educational Park , Chino – Park features include wetlands and riparian habitat, trails, sampling stations, picnic areas, visitor’s center, parking, bridges, and an amphitheater.
  • Chino Youth Museum , Chino – Interactive learning to foster a better understanding of tomorrow through appreciation of yesterday and today.
  • Fontana Arts Program , Fontana – The Fontana Arts is focused on enriching and enhancing the quality of life for children, youth, and adult community members by providing an opportunity for personal inspiration, artistic expression and appreciation of the arts through events and activities in the Fontana Community.
  • Lincoln Memorial Shrine , Redlands – Utilizing some of our finest manuscripts, artifacts, and broadsides the Lincoln Memorial Shrine is proud to host a special exhibit commemorating the Bicentennial of Abraham Lincoln's birth.
  • Logan's Candies , Ontario – We've been making our signature candy canes and chocolates by hand for over 79 years. Come by and watch candy be made by hand.
  • Mile High Pines Christian Camp and Retreat Center , Angelus Oaks – The perfect camp for retreat, reflection, repentance and renewal.
  • Planes of Fame Air Museum , Chino – While the journey from 10 original aircraft to over 150 has been a long one, the mission has never changed.  It is the Mission of Planes of Fame Air Museum to preserve aviation history, inspire interest in aviation, educate the public, and honor aviation pioneers and veterans.
  • *** Riley's Apple Farm , Oak Glen/ Yucaipa – A U-pick apple, berry, and pumpkin farm with a wide variety of activities, including Frontier Cabin Adventure, Gold Panning, Hayride, Apple Cider Pressing, Archery, Kazoo Making, Rope Making, Corn Husk Doll Making, Corn Grinding, & Johnny Cake Baking (in a wood-burning oven!)
  • The Sawdust Factory , Uplands – A one-of-a-kind place where everyone  can experience painting and make unique woodcrafts.​ It is a great environment to explore your creativity, learn about wood, play with colors, paint, and have fun!​
  • Widnall Museum of Contemporary Art , Rancho Cucamonga – The Wignall Museum of Contemporary Art is a teaching museum that cultivates direct engagement with works of art in an interdisciplinary space through the presentation of exhibitions, education, and community programming to visitors of all ages.

Homeschool Field Trips Southern California: Orange County:

  • B.E.E. (Bixby Educational Events), Orange County – Bixby Educational Events was started in 2006, as way to bring the arts to the Home School community.
  • Bowers Museum Orange County , Santa Ana – reopened in 1992 as a new cultural center, and expanded children's programming in 1994 with the opening of the Kidseum. The museum also recently celebrated the grand opening of the 30,000+ square-foot Dorothy and Donald Kennedy Wing in February 2007. To achieve its mission, the Bowers offers exhibitions, lectures, art classes, travel programs, children's art education programs, and other special community programs.
  • *** Centennial Farm Garden Classes, Orange County – 3-acre working farm at the OC Fair & Event Center created to educate youth about agriculture and its importance to daily life.
  • *** The Ecology Center , San Juan Capistrano – The Ecology Center offers educational programs for homes, workplaces, and schools. Engage in hands-on sustainability solutions around the five core verticals of food, water, energy, waste, and shelter through skills workshops, field trips, good food, gardening, community festivals, and even a permaculture design certification course!
  • Environmental Nature Center , Newport Beach – Where you can find 15 representative Ecological Habitats of California, a Discovery Room packed with neat things to touch and investigate, Nature Camp in the Summer, and a quiet place to sit and enjoy life on your lunch hour.
  • *** Farm + Food Lab , The Orange County Great Park in Irvine – The Farm + Food Lab is a unique and interactive outdoor classroom for visitors of all ages, featuring themed raised-bed gardens, fruit trees, vertical gardening, a chicken coop, a worm compost bin and solar and wind-powered lights.
  • Fullerton Arboretum, Fullerton -Provide our visitors the opportunity to gain knowledge and appreciation of the plant world through collections that preserve and promote stewardship of worldwide plant diversity and regional agricultural heritage. Serve faculty, students and the broader community through education and scholarly activities.
  • Heritage Hill Historical Park , Lake Forest – Heritage Hill Historical Park's 4.1 acres includes , four fully restored and furnished historic buildings that span the early history of the Saddleback Valley and El Toro area from the Mexican Rancho era (Serrano Adobe, circa 1863), to the founding of the town of El Toro (El Toro Grammar School, 1890; St. George's Episcopal Mission, 1891), through the citrus farming days of the early twentieth century (Harvey Bennett Ranch House, 1908).
  • Heritage Musuem of Orange County , Santa Ana – A cultural and natural history center in Southern California. The centerpiece of the museum, which covers nearly 12 acres in all, is an historic plaza featuring several buildings from the 1890s set amid extensive floral gardens and citrus groves. Among these is the Kellogg House, familiar to teachers and students throughout Orange County as a favorite field trip destination for over 25 years.
  • *** Knott’s Berry Farms , Buena Park – Students and Teachers can enjoy of a fun filled day at Knott’s Berry Farm. School Beat program is ideal for field trips, rewarding Students’ performance or simply taking a break and letting Knott’s be the playground for a day. With over 150 rides, shows and attractions in five themed areas, fun for all ages.
  • *** La Brea Tar Pits , La Brea – Visit the La Brea Tar Pits with your class this year! Explore active excavation sites, see real fossils up close, and watch paleontologists in action — all in the heart of Los Angeles!
  • *** Mission San Juan Capistrano , San Juan Capistrano – Visit Mission San Juan Capistrano historic landmark and museum. The whole family will enjoy budget-friendly activities, experiencing culture and history in many ways- from audio tours to educational tour booklets, fun exhibits and historical re-enactments.
  • Oaks Canyon Nature Center , Anaheim Hills – Oak Canyon Nature Center is a 58-acre natural park nestled in the Anaheim Hills.  A year-round stream meanders through the park.  Consisting of three adjoining canyons, four miles of hiking trails traverse one of the few remaining areas of oak woodland and coastal sage scrub in our region.
  • Orange County Great Park , Irvine – The Balloon Park prototypes the kinds of spaces, programs, and features that reflect the Orange County Great Park’s dedication towards historical preservation, sustainable practices, and family-friendly activities.
  • Orange County Zoo , Orange – The Zoo's focus is on animals and plants native to the southwestern United States. Animals on exhibit include black bears, mountain lions, bald eagle, island foxes, ocelot, red-tailed hawk, great horned owls, porcupine, coyotes, turkey vultures, coati and more. The zoo also features a barnyard with domestic goats, jacob sheep, pot-bellied pigs, doves and pheasants.
  • *** Pacific Marine Mammal Center, Laguna Beach – Pacific Marine Mammal Center strives to increase public awareness of marine mammals and their environment through education and research. We offer a range of educational programs for groups of all ages.
  • *** Pretend City Children's Museum , Irvine – Pretend City Children’s Museum features a small, interconnected city designed to “build better brains” through purposeful play, hands-on learning experiences, role playing, and educational programming.
  • Rancho Los Alamitos , Long Beach – Rancho Los Alamitos is twice listed on the National Register of Historic Places – once as the sacred Tongva village of Povuu’ngna, the traditional birthplace of the native people of the Los Angeles Basin and, second, for the evolution of its significant historic landscape over time. The site includes traces of the ancestral village, an adobe-core ranch house ca.1800, four acres of lush historic gardens developed during the 1920s and 30s, and the restored working ranch barnyard of the early-mid 20th century.
  • Richard Nixon Library and Museum , Yorba Linda – The Richard Nixon Foundation supports exhibits and programs on the nine acre campus of the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, a three-dimensional walk-through memoir featuring 22 museum galleries, movie and interactive video theaters, the spectacular First Lady’s Garden, the President’s faithfully restored 1910′s birthplace, the magnificent full-size replica of the White House East Room, and the flower-ringed memorial sites of President and Mrs. Nixon.
  • *** Santa Ana Zoo , Santa Ana – Guests learn about the Zoo's masters of recycling and conservation during the Critters for Conservation animal presentation Saturdays and Sundays at the Conservation Education Theater. Relax on benches made from recycled milk jugs, learn how animals and you can help save natural resources and get up close and personal with the stars of the show!
  • Starr Ranch Sanctuary , Trabuco Canyon – We seek to instill a love of nature through education programs that involve people of all ages in wildlife research and to provide a model of rigorous, sustainable land management through applied research.
  • Tanaka Farms , Irvine – We are proud to be educating, entertaining, and feeding families all year long. Strawberry Tours (March-June) • Watermelon Tours (July-August) • U-Pick Tours (March – August) • U-Pick Pumpkin Patch (October) • Christmas Trees (December)
  • *** Tessman Planetarium, Santa Ana – ​Discover the wonders of the universe with Tessmann Planetarium and Santa Ana College. (The Star of Bethlehem in December)
  • The Children's Museum at La Habra, La Habra – It is our mission to encourage enthusiasm about learning in a hands-on environment that opens the world even to the youngest child.
  • *** UNofficial Homeschool Day at Disneyland
  • Wonder of Dinosaurers , Laguna Hills – Wonder of Dinosaurs features an educational display of museum quality robotic and static dinosaurs plus an educational and exercise focused Activity Center with dinosaur obstacles, Ride-a-Trex, fossil panning, maze and more. Our Activity Center is focused towards children ages 2-12.

Homeschool Field Trips Southern California: Riverside County:

  • Animazonia , Riverside County – Exciting special tours for schools and other youth groups. Our volunteers will conduct a walking tour of the big cat sanctuary.
  • DeJong Dairy , Wildomar – DeJong's Dairy is nestled in Wildomar and gives every visitor a true farm experience with the friendliness you deserve. Stop on in to say hello to thefarm animals, grab some delicious milk and create a memory your family will never forget!
  • Diamond Valley Lake Museum & Aquatic Center , Hemet – Water education center shows the history and importance of water in CA. Aquatic Center is open daily and houses a play gym and water slide for all your water fun.
  • George S Patton Memorial Museum , Indio – The mission of the General Patton Memorial Museum is to promote peace by honoring the service and sacrifice of America's veterans while educating the public on modern U.S. military history through the preservation and interpretation of artifacts from the major conflicts of the 20th and 21st centuries.
  • Hidden Valley Nature Center , Riverside – The Nature Center is open to the public on Saturdays 10AM – 4PM and to groups by appointment Monday through Friday. Within it you can find various live animals, such as a rabbit, snakes, turtles, birds and toads, different activities for children to enjoy and reconstructed scenes of animals in their natural habitat.
  • March Field Air Museum , Moreno Valley – Welcome to the March Field Air Museum. With over 70 aircraft and more than 30,000 individual artifacts, our museum strives to promote an understanding of humanity's reach for the skies and of March Field's pivotal role in the development of flight.
  • Orange Empire Railway Museum , Perris – Home to over 200 historic railway cars and locomotives from Los Angeles and the West, the museum’s 90-acre site in Perris, California is open to the public 363 days a year.
  • Pennypickle's Workshop , Temecula – The Professor's home…7500 square feet of it, cluttered with hands-on inventions, gadgets, experiments…and kids won't even know they're learning as they play! Located in the heart of Old Town Temecula, Southern California (a great place to visit, by the way), Pennypickle's Workshop (formerly called the Imagination Workshop).
  • Providential Heritage Academy at Mile High Ranch , Cherry Valley – The Academy departs from the traditional museum because inspiring historical events and accounts are re-enacted not by “academicians,” but by you, the visitors to the Academy who desire to learn by doing and self-discovery.
  • Quality West Wing, Corona – Our one of a kind program brings history, government and the office of the president to life for every person that visits our facility.
  • Riverside Art Museum , Riverside – The Riverside Art Museum strives to integrate art into the lives of people in a way that engages, inspires, and builds community by presenting thought-provoking exhibits and providing quality art classes that instill a lifelong love of the arts.
  • Riverside Metropolitan Museum , Riverside – Riverside’s renowned Mission Inn hotel, and its inspirational role in the development of the Arts & Craft Style, attracted some of America’s foremost entrepreneurs in search of new recreational, aesthetic and business opportunities. Riverside became a magnet for prosperous, educated practitioners of the Arts and Crafts Movement in the West.
  • Sage Mountain Farm , Temecula – Take a one-hour tour of our farm: Fields and crops, CSA packing area and you'll be getting your hands a little dirty and helping us with our harvest!  Afterwards we will provide a Sage Mountain Farm Salad and raffle off a small CSA box to one lucky attendee (a $35 value).  We also welcome you to bring a picnic lunch to enjoy with your salad while you are here!
  • Santa Rosa Platuea , Murrieta – The Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Reserve, located at the southern end of the Santa Ana Mountains in southwest Riverside County near the city of Murrieta, is a hidden gem that offers a fascinating glimpse into the history and ecosystems of the area.
  • Temecula Berry Company , Temecula – U-pick berry farm with movie nights on Fridays.
  • The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens , Palm Desert – The Living Desert’s mission is desert conservation through preservation, education and appreciation.
  • UCR Botanical Gardens , Riverside – The Gardens is a living plant museum with more than 3,500 plant species from around the  world for visitors and researchers to see and study. It was established primarily for teaching purposes. In a beautiful setting, the Gardens serves to provide a wide assortment of plant materials for courses at UCR and other local schools.
  • Western Science Center , Hemet – The Museum is a place where prehistory becomes a hands-on experience through one of America’s best collections of fossils. Fun, interactive displays, and a movie theater that shakes, rattles and rolls as the giants of the last Ice Age thunder toward you are at the heart of your encounter with the past.

Homeschool Field Trips Southern California: San Diego County:

  • Bates Nut Farm , Escondido – Offering a variety of group tours and educational experiences that are enjoyed by all ages.  Bates hopes to pass on a love and appreciation of farming to generations to come.
  • Cabrillo National Monument , San Diego – Climbing out of his boat and onto shore in 1542, Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo stepped into history as the first European to set foot on what is now the West Coast of the United States. In addition to telling the story of 16th century exploration, the park is home to a wealth of cultural and natural resources. Join us and embark on your own Voyage of Discovery.
  • California Center for the Arts , Escondido – Through its Education Department, the Center offers a multitude of enlightening and informative programs for students, teachers and the general public, including: field trip opportunities, weekday performances for youth, artist- and performer-led master classes, free arts and crafts workshops for families, teacher workshops, music education programs and more.
  • Flower Fields , Carlsbad – 50 acres of extraordinary color in bloom on a hillside overlooking the Pacific Ocean, with a special nursery, garden, and festivals throughout the season.
  • Historical Society San Diego , San Diego – San Diego History Center is located in the heart of Balboa Park. Here you will not only find a collection of intriguing exhibitions that chronicle San Diego’s diverse history, but also our research library. This is home to over 45 million pieces of paper and 2.5 million images that document the people, places and events of San Diego’s past.
  • *** Legoland , Carlsbad – Field trips are offered year-round on weekdays, during days of operation. Only self-guided programs are available July – August. No field trips are available December 20 – January 5 or on holidays.
  • Museum of Contemporary Art , San Diego & La Jolla – With two locations, the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego (MCASD) is the region’s foremost forum devoted to the exploration and presentation of the art of our time, presenting works across all media created since 1950.
  • Museum of Photographic Art , San Diego – The mission of the Museum of Photographic Arts is to inspire, educate and engage the broadest possible audience through the presentation, collection, and preservation of photography, film, and video.
  • Rawhide Ranch , Bonsall – Our Purpose is to make a positive difference in the lives of others through unique Ranch opportunities for discovery and learning.
  • Reubin H. Fleet Science Center , San Diego – Come and explore our eight interactive exhibit galleries, enjoy our traveling exhibitions, discover Kid City (especially for kids five and under), and create and invent in the Tinkering Studio.
  • San Diego Botanic Garden , Encinitas – The mission of the Garden is to inspire people of all ages to connect with plants and nature.
  • San Diego Air and Space Museum , San Diego – Preserve, Inspire, Educate, Celebrate! Preserve significant artifacts of air and space history and technology. Inspire excellence in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Educate the public about the historical and social significance of air and space technology and engage its promise for the future. Celebrate aviation and space flight history and technology.
  • San Diego Automotive Museum , San Diego – The mission of The San Diego Automotive Museum is to tell the story of the social and technological past, present, and future of motorized vehicles through its collections, exhibitions, and educational programs.
  • San Diego Model Railway Museum , San Diego – The mission of the San Diego Model Railroad Museum is to  To research, collect, preserve, and present the heritage of American railroading using educational programs, displays, toy trains, and scale models of California railroads.
  • San Diego Museum of Man , San Diego – As the only Anthropology museum in the region, we are the place to go to learn about each other, to reflect on our place in the world, and to build a better community.
  • San Diego Natural History Museum , San Diego – To interpret the natural world through research, education and exhibits; to promote understanding of the evolution and diversity of southern California and the peninsula of Baja California; and to inspire in all a respect for nature and the environment.
  • *** San Diego Zoo , San Diego – Ready-to-use curriculum with environment, animal, and science themes are all made to adapt to State science standards
  • *** San Diego Zoo Safari Park , San Diego – Ready-to-use curriculum with environment, animal, and science themes are all made to adapt to State science standards.
  • *** Seaworld San Diego , San Diego – Enhance your home education program with an Instructional Field Trip to SeaWorld. This program provides your students with an unforgettable day of exploration as they connect to wildlife and the world we share.
  • Timken Museum of Art , San Diego – Affectionately known as San Diego’s “jewel box” of fine art, the Timken Museum of Art in San Diego’s historic Balboa Park is home to the Putnam Foundation’s significant collection of European old masters, 19th century American art and Russian icons.
  • USS Midway Aircraft Carrier , San Diego – Preserve the historic USS Midway and the legacy of those who serve, inspire and educate future generations, and entertain our museum guests.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are some popular field trip destinations for homeschoolers in southern california.

Southern California is home to many popular field trip destinations for homeschoolers. Some of the most popular destinations include the Natural History Museum in Los Angeles, the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, and LEGOLAND California in Carlsbad. Other popular destinations include the California Science Center in Los Angeles, the Getty Center in Los Angeles, and the San Diego Zoo.

Which museums offer Homeschool Days in Southern California?

Many museums in Southern California offer Homeschool Days, which are special days when homeschoolers can visit the museum at a discounted rate and participate in educational programs. Some of the museums that offer Homeschool Days include the Natural History Museum in Los Angeles, the California Science Center in Los Angeles, and the Getty Center in Los Angeles.

What are some of the best field trips for homeschoolers in Southern California?

Some of the best Homeschool Field Trips Southern California include visiting the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, LEGOLAND California in Carlsbad, and the California Science Center in Los Angeles. Other great field trip destinations include the Getty Center in Los Angeles, the San Diego Zoo, and the Natural History Museum in Los Angeles.

Are there any upcoming Homeschool Days at LEGOLAND California?

Homeschool Days at LEGOLAND California are held periodically throughout the year. The dates for upcoming Homeschool Days can be found on the LEGOLAND California website.

What is included in the Aquarium of the Pacific's Homeschool Days program?

The Aquarium of the Pacific's Homeschool Days program includes a variety of educational programs and activities designed specifically for homeschoolers. Some of the activities that may be included in the program include animal encounters, science experiments, and interactive exhibits.

What are some recommended 4th and 5th grade field trips for California history?

Some recommended 4th and 5th grade field trips for California history include visiting the California Missions, the California State Capitol in Sacramento, and the California State Railroad Museum in Sacramento. Other great options include visiting the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum in Simi Valley and the Cabrillo National Monument in San Diego.

free field trips california

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Gold Rush Photos

2 1/2 hour field trip $10 per student, chaperones free souvenir bandana included max 65 students.

  • All attendees are encouraged to dress like a miner, pioneer, or Old West cowboy for the day!
  • Presale items are available before starting so students can "look the part"
  • This is an outdoor field trip, please dress accordingly.  Closed-toed shoes recommended, but not required.
  • Eating lunch in Mineral CIty is available upon request.  Prior approval required.

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Gold Rush Towns in California: The 6 Best Field Trips

There is nothing better to learn about history than reliving it. So, today, you’ll learn all about the Gold Rush Towns in California.

There’s something special about these towns that brings their fascinating past to life.

These destinations are exceptional, from old buildings and rustic architecture to tales of colorful townsfolk during the Gold Rush era.

Look at our list of 6 best gold rush town picks in California and prepare for a journey through time!

Disclaimer: Just a heads up, this free article contains affiliate links . If you purchase after clicking one of these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost . Also, as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Your support helps me continue to provide helpful and free content for you .

We visited Gold rush towns in California, and my kid is enjoying  panning of gold.

💡A bit of History: Route 49 Gold Country

california-gold-rush-gold-panning

It all started in a small town called Coloma in El Dorado County, California . Back in 1848, a man called James Wilson Marshall was on staff to build a water-powered John Sutter’s Mill.

One day, exactly on January 24, 1848 , James made a historic discovery: He found flakes of gold in the American River. It was the first discovery of gold in California .

“It made my heart thump, for I was certain it was gold.”

Not too long after this discovery of gold, the word of gold in California started to spread, and people from around the United States slowly made their way to California. Those gold miners, known as the “forty-niners,” traveled across the mountains, by sea, even sailing from Central America.

They borrowed money, mortgaged their property, and spent their entire life saving for this journey in the hope of becoming wealthy. That was the start of the California Gold Rush.

The route taken by the gold miners was named Route 49. It was named after the “ forty-niners .” The “forty-niners” were all the gold seekers arriving mostly from the East Coast in California during the Gold fever peak in 1849.

Without the Gold Rush, California would not be what it is today. Historically, California was not even part of the United States; it was part of Mexico until 1948. At that time, the population of California was barely 1,000 people.

But, when people found that there was gold in the region, more than 300,000 people headed to California during the Gold Rush area (from 1849 to 1859), 100 000 of them arrived within the first 2 years. 

The forty-niners extracted 750,000 pounds of gold in the 10-year Gold Rush period, but sadly, very few people got rich from the gold they found. It helped the economy and also helped California become a state. But nowadays, it would be equivalent to billions of dollars in gold.

Nowadays, there are still gold fields to be found in California near the Sierra foothills . But there is no guarantee gold will be found. The good thing to know is that it’s legal to gold pan in California and allowed in some of the State Parks, such as Marshall Gold Discovery Park.

The California Gold Rush in number:

  • 750,000 lbs of gold were extracted in the 10-year gold rush period. 
  • With today’s gold price, it would be the equivalent of USD $ 2 070 000 000 (2 billion $)
  • More than 300,000 gold seekers immigrated to California to participate in the digging.

📍California Gold Rush Towns map

You can check the California gold rush map below to better plan your field trips.

california-gold-rush-map

Gold Rush Towns in California

There are a few great gold rush field trips to do in Northern California . Most of them are now State Historic Park and offer fun activities for the family.

When you arrive at one of the state’s historic parks, make sure to stop at the Welcome Center first to ask for the Junior Rangers booklets for gold rush activities for kids.

Some parks even have California Gold Rush scavenger hunts, which are always a hit with kids (at James Marshall Gold Discovery Park and Empire Mine State Historic Park).

1. James Marshall Gold Discovery Park

  • What? Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park
  • Where? 310 Back Street, Coloma, CA 95613
  • How much? $10 per vehicle

marshall-gold-discovery-park

When visiting Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park, you’ll be where the California gold rush started. In the tiny town of Coloma (now only about 200 residents), James Marshall found shining dots of gold. You’ll also discover over 20 historic buildings, some offering live exhibits:

  • Replica of the original sawmill
  • Blacksmith shop
  • Marshall’s cabin
  • St. John Church
  • And so many more

While at James Marshall Gold Discovery Park, don’t miss:

  • Pick your Junior Ranger Program at the Visitor Center (or you can download it here )
  • Gold panning lessons (reservation needed)
  • Gold Discovery Guided tour of the park (reservation needed)
  • Picnic by the American River

Also, 70% of the town of Coloma is part of James Marshall Gold Discovery Park, so you may actually see residents stopping by the Post Office or ordering a coffee at The Argonaut.

2. Empire Mine State Historic Park

  • What? Empire Mine State Historic Park
  • Where? 10791 E Empire St, Grass Valley, CA 95945
  • How much? $5.00 per person. Free for children under 5 

empire-mine

Empire Mine State Historic Park is a state-protected mine and park nestled in the Sierra Nevada mountains.

When visiting this incredible historic park for the first time, spend some time in the Visitor Center to learn about one of the oldest, most profound, and richest gold mines in California.

In the visitor center, you’ll also find the “Secret Room,” home to a scale model of the mine’s 5-square-mile network.

After your visit to the visitor center, walk around the surroundings and head to Bourn Cottage, the home of William Bowers Bourn Jr., who took over the mine management in 1879.

This country state was mainly used as a summer vacation home for the Bourn Family since their primary residence was at Filoli, a large estate located in the south of San Francisco.

Estate and mine yard guided tours are included in the entry fee. The Mine Yard Tour gives you a feeling of what the miners’ life was, whereas the Cottage Grounds Tour is more uplifting and takes you to the charming Bourn Cottage. 

3. Columbia State Historic Park

  • What? Columbia State Historic Park
  • Where? 22708 Broadway St, Columbia, CA 95310
  • How much? Free admission, guided tour, and trolley at extra cost

columbia-historic-park

Columbia State Historical Park, located in California Mother Lode, is one of the most charming California gold rush towns in the area, and it’s referred to as the “Gem of the Southern Mines.”

Columbia State Historic Park is also very well preserved in comparison to other Gold Rush towns, as it survived past fire and vandalism, and it was never deserted. During the period between 1850 and 1870, the area mined over 1 billion dollars in gold , and it was the second-largest city in California.

Walking through this historic park takes you back in time – its large collection of existing gold rush-era structures, the sounds of the mining town, and the smell of coal smoke from the blacksmith shop.

There are many incredible activities to do with kids in Columbia State Historic Park. 

Some unmissable things to do include visiting the Visitor Center and Columbia Museum, watching a live demonstration of the fired forge and work on the anvil at Parrotts Blacksmith’s shop, and taking a ride in a replica of an 1856 stagecoach.

We also loved going on the Nature Trail , an easy loop trail perfect for families. In this lovely walk, you can enjoy beautiful views of hills, have a picnic, or relax in the shade of the oak trees. 

Columbia Historic Park is also a great option for families on a budget since there’s free admission, parking, and guided tours.

4. Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park

  • What? Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park
  • Where? 23579 N Bloomfield Rd, Nevada City, CA 95959. On Tyler Foote Road, stay on the pavement and follow the yellow line to the park.

Another California State Park that you can’t miss is the Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park , located in the northern part of California’s Mother Lode country.

This historic park maintains and interprets the 1850s -1880s hydraulic mining era when those in search of gold washed away mountains and hills. Gold was first discovered in 1851, and hydraulic mining began in 1853.

There are many activities to do in the park – from joining a guided tour and watching wildlife such as black bears and coyotes, to fishing and going on a scenic hike.

If your family loves hiking, you’ll be amazed by the 20 miles of hiking trails you can find in this park, and surprisingly, these are connected with the popular South Yuba River Trail.

If you’re planning to stay overnight, there are 30 campsites at Chute Hill available during the camping season. 

5. Old Sacramento District

  • What? Old Sacramento
  • Where? 1002 2nd St Sacramento, CA 95814 (Visitor Center)
  • How much? There is no entrance fee, but you may have to pay for parking.

old-sacramento-district

Old Sacramento is located along the beautiful Sacramento River. This charming National Historic Landmark District and State Historic Park represent California’s beginning with the Gold Rush of 1849.

The lively district is surrounded by restaurants and cafes, shops and entertainment, and historical attractions that your family will love.

The Sacramento History Museum is a must for any history lover. Here, you can learn about Sacramento’s history from before the Gold Rush to beyond World War II.

Kids really enjoy visiting the Old Sacramento Schoolhouse Museum as it takes them back to school before advanced technology, taking a ride on a horse-drawn carriage, and enjoying a delicious donut or ice cream at Danny’s Mini Donuts. The California State Railroad Museum is also a must-see when in Old Sacramento.

You can try to park at their surface lot parking, but if you don’t find space, you want to check Old Sacramento Garage (weekend pre-pay Rates are between $10 and $15) and Tower Bridge Garage (weekend pre-pay Rates are between $10 and $15).

6. Calico Ghost Town

  • What? Calico Ghost Town Regional Park
  • Where? 36600 Ghost Town Road, Yermo, CA 92398 909.387.2757
  • How much? Adults: $8 Youth (4-11):  $5

Calico Ghost Town is located in San Bernardino County. This old mining town was founded in 1881 and became one of the largest silver producers in California until it was abandoned by its residents when the mines closed in the 1890s.

Nowadays, visitors can explore the remnants of this once-thriving town, such as the restored buildings and mining equipment.

If you’re traveling with kids, the Lucy Lane Museum holds interactive exhibits if you want to learn more about the history of Calico town.

Do you want to explore what it feels like to be inside a mine? Check out the Maggie mine , an old silver mine perfect for all ages. Here, you can take a tour of the mine and explore its various tunnels and caverns.

And if you want something fun, take a thrilling Calico Odessa Train ride that will tour you around the historical sites of Calico for 8 minutes.

Plenty of outdoor activities exist, including off-road trails, biking, and hiking. Don’t forget to let your kids experience how to pann gold like expert miners did in the past. It’s one of the great ways to teach them about history and have some fun at the same time.

And if you’re planning an overnight stay here, you can rent cabins and bunkhouses. Also, if you prefer to camp, there is a spacious campsite inside the park. Just make a reservation in advance.

Highway 49 Road Trip Itinerary

The perfect Highway 49 road trip itinerary for a California Gold Rush field trip would be:

✅ Start in Old Sacramento and explore the old town. You can visit the railway museum. If time allows, you can make an extra stop at Sutter’s Fort State Historic Park in downtown Sacramento. It’s where John Sutter was based when he first heard about the gold discovery in Coloma by James Marshall.

✅ Drive along the gold rush Highway 49 to Malakoff Diggins State Park . You’ll be at the foothills of the Sierra Nevada.

✅ Drive back on Route 49 (north direction) to Empire Mine State Park, where you can enter an old mine. Empire Mines was one of the oldest, deepest, and richest gold mines in California.

✅ Then, drive past the town of Auburn . You might want to stop in Auburn for a quick visit or an overnight stay. Then, drive to Coloma to visit Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park .

✅ Continue your Highway 49 road trip down to Columbia State Historic Park .

🪙 Gold Panning in California Tours

If you’d like to get even closer to the gold rush days, consider booking for one of California’s family-friendly gold panning tours!

🚗 A Highway 49 Drive: A Self-Guided Audio Tour from Angels Camp to Jamestown

Experience the Gold Rush in a unique way by taking a drive along California’s historic Highway 49 from Angels Camp to Jamestown . This journey will lead you through iconic towns and settlements from the Gold Rush era, such as Murphys and Sonora .

While exploring these charming towns, you’ll have the opportunity to listen to intriguing stories and uncover historical facts from the past.

This adventure is not only educational but also highly entertaining, giving you the freedom to explore the region at your own pace. Just follow the audio guide and enjoy the breathtaking scenery of Highway 49.

👉🏻 Book a Self-Guided Audio Tour from Angels Camp to Jamestown here!

🧭 Calico Ghost Town Tour from Los Angeles

Travel back in time with a visit to the old mining town of Calico with a guided tour from Los Angeles. This tour promises a fantastic time for kids and adults, including a visit to the old Silver Maggie Mine , a mind-blowing experience at the Mystery Shack , a chance to discover real gold during the Gold Panning Adventure , and a thrilling ride on the old Odessa Rail Road . With this tour? You’ll find a lot in this called “Calico Ghost Town.”

👉🏻 Book the Calico Ghost Town Tour from Los Angeles here!

🍭 San Francisco: Gold Rush and Candy Factory Full-Day Trip

For the ultimate California experience, why not take a guided tour of some of San Francisco’s most iconic landmarks?

One of the highlights of this trip is a visit to Marshall Gold State Historic Park —one of the best places to visit with families. Here, you’ll visit museums, learn about the history of the gold rush and how it all started, and enjoy activities like panning for gold .

After the park, you’ll head to Jelly Belly Candy Company , a known candy factory where you can indulge in some of the best sweet treats!

👉🏻 Book the San Francisco: Gold Rush and Candy Factory Full-Day Trip here!

F.A.Q.S: Gold Rush Towns in California

Where to find gold in california.

Gold can be found most likely in the northern and central portions of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. And most deposits are more in the north part.

When was the California Gold Rush?

The California Gold Rush began on January 24, 1848, and lasted until 1855.

What was the California Gold Rush?

The California Gold Rush was one of the most notable events in American history. It started on January 24, 1848, when a man named James Wilson Marshall found pieces of gold in the small town of  Coloma in El Dorado County, California.  After the discovery, the news quickly spread, and because of that, many people rushed to California in hopes of finding gold, too. And that’s how the California Gold Rush started, which changed California a lot and helped California become a state.

Where was the California gold rush?

It started in the small town of Coloma in El Dorado County, California, specifically at Sutter’s Mill .

When did the California Gold Rush start?

It started on January 24, 1848, when James Wilson Marshall made the historic discovery of gold.

How much gold was found in the California Gold Rush?

During California’s Gold Rush, the so-called forty-niners found a total of 750,000 pounds of Gold from the years 1849-1859.

Where was gold first found in California?

The first gold found was in Coloma in El Dorado County, California, at Sutter’s Mill .

What year was gold discovered in California?

From the year 1849, month of January, until the year 1859.

Final Thoughts: Gold Rush Towns in California

When it comes to taking a step back in time and learning about actual history, you can’t go wrong with the Gold Rush towns in California. Whether adventurous or just curious, each historical village offers something unique.

These historical sites are full of captivating stories that draw you in the moment you step foot through their doors. Not only can you go back in time during this period, but you can also explore breathtaking outdoor spaces and enjoy some incredible Wild West attractions.

Don’t miss those amazing opportunities to learn all about the California gold rush and where it happened. 😉

Related Articles

If you enjoyed this article, you might also like to read the following articles:

  • 10-Day California Road Trip from San Diego to San Francisco (Perfect for Families)
  • Unique Things to Do in California With Kids: Add Them to Your List

Emilie Brillon

Emilie is the founder of Love Life Abroad. She helps moms plan epic road trips and outdoor adventures with their families. Because who said adventuring had to stop once we have kids? She’s based in the Canadian Rockies and shares her love for the region as well as other unique places in Canada & USA. She works with tourism boards and outdoor brands to inspire families to experience new unique destinations and outdoor activities.

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  1. California Field Trips

    Find the perfect on-site or virtual field trip in California for your school, scout, camp, and homeschool group or family with the Field Trip Directory. Main Menu. Blog; Destinations. ALABAMA. ... Self-Guided Activities, Guided Activities COST - Fee, Free GROUP TYPE - School, Scout, Camp, Homeschool, Family CALIFORNIA San Francisco TEL - 415 ...

  2. 10 Free California Field Trips

    I have shared about some of our other field trips here, here, and here … but since I never tire of sharing, here are 10 more FREE California field trips you can enjoy: California Capitol - always FREE. The State Capitol Museum is open daily and offers free tours hourly; self-guided tours are also available. Reservations are required for ...

  3. 14 Best School Field Trips in Los Angeles

    14 Best Student Field Trips in Los Angeles. Here is a list of 14 Best School Field Trips in Los Angeles to supplement your students' classroom learning and education whether they attend public or private school or homeschool.. Aquarium of the Pacific, Long Beach. Bring your students to the Aquarium of the Pacific for a fun learning experience. Come explore and discover over 12,000 animals ...

  4. Virtual Field Trips

    Free On-Demand Video Field Trips. English and Spanish. 15-20-min. segmented episodes driven by a question of the day. No prep necessary! Functional in any learning environment. Visit the California Science Center and meet our staff virtually. High-quality, grade-appropriate, engaging! Browse by grade level.

  5. PDF Southern California Stem Field Trip Sites 2022-23

    Developed by Anne F. Maben, Science Consultant, UCLA Science Project: Revised 7/2022 1 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA STEM FIELD TRIP SITES 2022-23 You may have to copy & paste URLs into your search engine - look for Covid 19 rules/closures Many Sites Are Offering VIRTUAL Field Trips: all LA City Operated venues require masks/vaccination proof

  6. Field Trips

    The goal at Wild Explorers Field Trips, is to inspire curiosity through interactive hands-on educational experiences. This is achieved through experiential learning from STEM workshops, field trips to farms, museums, nature classes, and overnight camping tours at state and national parks.

  7. 300+ Southern California field trips for fun and education

    Museum of Ventura County. Ventura, CA. Muckenthaler Cultural Center. Fullerton, CA. Mullin Automotive Museum. Oxnard, CA. Rose Bowl Stadium Tour. Pasadena, CA. Southern California field trips - 300+ fun field trips for home schoolers, school groups and family fun.

  8. Santa Cruz District Field Trips

    The Santa Cruz District of California State Parks offers live interactive videoconference programs and traditional in-person field trips at many of our parks. The free 30-45 minute virtual field trips are aligned to academic content standards, customizable to teachers' needs, and available on any videoconference platform, although Zoom is ...

  9. FREE Interactive Virtual Field Trips

    The California State Parks and Recreation PORTS Program is proud to offer FREE interactive virtual field trips for K-12 students to stay connected to our state's natural, cultural, and historical resources.. Connecting your students to California State Parks allows them to explore our parks guided by California State Parks interpreters working in parks across the state.

  10. School Field Trips

    School field trip reservations are available for formal California school groups of students in grades pre-K through 12, including preschool. Field trips occur when your school is in session, with classroom teacher (s) in attendance. To receive the school group rate, you must bring more than 10 people on your field trip, entering the building ...

  11. 30 Free Things to Do in Southern California (for 2024)

    Luckily, we've got you covered with this list of the can't-miss free things to do in Southern California for the whole gang. 1. Point Dume Nature Preserve. Malibu, CA 90265. (310) 457-8143. The Point Dume Nature Preserve is a dome-shaped peak overlooking Malibu Beach in the northwest area of Santa Monica Bay.

  12. California Missions

    California Missions Field Trip Now booking reservations. The California Missions Field Trip chronicles the history of the 21 settlements founded by missionaries along the El Camino Real, providing students with an in-depth case study on the decisions that were made in establishing the first California Mission, San Diego de Alcalá.

  13. Learn

    Free OMCA field trip for fall 2024, including bus transportation for your class; ... Whether you're planning a lesson for your classroom, or a trip to the Oakland Museum of California, our materials provide information and ideas to use with your students. Browse OMCA's online collection resources, curriculum, and other materials for your ...

  14. School Programs 22/23

    School Field Trip Registration *All in-person field trips are full for the 2022/2023. Check back in September for 2023/2024 school year program dates. PORTS Programs ** PORTS Programs are fully booked** PORTS (Parks Online Resources for Teachers and Students)® Program is a FREE distance learning program with California State Parks!

  15. 19 Space Field Trips for Kids in Southern California

    The park is located at 3337 California Street, Costa Mesa. RCC Planetarium , Riverside Community College, Riverside. This planetarium hosts monthly public showings that start at 7 pm. To schedule a field trip your home or school group, please call their Community Education Department at 951-222-8090.

  16. Second Grade Virtual Field Trips

    Take your second grade scientists on a virtual field trip to compare the diversity of life in different habitats in and around the California Science Center. Students will investigate what plants need to grow and model how animals play an important role in seed dispersal and pollination. Next Generation Science Standards Addressed

  17. California Field Trips

    California Field Trips listed by city. Field trips with virtual tours are marked so you can take a virtual field trip to places that you are unable to visit in person. ... Old growth coast redwoods park is bisected by the last major free flowing river in California, the Smith River. Almost all of the park land is water shed for the Smith River ...

  18. The Best Homeschool Field Trips Southern California by County

    Homeschool Field Trips Southern California: Los Angeles County: Arboretum of Los Angeles County, Arcadia - The Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden is a unique 127-acre botanical garden and historical site located in what was the heart of the historic Rancho Santa Anita in the city of Arcadia.

  19. California Field Trips Ideas for Homeschoolers

    Homeschool Field Trips in Northern California. Calpine Geothermal Visitor Center, Middletown, CA - The Geysers, comprising 30 square miles along the Sonoma and Lake County border, is the largest complex of geothermal power plants in the world. The exhibit hall and free tours are designed to engage visitors and spark interest in geothermal energy.

  20. Lewis Center for Educational Research

    Prior approval required. Students shop in Johnson's Emporium for ole' time merchandise! Prices range from $1 - $10. Mineral City t-shirts are $15. All proceeds support Mineral City. To schedule a field trip, contact the Lewis Center. [email protected]. 760-946-5414 ext. 276.

  21. First Grade Virtual Field Trips

    First grade scientists will embark on a virtual field trip to learn all about light and sound. Students will understand how useful light and sound can be in everyday tasks, such as communicating with friends and seeing in the dark! Next Generation Science Standards Addressed. 1-PS4-1, 1-PS4-2, and 1-PS4-4

  22. Gold Rush Towns in California: The 6 Best Field Trips

    In this lovely walk, you can enjoy beautiful views of hills, have a picnic, or relax in the shade of the oak trees. Columbia Historic Park is also a great option for families on a budget since there's free admission, parking, and guided tours. 4. Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park.