Nothing can burn a whole day with kids like a beach. Luckily this weekend we were close to Santa Cruz and so, with grandparents, we headed to the sand. Santa Cruz is well-known for its boardwalk. Frankly with young kids who likely don’t meet the height requirement for any ride there, I was hesitant to go within viewing distance of any roller coaster. There are other beaches to choose from, but since our...

The Tech Museum has more exhibits than we had time to see. All of this, plus a free IMAX movie which comes with your price of admission, makes it a great way to spend several hours in downtown San Jose. There are two parking garages nearby that you can get validation on your ticket at the front desk of the museum.  The younger kids should start on the lower level. You can get there by stairs and escalator,...

Deer Hollow is a 150 year old farm in Mountain View that still stands to connect kids and adults to the environment. There are rabbits, goats, pigs, sheep, and a cow to view. You can bring a picnic, but you must carry your trash out as there are no garbage cans.  Deer Hollow Farm is located in the Rancho San Antonio Open Space Preserve, nestled in the foothills of Los Altos. As there is no address that I can...

The Children’s Discovery Museum is my favorite place to go in San Jose. The building itself stands out and is easy to find. Parking is across the street under the freeway. When you enter you are greeted with a (nearly) life- sized fire truck that you can climb on, an intersection with actual stop lights and crosswalk, and an ambulance that you can also climb through.  There is a whole section on bubbles,...

This Los Gatos park sits near a stocked lake where my husband says he learned to fish.  There is a historic carousel, a train you can ride on, and a water play area. Map powered by MapPressCloseClose Share / Save / Send

This is a fantastic park for several reasons: First, there are plenty of imaginative structures to play on, including a decomissioned Air Force T-33 jet, a red train, and a fire engine. In addition, there are your variety slides and ladders, which have always seemed uncrowded despite this park’s popularity.  There is also a unique water play area, where you can watch water travel from one place to another...

950 El Paseo De Saratoga San Jose, CA 95124 (408) 866-4386 www.thejunglefun.com The first thing I have to say is my son LOVES this place. It has the largest tube maze (three stories high) I have ever seen. There are tons of turns, twists and padded obstacles in the middle which for a young kid is great, but for the parent who has to maneuver on hands and knees after the kid is not quite as fun. It is, in fact,...

The Bay Area Discovery Museum is incredible in many ways. First I want to mention the real estate alone. It is 7.5 acres near the base of the Golden Gate Bridge. This makes the views from outside quite stunning and the smell of the sea surrounds you everywhere. Also as a 1905 former Army post (Fort Baker), the spaces used for the different themed rooms are decommissioned bunkers. All this space makes the museum...

There are a lot of things I really WANT to love about the Academy of Sciences. They offer great exhibits, interesting things to experience (walking through a rainforest full of butterflies was a first for us!) and well-made movies. However, the crowds make the whole experience very tiring. First, it is wise to park in the designated parking lot, which is pricey and also crowded. Then there is the walk across...

My first opportunity to take my then-3 year old out without his new brother attached, I chose a trip to Marine World.  My hope was to let him see some incredible animal shows (what kid isn’t amazed by seeing animals up close) without having to wait around a lot in between shows trying to entertain him. To my amazement, this wish was granted even better than I could have expected. The shows are each...