Take a road trip south and visit the Pacific Grove, where you can see Monarch butterflies in their winter home, or stroll around the storybook cottages of charming Carmel.ħ.

There's more to Monterey than just the aquarium. Channel that kid energy into creating art, making mega bubbles or even creating a mini-tornado by running around. Get your STEM fix at these museums where science is all around you like our fave, The Exploratorium. Whether you love the high-tech creamy creations from Smitten or prefer a traditional experience at Fenton’s (the ice cream parlor featured in Pixar’s Up), there’s always room for a frozen treat.ĥ. No matter the season, it’s always ice cream weather in the Bay Area. Bigger kids will love the thrilling concrete slides (bring cardboard for extra speed), while little ones will enjoy the tree-shaped merry-go-round.Ĥ. Keep it simple with a day at one of San Francisco’s innovative playgrounds, like Hilltop Park in Bayview.

This is a fun trip anytime but is especially exciting during the days of the year when Thomas the Tank turns up.ģ. All aboard! Ride the rails through the redwoods on a real steam train in the Santa Cruz Mountains at Roaring Camp. Don't forget to visit the sea lions and grab some edible raw cookie dough from DOUGHP! Also check out The Flyer, an epic virtual flight that takes you on a tour of San Francisco.Ģ. Play tourist for a day and explore PIER 39 including riding the carousel which is hand-painted with famous San Francisco landmarks.

Adventure Toys in downtown Los Altos