Chuck E Cheese

Specs
Type:	Amusement
Distance:	Short Drive
Area:	Roseville
Ages:	2 and up
Cost:	$
Information:	www.chuckecheese.com

I know, but it's Chuck E Cheese. That dirty, crowded place with bad pizza you remember from your childhood. Ah, but Chuck E Cheese has a few things going for it that you might not have considered. The first is those black lights. You don't know about those black lights?

When you first walk into Chuck E Cheese, you and your children get stamped with identical numbers, which can only be seen beneath a black light. With only one entrance/exit (and that guarded by a black-light-wielding attendant), your kids can't get out of the building unless you are with them. So inside, you can relax and maybe even let them out of your sight for a few minutes, because child abduction and wandering cannot happen here.

The Roseville Chuck E Cheese is also cleaner than that Chuck E Cheese of your memory, though the pizza is still pretty bad. Visit the Chuck E Cheese website before you go to get a coupon--that will usually get you a discount on enough tokens to keep your kids busy for a couple of hours. Then sit back and relax, enjoy a slice of bad pizza and let them play!

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The Sacramento Zoo

Specs
Type:	Animals, Zoos
Distance:	Short Drive
Area:	Sacramento
Ages:	All Ages
Cost:	$ to $$
Information:	www.saczoo.org

Chances are if you've lived in this area for very long you've already been to the Sacramento Zoo. Though it's not as fancy or state-of-the-art as, say, the San Diego Zoo, it's still a nice little zoo where (if you take your time) you can probably spend a whole day.

The Sacramento Zoo is not expensive (as far as entrance fees go) but expect to pay extra for add-ons like the carousel, the train ride and the "Giraffe Experience," which at last count was three bucks a person to feed two leaves to one of the zoo's giraffes. Worth it for the looks on the kid's faces.

This zoo doesn't have those big, open enclosures guarded by moats--most of the animals are still behind wire fences or glass, which makes good photos difficult to obtain. There's a decent selection of animals, though--lions, tigers, (even snow leopards) as well as the aforementioned giraffes. There are also zebras, chimpanzees, kangaroos, lemurs and bongos--and a huge flock of flamingos. The reptile house is pretty good too--it features poison dart frogs, a green tree boa, rattlesnakes, vipers and boas.

Notably missing are the elephants--where the heck are the elephants? and canids of any kid, though if you're really missing them you can go down to the Folsom Zoo to see a great collection of wolves and foxes. Not elephants, though.

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Funderland

Specs
Type:	Amusement
Distance:	Short Drive
Area:	Sacramento
Ages:	All ages, but smaller kids will enjoy more
Cost:	$ to $$
Information:	www.funderlandpark.com

Think you have to wait until August for amusement park rides to come to town? Think again! Funderland is open year-round. Sure, they don't have The Nitro or the Scrambler, but there's plenty to keep kids from preschool age to tween occupied for a whole afternoon.

There's no fee to get into Funderland, but of course you do have to pay for ride tickets. They are sold individually or in packs--unless you're just stopping in it's definitely worth it to get the pack. The lines aren't usually too long (an exception is the log flume line, which is slow loading), and most of the rides will accommodate kids from about age four and up (though you may have to ride with your child on some of them).

For horse crazy kids, there's usually a pony ride next door to Funderland, though I don't know if it's year-round or seasonal. Funderland is in the same complex as the Sacramento Zoo and Fairy Tale Town, so if you don't want to spend your whole day on the kiddie rides there's plenty of other activities in the neighborhood.

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Memorial Park Pool

Specs
Type:	Swimming
Distance:	Local
Area:	Grass Valley
Ages:	All Ages
Cost:	$
Information:	www.cityofgrassvalley.com

My kids love to swim, and besides a 10x10 foot inflatable pool we got on sale at Rite-Aide one year, we have nowhere to do it. That's why we love Memorial Park Pool--it's inexpensive, it's local, there's a snack bar and there's lifeguards. Did I mention the lifeguards?

Three of my four kids are old enough to go to the pool, and although all of them are good swimmers I wouldn't feel comfortable taking them if there weren't lifeguards. As active and enthusiastic as they are, it just isn't possible to keep all three of them in sight at the same time. Memorial Park Pool has at least three lifeguards poolside at all times. There's a diving board, but swimmers have to pass a swimming test before they're allowed to use it. They are very serious about safety there, which means that I don't have to be terrified to take my kids swimming.

The pool is open all summer and costs just a couple of bucks a person. Flotation devices are not allowed, though, which means if you have a weak swimmer or a little one you can't put him/her in a life vest. One of the lifeguards told me that particular rule is to discourage parents from just putting a vest on their kid and leaving them in the pool for the afternoon. Which, really? I can't believe anyone would do that. But, if you say so.

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Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose

Specs
Type:	Museum
Distance:	Weekend Trip
Area:	San Jose
Ages:	All Ages
Cost:	$
Information:	www.cdm.org

My kids call this "The Clifford Place," because of its most memorable exhibit: an entire room devoted to that beloved book and TV show about a freakishly large, primary-colored dog. The Clifford exhibit is laid out like a little village, complete with a restaurant where kids can serve up fish and chips, a post office and a theater that plays non-stop episodes of Clifford the Big Red Dog.

There is a ton of stuff at the Discovery Museum besides just a room full of Clifford memorabilia--there's also a miniature city with an ambulance and fire truck that your kids can explore, a room where they can make giant bubbles, the partial skeleton of a mammoth on display and a big room called WaterWays, where kids can send colorful plastic balls along a system channels, pulleys and tunnels, over waterfalls and up water spouts.

For the artistically-inclined, there's a room where kids can paint on the walls, an "Art Loft" where kids will get hands-on instruction in arts and crafts as well as a craft station where they can make corn husk dolls.

It will cost just under $50 for a family of four to visit the museum, but there's plenty there to keep you all occupied for most of a day.  I took all four of my kids to this museum solo when the littlest was only two, and somehow managed to keep track of all of them. The museum has so many activities and fun things to do that even over-excitable little ones aren't going to be inclined to wander off.

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Gold Country Gym

Specs
Type:	Birthday Parties, Sports
Distance:	Local
Area:	Grass Valley
Ages:	Toddler up
Cost:	$ (activities) $$ (parties)
Information:	www.goldcountrygymnastics.com

If you're raising kids in the Grass Valley area, you already know about Gold Country Gym. It's probably the area's single most popular birthday party venue, and for good reason. The gym is full of fun things for kids to climb, bounce on or jump in. There's a floor-level trampoline, a climbing rope, a pit full of foam blocks that kids can swing into from a rope, a ton of big, soft blocks that can be used for building a temporary castle, one or two pommel horses and a rope swing. They have a big area where kids can just run in circles if they need to burn off steam, which is especially great for toddlers or kids who may not be bold enough to take full advantage of all the gym equipment.

You really don't need to plan games when you have a party at Gold Country Gym, but if you request it they'll organize some really fun parachute games or other active party games. Upstairs there's a party room where you can set out food and serve cake. You do need to bring all your own party supplies, but the clean up is done for you.

Gold Country Gym also has open gym days, in case your kids need to burn off  some steam during the week, but unfortunately they're usually scheduled during school hours so are best for preschool aged children or for the summer holidays. And of course they offer gymnastics classes, camps and team competition, too.

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Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park

Specs
Type:	Parks, camping
Distance:	Local
Area:	Nevada City
Ages:	All Ages, but older children will benefit most
Cost:	$
Information:	www.parks.ca.gov

Malakoff Diggins is one of the parks that was on the list of state closures, but so far it has eluded budget-insipred execution. It's a pretty neat place for a picnic and a look-around, with a number of different attractions that should appeal to older children in particular.

Malakoff Diggins' most prominent feature is the huge canyon-style cliffs that were carved by hydraulic mining techniques. In hydraulic mining, enormous streams of water were used to literally wash away entire mountains.

Hiller Tunnel at Malakoff Diggins

Besides these amazing looking cliffs, there is also a bedrock tunnel that is over a mile long (it was once used as a drain and is still pretty wet in places, so if you plan to go into it make sure to bring waterproof shoes as well as a flashlight).

In the old mining town of North Bloomfield, there are buildings featuring artifacts from the Gold Rush Area and a picnic area. A little further up the road there is an old cemetery.

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Scandia Family Fun Center

Specs
Type:	Museum, Trains
Distance:	Short Drive
Area:	Fairfield
Ages:	4 and up
Cost:	$$
Information:	www.scandiafamilycenter.com

You know that giant spinny thing that you see from Highway 80? That's The Screamer, at Scandia Family Fun Center. Of course, the website makes no mention of this attraction and I know it's been closed off and on, so if anyone knows its status please let me know and I'll post an update.

Besides The Screamer, Scandia has mini golf, a go-cart track and bumper boats complete with water spouts that you can squirt at other bumper boats or at your parents as they stand on the sidewalk watching you. There's also an arcade, laser tag and batting cages. Admission is free: you pay for rides on a per-ride basis.

This place is OK if you are in the area and can't think of anything to do, but the appeal is really limited (at least that's what we thought). Because of height limitations, small children will be excluded from most of the rides, which is sure to inspire tears so don't bring children under the age of four or so, and expect to ride with kids that are only just that age or a little older.  It can get a bit pricey, too, and since there isn't a lot of variety you may find yourself riding the same rides over and over again just to make it worth the drive.

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Bridgeport

Specs
Type:	Parks, Landmarks, Hiking
Distance:	Local
Area:	Bridgeport
Ages:	All Ages
Cost:	Free
Information:	www.southyubariverstatepark.org

The longest single-span wooden covered bridge in America is just down the road from us in Bridgeport. This part of the South Yuba River State Park is one of the best local places to take your kids for an inexpensive summer afternoon.

The bridge itself is of course a fun attraction, but there is also a trail on the opposite side (not good for early walkers, strollers or kids who might need to be carried) that goes all the way down to Lake Englebright. If you aren't up for a long hike, you can just go down below the bridge; there's a swimming hole and a small beach there where you can cool down on a hot summer day (but beware, at certain times of the year the river moves fast and even in the summer you should put your little ones in life jackets).

Bridgeport features several annual events, including gold panning demonstrations on from Memorial Day to Labor Day, which also includes a history station staffed by docents who are well-educated in the bridge's history as well as the histories of the local buildings, wagons, and the pioneers who once lived in the area.

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Purpose Ranch

Specs
Type:	Birthday Parties
Distance:	Local
Area:	Grass Valley
Ages:	Ages 3 and up
Cost:	$$$
Information:	www.purposeranch.com

If you have a horse-loving little boy or girl, a birthday party at Purpose Ranch is pricey but oh-so worth it. This isn't an ordinary pony party, but a whole-horse experience that begins with the kids gathering in the barn to groom the horses, a short lesson in horsemanship and safety followed by lead-line riding in the arena. There are horse-drawn cart rides available, too, and a place to do a barbecue and the usual drill of cake and presents.

We had a party at Purpose Ranch when my daughter turned four, and I still think it was one of the best parties we've ever had (and I have four kids, so we've done a LOT of birthday parties). Every single kid there was thrilled to be a part of the experience and had a great time.

Now, I can't actually find any information about birthday parties on Purpose Ranch's website, so if someone out there knows something I don't (are they still doing birthday parties?) let me know.

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Independence Trail

Specs
Type:	Hiking
Distance:	Local
Area:	Nevada City
Ages:	All Ages
Cost:	Free
Information:	www.southyubariverstatepark.org

Independence Trail is America's first wheelchair-accessible hiking trail, which means something for those of us with small children and babies, too: it's stroller accessible! Independence Trail is a nice, shady walk that goes fairly high above the Yuba River and travels 1 1/2 miles either east or west from the trailhead. The views are beautiful and the trail is actually quite level, so it's a good hike for little ones and/or for grown ups who don't want an intense workout.

If you travel west on the Independence Trail, you'll reach Rush Creek waterfall, and if you're feeling a little more energetic (and didn't bring a stroller and/or small children with you), there's a steep spur that's just under a half mile that will give you access to the river at Jones Bar.

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Empire Mine State Historic Park

Specs
Type:	Museum, Park
Distance:	Local
Area:	Grass Valley
Ages:	All Ages, but older kids will benefit more
Cost:	$
Information:	www.empiremine.org

Empire Mine is one of those places that you've always known about but hardly ever take advantage of. If you're a local you already know that this area played a big role in California's Gold Rush, but if you want to learn more about that role you really need to visit Empire Mine.

Empire Mine was once the largest and richest gold min in the state of California, producing 5.8 million ounces of gold over its 100+ year history. According to the park's website, this is probably only about 20% of the gold that is actual underground at the site.

Empire Mine is a large complex featuring many of the original mine buildings, beautiful gardens (Do you want to have some family pictures done? This is the place.) and the original "owner's cottage," which let's face it is a mansion. One of the best attractions at the park is the entrance to a 367 mile complex of abandoned mine shafts and tunnels. There is a little museum on site complete with a scale model of the underground mine complex, a room full of ore samples and a large collection of minerals. There are also 12 miles of biking, hiking and horseback riding trails.

On Mother's Day weekend the park hosts a "living history" weekend with actors in period costume, food service and entertainment. There are also other events throughout the year--check the website for information.

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Sonoma TrainTown Railroad

Specs
Type:	Trains, Amusement
Distance:	Day Trip
Area:	Sonoma
Ages:	All Ages
Cost:	$ to $$
Information:	http://www.traintown.com

There's not a whole lot at Sonoma TrainTown, so it's a good idea to combine your trip there with something else in the Sonoma area. The primary attraction at TrainTown is the 1/4-scale railroad that travels four miles through a wooded area. The route includes tunnels, bridges and a short stop in a miniature town and petting zoo.

TrainTown is in a pretty setting with a beautiful pond, a fountain and plenty of greenery. There are six additional amusement rides, including a ferris wheel, a carousel and a small roller coaster.

Ride coupons are $2.75 each or $12 for a pack of six. If you have very small kids, though, expect to ride with them on most of the rides; the minimum height for all but two of the rides is 44 inches or above.

Train tickets cost $5.75 each, but admission and parking are free.

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Folsom Zoo

Specs
Type:	Animals, Zoos
Distance:	Short Drive
Area:	Folsom
Ages:	All Ages
Cost:	$
Information:	www.folsom.ca.us/depts/parks_n_recreation/zoo/

The Folsom Zoo is one of those hidden gems that you don't find out about until you've lived here a couple of years. It's a little bit overshadowed by its more popular cousin, The Sacramento Zoo, but it has a few extra things going for it.

The Sacramento Zoo has a lot of exotic animals--the sort of thing you would expect to find in any metropolitan area zoo. The Folsom Zoo, on the other hand, focuses on North American wildlife. There is a very large black bear exhibit featuring a half-dozen or so different animals, and there are also foxes, mountain lions, bobcats and wolves as well many different North American birds such as hawks, owls and crows.

Photo Credit: alison.toon

The Folsom Zoo also has a few exotics, including a pair of tigers, some tropical parrots and several monkeys. Most of the exotics at the Folsom Zoo are rescues, former pets or the descendents of laboratory animals.

The Folsom Zoo is small but worth the drive, especially if you want your kids to learn about local wildlife (the mountain lions were a great lesson in safety and awareness for my kids, since we have them in our neighborhood). There's also a little train ride just around the corner, in case you feel like you need to do a little something extra while you're in the Folsom area.

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Skatetown, Roseville

Specs
Type:	Sports, Amusement
Distance:	Short Drive
Area:	Roseville
Ages:	All Ages
Cost:	$
Information:	www.skatetown-roseville.com

This family-friendly ice skating rink has a lot to offer for not a whole lot of money. And when I say "all ages" I mean it ... if your child is too small for skates you can rent a sled and pull him around the rink.

Skatetown offers group skates if you just want to get out there and go, or you can take a skating lesson. They also offer hockey lessons and leagues, figure skating practice and competition and birthday parties.

If you're just learning to skate, you'll find an unintimidating environment at Skatetown: "bucket helpers" (which are really just stacks of buckets) are available to help you gain balance and confidence before heading out there on your own. There's a snack bar, too.

Beware, the skating rink is cold so make sure to bring a hat and mittens, even if your trip to Skatetown is in August. 

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California State Railroad Museum

Specs
Type:	Museum, Trains
Distance:	Short Drive
Area:	Sacramento
Ages:	All Ages
Cost:	$
Information:	www.csrmf.org

The California State Railroad Museum is not huge, but it has enough to keep a family occupied for a couple of hours, especially if you take your time and then finish your trip with a train ride along the Sacramento River.

This museum is pretty inexpensive and has a lot of walk-on exhibits, which is great for train-loving kids. There are 21 restored locomotives and cars, and exhibits are designed to teach visitors about the railroad's place in California and western-states history. Regular exhibits include a dining car complete with railroad china, a refrigerator car and a railway post office, as well as a Pullman-style sleeping car and a caboose.

When you're finished looking at the stationary exhibits, you can go outside to the train station and board a closed coach or open-air gondola pulled by a vintage diesel locomotive. Or if you're feeling rich, you can get on board the first-class observation car.

Photo Credit: Jack Snell "Snappy Jack"

Train ride tickets aren't included in the cost of the museum; in fact you can expect to spend about as much for the tickets as you do to get into the museum--unless you're going to ride the first class car, in which case the price is about $5 more for adults and an extra $10 for kids.

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