Scotts Flat Reservoir

Scotts Flat is one of the smaller of our local lakes, so although you can take your boat out there for a day you may find yourself getting bored, since you don't have to be out there for long before you've covered the whole lake.

Specs Type: Camping, Swimming Distance: Local Area: Nevada City Ages: All Ages Cost: $ Information: www.csrmf.org

Scotts Flat  is great for camping, though, with some campsites right on the water. Book well in advance (like the summer before) since the sites fill up really fast. There are RV and trailer sites as well as tent sites, and I've heard you can rent boats there, too, though I haven't done it myself. A marina store is located nearby, in case you forgot to bring something with you, so you don't have to go all the way back into town. There's also a picnic area near the beach with BBQ facilities and a playground. And hot showers, too and yes, actual toilets that flush.

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South Yuba Club

South Yuba Club is another popular birthday party venue, with a few different party types to choose from. The most basic version is the bounce house party, which is great for little kids. The party room includes huge balls that the kids can roll around on the floor, a table for food and cake and a place where you can hang a pinata. Party organizers will even make note of your child's gifts and clean up afterwards, so you need to do almost nothing except bring the cake, food and party supplies.

Specs Type: Birthday Parties, Sports Distance: Local Area: Nevada City Ages: All Ages Cost: $$ Information: www.southyubaclub.com

For older kids, you can book one of the rock-climbing parties or even the indoor pool, which is especially perfect if your child has a cold-weather birthday, or if you have concerns that an outdoor pool party might get rained out. Each kid will have to pass a swim-test before being allowed in the pool, but for those who can't there are life vests available (or bring your own).

Prices for South Yuba Club parties are quite reasonable and the staff is very friendly and always does a great job. Be sure to book a few weeks in advance.

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ASiF Studios

ASiF (which stands for "Artists' Studio in the Foothills") is an art gallery and community art center, where some 30 local artists create and display art in a variety of media. In addition to birthday parties, ASiF offers classes for kids and adults--you can sign up to learn how to draw and paint, or you can try your hand at clay and sculpture, printmaking and mosaics.

Specs Type: Birthday Parties Distance: Local Area: Sacramento Ages: 4 and up Cost: $ Information: www.asifstudios.com

Birthday parties are a function of The Mud Hut, which is sort of a division of ASiF. The Mud Hut also does ceramics classes; they have an onsite kiln, too, so your work gets glazed and fired in the studio. Parties are held in a workroom where the kids are taught step-by-step how to create a ceramic sculpture (when we had Hailey's party here the girls made unicorns). The sculptures are fired onsite and can be picked up a few days after the party.

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Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railroad Museum

Once upon a time, you used to be able to take your kids here for a beautiful ride in an open-air 1/4 scale train. The route went through a lovely forested area and stopped for a short walk through a Chinese cemetery. It was a great day out and just around the corner.

Sadly, the railway ceased operations back in (I think) 2008 or so, when the economy did its big nose-dive. It doesn't look like they will be opening the railway again, at least not any time soon.

Specs Type: Museum, Trains Distance: Local Area: Nevada City Ages: All Ages, but older kids will benefit most Cost: $ Information: www.ncngrrmuseum.org

There is still a museum, though, which features relics from local transportation history, especially from the narrow-gauge era. Tours of the museum are docent-led and include a look at museum artifacts, the rail yard and the shop where volunteers do restoration work. The main gallery features a restored 1875 Baldwin engine that has seen service hauling lumber, then as a passenger mover and finally as a movie train in Hollywood.

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Effie Yeaw Nature Center

The Effie Yeaw Nature Center is a really great, inexpensive way to spend an afternoon if you are in the Carmichael area or don't mind a bit of a drive. You have to pay a small entrance fee to get into Ancil Hoffman Park, where the center is located (though I am told there is a back way). Once inside you can visit the center's collection of live animals, which includes a red-tail hawk and a great horned owl. There is a small educational center behind the gift shop, where you can view a few interesting nature exhibits. Your kids can also dress up like birds and play in a giant bird's nest.

Specs Type: Animals, Hiking, Nature Centers Distance: Short Drive Area: Carmichael Ages: All Ages Cost: $ Information: www.sacnaturecenter.net

The educational center is unfortunately pretty small so will have limited appeal for most youngsters, but there are lots of nature trails outside and you can even walk down to the American River and let your kids splash around in the water (take care, though, the river can sometimes be pretty fast). When we were at Effie Yeaw we saw lots of wildlife and interesting insects on the trail, including jackrabbits, woodpeckers, wooly caterpillars and (in the river) crayfish. If you have curious kids who love animals and nature you're going to enjoy Effie Yeaw, and the bonus of course is that you won't have to spend a lot of money.

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Pioneer Park Pool

There are two public pools in our local area: Memorial Park Pool and Pioneer Park Pool. Both are equally great places to take kids during the summer.

Pioneer pool is open from June to mid-September. There are plenty of open swim times, and you can also sign your kids up for swim lessons. For grown ups and older kids there is lap swim and water exercise classes.

Specs Type: Swimming, Birthday Parties Distance: Local Area: Nevada City Ages: All Ages Cost: $ Information: www.nevadacityca.gov

What I love about both of our public pools are the lifeguards. There are several of them on staff at all times, and safety is a big priority. Kids will have to pass swim tests to swim in the deeper parts of the pool, so you know your kids will be safe no matter what part of the pool area they are in. You can book a birthday party at Pioneer Park pool or you can rent the pool for an event. Open swim is inexpensive and fun and a great way to beat back summer boredom.

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Aerospace Museum of California

Specs
Type:	Museum
Distance:	Short Drive
Area:	McClellan
Ages:	All Ages
Cost:	$
Information:	http://www.aerospaceca.org

Even little kids will have fun at this museum, which features both military and civilian aircraft from various points in aviation history. The displays are both indoors and outdoors, so plan your visit during nice weather. Among the Aerospace Museum's collection of aircraft are a US Navy Blue Angels’ fighter, a "Top Gun" F-14 and a Pitts Special aerobatic biplane.

In addition to the aircraft, this museum also has a large collection of engines, a Norden Bomb Sight, a US Coast Guard art collection and several interactive exhibits including one called "Fun With Physics" and a couple of flight simulators. School aged kids who are interested in airplanes will certainly get the most out of the Aerospace Museum of California, but even toddlers will find something here to entertain them. The entrance fees are pretty low, too, so don't be afraid to bring your whole family.

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