Family Adventures

© Monterey Bay Aquarium Foundation/Randy Wilder

Watching the Jellyfish at the Monterey Bay Aquarium

Ideas for a Family Day Out in San Francisco

• Alcatraz: Kids seem to think this old prison is pretty cool.

• Angel Island: You can hike and bike, and there's lots of room.

• Exploratorium: The area's best science center for hands-on fun.

• Ocean Beach: A broad, sandy beach with plenty of room to fly kites or build sand castles.

• San Francisco Zoo: An old standby.

Family Day Trips Out of Town

• Bay Area Discovery Museum, Sausalito: A fun place for kids.

• Benziger Winery, Sonoma: Everyone likes Benziger's tractor-towed, open-air tram tour.

• Children's Museum, San Jose: Tons of interactive things to do and fun special exhibits.

• Gilroy Gardens: Fewer screaming roller coasters, shorter lines and pretty surroundings.

• Gizdich Ranch, Gilroy: Besides offering pick-yourself produce, a bake shop and an antique shop, Gizdich says it's alway kid season at their farm.

• Jelly Belly Factory: The appeal of watching specialty jelly beans being made is universal and if you don't mind coping with the sugar rush, their seconds (called "belly flops") are a great bargain.

• Kelley Park, San Jose: Kids love the antique trolley and the old fruit processing barn in this historic park and they have an old-fashioned soda fountain, too.

• Monterey Bay Aquarium: This place is everything it's said to be, with lots of fun things for kids to do.

• Petrified Forest, Calistoga: Trees turned into stone are the big draw.

• Roaring Camp Railroads, Felton: If your kids like train rides, this trip is one of the area's best.

• Rodeo Beach, Marin Headlands: A pretty beach full of colorful pebbles is the feature here, better for walking or kite-flying than for sand castles and also a popular place for skimboarding.

• Safari West, Calistoga: It's like a trip to the zoo and a mini-safari all in one at this wildlife park/bed and breakfast outside Calistoga, a great stop for animal-loving young'uns.

• Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk: Pay-as-you-ride for a less-expensive alternative to the big theme parks.

• Scharffenberger Chocolate Factory Tour, Berkeley: It's not for the little ones, but older kids may enjoy learning where their favorite sweet treat comes from and how it's made. Minimum age is 10 and reservations are required.

• Winchester Mystery House, San Jose: A little pricey for the amount of time you spend, the Winchester House is nevertheless a favorite of many kids. It's better for pre-teens and older. Little ones may be frustrated with having to stand still.