California Tourist Attractions  

"Must See Tourist Attractions in California."

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California is one of the country's most beautiful destinations. More than anything, California is recognized for its diverse landscape and great attractions. Visit the coastal town of Eureka on the Redwood Coast, the vineyards of Mendocino County, Sonoma County and Napa Valley, and stunning Mount Shasta. The capital city of Sacramento is close to some incredible destinations throughout the Sacramento Valley as well as the San Joaquin Valley in the south. In the High Sierras, visitors can visit Yosemite, Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks. On the border with Nevada, vacationers can play at the popular destination of Lake Tahoe. Around San Francisco Bay, guests can visit Silicon Valley, Oakland and, of course, the city of San Francisco. The Central Coast features many beach resorts including Big Sur, Santa Cruz, Santa Barbara and Monterey. Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Orange County offer beaches, California skiing and attractions such as Disneyland. Adjacent to Mexico, San Diego offers the San Diego Zoo and numerous Mexican-themed attractions. The California Deserts feature Palm Springs, Death Valley and the Mojave Desert.

ATTRACTIONS

North Coast    Shasta Cascade    Gold Country    High Sierra    Bay Area    Central Valley    Central Coast    Deserts    Inland Empire    Los Angeles    Orange County    San Diego    National Parks

North Coast

Battery Point Lighthouse - Located in Battery Point Island in Del Norte County, the lighthouse was established in 1856 and is now a tourist attraction that is open to the public.

The Carson Mansion - One of the most written about, and photographed Victorian houses in California, and perhaps in the United States, the William Carson Mansion epitomizes the range of possibilities for eclectic design expression that created a peculiarly American style of architecture. 

Sequoia Park Zoo - The Zoo is situated on approximately 5 acres of level terrain northeast of the redwood ravines of Sequoia Park. The forest provides an impressive backdrop to the animal enclosures and blends directly into the hoofed animal paddocks. The Zoo is home for nearly one hundred animals.

California Western Railroad (The Skunk Train) - The Skunk line runs 40 miles between Fort Bragg on the coast and Willits on US Highway 101. Combine any numbers of trains and schedules to make a memorable visit to the Redwoods.

Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens - Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens is a rare jewel, the only public garden in the continental United States fronting directly on the ocean.  Manicured formal gardens, a dense coastal pine forest, fern-covered canyons, diverse plant collections, and flower-filled coastal bluffs overlooking the blue Pacific Ocean are among the many attractions.

Mendocino Art Center - The facilities at the Mendocino Art Center include studios and classrooms for fine arts, jewelry, ceramics, sculpture, textiles and computer arts. Four gallery spaces provide exhibition opportunities to emerging and established artists.

Outrageous Waters Water Park - Family water park located in Clearlake offers attractions such as water slides, batting cages, lazy river, video arcade, children's pool, pavilions, restaurants and more.

Garden Valley Ranch - A true horticultural gem of Northern California, Garden Valley Ranch began in 1981 as a bed and breakfast inn.  In 1998, this nine-acre garden rose ranch produced, sold, and shipped over a quarter of a million blooms throughout the country!  Self-guided tours of the gardens are available.

Point Arena Lighthouse & Museum - The original lighthouse began operating in 1870 and had to be rebuilt after the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. The Point Arena Lighthouse is the first steel-reinforced concrete lighthouse in the United States.

Pacific Coast Air Museum - A non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the acquisition, restoration, safe operation, and display of historical aircraft, while providing an educational venue for students and the community.

Sonoma County Farm Trails - Fruits and vegetables are available direct from the farmer.  Experience life on the farm with sheep, llamas, honey bees, butterflies and birds!  Seasonal adventures include Summertime berry picking, pumpkins and gourds in the Fall, Christmas trees in Winter and baby animals and fields of flowers in the Spring!  Enjoy delightful wineries, breweries and cheese factories year-round.

Sonoma Cheese Factory - Guests from around the world visit the Sonoma Cheese Factory. The factory offers a gourmet deli and store which features made - to - order sandwiches, picnic items including cheeses, cold meats, salads, specialty food and gift items, along with premium wines from the Sonoma Valley.

Train Town - Train Town includes three full sized cabooses, dating from the 1930's and 40's which you will be able to explore at your leisure.

Shasta Cascade

Turtle Bay - Turtle Bay is a collection of indoor/outdoor learning attractions with a focus on the Sacramento River watershed, its natural sciences, art and culture, and human history.

Chico State Anthropology Museum - Located in Chico State University the Anthropology Museum includes 1700 square feet of exhibit space.

Shasta Sunset Dinner Train - A nostalgic three hour train ride through spectacular scenery featuring elegant dining aboard restored vintage cars.

Lake Shasta Caverns - Two hour guided tours are offered beginning with a 15 minute catamaran cruise across Shasta Lake.   

Waterworks Park - Located in Redding, Waterwords is a waterpark offering entertainment for the entire family.  The park offers 3 giant serpentine water slides, inner tube ride, kiddy pool, food, gifts and lots of fun.

Gold Country

Folsom City Zoo - Since 1963, this small unique California zoo has been providing sanctuary to some very special animals.

Mercer Caverns - The Mercer Caverns are located in the Sierra foothills just north of Murphys, California.  The caverns provide visitors with an exceptional array of beautiful and unique cave formations. 

Crocker Art Museum - Featuring Victorian architecture, Early California painting collections, Old Master drawings and colorful contemporary California art.

California Military Museum - The California Military Museum is the official military museum and historical research center of the State of California. It houses over 30,000 artifacts as well a substantial library and archives.

Esquire IMAX theatre - This 407 seat theatre features a 6 story high screen and wrap around digital sound giving everyone the best seat in the house.

Golden State Museum - The Golden State Museum brings California's rich history to life with a mix of traditional exhibits and state-of-the-art technology. Multimedia exhibits incorporating documents and artifacts drawn from the vast collections of the California State Archives tell the stories of California's People, Place, Promise, and Politics.

Wells Fargo History Museum - The excitement and history of the California Gold-Rush are captured for you at the treasure-filled Wells Fargo History Museum in Old Sacramento. Stagecoaches, gold, mining, business, commerce are all colorfully interpreted for visitors.

California Caverns - Visit four of California's magnificent natural marble cavers.  The cavers are filled with crystalline stalactites, stalagmites and other amazing formations.

Discovery Museum - History, science and technology come together at the Discovery Museum, your departure point for hands-on exploration of past, present and future.

Towe Auto Museum - Just a mile south of Old Sacramento on Front Street is the world's most complete antique Ford collection. Opened to the public in May, 1987, this impressive collection remains today the finest of Henry Ford's life work.

McClellan Aviation Museum - Located at Sacramento's McClellan Air Force Base, California the museum is considered to have one of the finest collections of aircraft and aviation memorabilia in the west.

Sacramento Zoo - Celebrating its 75th Birthday in 2002, the Sacramento Zoo is located in William Land Park just south of the state capital.  Stroll among lush gardens, 200-year-old oak trees, and visit the Claire Mower Red Panda Forest.  Walk down Big Cat Row and discover snow leopards, Sumatran tigers, and jaguars.  Or visit with chimpanzees orangutans, gibbons and lemurs.  The Kenneth Johnson Reptile House exhibits endangered turtles and frogs, exotic geckos, lizards and snakes.  Don't forget to catch the wildlife stageshow "Zoo P.I. Critter Caper" shown two times daily.  Then stop by the Kampala Cafe for lunch.  The zoo is open year-round; closed Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Water World USA - Waterpark by the Six Flags family of theme parks.  Water World USA features rides such as breaker beach wave pool, cannonball falls, shark attack, hook's lagoon and more.

High Sierra

Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad - An exciting 4-mile railroad excursion at Yosemite Park's south gate on highway 41. Ride into history where powerful locomotives once hauled massive log trains through the Sierra mountains. Where mighty lumberjacks felled the timber and flumes carried lumber to the distant valley below.

Lake Tahoe - Shopping, fishing, camping, golfing, and snow sport information about Lake Tahoe.

Bay Area

Lawrence Hall of Science - The Lawrence Hall of Science is located at the University of California, Berkley which offers a fun family center featuring hands-on exhibits, events, classes, and summer camps, workshops, labs and planetary shows.

Hall of Health - The Hall of Health, sponsored by Children's Hospital Oakland, is a community health-education museum and science center dedicated to promoting wellness and individual responsibility for health.

San Francisco Municipal Railway (Muni) - The San Francisco Municipal Railway (Muni) provides transportation to all points of interest within San Francisco. The Muni system operates both diesel and electric trolley buses, historic streetcars and the world famous Cable Cars.

Phoebe A. Hearst Museum of Anthropology - Explore the diversity of human cultures from the state of California and around the world, visit The Phoebe A. Hearst Museum of Anthropology at the University of California, Berkeley.

Berkley Art Museum - The Berkley Art Museum is located at the University of California and is particularly noted for its collection of late twentieth-century art.

University of California Botanical Garden - The University of California Botanical Garden is located in Strawberry Canyon above the Berkley campus overlooking the San Francisco Bay.  The Garden features one of the most diverse plant collections in the United States.  The Garden's 34 acres contain over 13,000 species and more than 21,000 plants from all over the world arranged by region.

Old Faithful Geyser of Napa Valley California - Visit this spectacular, nature-directed performance. The stage, walled by thick bamboo and plumed pampas grass, appears as an innocent pool of shallow water until time for the major attraction. Uprising steam and bubbling hot water announce the geyser. Then, while Mount Saint Helena and the craggy Palisades mountains stand silent as backdrops, Old Faithful Geyser of California throws a tower of thousands of gallons of water skyward.

Sharpsteen Museum - The Sharpsteen Museum's  permanent exhibits are designed to present the history of the upper Napa Valley from its pre-history to post World War I with an emphasis on people and changes brought by the period of U.S. emigration and development.   

Roaring Camp Railroads -  Deep in the heart of the magnificent redwood forests of California's scenic Santa Cruz Mountains, south of San Francisco and north of the beautiful Monterey Bay, is America's last steam-powered passenger railroad with year-round passenger train service: the historic Roaring Camp & Big Trees Narrow-Gauge Railroad.

NASA-Ames Research Center - The Ames Visitor Center is an exhibit hall where the public is invited to come see and experience first-hand NASA's historic accomplishments and ongoing research.  There are many artifacts on display including wind tunnel models, a Mercury spacecraft, a Moon Rock, a space suit, and several research aircraft.  Ongoing research programs are highlighted with displays, models and interactive computer software.

Blue & Gold Fleet - Blue & Gold Fleet is the Bay Area's largest provider of ferry and water excursion services. Blue & Gold Fleet is the exclusive provider of tours to Alcatraz under concession to the National Park Service. Additionally, they offer a range of cruises including spectacular Bay Cruises, ferries to Sausalito, Tiburon, Alameda/Oakland, Vallejo and Angel Island.

Lick Observatory - University of California Observatories/Lick Observatory conducts leading-edge research to answer the most profound questions in observational astronomy.  Lick Observatory is open to daytime visitors nearly every day of the year. Visitors can enjoy a brief guided tour of the Great Lick Refractor in the main Observatory building.

Chabot Space and Science Center - At Chabot Space & Science Center (CSSC), the universe is yours to experience. Set amid 13 trail-laced acres of East Bay parkland, with glorious views of San Francisco Bay and the Oakland foothills, CSSC is a hands-on celebration of sights, sounds, and sensations.

Children's Fairyland - Children's Fairyland is an historic 10 acre outdoor park in which children's literature is "brought to life" through fairy tale exhibits, animals, and Talking Storybooks which children activate by turning a "Magic Key." 

Jack London Square - Jack London Square is a special spot at the water's edge where places for shopping, dining, and daydreaming are all waiting for you. Jack London Square features 15 varied restaurants, specialty shops, USS Potomac, Yoshi's Jazz Club. Accessible via ferry from San Francisco.

Museum of California - The Museum of California is devoted to the art, history and natural sciences of California.

Oakland Zoo - The Oakland Zoo is nestled in the rolling hills of 525-acre Knowland Park. Each year thousands of families and school groups from around the Bay Area come to visit over 300 native and exotic animals that live in naturalistic habitats at the Zoo.

Paramount Theatre - Oakland's Paramount Theatre is one of the finest remaining examples of Art Deco design in the United States.  The Paramount Theatre is the home of both the Oakland Ballet and the Oakland East Bay Symphony and, as one of the San Francisco Bay Area's premiere performing arts facilities, hosts a year-round schedule of popular music concerts, variety shows, and movies.

Preservation Park - Located near Oakland's City Center, the Park's 16 turn-of-the-century buildings are today renovated and with their facades restored, are set among manicured lawns and lush plantings, complete with Victorian park benches and street lamps. 

Western Aerospace Museum - The Museum's facilities are located in a vintage hangar at Oakland International Airport's historic North Field.

Hiller Aviation Museum - A collection dedicated to man's concept of flight.  Our Museum exhibits highlight the many historic advancements native to Northern California, and show how technologies resident here today will shape the future of air transportation.

San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf - Fisherman’s Wharf, San Francisco’s most popular destination is known for its historic waterfront, delicious seafood, spectacular sights and unique shopping, Fisherman’s Wharf offers a wide array of things to do for everyone.

The Wax Museum at Fisherman's Wharf - Step back in time and enjoy the ancient art of wax sculpting. Visit celebrities, U.S. presidents, world leaders, and lots more.

San Francisco Cable Cars - Interactive demos on how cable cars work, cable car route maps with popular destinations, cable car fares and etiquette, and the location and hours for the San Francisco Cable Car Powerhouse.

Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco - The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco (FAMSF) is the City's largest public arts institution. Comprised of the M.H. de Young Memorial Museum and the California Palace of the Legion of Honor, FAMSF is also the City's most successful public/private partnership.

Cartoon Art Museum - The Cartoon Art Museum is one of three museums in the United States dedicated to the preservation and exhibition of cartoon art in all its forms. This unique institution houses approximately 11,000 original pieces in its permanent collection; a complete volume research/library facility is located on the museum's premises. In addition to seven major exhibitions a year, the museum has a classroom for cartoon art and a bookstore.

Chinese Culture Center - The Chinese Culture Center of San Francisco is a major community-based, non-profit organization established in 1965 to foster the understanding and appreciation of Chinese and Chinese American art, history, and culture in the United States.  The Center offers a variety of educational and cultural programs. These programs range from lectures, workshops, and classes to art exhibitions, dance and musical performances, and cultural exchanges.

The Friends of Photography (Ansel Adams Center) - The Friends of Photography is a not-for-profit international visual arts organization that operates the Ansel Adams Center for Photography in San Francisco. The Friends promotes visual literacy by presenting, analyzing and interpreting photography as the fundamental medium of visual experience.

Museum of Craft & Folk Art - The Museum of Craft & Folk Art is the only museum of its kind in northern California. Its unique exhibition program is dedicated to contemporary craft, American folk art, and traditional ethnic art.

Pier 39 - San Francisco's Number One Attraction provides visitors with postcard views of Alcatraz, the Golden Gate and Bay Bridges, the San Francisco Bay and the City skyline.  Visitors can enjoy shopping, entertainment, dining, and more!  

Ripley's Believe it or not Museum - Two floors, 11 galleries, over 10,000 square feet of exhibits, state of the art interactive displays, illusions and much more!

San Francisco Museum of Modern Art - The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art is considered one of the world's most innovative museums of modern and contemporary art.

San Francisco Zoo - The largest zoological park in Northern California and one of the Bay Area's most popular cultural and recreational attractions, the San Francisco Zoo is home to over 250 species of exotic and domestic mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish and invertebrates.

Underwater World Aquarium - UnderWater World Aquarium is a truly unique educational facility dedicated to the San Francisco Bay and its surrounding waters.  The self-guided journey begins with a decent into a 707,000-gallon aquarium. Visitors then enter 300-feet of clear acrylic tunnels. A staff of expert naturalists is on hand to answer questions and encourage exploration of this mysterious world beneath the surface of the Bay. Visitors finish with a hands-on meeting with sea stars, urchins and sharks.

Legion of Honor - The Legion of Honor, San Francisco's most beautiful museum, displays an impressive collection of 4,000 years of ancient and European art in an unforgettable setting overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge.

Yerba Buena Center for the Arts - The mission of Yerba Buena Center for the Arts is to present arts and entertainment reflecting the San Francisco Bay Area's diverse cultural populations to the widest possible audiences.  Program areas include Visual Arts, Performing Arts, Film/Video and Education.

Children's Discovery Museum - The striking 52,000 square foot purple building was designed to serve the needs of children, families and schools as a center for learning and discovery.  Encompassing the broad themes of community, connections and creativity, exhibits invite self-directed, open-ended explorations, while programs provide facilitated, focused, and sustained interactions.

Happy Hollow Park and Zoo - The Park is a peaceful, creative and safe place for children of all ages, with the main focus on "little ones" between the ages of 2-10. There are creative play areas, children's rides, hand puppet and marionette shows, special events, and birthday areas.

Asian Art Museum - The Asian Art Museum of San Francisco is one of the largest museums in the Western world devoted exclusively to Asian art. Its holdings include nearly 15,000 treasures spanning 6,000 years of history, representing cultures throughout Asia.

Mexican Heritage Plaza - The Mexican Heritage Plaza/Centro Cultural de San José is in the heart of San José's oldest and largest Mexican-American community.  The Plaza features a theater, thematical gardens, a pavilion, plaza, festivals and events for the entire family.

Raging Waters - Raging Waters, the Bay Area’s largest water theme park, offers family recreation on the grounds of Lake Cunningham Regional Park in San Jose.  There are water slides, thrill rides and attractions designed for every member of  the family including an interactive family play structure and pint-sized attractions for the little ones.

Roscicrucian Egyptian Museum & Plamentarium - This beautiful complex, established in 1927 in San Jose, California, houses several Egyptian-style buildings on a five-acre, park-like setting featuring broad lawns, palm trees, rose gardens, and exotic plants from around the world.

San Jose Museum of Art - San Jose's premier art museum, with a focus on contemporary art in all media.   The Museum also offers a unique museum store and café.

San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles - The Museum’s exhibits and programs promote the appreciation of quilts and textiles as art and provide an understanding of their role in the lives of their makers, in cultural traditions, and as historical documents.

Tech Museum of Innovation - The Tech Museum of Innovation in San Jose, California is a hands-on technology museum devoted to inspiring the innovator in everyone.  Explore over 250 interactive high-tech exhibits in a 132,000-sq.-ft. museum and Northern California's only IMAX® Dome theater.

Winchester Mystery House - Historic 160-room Victorian mansion built by rifle heiress Sarah Winchester. Beautiful details mixed in with bizarre oddities, such as doors opening onto walls and stairs going nowhere. Guided tours offered daily.

Intel Museum - At the Intel Museum in Santa Clara, you can experience the power of computer chips first hand, and the evolution of their development.

Paramount's Great America - Paramount's Great America is considered Northern California's most thrilling park.  The park offers shows, thrill rides and entertainment for the entire family.

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk -  Located on a mile-long beach between Monterey and San Francisco, the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is your admission-free hot spot for beach vibes and classic rides!

Hakone Japanese Gardens - Saratoga's beautiful Japanese gardens are located just 1/10th of a mile above the Village of Saratoga. In this city park you will find one of the most beautiful and authentic Japanese gardens in the United States.

Villa Montalvo - Villa Montalvo, the century-old, Mediterranean-style villa nestled among 175 acres of the beautiful Saratoga, CA foothills, is home to Montalvo, the organization. Gallery exhibitions, concerts, literary readings, and special events take place throughout the year.

Bay Area Discovery Museum - Just under the North tower of the Golden Gate Bridge is a fantastic place where toddlers to ten-year-olds and their families will find limitless opportunities for discoveries in art, science and media.

The Marine Mammal Center - The Marine Mammal Center rescues and rehabilitates more marine mammals than any other insitution in the world.  Our education programs aim to increase public knowledge and awareness of the marine environment as a critical link to the survival and health of all life. The Center's education/docent programs reach hundreds of thousands of people, from pre-school to seniors, each year.

Six Flags Marine World - Experience wildlife and wild rides at America's only combination theme park, wildlife park, and oceanarium. Come see how more than 30 exhilarating rides, 10 shows, and 35 exotic animal attractions add up to one amazing adventure.

Lindsay Wildlife Museum - Lindsay Wildlife Museum is a wildlife rehabilitation and educational center that focuses on native California wildlife and natural history. The museum exhibits live, non-releasable native wildlife.  Founded in 1955, the museum operates the oldest and one of the largest wildlife rehabilitation hospitals in the United States, treating more than 6,000 injured and orphaned wild animals each year.

The Ruth Bancroft Garden - Preserving an exceptional example of American garden design, The Ruth Bancroft Garden demonstrates the beauty and excitement possible in a water-conserving landscape and is Internationally recognized as one of the finest private gardens in North America.

Filoli Center - Filoli is a wonderous 650 acre estate 30 miles south of San Francisco.  Magnificent gardens are seemingly untouched by the passage of time.  A grand Georgian mansion sits amongst these gardens where hundreds of rare flowers, plants and trees flourish.  Wander trough the estate on the brick paths that invite visitors from all over the world to explore the grace an beauty of Filoli.

The  Vintage 1870 - An almost infinite variety of merchandise awaits!  Accessories for the home, garden, and bath. Fine art, wines and wine tasting, gourmet foods, handmade chocolates, unique toys and books, jewelry and gems, romantic gifts and unique collectibles from Napa Valley and around the world complement an exciting array of fine clothing and accessories for all ages.

Waterworld USA, Concord - Waterworld USA is an exciting water park featuring pools, slides, thrilling rides and more located in Concord.

Central Valley

Bakersfield Speedway - The Bakersfield Speedway is considered the west's Fastest 1/3 Mile High Banked Clay Oval.

California Living Museum - California's premier native zoo and garden.

Explorit Science Center - The mission of the Explorit Science Center is to involve people in science experiences that touch our lives.  Explorit's programs are designed to attract, entertain, arouse curiosity, lead to questioning--and thus promote learning.

Mesa Marin Raceway - A 0.500 mile oval first opened in April 1977. It consists of two 17 degree banked corners and 7 degree banked straights.  The raceway features car, truck and motorcycle races.

Wild Water Adventures - Wild Water Adventures offers 52 acres of Family Fun including rides, attractions and events for the entire family.

Jelly Belly Visitor's Center - Visitors can take the Candyland tour.  In addition to seeing a real, working candy factory, guests will find an exhibition candy kitchen where sweet treats are made daily.

Chaffee Zoological Gardens - The Chaffee Zoological Gardens located in Fresno offers a variety of shows, activities and exhibits featuring animals from around the world.

The Fresno Metropolitan Museum - The Fresno Metropolitan Museum offers a variety of permanent and temporary exhibitions  and programs in art, history and science.

Hilmar Cheese Visitor Center - Enjoy watching cheesemakers turn milk into delicious Cheddar and Monterey Jack. Catch the spirit of entrepreneurship that built this young company into the largest single-site cheese producer in the world. And, savor tasty deli meals and sweet treats.

Hershey's Visitor Center - Hershey's Visitor Center in Oakdale features Hershey's chocolate and confectionery products, souvenirs and freshly baked cookies. Shuttle buses transport visitors to and from the nearby Hershey manufacturing plant for a walk-through tour of chocolate-making in action.

Haggin Museum - For 70 years, The Haggin Museum has acquired, maintained, and exhibited two important types of collections--one comprised of works of fine art and the other devoted to area history.

Hedric AG History Center - The Heidrick Ag History Center introduces visitors to the marvels of agriculture, and commercial trucking through 130,000 square feet of interactive, one-of-a-kind exhibits featuring the latest in museum and attraction technologies.

Sacramento Rivertrain - Journey eastward with us from Woodland, CA to the Sacramento River and then on to West Sacramento, through the rich agricultural land of Yolo County. Along the way you will cross an 8,000 foot long wooden trestle, travel through numerous orchards and past a variety of local crops.

Shinzen Japanese Garden - Beautiful Japanese garden located within Fresno's Woodward Region Park.

Rotary Storyland/Playland - Storyland/Playland is an amusement park featuring a fairytale fantasy excursion for the child in all of us.

Central Coast

South Coast Railroad Museum - The South Coast Railroad Museum at Goleta Depot is dedicated to the history, technology, and adventure of railroading. Special emphasis is placed on the railroad's contributions to local history, on the Southern Pacific Railroad, and on the key historical role of the railroad depot in rural community life across America.

Fisherman's Wharf - Monterey's world-famous wharf is known for its fine dining, unique shops, fresh fish markets and a variety of other recreational activities.

Maritime Museum of Monterey - The Maritime Museum of Monterey shares the spirit of the explorers, conquerors, sailors and fishermen whose courage shaped Monterey’s, and this nation’s, history.  Located on Monterey’s waterfront, the museum explores the regions maritime heritage, from the Ohlone Indians and Spanish conquistadors to World War II and Monterey’s heyday as Sardine Capital of the World.

My Museum - MY Museum is a hands-on place for kids and families of all ages.  You can touch everything!  There is a lot to explore, create, learn and discover in many different areas!

Monterey Museum of Art - The museum's permanent collection includes California paintings, sculpture, works on paper and photography, Asian art, international folk art, and features significant bodies of work by Armin Hansen, William Ritschel, Ansel Adams, and Edward Weston.

John Steinbeck's Spirit of Monterey Wax Museum - The John Steinbeck’s Spirit of Monterey Wax Museum features more than 100 life-size wax figures imported from London and Paris. Featured in dozens of thrilling and animated scenes with special effects throughout, Steinbeck’s Spirit of Monterey Wax Museum takes the visitor into a Time Machine through 450 years of Monterey's fascinating and turbulent past.

Monterey Bay Aquarium - The aquarium features more than 100 galleries and exhibits devoted to the diverse habitats of Monterey Bay. The aquarium also features the world's largest jellyfish gallery and largest living deep sea exhibits.  More than 300,000 animals and plants representing 571 species of fishes, invertebrates, mammals, reptiles, birds and plants found in Monterey Bay.

Museum of Natural History - The Museum of Natural History in Morro Bay offers activities for all ages, many of which are free. Nature walks, exhibits, lectures, puppet shows, videos, docent led tours and special events are available to make your visit both fun and educational.

Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History -  The Museum has permanent exhibits which interpret the native plants, animals, geology, and aboriginal populations of Monterey County. The Museum also displays a variety of special temporary exhibits throughout the year.

National Geographic Theatre Located at hearst Castle - The National Geographic Theater at Hearst Castle is truly an amazing movie experience.  Its iWERKS screen is eight times the size of conventional movie screens, delivering unforgettable, breathtaking images and sound.

Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum - The Karpeles Library is the world's largest private holding of important original manuscripts & documents.  The archives include Literature, Science, Religion, History and Art.

Santa Barbara Botanical Garden - Sixty-five acres and over 5 miles of paths meander through an unrivaled collection of California flora and offer panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean and Channel Islands. Eight different habitats represent various regions throughout California, including redwood forests, oak and canyon woodlands, meadows and deserts.

Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History - Set in historic Mission Canyon, the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History offers a close look at the story of the region's birth, geology and paleontology, native wildlife, rich marine life, and the culture of the Chumash Indians. Features include a 72-foot Blue Whale skeleton, the region's only public Planetarium and observatory, a creekside setting and a unique Museum Store.

Santa Barbara Zoo - The Santa Barbara Zoo features over 700 animals species, the Zoo also offers a gift store, a Dentzel family enclosed carousel and two C.P. Huntington trains.

The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum - Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum introduces visitors to the 40th president, his Hollywood days, California governorship, and White House career.

Ventura County Museum of History and Art - The Ventura County Museum of History & Art, 100 East Main Street, is located in downtown Ventura across the street from the County's most historic site, the San Buenaventura Mission. There is much to see here, including the Albinger Archaeological Museum.

Ventura Harbor - Located between Los Angeles and Santa Barbara, Ventura Harbor has become a favorite vacation getaway, family retreat and group destination for Californians since opening in 1963.  With a great year-round climate, you can sun and swim along miles of uncrowded beaches.  Boaters have a choice of three marinas, two Yacht Clubs, or launching from the six lane ramp.

Deserts

Borax Visitor Center - Buried deep in the Mojave Desert is one of the biggest and richest deposits of borax on the planet.  Come see buried treasure, monster trucks and the original 20-mule team wagons at the Borax Visitor Center.

The Living Desert - Within its 1,200 acres you will discover nearly 400 fascinating desert animals representing over 150 species including coyotes, bighorn sheep, oryx, zebras, cheetahs and meerkats. There are lush botanical gardens representing 10 different desert ecosystems and a journey to "Eagle Canyon," with its streams, mountain lions, bobcats, Mexican wolves and golden eagles is a definite "must see."

Knott's Soak City U.S.A. - Palm Springs' only Water Park is Knott's Soak City U.S.A., a 16-acre oasis of Water Fun.

Children's Discovery Center of the Desert - On display are many hands-on exhibits for the young and the young-at-heart, including the opportunity to paint your very own Volkswagen.

Palm Springs Air Museum - The Palm Springs Air Museum is dedicated to the preservation, presentation and interpretation of the Air Power of World War Two, its relevance and significance upon the course of history, and its impact on contemporary life.

Palm Springs Desert Museum - Founded in 1938, the Museum is an educational institution that promotes a greater understanding of art, natural science and performing arts through collections, exhibitions and programs.

Pioneertown - Pioneertown is an old wester town which major movie studios and television production companies have utilized as a location for filming movies, videos and TV commercials since 1946.

Calico Ghost Town - One of the few original mining towns of the West, Calico boasted millions in silver, 22 saloons, and 1,200 population. Tour this charming town, visit her shops, mine, and railroad.

Inland Emprie

Big Bear Lake - Big bear Valley offers some of the most beautiful and serene hiking, biking, and skiing areas in Southern California.

Moonridge Animal Park - The Moonridge Animal Park is located in beautiful Big Bear Lake, California among the pine trees and mountains.  The Moonridge Animal Park is home to wild animals that have been injured or abandoned. 

The Air Museum Planes of Fame - Founded over 44 years ago, The Air Museum "Planes of Fame," is dedicated to preserving aviation history for the benefit of future generations. Currently, The Air Museum houses over 150 aircraft at its two locations, the main facility at Chino Airport in California and a satellite museum near the Grand Canyon at Valle Airport in Arizona.

Glen Ivy Hot Springs Spa -  Glen Ivy Hot Springs Spa, Nature’s Day Spa, offers a relaxing subtropical setting with majestic palms, cascading bougainvillaea and sparkling waters.

California Speedway - California Speedway is a two-mile D-shaped oval superspeedway with a 1.3 mile infield road course located on 529 acres in Fontana, San Bernardino County, CA. Designed to offer the ultimate in fan enjoyment, the California Speedway is the largest sporting venue in Southern California.

Ice Castle International Training Center - Ice Castle International Training Center, located in the village of Lake Arrowhead is the only facility dedicated exclusively to Figure Skating – it offers training for anyone who wants to be their personal skating best – all levels are welcome! 

Oak Tree Village - Oak Tree Village is a country family entertainment center located in the heart of Oak Glen, California. The village offers 20 unique shops. Enjoy the animal park where you can feed unique wildlife, a petting farm where you and your kids can cozy up to a baby llama, goats and an Ebu, a wildlife museum. The Village also has 6 ponds with trout fishing, fish feeding, Black & White swans ducks.

Kimberly Crest House and Gardens - Kimberly Crest, a picturesque French Chateau style home built in 1897, is a well preserved example of the Victorian Era in California.  The 7000 square foot, three- story chateau sits on a six and one quarter acre estate two miles south of downtown Redlands.

Pharaoh's Lost Kingdom - Pharaoh's Lost Kingdom offers 20 acres of pure Southern California Entertainment.  The park features over 17 carnival style amusement rides.

Castlepark - Castlepark offers twenty-five acres of incredibly diverse landscapes with well kept lawns, and palm trees of every shape and size,ornate hand-crafted iron work, abundant waterfalls, rapids and fountains.  The park features over 65 rides and attractions, miniature golf, arcades, restaurants and more. 

March Field Air Museum - March Field Air Museum, the P-38 Museum and the 475th Fighter Group Museum are located at March Air Reserve Base, Riverside, California.  March Field Air Museum serves as home to over 50 historic aircraft and many inside displays relating to the history of March Field, now known as March Air Reserve Base.

UCR California Museum of Photography -  UCR / California Museum of Photography is an off-campus department of the University of California, Riverside, located in Downtown Riverside. The museum promotes understanding of photography and related media through collection, research, exhibition, and instruction.

California Route 66 Museum - California is where everyone was going on Route 66. Now they're coming to the California Route 66 Museum in Victorville to see the history of the road. Enjoy a diverse collection of historic photographs and artifacts depicting the Mother Road.

Riley's Farm - Riley's Farm is a working apple orchard and living history farm in the Oak Glen area of Southern California.

Orange Empire Railway Museum - Explore the West's largest collection of railway locomotives, passenger and freight cars, streetcars, interurban electric cars, builings and other artifacts dating from the 1870's.

Los Angeles

Warner Bros Studio Tours - The Warner Bros. Studios VIP Tour is the only studio tour where you can enjoy an in-depth, personalized look, inside the movie magic machine, at one of Hollywood's busiest and most famous movie and television studios.

Rancho Santa Ana Botanical Gardens - Located on 86 acres in Claremont, California, just south of the San Gabriel foothills, the Garden is home to 70,000 native Californian plants, representing 2,000 native species, hybrids and cultivars. Each season the Garden showcases the incredible wealth and diversity of our state’s treasure of native plants.

American Cinematheque's Egyptian Theatre - The Cinematheque is a cultural, arts organization that programs year-round specialty film series at the newly renovated, landmark 1922 Egyptian Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard.

Hollywood Entertainment District - The Hollywood Entertainment District is a business improvement district (BID) spanning an 18-block stretch of Hollywood Boulevard. The District includes Walk of Fame, Mann's Chinese Theatre, and world-famous intersection of Hollywood and Vine.

Hollywood Entertainment Museum - Celebrates Hollywood - the place and the entertainment arts - with interactive exhibits, video presentations, studio back-lot tour, and original sets from 'Star Trek' and 'Cheers.'

Hollywood Wax Museum - This unique and exciting attraction takes visitors of all ages on a personal stroll down memory lane, recapturing special moments with old friends from movies, television, music, sports and history.

Homestead Museum - A century of southern California history awaits you at the Homestead Museum! This six-acre site dates from the era when California was still part of Mexico through the decade of the 1920s when Los Angeles had become a major American city.

Speedzone - SpeedZone, a park built around speed and competition, incorporates real racing action, indoor interactive entertainment and great food to create a one-of-a-kind entertainment experience.  Situated on approximately 12 acres of land.

Irwindale Speedway - Just about everything with wheels can be found racing on the Irwindale Speedway twin ovals ... Stock Cars, Sprint Cars, Midgets, Supermodifieds, Legends, Trucks, and more can all be seen in wheel-to-wheel competition action at this great new facility!

Aquarium of the Pacific - The Aquarium of the Pacific is a celebration of the world's largest and most diverse body of water. Through dozens of breathtaking exhibits, you'll meet more than 12,000 of this ocean's inhabitants, including some 550 different species.

Universal Studios -  The world’s largest working film and television studio featuring plenty of thrill rides, one-of-a-kind attractions, and live shows offered year-round.

Long Beach Museum of Art -  The Long Beach Museum of Art is located on a magnificent bluff site overlooking Long Beach Harbor and the Pacific Ocean. The campus includes the historic Elizabeth Milbank Anderson house and carriage house (built in 1912), a new pavilion with two floors of expansive gallery space for changing exhibitions, and oceanfront gardens.

Museum of Latin American Art - The Museum of Latin American Art in Long Beach, California, is the only museum in the Western U.S. to exclusively feature contemporary art from Latin America.

Queen Mary Seaport - A floating city awash in elegance, the Queen Mary, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, remains one of the most famous ships in history.  Relive the elegance of transatlantic travel with historic shipwalk tours, elegant restaurants, unique shops, 16 art deco meeting and banquet salons, and a charming on-board hotel. 

Queen's Wharf - Queen's Wharf is an open-air seaside market for the freshest fish, lobster, crab, shrimp and seafood available.

Red Line Tours - Red Line Tours is LA's only daily operating walking tour company. They offer "edutainment" sightseeing tours of Hollywood and Downtown Los Angeles that take you inside the famous landmarks and let you discover the hidden treasures of America's second largest city.

Museum of the American West - You are invited to explore the rich cultural tapestry of the American West. The wide-ranging exhibitions, collections, programs, and educational offerings connect the past to the present and showcase the history of the region west of the Mississippi River.

Beverly Center - Since appearing in Los Angeles, Beverly Center, with over 160 specialty stores and restaurants, has become one of the city's most recognizable landmarks and shopping destinations.

California Science Center - The California Science Center is the west coast's largest hands-on science museum!  Through hands-on experiences , you'll learn about human inventions and innovations, the life processes of living things and more. The Science Center also features and IMAX theater and fantastic special exhibits that change regularly.

Children's Museum of Los Angeles  - A fun interactive environment where children learn by doing.

George C. Page Museum - The Page Museum is located at the Rancho La Brea Tar Pits, one of the world's most famous fossil localities, recognized for having an unusually diverse assemblage of extinct Ice Age plants and animals. Visitors learn about Los Angeles as it was between 10,000 and 40,000 years ago, during the last Ice Age, when animals such as sabertoothed cats and mammoths roamed the Los Angeles Basin.

The Original Farmer's Market - Farmers Market continues to proudly boast of its international cuisine, wide range of gifts from around the world, regularly scheduled special events for the family and outdoor flavor, not to mention the freshest and finest meats, poultry, seafood, produce and flowers in all of Los Angeles.

Six Flags Hurricane Harbor - Set amidst the fringes of a tropical jungle, guests pass through the entry portal and are swept into the lost lagoons of a forgotten world. Pirate treasures, playful sea creatures, ancient ruins, scattered remains of Red Eye's shipwrecked sea vessel and tribal artifacts await discovery on the shores of this tropical paradise.

Japanese American National Museum - Uniquely American museum located in Little Tokyo's historic district. Only national museum dedicated to sharing the Japanese American experience.

Los Angeles Zoo - Located in Griffith Park, the Los Angeles Zoo, home to 1,200 animals representing 350 species.

Kodak THEATRE - Kodak Theatre is the crown jewel of the Hollywood and Highland entertainment complex located in the heart of historic Hollywood. Since opening in November 2001, the theatre has hosted a range of prestigious artists and events including the Academy Awards® Ceremonies.

Museum of Contemporary Art - The only institution in LA devoted exclusively to art from 1940 to the present, featuring exhibitions of painting, sculpture, drawings, prints, and photographs of importance.

Museum of Neon Art - The Museum of Neon Art (MONA) is a non-profit, cultural and educational organization which exhibits, documents and preserves contemporary fine art in electric media and outstanding examples of neon signs.

Museum of Tolerance - The Museum of Tolerance is a high tech, hands-on experiential museum that focuses on two central themes through unique interactive exhibits: the dynamics of racism and prejudice in America and the history of the Holocaust - the ultimate example of man's inhumanity to man.

Grauman's Chinese Theatre - Grauman's Chinese Theatre is the most famous theatre in the world. Since its gala opening in May 1927, millions of movie patrons and visitors to Hollywood have been drawn to the theatre. They come to be entertained and enthralled by the legendary Chinese, home to the Forecourt of the Stars.

Skirball Cultural Center - The Skirball museum collection, reflecting a history of 4,000 years, ranks among the largest of its genre in the world, with 25,000 objects of artifacts related to Jewish life and culture. The museum's core exhibit, Visions and Values: Jewish Life from Antiquity to America, explores themes related to the pursuit of the American dream through immigration, acculturation and the embracing of democratic values.

Starline Tours of Hollywood - Since 1935, 'Starline Tours of Hollywood' provides the most exciting tours to discover greater Los Angeles. Our daily Hollywood and Los Angeles tours are from 2 hours: Movie stars homes tour which departs every 1/2 hour, to all day tours like the Grand tour of Los Angeles or Los Angeles Tours by night.

Southwest Museum - The Southwest Museum holds one of the nation's most important museum, library, and archive collections related to the American Indian. In addition it has extensive holdings of Prehispanic, Spanish Colonial, Latino, and Western American art and artifacts. 

Los Angeles Natural History Museum -  The Museum assembles, conserves, interprets, and holds in trust collections of irreplaceable objects from nature and human history. 

Placerita Canyon Park and Nature Center - Placerita is a unique east-west running canyon featuring cool, shaded oak groves, a willow and sycamore-lined seasonal stream and numerous other interesting plant and animal communities. The historic "Oak of the Golden Dream" is the site of California's original gold discovery in 1842.

Norton Simon Museum -  European paintings and sculpture range from the 14th to the 20th century. The Museum exhibits Renaissance, Baroque and Rococo masterpieces by Raphael, El Greco, Rubens, Rembrandt, Hals, and Tiepolo, along with works from the 19th and 20th century by Goya, Manet, Monet, Degas, Renoir, van Gogh, Cézanne, Rousseau and Picasso.

The Gamble House - The Gamble House in Pasadena, California, is an example of American Arts and Crafts style architecture. The house and furnishings were designed by Charles and Henry Greene in 1908. The house, a National Historic Landmark, is owned and operated by the University of Southern California and is open for public tours. 

Raging Waters - Raging Waters is California's largest water theme park featuring a  50-acre aquatic recreation park which includes water slides, speed slides, rides, chutes, lagoons, children's activity pools and beaches for sunbathers.

Huntington Library - The Huntington is an oasis of art and culture set amidst 150 acres of breathtaking gardens. Three art galleries and a library showcase magnificent collections of rare books and manuscripts, 18th- and 19th-century British and French art, American art from the 18th to the early 20th century, and a small but noteworthy collection of Renaissance paintings.

Cabrillo Marine Aquarium - Cabrillo Marine Aquarium is an educational, recreational, and research facility devoted to encouraging active public participation to promote knowledge and conservation of the marine life of southern California.

Los Angeles Maritime Museum - Located in the former Municipal Ferry Terminal in the Port of Los Angeles, the Los Angesles Maritime Museum is the largest maritime museum on the West Coast. The Museum offers seven galleries of exhibits exploring the maritime history of Southern California.

Six Flags Magic Mountain - Six Flags Magic Mountain features the world's most thrilling rides plus exciting shows and family adventures. Next door, Hurricane Harbor water park is open May-Sept.  The park now has more roller coasters than any other park in the world.

Museum of Flying - The Museum of Flying, located in Santa Monica, California, houses a rare collection of World War II fighter aircraft.

Santa Monica Museum of Art - The Santa Monica Museum of Art is located at Bergamot Station in Santa Monica, the museum features contemporary art exhibits and artists' projects.

UCLA Ocean Discovery Center - The UCLA Ocean Discovery Center at the Santa Monica Pier is a marine science learning center and aquarium serving K-12 classes from schools in the greater Los Angeles area as well as the general public. The center uses interactive lessons and activities to introduce students to the basic concepts of marine environmental studies, marine biology and oceanography.

House of Blues - West Hollywood's House of Blues features eclectic live music and Southern Delta-inspired cuisine.

Griffith Observatory - The Griffith Observatory has been a major Los Angeles landmark since 1935. It is visited by nearly two million people each year end ranks seventh on the list of major tourist attractions of Southern California. It sits on the southern slope of Mount Hollywood where it commands a stunning view of the Los Angeles basin below. Thousands of people enjoy the view from its balconies, especially at night.

Orange County

Disney's California Adventure - Located next door to Disneyland.  Celebrate the fun and adventures of California. Immerse yourself in the California spirit through Hollywood magic, beachfront boardwalk thrills, and great outdoor adventures Disney style.

Downtown Disney - Shopping, dining, and entertainment featuring AMC, Catal Restaurant, ESPN Zone, House of Blues, LEGO, Naples Ristorante, Rainforest Cafe, Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen, World of Disney, Y Amba Y Arriba.

Medieval Times - At Medieval Times, you'll feast on a 4-course dinner, see spectacular pageantry, dramatic horsemanship, exciting swordplay, and an authentic jousting tournament.

Orange County Performing Arts Center - The Orange County Performing Arts Center invites you to experience the thrill of live performance. The world's greatest singers, dancers, actors and musicians take to The Center's stages to create spectacular entertainment.

South Coast Plaza - South Coast Plaza is one of America's 9 famous streets to stay, shop, and dine.  The plaza features stores, restaurants, carousels and more.  The 260 stores and restaurants, spa, cinema and theatre is an adventure that takes you to 17 countries.

Santa Ana Zoo - The Santa Ana Zoo at Prentice Park is a public zoological garden occupying a unique urban site in the heart of Orange County. Situated on approximately 20 acres, it hosts more than 270,000 people annually.

Arrowhead Pond - As Southern California's premier entertainment and sports venue, the Arrowhead Pond hosts a variety of first-class events each year including concerts, sporting events and family shows.

Fullerton Arboretum - The Fullerton Arboretum, a 26-acre botanical garden with an ecologically arranged collection of plants from around the world, is located on the northeast corner of the California State University, Fullerton campus. 

International Surfing Museum - The International Surfing Museum located in Huntington Beach, California is home to a collection of some of the most significant artifacts in the history of surfing. With surf music and videos playing in the background, you'll be in the mood to view the many fine exhibits.

Orange County Natural History Museum - The Orange County Natural History Museum, operated by the Orange County Natural History Association, is dedicated to the preservation, exhibition and interpretation of Orange County.  The Museum offers natural history exhibits, free community lecture series and programs for the entire family.

Fashion Island - Fashion Island is one of Southern California's most extraordinary shopping experiences. With 200 stores, 40 restaurants and two cinemas with more than a dozen screens, you'll have the time of your life shopping outdoors amid sparkling fountains, sidewalk carts, ocean breezes and tree-lined paseos.

Bowers Museum of Cultural Art - One of Southern California's finest museums and Orange County's largest, the Bowers Museum is one of the only museums in the United States devoted to promoting human understanding through art.  The Museum's collections include African, Oceanic, Native American, pre-Columbian, and California Plein Air paintings.

Discovery Science Center - Discovery Science Center is a non-profit organization dedicated to educating young minds, assisting teachers and increasing understanding and appreciation of science, math and technology. In short, Discovery Science Center is a place where children and adults alike can learn while having fun.

Movieland Wax Museum - At Movieland Wax Museum, visitors can see more than 300+ famous stars in thrilling sets with authentic costumes and props.

Wild Rivers - Wild Rivers water park located in Irvine features rides and attractions for the entire family.

San Diego

SeaWorld - See the  world-famous Shamu show, play with dolphins, see the world's largest display of sharks, and see truly amazing animals all in this one of a kind amusement park.

Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch - For over sixty years, Mother Nature has transformed the rolling hills of North San Diego County into one of the most spectacular and coordinated displays of natural color and beauty anywhere in the world. The nearly fifty acres of Giant Tecolote Ranunculus flowers that make up The Flower Fields^® at Carlsbad Ranch.

LEGOland - At LEGOLAND kids are in charge on over 40 rides and adventures. 

Museum of Making Music - The Museum of Making Music is located in Carlsbad and overlooks the Pacific Ocean.  The museum's exhibits cover 100 years of music in America, beginning in 1890. They provide a wonderful trip through five time periods which include popular music, walk-through music stores, key musical innovations, 450+ vintage instruments and dozens of historic photographs.

Knott's Soak City USA - Thirty-two water-logged acres packed with 22 of the most intense water rides imaginable -- all themed to the surf woodies and longboards of the 1950s San Diego coast!

Buck Knives Plant Tour - Visitors can enjoy a guided tour of our Buck Knives manufacturing plant headquarters in El Cajon, California, just East of San Diego.  The plant has more than 4 1/2 acres of modern knifemaking facilities under one roof.

San Diego Wild Animal Park - Opened to the public on May 10, 1972, the San Diego Wild Animal Park is a unique adventure -- a zoo unlike traditional zoos -- in which animals roam in entire herds and flocks, in enclosures measured in acres rather than feet.

Birch Aquarium at Scripps - Experience a dazzling variety of Marine life; visit an outdoor tide pool; and explore an interactive oceanographic museum.

La Jolla Playhouse - The Playhouse is a not-for-profit, professional theater in residence at the Mandell Weiss Center for the Performing Arts on the campus of the University of California, San Diego.

Museum of Contemporary Art in San Diego - The permanent collection of the Museum of Contemporary Art, San Diego, includes more than 3,000 works created after 1950, representing all media and genres: painting, sculpture, works on paper, photography, video, film, and installation. 

California Surf Museum - The California Surf Museum presents standing displays of surfing equipment and photographs. Every six months it introduces a new feature exhibit highlighting one of the pioneering legends of the surfing world. The museum also retails surfing-related merchandise.

Balboa Park - The Park covers a huge 1,200 acres and it's minutes away from downtown San Diego. We have over 85 cultural and recreational organizations here, including fifteen museums and various performing arts groups, like the Marie Hitchcock Puppet Theatre and the world-famous Globe Theatres, which presents at least 14 productions and 550 performances a year.

Belmont Park - Belmont Park has something for everyone. At one of the best beaches in San Diego - Mission Beach. Take a twist on the Giant Dipper Roller Coaster, a dip in the historic Plunge swimming pool, or a stroll through the carousel shops.

San Diego Convention & Visitors Bureau - Online guide to shopping, lodging, dining, attractions and recreation in San Diego.

Bazaar del Mundo - Bazaar del Mundo, located in Old Town San Diego, features a variety of international shops and restaurants.

San Diego Maritime Museum - San Diego's Maritime Museum is Home of Star of India, the world's oldest active sailing ship.

Museum of Photographic Arts - The Museum of Photographic Arts is one of the first and finest museums in the country dedicated to the photographic arts.  Visitors have the opportunity to view work by some of the most celebrated photographers and cinematographers in the history of these mediums.

Old Globe Theatre - The Internationally acclaimed, Tony award-winning old Globe Theatre, located in the heart of San Diego’s Balboa Park, presents musicals, comedies, classics, and contemporary drama.

Reuben H. Fleet Science Center - The Reuben H. Fleet Science Center is the place for people of all ages to get their hands on science, enjoy the world’s most dynamic films in the giant IMAX dome theatre, and blast off in the exciting motion-based simulator ride SciTours.

San Diego Museum of Art - This historic museum's renowned collections include Renaissance and Baroque masters, 19th-century European, Asian, and American art. The museum also features acclaimed international exhibitions.

San Diego Opera - Performing January through May, the San Diego Opera offers visitors brilliant productions which feature world-renowned artists. 

San Diego Automotive Museum - Located in lovely Balboa Park, the San Diego Automotive Museum showcases over 80 classic and historically significant vehicles from horseless carriages to 50s favorites, from muscle cars to motorcycles--even innovations of the future!

San Diego Railroad Museum - The San Diego Railroad Museum, operated by the Pacific Southwest Railway Museum Association, is a non-profit educational organization dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of railroads as they existed in the Pacific Southwest.

Seaport Village - Seaport Village is a 14-acre waterfront shopping, dining and entertainment complex, recreating a harborside setting of a century ago.  Visitors can enjoy 59 unique shops, 4 bayfront restaurants, 13 eateries, 4 miles of walkways, and a 1/4-mile boardwalk along the bay which provides spectacular views of San Diego's harbor.

San Diego Aerospace Museum - The San Diego Aerospace Museum brings to life aviation's rich heritage through a dazzling collection of over 65 U.S. and foreign aircraft and spacecraft.

The Wave Waterpark - "The Wave" is a state of the art waterpark located in the beautiful city of Vista, California. "The Wave" was completed in 1994 & consists of 3 acres of pure aquatic fun. "The Wave" boasts four 35' tall water slides, ranging from 87' to 330' in length. The park is home to the "Flow Rider" continuous waves.

Centro Cultural de la Raza - The Centro Cultural de la Raza is a 30 year old non-profit cultural arts organization, established in 1970, whose mission is to create, promote, and preserve Mexicano/o, Chicana/o, and indigenous art and culture.  programs include a multi-disciplinary educational component, performing and literary arts presentations, visual arts exhibits and film/video screenings.

National Parks

Redwood National and State Parks - Redwood National and State Parks are home to some of the world's tallest trees: old-growth coast redwoods. They can live to be 2,000 years old and grow to over 300 feet tall.

California National Historic Trail - The California Trail carried over 200,000 gold-seekers and farmers to the gold fields and rich farmlands of California during the 1840's and 1850's, the greatest mass migration in American history. Today, more than 1,000 miles of trail ruts and traces can still be seen in the vast undeveloped lands between Casper Wyoming and the West Coast, reminders of the sacrifices, struggles, and triumphs of early American travelers and settlers.

Pony Express National Historic Trail - The Pony Express National Historic Trail was used by young men on fast paced horses to carry the nation's mail across the country, from St. Joseph, Missouri to Sacramento, California, in the unprecedented time of only ten days. Organized by private entrepreneurs, the horse-and-rider relay system became the nation's most direct and practical means of east-west communications before the telegraph.

Alcatraz Island - Alcatraz Island is one of Golden Gate National Recreation Area's most popular destinations, offering a close-up look at a historic and infamous federal prison long off-limits to the public.  Daily tours run to the island where hardened criminals like Al Capone and the Anglin brothers once lived.

Eugene O'neill National Historic Site - Eugene Gladstone O'Neill, the only Nobel Prize winning playwright from the United States and the architect of modern American theater, lived at Tao House in the hills above Danville from 1937 to 1944. It was at this site that he wrote his final and most successful plays; "The Iceman Cometh," "Long Days Journey Into Night," and "A Moon For the Misbegotten."

Fort Point National Historic Site - Fort Point was constructed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers between 1853 and 1861 to prevent entrance of a hostile fleet into San Francisco Bay.  Fort Point is the only third system brick fort on the west coast of the United States.

Golden Gate National Recreation Area - The Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA) is one of the largest urban national parks in the world.  GGNRA’s 75,398 acres of land and water extend north of the Golden Gate Bridge to Tomales Bay in Marin County and south to San Mateo County, encompassing 59 miles of bay and ocean shoreline. These lands represent one of the nation’s largest coastal preserves and attract 16 million visitors each year.

John Muir National Historic Site - The Site preserves the 17 room mansion where the naturalist John Muir lived from 1890 to his death in 1914.

Juan Bautista De Anza National Historic Trail - The national trail commemorates the route followed by Anza in 1775-76 when he led a contingent of 30 soldiers and their families to found a presidio and mission on the San Francisco Bay. Along the trail route, visitors can experience the varied landscapes; learn the stories of the expedition, its members, and descendants; better understand the American Indian role in the expedition and the diversity of their cultures; and appreciate the extent of the effects of Spanish colonial settlement of Arizona and California.

Muir Woods National Monument - Until the 1800's, many northern California coastal valleys were covered with coast redwood trees similar to those now found in Muir Woods National Monument.  Today, the National Monument preserves the last old growth coast redwood forest in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Point Reyes National Seashore - Point Reyes National Seashore contains unique elements of biological and historical interest in a spectacularly scenic panorama of thunderous ocean breakers, open grasslands, bushy hillsides and forested ridges. Native land mammals number about 37 species and marine mammals augment this total by another dozen species.

Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial - Port Chicago Naval Magazine was dedicated as a national memorial to honor the courage and commitment of the 320 Sailors, Marines, Coast Guardsmen, Merchant Mariners, and workers killed and injured there during World War II. It recognizes the critical role they and the survivors of the explosion played in winning the war in the Pacific.

Presidio of San Francisco - The Presidio preserves an astonishingly complex cultural and natural heritage within its 1480 acres.  Within its boundaries are more than 500 historic buildings, a collection of coastal defense fortifications, a national cemetery, an historic airfield, a saltwater marsh, forests, beaches, native plant habitats, coastal bluffs, miles of hiking and biking, and some of the most spectacular vistas in the world.

Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park - The World War II Home Front is a significant chapter in America's history. Women affectionately known as "Rosies" helped change industry and had sweeping and lasting impacts. Richmond, California played a significant and nationally recognized part in the World War II Home Front. The four Richmond shipyards, with their combined 27 shipways, produced 747 ships, more than any other shipyard complex in the country.

San Francisco Maritime National Park - This unique Park, located at the west end of San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf, includes the fleet of historic vessels at Hyde Street Pier, the Maritime Museum, and the Maritime Museum Library. Board turn-of-the-century ships, tour the Museum and learn traditional arts -- like boatbuilding and woodworking.  The Park offers history, music and craft programs for all ages.

Juan Bautista De Anza National Historic Trail - The national trail commemorates the route followed by Anza in 1775-76 when he led a contingent of 30 soldiers and their families to found a presidio and mission on the San Francisco Bay. Along the trail route, visitors can experience the varied landscapes; learn the stories of the expedition, its members, and descendants; better understand the American Indian role in the expedition and the diversity of their cultures; and appreciate the extent of the effects of Spanish colonial settlement of Arizona and California.

Pinnacles National Monument - Rising out of the chaparral-covered Gabilan Mountains, east of central California's Salinas Valley, are the spectacular remains of an ancient volcano. Massive monoliths, spires, sheer-walled canyons and talus passages define millions of years of erosion, faulting and tectonic plate movement. Within the monument's boundaries lie 24,000 acres of diverse wildlands.

Channel Island National Park - Comprised of five in a chain of eight southern California islands near Los Angeles, Channel Islands National Park is home to a wide variety of nationally and internationally significant natural and cultural resources. Over 2,000 species of plants and animals can be found within the park.

Juan Bautista De Anza National Historic Trail - The national trail commemorates the route followed by Anza in 1775-76 when he led a contingent of 30 soldiers and their families to found a presidio and mission on the San Francisco Bay. Along the trail route, visitors can experience the varied landscapes; learn the stories of the expedition, its members, and descendants; better understand the American Indian role in the expedition and the diversity of their cultures; and appreciate the extent of the effects of Spanish colonial settlement of Arizona and California.

Old Spanish National Historic Trail - The Old Spanish Trail was a pack mule trail linking land-locked New Mexico with coastal California between 1829 and 1848. Over this trail moved people, goods, and ideas. Recognizing the national significance of this historic long distance trade route, in 2002 Congress designated it the Old Spanish National Historic Trail.

Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area - Santa Monica Mountains rise above Los Angeles, widen to meet the curve of Santa Monica Bay and reach their highest peaks facing the ocean, forming a beautiful and multi-faceted landscape.  Located in a Mediterranean ecosystem, the Santa Monica Mountains contain a wide variety of plants and wildlife.

California National Historic Trail - The California Trail carried over 200,000 gold-seekers and farmers to the gold fields and rich farmlands of California during the 1840's and 1850's, the greatest mass migration in American history. Today, more than 1,000 miles of trail ruts and traces can still be seen in the vast undeveloped lands between Casper Wyoming and the West Coast, reminders of the sacrifices, struggles, and triumphs of early American travelers and settlers.

Lassen Volcanic National Park - Lassen Volcanic became a national park in 1916 because of its significance as an active volcanic landscape. Lassen Peak began erupting in 1914, had the most significant activity in 1915, and had minor activity until 1921. All four types of volcanoes in the world are found in Lassen's 106,000 acres.

Lava Beds National Monument - Volcanic eruptions on the Medicine Lake shield volcano have created an incredibly rugged landscape punctuated by cinder cones, lava flows, spatter cones, lava tube caves and pit craters. Visitors can tour both the geologic and historic wonders of this unusual landscape.

Whiskeytown National Recreation Area - With its mountainous back country and man-made large reservoir, Whiskeytown offers many summer activities such as hiking and boating as well as the historical remains of buildings built during the California Gold Rush of 1849. Whiskeytown Lake, with 36 miles of shoreline and covering 3200 acres, is excellent for most water-related activities, including swimming, scuba diving, water skiing, boating and fishing.

California National Historic Trail - The California Trail carried over 200,000 gold-seekers and farmers to the gold fields and rich farmlands of California during the 1840's and 1850's, the greatest mass migration in American history. Today, more than 1,000 miles of trail ruts and traces can still be seen in the vast undeveloped lands between Casper Wyoming and the West Coast, reminders of the sacrifices, struggles, and triumphs of early American travelers and settlers.

Devil's Postpile National Monument - Geologic Wonders along a River of Life.  High on the western slope of the Sierra Crest, nature reveals two of its wonders - the weirdly wonderful "postpile" and the lovely San Joaquin River with its dramatic Rainbow Falls.  The geologic formation that is "the Postpile" is the world's finest example of unusual columnar basalt. Its columns of lava, with their four to seven sides, display a honeycomb pattern of order and harmony.

Manzanar National Historic Site - Manazanar War Relocation Center was one of ten camps at which Japanese American citizens and Japanese aliens were interned during World War II. Located at the foot of the imposing Sierra Nevada in eastern California's Owens Valley, Manzanar has been identified as the best preserved of these camps.

Pony Express National Historic Trail - The Pony Express National Historic Trail was used by young men on fast paced horses to carry the nation's mail across the country, from St. Joseph, Missouri to Sacramento, California, in the unprecedented time of only ten days. Organized by private entrepreneurs, the horse-and-rider relay system became the nation's most direct and practical means of east-west communications before the telegraph.

Sequoia & King's Canyon National Parks - These parks are home to giants: immense mountains, deep canyons, and huge trees. Thanks to their huge elevational range, 1,500' to 14,491', these parks protect stunningly diverse habitats.