Cleopatra was Queen of Egypt in 51 B.C.

Imagine a life of exquisite opulence. One that donned the finest of everything, from sumptuous feasting with an endless flow of the best wine served in plates and goblets of gold, to the most luxurious silks and fabrics, to glittering jewels and artifacts that adorned the body and palace. A life of unbridled pleasure where music and merry-making blended with the intrigues of power and the ruling of an empire bent on worshiping their kings as gods. Such was the life of Cleopatra VII: Queen of Egypt in 51 B.C.

Jewels fit for a queen in radiant gold encrusted with gemstones have withstood the test of time

The mystery surrounding this legendary queen has only served to enhance her appeal over time. She was a woman of tremendous passion, ambition and intelligence. A queen who brought the Roman leaders Julius Caesar and Mark Antony to their knees, seduced by her charms and cunning. A ruler whose ways were criticized by the Romans – themselves given to a life of decadence and debauchery.

Cleopatra has been immortalized by artists, in books, and in Hollywood where myths and mysteries have been explored, depicted, debated and displayed time and again.

Special Exhibit at the California Science Center

Standing over 16 feet tall, these towering statues have a aura of power and mystery

Open to the public now through December 31, 2012, the California Science Center in Los Angeles is showcasing Cleopatra: The Exhibition. This 13,000-square-foot exhibit features a wonderful assortment of artifacts, gold, jewels, coins, statues and other objects that have withstood the test of time. Many of these relics were discovered buried in the sand and sea, and can now be viewed up close. The exhibition also features a complimentary audio tour of Cleopatra and her life that awakens the imagination with its fascinating narration of the woman who lived like a goddess.

A carved sphinx continues to gaze at onlookers as he did thousands of years ago

This is an excellent opportunity for adults and school-aged children to glimpse the objects of an ancient ruler who remains forever an object of fascination herself.  See sphinxes and other statues of many sizes carved from granite, bronze or other metals in their graceful enduring poses. Marvel at the many coins, rings, bracelets, earrings, necklaces and other jewels fashioned in intricate gold and gemstones that were once worn by the ancient Egyptians, perhaps even the legendary queen herself. Study some of the ammunition used in battles, like spearheads, slingshot bullets, axe-heads, arrowheads and a helmet. There are many informative displays with photographs of the objects in the exhibition as they were originally found in the sea by Alexandria.

Ancient coins glitter, catching the eye and imagination

Cleopatra’s legacy remains strong in the artifacts, history, and imaginations fueled by her life and the relics left behind from her dynasty. Alluring and somewhat elusive, she is like the shimmering trail of a shooting star across the night sky. Stardust that continues to sparkle long after the star itself is gone. Do not miss the chance to explore some of the gleaming remnants of her reign.

California Science Center

The statues are remarkably well preserved, a testament to the Egyptians’ enduring craftsmanship

While at the California Science Center, take advantage of their permanent exhibition galleries which are FREE. There is a separate charge for special exhibits (including the Cleopatra exhibit), several attractions and the IMAX theater. This is a wonderful museum for people of all ages, and especially captivating and appropriate for children with its many hands-on and interactive exciting exhibits.

The California Science Center is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. except for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. It is located at 700 Exposition Park Drive in Los Angeles, CA 90037.

Children's Discovery Museum Winding Walkway leading to second floor

In December of 2011, my wife and I took our two young kids to the Children’s Discovery Museum of the Desert in Rancho Mirage, California. We were staying at the Marriott Desert Springs Villas in Palm Desert for a much needed getaway just two weeks before Christmas. We were told by a friend that the Children’s Discovery Museum would be the perfect outlet for our two year old son because of all the interactive exhibits. The fact that it was only a 10 minute drive from our Villa made it an easy decision.

The Museum

Brain stimulating activities for all ages

The Children’s Discovery Museum of the Desert was founded in 1986 and officially opened its doors to the public in 1990. This 18,000 square foot non-profit Museum is located in Rancho Mirage on a well manicured four acre desert site. The indoor facility itself has a very attractive, modern and colorful layout. There is a winding ascending walkway along one perimeter leading to the second floor, high windows providing ample natural light throughout, a uniquely shaped ceiling with sharp angles, and a variety of three dimensional geometric shapes found throughout the facility. All of the exhibits are interactive “hands-on” displays, and unlike many other museums, children are encouraged to touch and explore their various functions.

Our Experience

Enclosed toddler play area

We were among the first to enter the Children’s Discovery Museum on a Saturday morning a few minutes past 10am. We had our 9 month old daughter in a stroller when we walked up to the admission stand, but we soon learned that no strollers were allowed inside the exhibit area. Thankfully we had our Ergo baby carrier in the car. If your child is still crawling, I highly recommend bringing along a baby carrier because the no-stroller rule is non-negotiable! We found that although there was one enclosed area where we could let our daughter crawl around free, most of the facility is geared more towards children that can walk on their own.

Be an Archaeologist

After paying admission (see hours and rates below) and leaving our stroller in the lobby, we finally entered the museum. The first exhibit we encountered was the Archaeologist Field Station with a make-believe excavation site. There were a handful of woven safari hats, several boxes containing different unearthed artifacts, clipboards for the young archaeologists to take field notes, and tools like magnifying glasses, hand shovels and brushes appropriate for an excavation.

We found everything to be toddler and kid friendly so there were no sharp or other dangerous objects to be concerned about. While most of the kids were climbing up on the archaeological site and playing with the different tools, our son was busy grabbing safari hats one by one and trying them on. They were all way too big for his head so my wife and I had a good laugh watching him try to walk around with half of his head hidden beneath.

This entire wall is a magnet where kids can play with metalic objects

Throughout the museum we found many unique exhibits designed to stimulate a young child’s mind from interactive scientific displays featuring magnets, pulleys, and large gears with cranks, to other more social exhibits like an arts and crafts room, a giant string-less harp with built in motion sensors used to play real music, and a large dressing area filled with a variety of hats and costumes.

Young artist painting on a most unusual canvas!

Another very unique and popular exhibit was a full sized Volkswagen beetle in the center of a roped off section.  The car was completely covered in multiple colors of paint, and kids were lining up with their smocks and brushes to add their own designs.  A specific color is designated for each new day so that colors stay well defined and don’t mix together.

Other than the dressing room, we found the most popular exhibit among the kids was the make-believe grocery store. Everything you would find in a real grocery store was present including miniature metal frame shopping carts, shelves filled with canned goods, and an organized produce section filled with every fruit and vegetable imaginable. There were also check stands complete with uniforms, grocery bags and fake money.

Our son sitting on a police motorcycle in front of the make-believe grocery store

One part of the store even had a pizza kitchen where children could add various toppings to pizza dough and slide it into an oven to bake.  It was fascinating to watch the children really embrace their various roles as employees and consumers in such a realistic way!

We spent about 2 hours at the facility and our son enjoyed every moment. No food was allowed inside, so we stopped at the gift shop just outside the museum to grab some snacks and souvenirs for the road. We had a great time at the facility and we will definitely return the next time we are in Palm Desert. It will be very interesting to see how our son interacts with the various exhibits as he gets older and is able to appreciate them more profoundly.

Hours and Admission

Our future engineer cranking gears

The Children’s Discovery Museum of the Desert is located at: 71701 Gerald Ford Drive, Rancho Mirage, California 92270. Admission as of 2012 is $8 per/person. Children under 2 are admitted free. Hours of operation are 10am through 5pm daily. They are closed on Mondays from May through December. There are many special events especially during the Holidays like the annual “Breakfast with Santa”, so be sure to check their website calendar.

Visit their official website at www.cdmod.org for more information.

The ornate detailing on this gold pendant is exquisite (courtesy Bowers Museum)

A symbol of power, justice, strength and perfection, gold has captured the imaginations of people of all ages since the beginning of time.  Its luster and purity are enduring, as it resists corrosion and damage, while being non-toxic. It has been venerated by princes, paupers and priests alike, transcending the bounds of time, culture and continents.

This symbol of kingship has had many uses over time including money in the form of coins, jewelry of many varieties, ritual and ceremonial objects, items of decoration, and even for oral consumption in medicines, as well as a sumptuous food garnish in the form of gold flakes during medieval times.

Special Exhibitions at the Bowers Museum

This is the largest gold nugget ever found in California, weighing over 10 pounds (courtesy Erica Van Pelt)

Now you can get a closer look at this natural marvel that has fueled the fancies of many cultures in not one, but two fantastic exhibits at the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana: California Gold (open until September 9, 2012) and Sacred Gold: Pre-Hispanic Art of Colombia (open until July 1, 2012).

Visitors can see beautiful samples of native California gold as it appears in its natural form, from nuggets to leaves and crystals. Included is the Mojave Nugget which is the largest gold nugget ever found in California, weighing over ten pounds.  Other artifacts offer a fascinating historical glimpse into the Gold Rush era, as well as the famed Ship of Gold  – the SS Central America – which sank in 1857 off the South Carolina coast with 35,000 pounds of gold on its way to the Philadelphia Mint from the California goldfields.

Emerald-set gold cross from the 17th century (courtesy Bowers Museum)

Also included in the exhibits are gold coins, bullion, and recovered treasure from sunken ships, like the famous Atocha Cross – an emerald-set intricately carved gold cross on a rosary found on the Spanish warship Nuestra Señora de Atocha that sank off the Florida Keys in the 17th century while laden with gold, silver, copper, jewels, gems and tobacco, among its precious cargo. There are over 200 stunning pre-Hispanic gold objects in the forms of ornaments, vessels and  figures on loan from Colombia’s distinguished Museo del Oro and the Banco de Republica, Bogota including elaborate breastplates worn in ceremonies from antiquity, and finely detailed pendants and jewelry donned in ancient rituals.

Gold ceremonial breastplate (courtesy Bowers Museum)

This is an exceptional opportunity for adults and children to view these precious artifacts, where they can see real treasures from ancient civilizations dating back over 2,000 years, as well as those found on sunken ships from long ago; the kind portrayed in exciting tales and Hollywood films about pirates, myths and lost treasure. Imagine these glittering riches that have withstood the test of time, retaining their beauty for many centuries. These are the things from which legends and dreams are spun, including El Dorado – the fabled lost city of gold.

The sophisticated techniques and skills of the native South Americans are clearly evident in the intricate designs of their objects, and a testament to the permanence and lasting legacy of their craftsmanship and the gold itself.

Location and Hours

Another intricately crafted pendant (courtesy Bowers Museum)

The Bowers Museum is located at 2002 N. Main Street, Santa Ana, CA 92706 (714) 567-3600 and is open Tuesday through Sunday, 10am-4pm.  Tickets are $12 (18 and over), $9 (6-17) and free for children under 6. For more information on these outstanding exhibits visit their website www.bowers.org

Los Angeles, California is known for its diverse family attractions from museums, to zoos, aquariums, amusement parks and botanical gardens. If you are looking to spend some fun quality time without going broke, you will find the following venues perfect for a day out with the kids. Listed alphabetically, these attractions are all priced under $20 for admission, while some are even free!

Adventure City – Anaheim

Adventure City's Drop Zone is just one of the thrilling rides at this fantastic amusement park

A phenomenal theme park without the exorbitant prices, Adventure City is perfect for families who enjoy amusement parks but don’t want to drain the bank, spend hours in long lines, and fight crowds. With free parking and $14.95 admission as of 2012 (infants 12 months and under are free), you can’t pass this up. A fun variety of rides and attractions have kids and their parents squealing in delight, including coasters, to the park’s nostalgic 1938 Express Train, a vintage 20-horse carousel, balloon rides, vertical wheel rides, circling plane rides, the thrilling Drop Zone, a Thomas the Tank Engine hands-on play area, and much more. There is also a petting farm with live animals, children’s theater, arcade, and tasty food for hungry revelers.  For more information visit their website www.adventurecity.com

Cabrillo Marine Aquarium – San Pedro

The Cabrillo Marine Aquarium has lots of fascinating creatures in its exhibits, touch tank, and along the coastal tide pools outside

Established in 1935, this aquarium is a little gem that focuses on marine life from Southern California. Its exhibit hall displays animals and plants from the open ocean, rocky shores, and sand and mud environments in a variety of tanks. It has a fascinating aquatic nursery which also functions as a research laboratory. Its exploration center features plenty of engaging hands-on activities that are especially exciting for children, while a large touch tank with lots of creatures, and adjacent tide pools among the rocks by the ocean are lots of fun to explore. Admission is free but donations are suggested at a low rate of $5 for adults and $1 for children. Parking is $1 per hour with a maximum of $9. For more information visit their website www.cabrillomarineaquarium.org

California Science Center – Los Angeles

The California Science Center has lots of hands-on and interactive exhibits (photo courtesy of Richard Kim)

The California Science Center is full of engaging interactive galleries and over 100 hands-on exhibits that fascinate young and old alike. With free admission to their permanent exhibit galleries, there really is no excuse to miss it. The informative exhibits teach guests about the amazing life processes of living things, the many human innovations and inventions, ecosystems, air and space, and much more. The California Science Center also features special paid traveling exhibits and an IMAX Theater with riveting shows. As of 2012, show prices are $8.25 (adult), $6.00 (ages 13-17), $5.00 (ages 4-12) with discounts for members, groups and multiple shows.  For more information visit their website www.californiasciencecenter.org

Griffith Park – Los Angeles

Children love the pony rides at Griffith Park

One of the largest urban parks in North America, Griffith Park has a lush and rugged landscape with trails that are perfect for families to explore through hiking, horseback riding and mountain biking. Children can also take pony rides ($3 per ride for kids under 13), and ride on the beautifully hand-carved vintage carousel that was built in 1926 with a band organ that plays more than 1500 medleys of waltzes and marches. There are several designated areas to enjoy a leisurely picnic in the shade, as well as children’s playgrounds at various locations by the picnic grounds.  The LA Zoo and Travel Town Museum are close by, as is the renowned Griffith Park Observatory which has free admission to its permanent exhibits and grounds. For more information visit their website www.laparks.org/dos/parks/griffithpk

Los Angeles Zoo & Botanical Gardens – Los Angeles

The LA Zoo features lots of exhibits, children's zoo with petting area, and carousel rides

Who doesn’t love to go to the zoo? The Los Angeles Zoo & Botanical Gardens is home to more than 1,100 mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians, as well as over 800 species of plants. The exciting exhibits include gorillas, elephants, bears, monkeys, birds, lions, hippos, rhinos, zebras, and much more. Guests can visit the walk-through aviary, the reptile house, and a two-acre children’s zoo with petting area. The zoo also features an animal-themed play park for children to explore, a carousel, birds show, and a variety of programs for visitors experience the amazing animals up close. As of 2012 admission prices are $16 (ages 13 and up), $11 (ages 2-12) and free for children under 2, as well as free parking. For more information visit their website www.lazoo.org

Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County – Los Angeles

Lions at the Natural History Museum Los Angeles County

The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County is a great choice for families any time of the year. Its exhibit galleries are large, open and spacious, so that even on a crowded day you can see many of the fantastic exhibits with their lifelike displays.  Adults and children alike enjoy exploring the realistic dioramas where they can see innumerable animals from all parts of the globe like elephants, bears, lions, monkeys, walruses, giraffes and much more up close. An impressive collection of dinosaur fossils and ancient sea creatures are also featured. The museum also has a Discovery Center where children can touch, dig, play and explore the countless objects and artifacts, as well as see live animal presentations and more. Admission as of 2012 is $12 (adults 18 and over), $8 (ages 13-17), $5 (ages 5-12) and free for children 4 and under. For more information visit their website www.nhm.org

See also: Splendid Spooky Spiders at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County

Page Museum at the La Brea Tar Pits – Los Angeles

This mammoth at the Page Museum at the La Brea Tar Pits moves and makes grunting noises

Want to see wooly mammoths and saber-toothed cats up close? The Page Museum at the La Brea Tar Pits is the perfect place to see these amazing animals who roamed our very own Los Angeles back in the last Ice Age. This museum makes an ideal visit for families because it’s small, spacious and engaging with great exhibits and a short informative 15-minute video presentation shown regularly throughout the day that takes visitors back to prehistoric Los Angeles when the many now fossilized animals – including mammoths, saber-toothed cats, dire wolves, ground sloths, and countless varieties of birds – got trapped and preserved in the tar that still seeps through the ground today. The museum also has a lush atrium with koi fish pond, and a glassed-walled lab for guests to watch the fossils being cleaned and prepared for exhibit. As of 2012 admission is $11.00 (adults), $8.00 (ages 13-17), $5.00 (ages 5-12) and free for children 4 and under. For more information visit their website www.tarpits.org

Santa Monica Pier – Santa Monica

The Santa Monica Pier stretches out over the shores of the Pacific Ocean

Sitting on the coast of the golden sands overlooking the endless Pacific Ocean, the Santa Monica Pier is great fun to visit for families. It boasts a small family amusement park - Pacific Park - with 12 exciting rides including a coaster, solar-powered Ferris wheel, a vintage carousel from 1922 inside a historical landmark building, and much more. The park also features 18 midway games where players try their skills at winning stuffed animals and other prizes. An assortment of shops and dining options from restaurants to smaller eateries and concession stands are enticingly situated. But best of all are the breathtaking views of the expansive glittering ocean under a regal sun. While entrance to the Santa Monica Pier is free, parking ranges from $6-$12 as of 2012. Guests can pay per ride or buy unlimited ride passes for $18.95 (ages 8 and over), $13.95 (ages 7 and under). For more information visit their website www.pacpark.com

South Coast Botanic Garden – Palos Verdes Peninsula

A turtle sunning himself after a swim in the lake at the South Coast Botanic Garden

A visit to the enchanting South Coast Botanic Garden takes guests on meandering paths through lush landscaping, trees, colorful flowers, fragrant gardens, and a lake with ducks and turtles. Over 2,500 plant species from around the planet are featured, including those from as far as the Mediterranean, Africa and Australia. Plenty of wildlife with countless bird species can be seen. The nostalgic children’s garden is simply delightful with its nursery rhyme themes that include a yellow brick road and a cottage from Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Other highlights include a cactus garden, Japanese garden with koi pond, and stunning rose garden with over 300 varieties on display. As of 2012, parking is free with adult admission for $8, $6 for students with ID, $3 for children 5-12, and free for children 4 and under. For more information visit their website www.southcoastbotanicgarden.org

Travel Town Museum – Los Angeles

The miniature train rides circle the perimeter of the park

For children and train enthusiasts of all ages, the Travel Town Museum is an absolute delight with free parking and free admission (voluntary donations in lieu of admissions are accepted). There are interesting exhibits with informative displays, vintage cars and dozens of railroad locomotives for climbing and exploring. Visitors can also go on the miniature train ride which tours the perimeter of the grounds, and check out the gift shop with railroad themed toys, clothes, book, snacks and beverages. For more information visit their website www.laparks.org/grifmet/tt

Related Articles:

Top 10 Zoos on the West Coast USA
5 Top Los Angeles Museums for Families
Travel Town Museum: On the Right Track for Kids
Page Museum at the La Brea Tar Pits
Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County

View of Alcatraz Island

From a distance, Alcatraz Island appears like an idyllic outcrop rising from a tranquil San Francisco Bay in Northern California. It looks lush with its green vegetation, flowers, and variety of bird species that find refuge on this remote landmass. Even the twinkling lights that illuminate it at night seem to beckon with romance. Who would have ever thought that this little island was used as an army fortress, military prison, and a maximum-security federal penitentiary. For in contrast to its idyllic appearance, it was a place of infamy, hardship and Hollywood myth. A place that housed the most hardened of criminals – those transferred from other prisons who broke the prison rules – to serve out jail sentences on this isolated rock. A desolate and craggy boulder buffeted by cold winds and treacherous currents in a lonely bay.

Alcatraz Guard Tower

Alcatraz Island is a National Historic Landmark and was used to house Civil War prisoners as early as 1861, so one can see that its historical use as a penal colony goes way back. It is also home to the United States west coast’s oldest operating lighthouse, and has been featured in many television shows, Hollywood films, books, games, and other media.

Alcatraz Cruises

Alcatraz Cruises offer short and comfortable ferry rides to the island

I had the opportunity to visit and tour Alcatraz Island recently with my family in December 2011. We went with Alcatraz Cruises who is the official authorized concessioner for tickets to Alcatraz Island.  Being one who has a very low threshold for motion sickness, I was a bit apprehensive before boarding the ferry at Pier 33 near Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco, California. However, this large ferry was roomy and very comfortable, taking us to the island in just a short 12 minute comfortable ride without any sea sickness problems or queasiness whatsoever. Alcatraz Cruises conveniently provide transportation to the island at about 30 to 40-minute intervals.

The panoramic views from the ferry - like the Golden Gate Bridge - are beautiful

Alcatraz Cruises operates a well-organized schedule of getting visitors to and from Alcatraz Island in a smooth and efficient manner. The ferry also had a concession stand for coffee, beverages and snacks, as well as clean restrooms. There are plenty of comfortable seating areas inside the ferry, although passengers are free to wander outside on the decks by the railing to enjoy the panoramic bay views. A professional photographer takes passenger photos before they board so that they can have the option to purchase the photos upon their return back to the pier after visiting the island.

San Francisco rising in silhouette above the shimmering bay as seen from the ferry

Because the tickets sell out several days to a few weeks in advance – especially during peak holiday seasons – it is best to book early to guarantee spots on the ferry. For tickets to Alcatraz visit the official Alcatraz Cruises website at www.alcatrazcruises.com where you will find plenty of information on tours, the history of Alcatraz, the fauna and flora of the island, live streaming web cams, video clips, slide shows, and much more.

Touring the Rock

Exterior view of the cell house - note the moisture-damaged corrosion in the concrete

Once we disembarked on Alcatraz, we listened to a short informative chat about the island. We then stopped at the clean restrooms by the dock and continued on with our sightseeing. There are complementary interpretive walks offered by park rangers and volunteers, self-guided tours, many exhibits with memorabilia and information about the history of Alcatraz, free audio tours, and bookstores selling a variety of postcards, books, videos, apparel and Alcatraz-themed souvenirs. Visitors can also watch a 17-minute orientation video in the theater by the cell house which introduces guests to Alcatraz. Because the island is full of steep hills, it’s best to wear comfortable walking shoes. Visitors can also take the electric shuttle that runs twice hourly from the dock to the cell house building.

Interior view of the cell house

Being with my two children – ages 7 and 9 – I choose the self-guided tour and audio tour so we could see the island at our own pace. It was fascinating. The audio tour is available in several languages and free of charge. This award-winning 45-minute recorded tour is a captivating account of life on Alcatraz given by former inmates, correctional officers and residents. This audio tour really brought the history of Alcatraz alive in an extraordinary way. It was informative, exciting, and suspenseful, especially given that it was told by the actual people who experienced it – the prisoners and the guards themselves. What a fascinating account of a much dramatized subject! Visitors even learn about life on the island from the resident guards’ families and what it was like to live there even for the children who caught the ferry to go to school in San Francisco then return back to the island in the afternoons.

Alcatraz prison cell - note the chiseled air vent below the sink

The cell house itself was the most interesting part of the tour for us.  My children stared in awe through the metal bars at the dreary little cells that housed the inmates. It was a cold dismal place reserved for those incorrigible prisoners that included the notorious Al “Scarface” Capone, Alvin “Creepy” Karpis, “Doc” Barker, George “Machine Gun” Kelly, and Robert Stroud – the “Birdman of Alcatraz” among others. We learned about the attempted escapes, the notable inmates, and general prison life. One of the prominent rules was “You are entitled to food, clothing, shelter, and medical attention. Anything else you get is a privilege.” (Number 5, Alcatraz Prison Rules and Regulations, 1934)

Time in the recreation yard was an earned privilege

We spent less than two hours discovering the island, listening to the audio tour, exploring the areas of the cell house – including the prison library, kitchen and showers – the recreation yard, and perusing the gift shops before heading back to the dock where we once again boarded the Alcatraz Cruises ferry that comfortably returned us to Pier 33 in San Francisco.

Though the story of Alcatraz Island is rather bleak and disturbing, it is a notable part of history, and one worth learning firsthand by visiting with Alcatraz Cruises. I would highly recommend this to anyone interested in its history, as well to those seeking to dispel the many myths surrounding this lonely outcrop in the San Francisco Bay.

Close-up of the front of the building (photo © Tim Griffith)

The California Academy of Sciences is one of the best family museums in San Francisco, a prominent research institution, and the world’s greenest museum with its commitment to sustainability and a domed roof that is alive with lush plant and floral species native to California. It is comprised of a natural history museum, an aquarium, a planetarium, and a four-story rainforest, and includes about 40,000 live animals and hundreds of fantastic exhibits.

This T-Rex welcomes guests with open jaws in the Academy's spacious entry

I had the privilege of visiting this amazing museum with my family during the holiday season. Despite this being a large museum, it is so well designed and organized that one never feels overwhelmed by its size or the diversity of its exhibits. The seamless integration of its galleries and exhibits reflects the interdependence and unity within our world’s diverse life and ecosystems. Although we came at a busy time of year, we were able to see most of the museum at a very comfortable and unhurried pace within about a 2-3 hour time frame.

The centrally located piazza was our first stop, where we visited the ’Tis the Season for Science exhibit. Here we smelled all the sweet holiday spices in the Spice Forest, danced in the snow flurries, studied the taxidermy birds in the Twelve Days of Christmas song, and then wandered outside to say hello to the reindeer in the corral. My children each brought their own cameras and enjoyed snapping photos of the reindeer.

Realistic dioramas fill the African Hall

We then explored the Kimball Natural History Museum which includes the spacious African Hall with stunning lifelike dioramas portraying a variety of animal species in their natural habitats. There we saw zebras, baboons, lions, gorillas, antelopes, cheetahs, and hunting dogs.

The three feathered tenors? These playful penguins are adorable

Several live animal dioramas are also showcased and include the African Penguin colony where these delightful birds frolic in a 25,000-gallon tank among realistic waves and lighting to create simulated days and nights.

Other natural history exhibits can be found throughout the museum, such as the Islands of Evolution that highlight the Academy’s expeditions in the Galapagos Islands and Madagascar. A large map of the Galapagos with a collection of tortoise shells heralds the entrance to the Galapagos exhibit. Many interesting displays with live animals and research specimens abound and include beetles, spiders, elephant birds, snails, geckos, as well as plants. Photographs, interactive exhibits and video footage enrich the experiences of guests.

Children can touch and observe colorful starfish and other creatures in the Discovery Tidepool

The Steinhart Aquarium was our next stop. About 38,000 live animals from around the globe live here, from penguins to sharks, stingrays, jellies, eels, piranhas, delicate leafy sea dragons and so much more. There are tidepools, a vibrant and colorful coral reef, a kelp forest, mangroves teeming with aquatic life, and numerous tanks of various sizes with an immense variety of fish, amphibians, reptiles and insects, as well as interactive media that engages and informs visitors.

The sea jellies are soothing to behold

My children loved touching the starfish in the Discovery Tidepool touch tank. They were also particularly intrigued by the giant anaconda and gold-speckled piranhas. We saw a dive show presentation which was very popular with the children. They looked amazed to see a human being swimming among the fish and other sea life in the giant tank.

Two of my favorite exhibits at the aquarium were the sea jellies and sea nettles. They seemed to pulsate with an otherworldly grace that simply captivates and mesmerizes.  The changing lights above the jellies’ tank illuminate these creatures in stunning hues of blue, violet, orange, pink and green. It had a very soothing effect on those watching.

Meet Claude: a 16 year old albino alligator

Next to the aquarium was Claude – the museum’s albino alligator – who was lounging on an obliging heated rock in the Swamp tank, basking in the admiration of onlookers while fish and snapping turtles swam about by the roots of a large simulated tree. Claude is 16 years old and quite amazing to observe, especially given that white alligators do not survive in the wild due to their inability to be camouflaged.

This four-story rainforest is a lush sanctuary to many birds, amphibians, reptiles, insects and spiders

The Rainforests of the World is a lush and symphonic natural sanctuary that is home to free-flying birds, butterflies, chameleons, fish, reptiles, amphibians and tropical plants. We even saw spiders, including orb weavers, with their beautiful and intricate webs. Two colorful male macaws were among the birds we saw, and seemed to eye us with as much interest as we did them. They are very intelligent, playful parrots with their own unique personalities.

The Morrison Planetarium boasts the world’s largest all-digital planetarium with a high-tech projector and software technologies that produce an exquisitely accurate digital Universe. A variety of shows and presentations are featured including Life: A Cosmic Story. Planetarium shows are offered hourly on the half-hour. Due to their popularity, it’s good to reserve a place early upon arrival at the California Academy of Sciences.

The 75-foot-diameter planetarium screen, made of perforated aluminum panels, matches the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles as the largest planetarium screen in North America (photo © Tim Griffith)

This fantastic museum also has two restaurants, a 3D theater, a lecture hall, a Naturalist Center, a roof terrace, an adjacent garden and aviary, and an Academy store. The science labs and library have an extensive archive of over 26 million specimens. Sleepover programs, weekly nightlife events, lectures, presentations, penguin feedings, stories, nature crafts and more add to the wonders of this outstanding Academy.

The California Academy of Sciences is located at 55 Music Concourse Drive in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CA 94118 (415) 379-8000. For more information visit their website at www.calacademy.org

Usually visitors and locals alike think of Pasadena, fifteen freeway minutes away from the heart of downtown LA, as a separate entity. And it is – it looks like an iconic, Craftsman-design small American town.

Full of history and beautiful green space, this northern suburban town is a special place and deserves a full-court visit even if you’re a SoCal local.

Norton Simon Museum, Pasadena, CA

Norton Simon Art Museum, Pasadena

A good place to start is with the Norton Simon Art Museum, with a wonderful privately purchased, funded, and preserved art collection. With everything from Rodin sculptures to fabulous European paintings ranging from the contemporary to the Renaissance and a vast array of Asian art, the museum offers a wonderful display of art throughout its galleries and gardens. We love that the museum has so much outdoor space, and we also enjoy dining at the Garden Cafe located in the sculpture garden. It’s better than the usual museum fare, with salads and sandwiches crafted by the creators of LA’s eclectic Patina chain.

The museum itself rotates about a thousand exhibits from its extensive collection through a relatively small number of galleries, making it the perfect space for families of young children to explore. The staff is dedicated to putting on a variety of family programs too, including monthly Saturday Family Days with art-centric events such as kids art crafting workshops and tours of the permanent collection geared to children and parents. Several times a year, the museum also hosts family festivals, that include tours, a variety of craft workshops, musical performances and even cooking demos. What we like best: low key afternoon story times or small art project programs during the week, geared toward younger children.

There’s also an audio tour of the permanent collection geared to families, with humor and questions about the collection, reasonably priced. Most reasonable of all is a free family guide with questions and information about the permanent collection, which you can pick up upon arriving at the museum.

Gamble House in Central Pasadena

When you’ve seen enough art for the day, check out the historic Gamble House in Central Pasadena. Designed by Charles and Henry Greene in 1908, this beautiful home offers short, interesting tours four days a week. It’s a National Historic Landmark, and a wonderful outstanding example of the specialized American Arts and Crafts style architecture. The kids will love the look of the place and the large green lawn out back. We took a twenty-minute week day lunch time tour, which is just the right amount of time for small children to absorb information and see the fine glasswork and woodwork in the home.

Rose Bowl & Flea Market

If you’re in Pasadena on the second Sunday of each month, you can’t miss the enormous Rose Bowl flea market. From comic books to funky art, crafts fair style clothing booths, and bizarre rummage sale finds, the vastness of the offerings for sale will offer something for everyone, even if its something nobody ever thought they’d want, like a wooden lamp carved in the shape of a bird, or another eclectic used book. Plus, it will give you a chance to get a close up look at the beautiful Rose Bowl itself, without paying for a college football game or rock concert.

The world famous Rose Bowl

If you’re touring the area around New Year’s, you can watch some of the amazing Rose Bowl Floats being decorated right across from the stadium and on the stadium grounds. My kids loved the experience of seeing the floats being created right before their eyes, and being able to find out what various floats were made out of from flower petals to fruits and nuts and tiny seeds. There are food booths and usually some kind of live music to entertain the kids too. We found this a more relaxing experience than day-after-the parade or parade going itself when you have small children in tow. And watching the creative process itself is truly fascinating. We spend a great deal of time just watching one float, designed to look like a dove, take shape. The painstaking petal-placing is really enthralling to young children. They get to see how an idea becomes a reality – and that detailed work can be fun, too. We were allowed to hand some of the materials to float builders at several exhibition spaces, and that was a truly memorable experience.

Couple the visit with watching the Rose Parade live or on television, and yours kids will be delighted and able to explain just how those floats were made. And of course, be sure to get a photo in front of the iconic Rose Bowl rose logo on the stadium itself.

We’ve been to a good number of children’s museums across the U.S. and the San Jose Discovery Museum is one of our favorites. While the museum’s exhibits are aimed at younger children, older siblings and parents won’t be bored either with over a hundred and fifty interactive exhibits designed to suit a variety of age ranges.

On the National History front, there’s a Columbian mammoth skull discovered recently in San Jose and nicknamed Lupe. And you’ll also find dig pits and a mammoth themed play area. On the pure fun front, there’s Bubbalogna – dedicated to letting kids create bubbles in all shapes and sizes. My kids liked WaterWays best, an exhibit that moves small colored balls through water pressure. Little children are going to get wet, so bring a change of clothes, although cover ups are provided they won’t completely keep an exuberant child dry. Trust me, I know. And I didn’t bring a change of clothes either. If you want to purchase a new tee shirt for the rest of the day’s activities then feel free to ignore this caveat.

One of the many wonderful exhibits at the Rosicurian Museum in San Jose, CA

Pre-schoolers and toddlers will love WaterWays, a section of the museum designed just for them with a soft, safe space to crawl around, puppets, and art projects aimed clearly at this age group. Older siblings are welcome too, but will probably prefer to explore other parts of the museum.

The next time you hear a chorus of “Mommy, Mommy” pretend to turn a deaf ear and take them to see a “Mummy” instead. Our next San Jose stop was at the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum, a fascinating place that contains one of the largest collections of Egyptian mummies and artifacts on the west coast. With a replica of a mummy’s rock tomb to explore and four perfectly preserved human mummies plus a plethora of animal mummies on display, the kids will be fascinated for hours. It’s truly a great exhibition space, the most enjoyable mummy display I’ve seen since the British Museum in London. Best exhibit by far is the tomb replica. The guided tour of this exhibit is given by flashlight, and moving through the tomb’s chambers, the evocative lighting and hieroglyphic covered walls create the sensation of being inside an actual Egyptian tomb. Small children will feel entirely transported, but older siblings and adults will love the experience, too.

The Rosicrucian has a nicely interactive element, also. Kids are given a Passport to Ancient Egypt when they enter the museum, allowing them to collect stamps at different exhibit sites to show that they’ve seen them, and even some space for older kids to write down interesting things they’ve learned or observed. Best of all for the elementary age set is a chart to decode the Egyptian Hieroglyphic Alphabet.

The museum is divided into four main areas, with clothing and artifacts well represented as well as the mummies themselves. We really loved this museum, and spent almost an entire day there. It’s a truly transporting place for younger children, who really will feel as if they spent a day playing Indiana Jones in a far more exotic locale than San Jose.

We made one last San Jose stop this trip, and it’s a classic: The Winchester Mystery House. Very small children will simply enjoy walking through the house, although the stories behind the strange dwelling will pass them by. Still we certainly saw a number of tots in our tour group, although ages five and up will enjoy the experience of touring the elaborate and strange house and gardens more. Owned by Sarah Winchester, widow of the rifle maker and obsessive constructor – she spent thirty eight years in construction on the enormous Victorian mansion, all in an effort to appease spirits of those who died from Winchester rifles from haunting her house. The tour is fast moving and guides eager, young, and engaging story tellers.

This door goes nowhere...the quirks of the Winchester Mystery House are fascinating for kids of all ages.

The detailed carpentry and the wonderful woodwork make the house visually fascinating, as do the  beautiful Tiffany glass, stair cases and doors that lead nowhere, and the pleasantly creepy “seance” room. The wackiness of the house will keep small children entranced, and older kids asking lots of questions. Outside, the gardens are pretty and provide space for small children to burn off a little steam.

Hungry after all of this sightseeing? We tried the delicious, organic, inexpensive and highly recommended Mexican restaurant Aqui Cal Mex. With plenty of vegetarian choices, amazing avocado dip, and prices for four well under fifty dollars (as of 2011), we loved the place. Casual, family friendly, and open late – even Mrs. Winchester would’ve enjoyed a meal here, before she resumed her obsessive building, anyway.

Family friendly museums, historic sights, and reasonably priced tasty California-Mexican treats: San Jose is a great spot to experience them all.

The 'Tis the Season for Science exhibit connects science to traditional holiday symbols (courtesy of California Academy of Sciences)

Ever wonder about all those birds in the Twelve Days of Christmas song? What about snow and how it’s made? Or reindeer and their important place in our environment’s ecosystem? Or the wonderful holiday smells from all those spices used in baking, cooking and alluring home fragrances?

Children will be delighted by real snow flurries inside the Piazza (courtesy of California Academy of Sciences)

Now you can have these and other intriguing questions answered as you feast your senses with the sights, sounds and smells of this magical time of year at the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco where their special exhibit “’Tis the Season for Science” makes a much anticipated return for the second year.

Meander through a created life-size tree “Spice Forest” that fragrantly entices with sweet holiday spices. Scented displays of the plant varieties from which vanilla, nutmeg, cinnamon and other holiday flavors are included. Just press on the large buttons and you can smell the delicious scents through the displays.

Daily live reindeer encounters provide great learning opportunites about these creatures (courtesy of California Academy of Sciences)

There are live reindeer with daily presentations that offer an up close and personal encounter with these popular animals, and delightful snow flurries inside the Piazza twice an hour where children can catch the snowflakes and dance about to the music as they fall.

Beautiful taxidermy displays of the birds in “The Twelve Days of Christmas” bring this traditional Christmas carol to life and includes a partridge in a pear tree, hens, doves, geese, swans and colly birds.

A giant snowman shaped digital dome theater engages guests with fascinating shows on the science of snow.

There are also wonderful festive music and art performances including  dancers, musicians,  carolers, theater troupes, comedians and more.

This exciting exhibit explains the connection between the science behind the holiday plants, animals and food, and the many traditions and symbols representative of this special season.

’Tis the Season for Science activities are included with general admission tickets, unless otherwise noted and can be purchased at the door or online at www.calacademy.org  California Academy of Sciences is located at 55 Music Concourse Drive, San Francisco (415) 379-8000.

Thousands of terracotta figures were found, many still buried in the pits where they were discovered

In 1974 farmers in China unearthed a stunning necropolis built for Qin Shihuangdi, China’s first emperor after its unification dating back to the early 200s BC. This mausoleum was guarded by an army of life-size warriors meant to defend the emperor in the afterlife.

The life-size figures are beautiful (courtesy of Bowers Museum)

Thousands of terracotta figures of various ranks were found, all intricately constructed with facial features, uniforms, hairstyles and heights. Although the original vibrant pigments have faded and most of the weapons looted, this army still retains an awesome presence, impressive in its craftsmanship and historical significance.

Included in this extraordinary find are the warriors, horses, chariots and non-military figures, most of which remain buried in situ in the pits where they were discovered.

This exquisite reliquary is among the artifacts displayed at the Bowers Museum (courtesy of Bowers Museum)

Some of the weapons held by this army and found in the excavations include swords, shields, crossbows, arrowheads, spears, battle-axes and scimitars, many of which have remained sharp and rust-free for over two millennia due to a protective coat of chromium oxide.

Special Exhibit at the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana, California

Some of these amazing treasures are now on display at the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana, California, along with other splendid artifacts from the Han and Tang dynasties in a special exhibit titled Warriors, Tombs and Temples: China’s Enduring Legacy, and can be viewed until March 4, 2012.

Earthenware figure from the Tang Dynasty (courtesy of Bowers Museum)

See some of these famous life-size warriors from the Qin Dynasty, as well as stunning relics from the tombs of the Tang Dynasty and the Han emperors including the smaller smiling terra cotta warriors, animals and other objects and ornaments.

This is a fantastic opportunity for families to glimpse this historical treasure and learn about history, even drawing parallels to the great Egyptian artifacts and tombs. Children have often been fascinated by toy soldiers, and this is a chance for them to see soldiers in various sizes that were constructed as guardians to emperors. It also provides them with inspiration to build and make their own creations with clay – something many children enjoy immensely. What better place to learn about history, human innovation, and the creative mind than coming face to face with the past. The Bowers Museum provides this exceptional lifetime opportunity.

Audio podcast tours are available for download to mobile devices. For more information about the exhibit visit www.bowers.org