| Field Trip Ideas For School & Families |
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Lake County:
Anderson Marsh State Historic Park, Hwy. 53, Clearlake. 994-0688. www.parks.ca.gov. This park is the perfect place for history buffs, bird watchers, hikers and fishermen of all ages. The remaining 470 acres of meadow, oak and manzanita contain historic and prehistoric evidence of Pomo Indians habitation dating as far back as 10,000 years. Call park for hours and admission.
Robert Louis Stevenson State Park, 7 miles north of Calistoga on Highway 29. 942-4575. www.lakecounty.com/stevenson. The famous author of Treasure Island and Kidnapped spent his honeymoon here in 1880. The area features rough terrain, with evergreen forests in the canyons on north-facing slopes and chaparral on the south-facing slopes. There is a five-mile hike to the top of Mt. St. Helena from which one can see much of the Bay Area. On good days the top of Mt. Shasta can be seen, 192 miles in the distance. Hours: Sunrise to Sunset. Admission: Free.
Taylor Observatory, 5725 Oaks Lane, Kelseyville. 279-8372. www.taylorobsevatory.org/stevenson. The mission of the Taylor Observatory is to promote and encourage an awareness and knowledge of astronomy. Several times a year the observatory hosts events for schools and the general public that supports and enrichs this knowledge. The website has lesson plans and supporting material are available to download from their site as well as links to other informative sites. Call for schedule.
Bay Area:
Bay Area Discovery Museum, 557 McReynolds Road, Sausalito. 415-339-3900, www.baykidsmuseum.org. The Museum’s unique programs feature hands-on art, science and environmental exhibitions, performances, special events, cultural festivals and ongoing educational curricula... all with a focus on fun! Hours: 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Tues.–Fri. and 10 a.m.–5 p.m. on Sat. & Sun. Admission: $10 adults, $8 srs. & youth 1–17, free to children 1 & under. Special rates for groups & schools.
Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco, de Young Museum, and Golden Gate Park, 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive, San Francisco. The Fine Arts Mueum of San Francisco, comprising the de Young in Golden Gate Park and the Legion of Honor in Lincoln Park, is the largest public arts institution in the City of San Francisco and one of the largest art museums in the United States. The de Young Museum, located in Golden Gate Park, the de Young is San Francisco’s oldest museum. Its collections include American paintings, decorative arts and crafts; arts from Africa, Oceania, and the Americas; and western and non-western textiles. Hours: 9:30 a.m.–5:15 p.m. Tues.–Sun. and open until 8:45 p.m. Admission: $10 adults, $7 seniors, $6 13–17, Free for 12 & under.
Jelly Belly Factory Tours, One Jelly Belly Lane, Fairfield. 800-522-3267 or 428-2800. www.jellybelly.com. Take a tour to see how the very famous Jelly Belly Bean and other candies are made. Hours: 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Admission: Free.
Pt. Reyes National Seashore, Bear Valley Road, Pt. Reyes. 415-464-5100 ext.2. www.nps.gove/pore . Point Reyes National Seashore was established to preserve and protect wilderness, natural ecosystems, and cultural resources along the diminishing undeveloped coastline of the western United States. There are workshops, seminars, events and other many educational opportunities within the park. Teachers may log in on the website and get filed trip planning assistance.
• The Bear Valley Visitor Center is open 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Mon.–Fri. and 8 a.m.–5 p.m. weekends and holidays.
• Lighthouse Visitor Center is open 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Thurs.–Tues.
• Kenneth C. Patrick Visitor Center is open 10 a.m.–5 p.m. on weekends and holidays.
Don’t miss Earthquake, Drake’s beach, Abbott’s Lagoon to name a few other spots. Admission into the park is free.
The Exploratorium, 3601 Lyon Street, San Francisco. 415-561-0399. www.exploratorium.edu/pore. The Exploratorium is an experimental, hands-on museum designed to spark curiosity—regardless of your age or familiarity with science. There are hundreds of exhibits to touch, pick up, and tinker with. Your curiosity can be your compass to endless discoveries! Hours: 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Tues.–Sat. except holidays. Admission: $14 adults, $11 youth 13–17, $9 ages 4–12. Group rates available.
The Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco. 415-752-1171 is the oldest public Japanese garden in California. Some of the highlights of the garden is the Moon Bridge, the Tea House and the pond. Hours: 9 a.m.–5 p.m. daily. Admission: $4.
Mendocino County:
Anderson Valley Historical Museum, about one mile north of Boonville. 895-3207. www.andersonvalleymuseum.org. The museum consists of the one-room Con Creek School (1891) and three added structures, including a model sheep shearing shed. Exhibits represent aspects of Valley home life, schools, agriculture and lumbering, with some special attention to “Boontling,” the Valley’s unique folk language. All artifacts displayed, including the exhibit of Pomo Indian basketry and stone tools, have been found or used in Anderson Valley. Hours: 1–4 p.m. Fri.–Sun, Feb.–Nov. Admission: Free.
Big River Interpretive Walk, meet at the Big River Kiosk at Big River Beach. 962-0470. Discover Big River and Mendocino. Learn about the Big River Estuary, the cultural history of Mendocino, redwood ecology and more. Walks last approximately one hour and cover 2-4 miles. Call for schedule and for more information.
Grace Hudson Museum, 431 S. Main Street, Ukiah. 467-2836. www.gracehudsonmuseum.org. The Museum’s collections consist of more than 30,000 inter-related objects, with significant holdings of Pomo Indian artifacts (particularly basketry) ethnographic field notes, unpublished manuscripts, historic photographs and the world’s largest collection of Grace Hudson paintings. Hours: 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Wed.–Sat. and noon–4:30 p.m. on Sunday. Closed on holidays. Call for admission.
Point Cabrillo Lighthouse, Point Cabrillo Road, Mendocino. 937-6122. www.pointcabrillo.org.The nearly 100 year old lighthouse has an original Third Order Fresnel lens that continues to operate 24 hours a day as an active Federal Aid to Navigation. Enjoy the Lighthouse, visit the Lightkeepers Museum, and view our beautiful tide pool aquarium. See the Fresnel Lens up close, tour the Lantern room on Cabrillo Day Saturday, September 27. Hours: 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Call for admission.
Skunk Train, depots in Fort Bragg and Willits. 800-866-1690. www.skunktrain.com . The view from the restored rail cars is pretty much unchanged: towering trees, deer drinking from the Noyo River, an isolated fisherman’s cabin peeking from the forest. With occasional whistles as it chugs through tunnels, over bridges and past open meadows, the train follows the coastal “Redwood Route” as it has since 1885. Hours: Call for seasonal schedule and events. Admission: $47 adults, $22 kids, call regarding special events and group rates.
Solar Living Institute, Hwy. 101, Hopland. 744-2017. www.solarliving.org . People of all ages can learn about a wide range of fascinating topics, from solar and wind power, to environmentally friendly building materials, to passive and active solar design in architecture, to organic gardening and permaculture. Hours: 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m. Admission: Self-guided tours are free. Call regarding intern-led and group tours.
The Mendocino Headlands and Ford House Museum, Main Street, Mendocino. 937-5397. www.mendoparks.org/Mendocino-Headlands . Jerome B. Ford, superintendent of the town’s first sawmill and one of the founders of Mendocino, had the house built for his bride, Martha, in 1854. The Ford House offers both historic and current information about the area. Hours: 11 a.m.–4 p.m. daily. Call for admission.
Sonoma County:
Armstrong Redwoods State Reserve, park is at the deadend of Armstrong Road, Guerneville. 869-2015 or 865-2391. www.parks.sonoma.net/Armstrng. This 805-acre park features a magnificent grove of ancient redwoods, a large outdoor amphitheater, self-guided nature trails, and a variety of picnic facilities. Hours: 8 a.m. until an hour after sunset. Admission: $6 per car or free if you park your vehicle outside the park.
Fort Ross Historic State Park, 19005 Coast Highway One, Jenner. 847-3286. www.fortrossstatepark.org. Fort Ross is a place to visit for its outstanding scenic beauty, recreational opportunities, and to learn about local, California, or world trade history. Today the fort has been partly restored to its former appearance. Hours: Park open daily half hour before sunrise to half hour after sunset. The Visitor Center, Bookstore, and Fort Compound are open from 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m. each day. Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas. Admission: Day use is $6 per car.
Hallberg Butterfly Gardens, 8687 Oak Grove Road, Sebastopol. 823-3420. www.hallbergbutterflygardens.org. Non-profit butterfly and wildlife sanctuary—especially for Pipevine Swallowtail Butterfly—in an old-fashioned garden setting. Hours: call to schedule tour. Admission: recommended donation of $25 per group.
Jack London State Park, 2400 London Ranch Road, Glen Ellen. 938-5216. www.parks.sonoma.net/JLPark. Visit the Beauty Ranch and learn more about the late Jack London. Some of the park highlights include the remains of the Wolf House, Jack London’s gravesite, House of Happy Walls, and more. Hours: 10 a.m.–5 p.m. daily, closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years. Call for admission.
Lake Sonoma’s Visitor Center and Don Clausen Fish Hatchery, 3333 Skaggs Springs Road, Geyserville. 433-9483. www.parks.sonoma.net/laktrls. Displays in the visitor center focus on the culture of the Pomo tribe of native Americans—the original inhabitants of the Dry Creek Valley—and their way of life, with partular emphasis on their excellent basket making skills. Visitors can observe the operation of the hatchery and see displays which describe the life cycle of the coho salmon, steelhead and chinook. The hatchery was built to replace and enhance salmon and steelhead spawning grounds. Hours: Visiting Center 8:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m. Mon.–Thurs. and 8:30 a.m.–7 p.m. Thurs.–Sat. Fish Hatchery daily 8:30 a.m.–3:45 p.m. Admission: free.
Luther Burbank Home & Gardens, located at the corner of Santa Rosa and Sonoma Avenues, Santa Rosa. 524-5445. The historic Burbank home property was given to the City of Santa Rosa by Burbank’s widow, Elizabeth, upon her death in 1977. Tours include the Home and its furnishings, the Greenhouse, a portion of the gardens, and a summary of Burbank’s life and achievements. Burbank Home and Greenhouse and the Carriage House Museum. Hours: 10 a.m.–4 p.m. April–Oct. Admission: Free, small fee with audio tour.
Mrs. Grossman’s Sticker Factory Tour, 3810 Cypress Drive, Petaluma. 800-429-4549. www.mrsgrossmans.com. Watch thousands of stickers go through the printing and packaging process. The one-hour tour includes: an award-winning video hosted by Angus, Mrs. Grossman’s granddog, a guided tour of the sticker factory, a fun Sticker Art craft activity, a visit to our Sticker Museum, where you can see every sticker ever made and a coupon for $3 off your purchase of $20 at the Company Store. Hours: Mon.–Fri. by reservations only, closed major holidays. Admission: $3 for ages 3 and up. Group discounts available.
Occidental Arts & Ecology Center, 15290 Coleman Valley Road, Occidental. 874-1557. Guided tours of gardens, courses, programs, and permaculture projects. Hours: 10 a.m., 11 a.m. or 1 p.m. on Sat. & Sun. Admission: $10 per person donation requested. Call to schedule tour.
Petaluma Adobe State Historic Park, 3325 Adobe Road, Petaluma—preserved in Sonoma County, this park is one of the oldest preserved buildings in Northern California which was by all accounts the largest and richest privately owned Mexican estates north of San Francisco Bay and one of the most important in Alta California. Hours: Open Daily 10 a.m.–5 p.m. except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Day. Admission: $2 for adults 17 and older, children 16 and under are free.
Petrified Forest, Calistorga. 942-6667. www.petrifiedforest.org. Rich in history from the late 1800s, the Petrified Forest is a perfect example of explosive volcanic activity. Hours: Open daily from 9 a.m.–7 p.m. Admission: $6 for adults, $5 for seniors & ages 12–17, and $3 for ages 6–11. Call for group rates or reservations.
Sonoma State Historic Park, Center of the old town of Sonoma. 938-9559. www.parks.sonoma.net. It contains Sonoma Mission, Sonoma Barracks Toscano Hotel, General Vallejo Home among other points of interest within it’s boundaries:
• The Plaza—Sonoma’s central plaza, the largest of its kind in California, was originally surveyed by General Vallejo in 1834 with the help of Captain William A. Richardson, the same man who later played an important role in the early development of San Francisco. Site of many fiestas, parades, and other historical events, the plaza was dedicated as a National Historic Landmark on September 24, 1961.
• Mission San Francisco Solano de Sonoma—in 1823, there were intentions to close down the mission establishments at San Francisco and San Rafael and move their people and goods to Sonoma where water, wood, stone, and other building materials were all easily available and where climate and soil conditions were promising.
• The Blue Wing Inn—The long, low adobe building just across from the mission derives its name from the Blue Wing Inn, gambling room and saloon of the gold rush era. It is thought that portions of the building were originally constructed to house soldiers assigned to the Sonoma Mission and that those structures were joined together and a second story added at a later date.
• Sonoma Barracks—The two-story, wide-balconied, adobe barracks facing Sonoma’s central plaza was built to house Mexican army troops under the command of General Vallejo.
• Toscano Hotel—The wood-frame building next to the barracks seems to have been constructed during the 1850s when it housed, among other things, a retail store and rental library. Later the building came to be used as an unpretentious, inexpensive hotel. The gray, two-story, wood-frame building that now houses the park headquarters and interpretive center dates from the turn of the century when it served as a boarding house.
• La Casa Grande—General Vallejo’s first home, La Casa Grande, was one of the most imposing, and well-furnished private residences in California. It stood in the middle of the block with its wide second-story balcony overlooking the plaza.
• Vallejo Home—“Lachryma Montis—In 1850 Vallejo purchased some acreage at the foot of the hills half-a-mile west and north of Sonoma’s central plaza. The land surrounded a fine, free-flowing spring that the Indians had called Chiucuyem (crying mountain). Vallejo retained this name for his new estate. but translated it into Latin, Lachryma Montis, (mountain tear).
Hours for all Sonoma State Historic Park Locations: Open Daily 10 a.m.–5 p.m. except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Day.
Admission: $2 for adults 17 and older, children 16 and under are free. Entrance to Petaluma Adobe, Sonoma Mission, Sonoma Barracks Toscano Hotel, General Vallejo Home will also be granted with this admission if visited on the same day.
Sonoma County Museum, 425 7th Street, Santa Rosa. 579-1500. www.sonomacountymuseum.org. The Sonoma County Museum celebrates and interprets the region’s rich history, art, and culture by exhibiting and collecting relevant objects and artworks. Hours: 11 a.m.–5 p.m Tues.–Sun., closed on all major holidays. Admission: $5 adults, $2 students & srs., free to children 12 & under.
Weekend Along Sonoma County Farm Trails. Sept. 27 & 28. Explore the local farms with everything from alpacas to zucchinis. Over 200 farms! 800-207-9464. www.farmtrails.org. Call and order a map. |
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