By Ellen Kendall
San Francisco is a jewel by the sea in California, and people love to visit the city. The San Francisco area includes a wide area and cities such as Berkeley, Carmel, Mill Valley, Oakland, Palo Alto and San Jose. These outlying areas offer many things to do which are interesting and fun for the whole family.
Winchester Mystery House
Plan to visit the Winchester Mystery House in San Jose, California. Sarah Winchester, the eccentric heiress to the Winchester Rifle estate, spent 38 years building the Victorian mansion without any master building plans. The mansion is a labyrinth filled with doors going nowhere, staircases ending at a wall or ceiling and fine architectural details. Some say the mansion is haunted. Admission ranges from $22 for children to $55 for an annual pass. Children under 9 are not allowed on the Grand Estate or Behind the Scenes tours due to safety concerns. The House opens at 9 a.m. and the last tour starts at 3 or 7 p.m., depending on the time of year.
Winchester Mystery House
525 S Winchester Blvd.
San Jose, CA
(408) 247-2101
Muir Woods
United States National Park Service
Dedicated to the famous naturalist John Muir, Muir Woods National Monument is in the San Francisco area, across the San Francisco Bay in Mill Valley, California. The huge coastal redwood trees offer respite from a busy life. It features many trails, including some which are handicapped accessible. Educational programs are offered year-round. There is a gift shop and cafe, along with restrooms. You can go to Muir Wood via public transportation. The woods are open all year from about 8 a.m. to sunset. Admission is $5 and parking is free. Camping, dogs and picnics are not allowed in the woods.
Muir Woods National Monument Park Highway 101
Mill Valley, CA
(415) 388-2595
Chabot Science and Space Center
The whole family will learn from a visit to The Chabot Science and Space Center, which is across the San Francisco Bay in Oakland, California. Interactive and hands-on exhibits are educational and interesting. The Ask Jeeves Planetarium
features a 70-foot diameter projection screen, which displays digital images of the universe. The Tien Megadome Theatre shows films with subjects such as the dawn of space, dinosaurs and the living sea. There is a café and gift shop. General admission includes the planetarium & theater show. An adult admission costs $14.95. Youth 3 to 12 is $10.95. Seniors and students cost $11.95. Hours vary by season and the center is closed for two weeks in September for maintenance.
Chabot Space & Science Center
10000 Skyline Blvd.
Oakland, CA
(510) 336-7300
About the Author:
Ellen Kendall has 15 years of writing and editing experience. Her travel and insurance articles have appeared in national magazines. Her book contributions include biographies and multi-cultural and Holocaust lesson plans. She has previously served as a real estate broker and interior designer and taught ESL in Korea and at Duke.
