This past weekend we headed south to San Diego to spend a day at the Fleet Science Center. The museum is part of Balboa Park. I love science centers, and had read that the Fleet Science Center is one of the best. The museum is very hands on, and offers your kids a fun filled day. The Fleet is home to seven exhibit galleries and is home to the world’s first, and San Diego’s only IMAX Dome Theater.

The seven exhibit galleries provide an interactive and self guided learning experience for kids of all ages. SoWatt is a fantastic exhibit where you will learn about ways that we produce energy and learn also about conservation. The Aging of all Ages exhibit, informs the whole teaches the whole family about wellness and healthy lifestyles. My kids favorite exhibit, Kid City, is geared for infants to 6 year olds and is a must if you have young children. It’s a very hands on exhibit and it features a grocery store, story area and much more. The gallery of Illusions and Perceptions explores how our senses work. The Exploration Bar gallery is located upstairs and offers an interactive experiment and demonstration area. At the TryScience area you can play games and learn about many different science subjects at one of the six computers that make up the area. Listen Here is the center’s visiting exhibit and features interactive and hands on area where you can learn all about sounds.

The center’s IMAX theater is currently playing three films. The Living Sea film takes you on a tour of the world’s oceans. Sea Monsters: A Prehistoric Adventure, is a National Geographic film that brings to life prehistoric creatures that once inhabited our waters. Dinosaurs Alive, is a must for your budding paleontologist.

The Reuben H Fleet Science center is a fantastic place to take your kiddos. They will have a great time and learn something too!! If you are in the San Diego area or plan on visiting, reserve a day to visit this gem.

Reuben H Fleet Science Center
Balboa Park
1875 El Prado
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 238-1233
Open Everyday, Admission Hours vary

For additional information click here

One of my favorite places to visit is Griffith Park. I love so many of it’s attractions and it’s natural beauty. I grew up only a couple of miles away from the park and have wonderful memories (I learned to ride a bike at the park) of visiting the observatory, hiking and fun picnics. I would have to say that many fun times were spent at the Travel Town Museum. If you love trains or your little ones love trains this is a must stop. It’s an outdoor museum with many locomotives, passenger cars, freight cars and cabooses on display. There is of course a train ride that circles around the museum and is a must if you are going to visit. Train Rides are $2.50 for adults and children. There are also Public Play Days on the first Sunday of the month from 1 to 4pm where kids can play with the museum’s 400 wooden piece Thomas set. There are also docent guided tours every 2nd and 3rd Saturday of the month. Tours start at 11am. Admission and parking is free!! If you’re looking for something fun and inexpensive to do with your family this is it!!

Travel Town Transportation Museum
5200 Zoo Dr. Los Angeles, CA 90027
Operations: (323) 662-5874

The Museum is open Monday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Sunday and Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. It is closed Christmas Day.

During pacific daylight time, the hours are extended one hour.

It might be a bit early to start thinking about what to do this weekend (to be honest, I’m always thinking about the weekend), but I wanted to post about this event because you definitely have to pencil it in to your weekend plans. Chinese New Year is celebrated on February 7th and the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana will kick start the celebration with the Chinese New Year Family Festival. The festival will feature traditional crafts, ceremonies, dance numbers and music. The best part of this fantastic event is that admission is FREE!!

Chinese New Year Family Festival
Sunday, January 27th
11 am to 4pm
Bowers Museum in Santa Ana
for additional info click here