Wanted: 2-day/1-night mini-trip in Northern or Central CA with 6 & 8 yr olds

[DTDkettleCORNfan]

I'm looking for fun new mini-trips to do this summer. We are in the Sacramento area, and I would prefer that it not be more than a 3 hour drive to destination. (But we could go a bit farther if needed) For example - two summers ago year we went to Gilory Gardens (loved it!!!) spent the night in nearby Morgan Hill, and the next day went to the San Jose Children's Discovery Museum. It was such a great mini-trip, and I was hoping to find something similar. We have already done Tahoe, Monterey, and San Francisco many times. I would really like to go to an different childrens museum or park or something like that. And a hotel with a pool for the kids would be a must. During our last Disneyland trip, the kids swam in the Park Vue's (NOT super fancy) pool/jacuzzi for almost an entire day and loved it.

Anyway, I'm just hoping someone out there has a great destination to recommend. I've spent the last half hour googling, but haven't really found anything. We are always telling other people about Gilroy Gardens and the San Jose museum - both were fantastic!

Thanks.....
P.S. We are considering Happy Hollow in San Jose, but would like to add another thing to the trip...

 

[kalamazoo]

How about Safari West in Santa Rosa. I have not been but am considering going if we take our kids to the area. It has some great reviews and some not so good ones but overall, to me, it looks like an interesting experience.

Also, we recently found ourselves in Bodega Bay (quite by accident on our way back to SF from Sonoma valley) and though our visit was very very short (1 or 2 hours?) I thought it a charming area by the sea - lots of parks up and down the coast and a fun little town. I've never been up that way in the summer though - lots of fog???

DH and I visit California every year for about a week but only once with the kids. I am considering N. California for our summer vacation this year - I would certainly welcome any tips or recommendations that you, as a resident, might have.

 

[sasywtch]

I don't have any hints for the OP as I don't seem to venture out of Sacramento too much anymore but for the person visiting.........

South Lake Tahoe is my favorite with a trip to Virginia City for the day. If you're going with the kids, we rented a boat and drove ourself around the lake for an hour. I'd gone every year with my parents growing up and had never seen the middle of the lake. Bluest blue I've ever seen! Virginia City has museums and we've even ventured into the cemetary (sounds morbid but graves from the 1800's are there).

Old Sacramento has the train museum and a walk down through old Sacramento. We live here and still check out the inside of the capitol every once in awhile.

Napa with the wine tasting. Cheaper wine tasting in the Jackson area in the foothills. If it's adults only, can also hit the casino there for dinner.

 

[DTDkettleCORNfan]

How about Safari West in Santa Rosa. I have not been but am considering going if we take our kids to the area. It has some great reviews and some not so good ones but overall, to me, it looks like an interesting experience.

Also, we recently found ourselves in Bodega Bay (quite by accident on our way back to SF from Sonoma valley) and though our visit was very very short (1 or 2 hours?) I thought it a charming area by the sea - lots of parks up and down the coast and a fun little town. I've never been up that way in the summer though - lots of fog???

DH and I visit California every year for about a week but only once with the kids. I am considering N. California for our summer vacation this year - I would certainly welcome any tips or recommendations that you, as a resident, might have.

Oooooo....Safari West! That was completely off my radar but I have heard of it. I'll have to check out their webpage. We have never done anything like that before. Thanks!

We have been to Bodega Bay many times. Yes - the mornings are foggy but it can be beautiful and sunny during the day. We never swim there (the beaches have warnings about rip tides and sleeper/sneaker??? waves). But we have camped there and had a good time. From there we did a day trips to Fort Ross (up the coast) and Armstrong Woods - both were great.

As far as places I would recommend, I guess that depends on if you have your kids with you and how old they are. We have never been up to the Shasta area, but hope to do so one of these days. I concur with the previous poster about Lake Tahoe. It is beautiful and there is so much to do....for all ages. North Shore has a mini-golf course that my kids love. I know you can play mini-golf everywhere, but not with a view of the lake the whole time.

Monterey is another area we love. The aquarium is great for everyone, and Dennis the Menace Playground is nearby (lots of unique stuff to climb on).

It all depends on what sort of places you are looking for. DH and I haven't really done any adult vacations (aside from Tahoe and Yellowstone), so I don't really have any adult vacation tips.

Thanks for the post!

 

[kalamazoo]

Thanks for the info. I have seen photos of Lake Tahoe and always thought it looked like some Caribbean sea with it being so blue. We'll definitely consider a visit. In fact, I will certainly be looking into all the suggested locations.

DH and I are fairly well travelled but a lot of that was pre-kids. For many years we had taken our children on the same types of summer vacation, to roughly the same places. While it was enjoyable, I was finding it was getting a little boring and felt like we were wasting the opportunity (of them being out of school for summer vacation) to show them something different.The tricky part is that Dh, in particular, still wants a relatively relaxing vacation - not too much rushing around or upheaval. So I have to find spots where there is a lot to do and see nearby and for easy day trips.

I did want to take them to the Tucson area and was willing to brave the heat, but decided finally the the weather would be just too extreme and that we would not be able to really enjoy the area. Maybe do it next year for spring break instead of, gasp!, WDW.

So N. California was the other idea (actually I had wanted to do this in conjunction with Arizona on the same trip). Now I'm thinking that California has enough contrasts that it could be interesting to stay within the state and simply have a couple of base locations.

Sorry to be so long winded but it is nice to be able to chat with like minded travellers - it seems like so many people around me do not travel and so cannot relate.

 

[sasywtch]

We came back from the Vegas area one time through the desert up to S Lake Tahoe. Contrast? Going from the desert to Tahoe would be it! Tahoe just smells so good. Honestly, I have never seen a bluer blue than the middle of Tahoe and the side got the light green like the Carribbean. We enjoyed the boat rental as you can go where you want and come back when you want.
We usually go next to Virginia City (a lookout up there is named after my family). Coming down to Sacramento on Hwy 50 (well, until you get to Rancho Cordova ) is very nice.
Good luck in whatever you plan