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Hilmar Cheese Co.
9001 N. Lander Ave.
Hilmar, CA 95324
(209) 667-6076
http://www.hilmarcheese.com/
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Hands-on interactive exhibits demonstrating the cheese making process. Three different tours are available by appointment
Open Monday to Friday 9:30 AM & 11:00 AM Fees are variable based on tour selected.
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Challenger Learning Center
3460 Challenger Way
Atwater, CA 95301
(209) 726-0296/(209)726-3491
http://www.challengersjv.org
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Math and science facility that incorporates space flight with the down to earth necessity to master the fundamentals of math and science.
Open daily. Free
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Home to 75 native California mammals, birds and reptiles.
Open Monday to Sunday 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Free the second Tuesday of each month. Minimal fee other times. |
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METV Merced County Office of Education
632 West 13th St.
Merced, CA 95340
(209) 381-6643
http://www.metv.ws |
State of the art television studio and station. Tours by appointment.
Monday to Friday
Free.
Virtual tour on line.
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Merced County Courthouse Museum
21 & N Streets
Merced, CA 95340
(209) 723-2401
http://www.mercedmuseum.org
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Exhibits depicting the history of Merced County as well as the settlers of the Great Central Valley. Tours by appointment.
Free
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Merced Multicultural Arts Center
645 West Main St
Merced, CA 95340
(209) 388-1090
http://www.artsmerced.org |
Home to the Arbor Gallery, musical performances, Artree and classes. All exhibits made possible in part by the California Arts Council and Merced County Arts Council, Inc. Open Monday to Friday 9:00 AM-5:00 PM Saturday 10:00 AM-5:00 PM Free. |
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Antique gas engines, farm equipment, washing machines, metal toys, a chuck wagon and more. Tours by appointment.
Open Tuesday to Sunday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM Free
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Grassland Environmental Education Center
22759 Mercy Springs
Los Banos, CA 95635
(209) 704-4772
http://www.grasslandwetlands.com |
The mission of the GEEC is to increase awareness and appreciation of wetlands. Visitors learn how human and economic interests can be preserved while still protecting the environment. Open Monday to Friday. Free |
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California Mining and Mineral Museum Park
Fairground Rd.
Mariposa, CA 95338
(209) 742-7625
http://www.parks.ca.gov |
Contains 13,000 minerals, rock, gems, fossils and historic artifacts. School tours relating to geology, rocks and minerals, the gold rush and mining history are available. Oct.-Apr. Closed Tuesdays, May-Sept. Open Sunday to Sunday 10:00 AM-4:00 PM.
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Northern Mariposa County History Center
10201 Highwat 49
Coulterville, CA 95311
(209) 878-3015
http://www.museumsusa.org
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Tells the history of the founding of Coulterville and the Gold Rush during the 1850's. In two historic buildings in Coulterville. Open Wednesday to Sunday 10:00 AM-4:00 PM. Monday and Tuesday private tours by arrangement. Free.
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McHenry Museum & Mansion
1402 "I" Street
Modesto, CA 95354
(209) 577-5366
http://www.mchenrymuseum.org |
A glipse of the past and the many people who pioneered this unique area. Tuesday to Sunday 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm Free |
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Great Valley Museum of Natural History
Modesto Junior College
College & Stoddard Avenue
Modesto, CA 95354 (209) 575-6196
http://www.gomjc.org/greatvalley/ |
Classes, programs, exhibits, discovery room and scheduled tours as well as 30 traveling teacher programs and 30 science suitcases available for free checkout to members. Wednesday to Friday 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM. $1.00 admission per person |
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Oakdale Cowboy Museum
355 East "F" Street
Oakdale, CA 95361
(209) 847-5163
http://www.oakdalecowboymuseum.org |
Contains sights, sounds and smells of the Wild West with its focus on the land and its peopel seeking to embody the past and embrace the future. Open Monday to Friday 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. $1.00 admission per person. |
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Oakdale Museum
212 West "F" Street
Oakdale, CA 95361
(209) 847-9229
www.oakdalehistory.com |
History of Oakdale, locale artifacts and art exhibits. Monday to Friday 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM. Free. Groups by appointment. |
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Hershey's Visitor Center
120 South Sierra Avenue
Oakdale, CA 95361
(209) 848-8126
www.hersheys.com |
Factory tours not available. Visit the center. Open Monday to Saturday 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Free On-line tour. |
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The Haggin Museum
Victory Park 1201 N. Pershing Avenue
Stockton, CA 95203-1699
(209) 848-8126
www.hagginmuseum.org |
An art and history museum. For 75 years the museum has acquired, maintained and exhibited works of fine art and art devoted to area history. Wednesday to Sunday 1:30 PM to 5:00 PM. Child-$2.50 admission under 10 free adult (over 17)$5.00. |
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Shinzen Japanese Garden
Woodward Park - Audobon Drive
Fresno, CA 93728
(559) 621-2900
www.shinzenjapanesegarden.org |
This 5 acre garden contains stream beds with waterfalls, 7 bridges, a double-moon bridge, a Koi Pond, tulip trees, Chinese pistache and tallow trees as well as an authentic thatched-roof teahouse build in Japan and reassembled by 4 master workers from Japan. Open Monday to Friday 10:00 AM to dusk. $3.00 vehicle plus admission. Docent tours by prior arrangement. |
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Fresno Chaffee Zoo
894 W. Belmont Avenue
Fresno, CA 93728
(559) 621-5799; (559) 498-5920
www.fresnochaffeezoo.com |
Junior University, Lab Programs, Zoo talks and tours.
Open daily Nov.-Jan.10:00 AM-3:00 PM; Feb.-Oct. 9:00 AM-3:00 PM. Fees $3.50 (ages 2-11) $7.00 (12 & up) Programs extra. |
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Fresno Metropolitan Museum
933 Van Ness Avenue
Fresno, CA 93721
(559) 441-1444
www.fresnomet.org/ |
Visit Reeves Science Center and ex-perience Earth, Wind, Inspire!
New exhibit of hands-on interactive exhibit direct from SF Explora- torium. On website fun with art/science activities to be done in class or at home. Open Tues-Sun 11:00 AM-5:00 PM. Fees (ages 3-12) $3.00 other students with I.D. $5.00, adults $8.00 |
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Moaning Cavern
5350 Moaning Cave Road
Vallecito, CA 95251
(866) 762-2837; (209) 736-2708
www.caverntours.com |
45 min. tour of the largest vertical chamber in a public cavern that you can see in California. Open every day-Fall 10:00 AM-5:00 PM, Summer 9:00 AM-6 PM. Walk tour $6.25 (child) $12.50 (adult). Rappel $49. Adventure with rappel $59. |
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Sutter Gold Mine
13660 Highway 49
Sutter Creek, CA 95685
(866) 762-2837; (209) 736-2708
www.caverntours.com |
1 hour walk tour/lesson on gold mining from earliest days to the present. Open every day-Fall 10:00 AM-5:00 PM, Summer 9:00 AM-6:00 PM. Walk tour $9.95 (child) $14.95 (adult). Gold pan $5.00, gemstone mining $4.95 |
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California Cavern
9565 Cave City Rd.
Mountain Ranch, CA 95246
(866) 762-2837; (209) 736-2708
www.caverntours.com |
1 hour tail of lights/trail of lakes guided walking tour. 3 hour mammouth cave expedition, 5 hour middle earth expedition. Open weekdays 10:00 AM-4:00 PM. Trail tour $6.25 children $12.50 adults. Mammouth $99. Middle Earth $130.00. |
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Boyden Cavern
74101 E. Kings Canyon
National Park, CA 93633
(866) 762-2837; (209) 736-2708
www.caverntours.com |
45 minute tour-Magnificent cavern beneath the massive 2000 ft. high marble walls. Located in Kings Canyon. 10 AM-5 PM (daily in Summer) 11 AM-4 PM (Winter). Walk tour $5 children $10 adult plus $10 vehicle fee. |
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Black Chasm
15701 Volcano Pioneer Rd.
Volcano, CA 95689
(866) 762-2837; (209) 736-2708
www.caverntours.com |
50 minute walk tour concluding in the landmark room; the location of the greatest collection of sparkling helictite crystals. 9 AM-5 PM (daily in Summer) 10 AM-4PM (weekdays in Winter) Walk tour $6.25 children $1.50 adult. Gemstone bag $5. |
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Railtown 1897 State Park
Jamestown, CA.
www.csrmf.org/railtown/default.asp |
One of America's last authentic, operating railroad roundhouses. 40 minute train ride 9:30 AM-4:30 PM April-Oct. 10 AM-3 PM Nov.-March. $3 (ages 6-17) $8 adult. |
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Columbia State Historic Park
22708 Broadway
Columbia, CA 95310
(209) 588-9128; (209) 532-0150
www.columbiacalifornia.com |
Docent led town tours Sept.-June. Meets state curriculum standards for 4th grade. |
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Calaveras Big Trees State Park
Hwy 4
Arnold, CA 95223
(209) 795-2334
www.parks.ca.gov |
Giant sequoias. Open year round - sunrise to sunset. |
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Marshall Gold Discovery State Hist. Pk.
310 Back Street Coloma, CA 95613
(530) 622-3470 (866) 240-4655
www.parks.ca.gov
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Self guided tours. Open every day 8:00 AM-5:00 PM. Fees $5 auto; $50 bus (10-25 people) $100 (25+). No fee for non-commercial tours with reservations. |
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Yosemite National Park
PO Box 577
Yosemite National Park, CA 95389
(209) 372-0200
www.nps.gov/yose/ |
1200 sq. miles of valleys, meadows, giant sequoias, silderness, waterfalls, and much more. See web site for programs. Open every day, year round. $20 per car; $10 on foot. |
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Sequoia & Kings Canyon Nat'l Park
47050 Generals Hwy
Three Rivers, CA 93271-9700
(559) 565-3341
www.nps.gov/seki/ |
Ranger led programs. See website for details. CA content standards.
Open all year.
Free |
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CA State Railroad Museum
111 "I" Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 445-6645
www.csrmf.org/default.asp |
Historic facilities and unique attractions, restored trains. Guided tours and films. Open daily 10 AM-5 PM. $3 child (6-17) $8 adult. |
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State Capital Museum.
10th & "L" Street
Sacramento, CA 95816
(916) 324-0333
www.parks.ca.gov/ |
A working museum since 1869. Guided tours, informative films, recreated historic rooms and changing exhibits explore the past, present and future of CA government. Daily 9 AM-5 PM. Free. (Tours Memorial Day through Labor Day by request.) |
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Sutter's Fort State Historic Park
2701 "L" Street
Sacramento, CA 95816
(916) 445-4422
www.parks.ca.gov/ |
Sacramento's earliest settlement & the first non-Indian settlement in the CA Central Valley. Self-guided tour. Open daily 10 AM-5 PM. |
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State Indian Museum-State Historic Pk.
2618 "K" Street
Sacramento, CA 95816
(916) 324-0917
www.parks.ca.gov/ |
On the gounds of Sutter's Fort. Open daily 10 AM-5 PM. |
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CA State Military Museum
1119 2nd Street
Old Sacramento, CA
(916) 442-2883
www.militarymuseum.org |
Exhibits reflect CA & US military history from Colonial times through today. Veterans tell war stories and docents lead tours. Open Tues-Sun. 10 AM-5 PM. Nominal fee. |
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CA Museum for History, Women & The Arts
1020 "O" Street
Sacramento, CA 95816
(916) 653-7524
www.californiamuseum.org |
Exhibits bring CA history to life, while highlighting the experiences of women and other underrepresented groups. The museum houses Sacramento's largest public art piece "Constitution Wall". Open Tues-Sat. 10 AM-5 PM. Nominal admission fee. |
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Aerospace Museum of California
5934 Price Avenue
McClellan, CA
(916) 643-3192
www.aerospacemuseumofcalifornia.org |
Over 30 military and civilian aircraft and a state-of-the-art Aviation Learning Center. Interactive exhibits. Open Tues-Fri 9 AM-4 PM. Nominal admission fee. |
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CA Foundry History Museum
5301 Price Avenue
McClellan Park, CA
(916) 929-8001; (916) 933-3062
www.foundryhistory.com
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Foundries melt metal to make fire hydrants, water pipes, car engines and etc. Come ring a trolley bell, work a water valve. Film and photos from the Gold Rush to the present. Mon-Fri 11 AM-3 PM. Free |
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Crocker Art Museum
216 "O" Street
Sacramento, CA
(916) 264-5423
www.crockerartmuseum.org |
Established in 1885, the museum is the primary resource for the study and appreciation of fine arts in the Sacramento region. Tues-Sun 10 AM-5 PM; Thurs 10 AM-9 PM. Nominal admission fee. |
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Discovery Museum's Gold Rush History Center
1011 "I" Street
Old Sacramento, CA
(916) 264-7057
www.thediscovery.org |
The center features interactive exhibits that bring to life the great Gold Rush of 1849. Open Tues-Sun 10 AM-5 PM. Nominal admission fee. |
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Discovery Museum's Science & Space Center
3625 Auburn Blvd.
Northeast Sacramento, CA
(916) 575-3941
www.thediscovery.org |
Home to the Challenger Learning Center and Sacramento's only public planetarium, an animal discovery room, nature trails and a wildlife pond. Open Tues-Fri Noon-5 PM. Nominal admission fee. |
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Alcatraz Island
Pier 33 Embarcadero near Bay St.
San Francisco, CA 94123
Ranger: (415) 561-4900
Reservations: (415) 981-7625
www.nps.gov |
Alcatraz Island offers a close-up look at the site of the first lighthouse and US fort on the West Coast, an infamous federal penitentiary and the historic 18 month occupation by Indians of all Tribes. Tours every half hour beginning at 9:30 am. Fee for ferry service. |
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Exploratorium
at the Palace of Fine Arts
3601 Lyon Street
San Francisco, CA 94123
(415) 561-0317
www.exploratorium.edu/ |
The Exploratorium is an experimental, hands-on museum designed to spark curiosity-regardless of your age or familarity with science. Open Tues-Sun. 10 AM - 5 PM. Prices vary by ages from $8--$13. Free admission on first Weds. each month by reservation. |
