When school is out for the holidays and you want to keep those little minds busy, I’ve got 5 top picks for educational places to go that come totally kid-approved!
I’ll be talking about these Educational Outings on my Fox40 segment this morning (live at the Crocker Art Museum!). My kids and I have experienced each of these local spots, so if you have any questions…just ask me!
~Keilah
1. Star ECO Station
When: Regular hours: Friday 1pm – 4 pm, Saturday 10am – 4 pm, Sunday 12 – 4 pm; Extra Holiday Hours: 11am-3pm on the following days: December 20th, 21st, 27th, 28th and January 3rd and 4th.
Where: Star ECO Station, 4465 Granite Drive, Rocklin
What: Hour long wildlife tour. Tours are on the hour and the last tour is one hour before closing. STAR ECO Station is a non-profit environmental education and exotic wildlife rescue center, dedicated to the mission of Preservation Through Education. They provide a last chance for illegal or abandoned at-risk exotic wildlife. Your guide takes you through the reptile room, the bird room, and the ocean life room, telling interesting facts about each animal.
Cost: Adults $6.00, Kids $5.00, 2 yrs and under are free
Info: Click here for their website or here for our experience
2. Capitol Museum
When: Open 8am – 5pm weekdays, 9am – 5pm weekends; Public tours are conducted daily, on the hour, from 10-4.
Where: The California State Capitol Museum, 1315 10th Street, Sacramento
What: Gardens with monuments on the east side of the building. 58 California County shadow box displays line the halls after entering. Take an informative tour with older kids or explore on our own with younger kids. Beautiful architecture, historical rooms, and art. In the basement there is a theater that shows films all day long from which you can learn about the history of our state. They even have one 12-minute film called “Capitol Visions” that is geared for kids and shows quite often throughout the day.
Cost: FREE
Info: Click here for their website or here for our experience
3. Sacramento Children’s Museum
When: Open Tuesday through Saturday from 9am – 5pm, Sunday from 12pm – 5pm.
Where: Sacramento Children’s Museum, 2701 Prospect Park Dr., Rancho Cordova
What: Each of the fun areas within the museum focuses on different hands-on opportunities to learn and explore. These areas include: Waterways, Raceways, Airways, World Market, Studio of the Arts, My Neighborhood, and Baby Bloomers. Kids can learn about gravity, velocity, the flow of water, nutrition, creativity, and much more. Leo’s Tales Storytime is every Tuesday from 10am – 10:30am.
Cost: Adults and Kids $7.00, under age 1 free
Info: Click here for their website or here for our experience
4. California Automobile Museum
When: Open Daily 10am – 6pm (last admission at 5:00 PM)
Where: California Automobile Museum, 2200 Front Street, Sacramento
What: Cars are set up in eye-catching displays and tell the story of the development of the automobile, or as they call it, Automobile Evolution. More than 150 vehicles are on display and range from the earliest models of the 20th century to prototypes of alternative energy for the 21st century. You have the option to take a self-guided tour but I highly suggest asking for a docent tour guide. Learn about Henry Ford and the development of the first car, how much cars cost back in the day, and how women did not drive because of what was physically required to get the car started. Kids can also climb into a couple of classic cars.
Cost: Adults $8.00, Kids $4.00, 4 and under FREE
Info: Click here for their website or here for our experience
5. Cosumnes River Preserve
When: Trails open daily Sunrise to Sunset; Visitor’s Center open weekends 9am – 5pm
Where: Cosumnes River Preserve, 13501 Franklin Blvd., Galt
What: Two trails to choose from: The Cosumnes River Walk, a 3-mile dirt trail, or The Lost Slough Wetlands Walk, a 1-mile paved trail (great for little ones). Take a nature walk and look for wildlife. It is almost guaranteed that you’ll see rabbits, butterflies, and birds galore. The visitor’s center has fun hands-on nature exhibits.
Cost: FREE
Info: Click here for their website or here for our experience
Written by Keilah Woodard
My love for exploring and creating experiences with my three kids led to the founding of SacramentoSidetracks.com in 2009. I realized that Sacramento has so much to offer and I was excited to share my findings with other parents. Besides simply having fun, these are the other positive side effects of taking my kids on outings that I’ve discovered: we have quality time together away from the distractions at home, we cultivate our curiosity, learn new things, conversations are triggered by what we see and do, we connect and bond as a family, and we create new memories. Ready to get sidetracked, too? Let me be your guide!
