We have 2 boys, ages 4 and 2, very active, and would like some ideas of places to go where there's lots for them to do. Mainly in the west - California, Nevada, Oregon.
Thanks,
Allan

Allan,

As a native Northern California, there are a number of things that your kids would enjoy. In the San Jose area (www.sanjose.org) the Children's Discovery Museum and also the Tech Museum of Innovation would be worthwhile places to visit. The Tech is also fun for adults. In Kelley Park the Happy Hollow Petting Zoo and children's rides are also great for the kids. There is also a Japanese Garden where they can feed the koi fish. The History Museum of San Jose is another worthwhile attraction, but may be more suited to adults rather than children. In the Monterey area (www.monterey.com) the Monterey Bay Aquarium would be another place to consider visiting.

Geez David do you even have kids? These boys are 2 and 4 and as Allan explains they are active. What little kid is gonna want to spend his vacation in San Jose at a Tech museum? Most big cities have kid museums which are good for rainy days but horrible for family vacations. Stop with the San Jose as a vacation destination already!!!!

David doesn't have kids. He's 22 years old, has never left the confines of San Jose, except on the few vacations with his family to Konocti Harbor. He has a moustache and drives a red pickup truck with the license plate, "9R WHINR." He hates to admit he's a Niner fan because that associates him with the hated San Francisco. His real fear of San Francisco lies in the Castro, where all his Northern California homophobic fears dwell. He listens to Creed and Incubus on the radio and wears Dockers. His favorite restaurant is the Outback Steakhouse, and he's considering getting a tattoo of the Winchester Mystery House on his right shoulder.

not horrible if you are raising your kids right X. If you appreciate learning so will your kids. My brother in-law is very science oriented and so are his kids. They will always go to any science museum they can get into with their dad.My sister does not know but for him how they are like this because like you she hates museums etc..
Just something to think about.

I was a teacher and was always excited about museums so consequently were all of my K-1 kids. I am not just talking about kids museums but Modern Art museums. But I was able to show them why it was fun and interesting.

Hey they're 2 and 4! And very active as dad has explained. He didn't say they were poindexters!

Poor demented David. The post is about VACATION SPOTS. Get it? Not Suburbs with strip malls and freeways. Get a clue!

x2, have you taken 2 and 4 year olds to The Tech in San Jose? If you have, you'd know it is a tech museum for older kids, more geared to nine years and up. Why? Because it is filled with computer stations where fine motor skills come into play, not many 2 and 4 year olds would have the ability to understand what most of the displays are teaching, robotics, medical sciences, etc. Better to visit the Children's Discovery Museum in San Jose, which is geared to the under-9 crowd and very educational as well. Don't be so quick to judge whether or now someone is "raising their child right."

However, I do not recommend Allan make a special trip to San Jose merely to visit the CDM. As X said, there are museums of this type in most major cities, and California is filled with natural beauty that would be great fun for kids to explore.

Allan,

Please ignore the ignorant, biased comments by x,miss cleo, jimbo, and dionne. I would follow x2x2's advice. I have gone to the Tech with my kids numerous times when they were your kids' age and they had a great time learning and having fun all at the same time. The Children's Discovery Museum is also Downtown and walking distance from the Tech.

I am a recent visitor to this website, but I think all of the above should be ashamed of themselves. Talk about textbook passive aggression. What is wrong with everyone? Allan is a family man trying to get help with some vacation plans. Keep the poor guy out of your childish impluses.

Anyway, Allan maybe I can offer some suggestions that you can use. I have raised 2 kids, travelled alot and lived on the west coast my whole life. The following are some of the things we did with our kids when they were young:
1. Yosemite-It doesn't get much prettier than this. Wide open spaces, water, rocks, mountains, trails, wildlife...you name it. Kids would love this place, though mom & dad may have alot to do to keep them under control. The guidebooks discuss the need to book camping and rooms in advance, but there are many campsites that fill up on a non-resv. basis only. Plus, every week in the SF Chronicle there are ads for cabins for rent.
2. N. Calif coast- From SF to Eureka, this area is beautiful on Hwy. 1. There are small fishing villages and harbors in Gualala and Ft. Bragg and Noyo. There are trees a car can drive through on Avenue of the Giants (back on 101). The Skunk Train in Ft. Bragg offers a half-day trip to a forest, where you get off and hike, run, burn off steam then return to the coast.
3. Southen CA-I would avoid Disneyland, Knotts Berry Farm and Universal Studios since your boys are still so young. But there is still Legoland, Sea World and the Jungle safari car ride. Plus warm weather and great beaches.
I never found anything in Nevada to do for kids. I think going to a casino and putting your kids in the arcade is stupid. The casino visit should be kept as an adult experience, in my opinion. Now, don't beat me up, all of you passive aggressives. This is just my opinion, I do not need you to agree or comment on any of it.

Carolyn,

Those are some great ideas. We need more people like you and x2x2 on these threads.

David and Carolyn, what is it about my post that you disagree with? I recently took my 7 year-old son to The Tech and he was just dexterous enough to operate the computers to get the cause and effect needed for him to understand anything. At the least, one must be able to operate a mouse on a computer, not a skill most 2 year-olds possess. I think if you called The Tech they would tell you kids need to be over a certain age to appreciate the museum. Preschools do not generally make trips to the Tech, though they do plan trips to CDM regularly.

I'm not suggesting 2 and 4 year-olds wouldn't enjoy any museum. I did suggest the more age appropriate Children's Discovery Museum. However, I do agree that Carolyn has made an excellent list for families visiting the west. I just don't take kindly to the criticism when I have accurately stated my experiences with kids and The Tech.

Dionne,

There are numeroous hads on exhibits which children would enjoy. Of course, alot it has to do with the individual child his interests. It may be that Allan's kids would find such a museum a great place to spend the day. (www.thetech.org) lists all the different exhibits and IMAX films currently showing.

Carolyn, as you admitted you are new to this board and you have not yet been subjected to David's constant ridiculous recommendations that vacationers actually set their sights on San Jose. As a west coast resident would you recommend to out-of-state travellers, with limited time and funds, that they should schedule some time in San Jose? That's the part that's burning us all up!!! It's unfair of David to mischaracterize San Jose as some real tourists spot. Lots of cities have similar amenities but they are not good spots for people who are on vacation.

David constantly makes these outrageous claims about the draw of San Jose and then if we disagree with him he tells the original poster not to listen to us. Well Allan, don't listen to David!

Carolyn,

I think that x had some traumatic experience in San Jose, and that any mention of the city conjures up deep seated resentment. I would completely disregard such biased opinions. Anyone that always has nothing better to do than to trash people's advice has some type of a serious problem.

The fact is that Allan was asking for places that are great for children and I think that your ideas and mine given him alot of great suggestions for his kids.

I hope that you do not get discouraged with people such as x. it is best to disregard such ignorance.