California Family Activities

A close-up photo of a pile of raw oysters, some with shells slightly open, revealing the meat inside. The oysters have rough, multicolored shells with shades of brown, gray, and green. You Are All Shucking Oysters The Wrong Way if you're not appreciating their rugged and layered textures.

You Are All Shucking Oysters the Wrong Way

Cultural myths apparently apply to shucking oysters as well. Since I was a youngin’ I’ve been taught to “be sure leave the juice in that […]

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A small white mission-style church with a bell tower topped by a cross. The front entrance is an arched wooden door. Nearby is a tall tree and a signpost that reads "Historic Mission Santa Cruz," one of the iconic Northern California Missions. The sky is clear and blue.

Northern California Missions: From San Juan Bautista to San Francisco Solano de Sonoma

Looking for a whopping dose of California state history? There’s likely no better entry point than the missions. Here’s a look at seven of the

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A group of people scattered on a rocky beach, some crouching and some sitting. Each person appears to be scrutinizing or exploring something on the ground, enjoying one of many Bay Area family-friendly outdoor adventures. The ocean waves are visible in the background, and the sky is overcast.

Bay Area Family-Friendly Outdoor Adventures

From Moss Beach to Point Reyes National Seashore, the Greater Bay Area offers dozens of fun family friendly outdoor adventures. So awaken your inner birder

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A modern building with a living green roof featuring several rounded domes. The glass facade is surrounded by a plaza where people stroll. Palm trees and green lawns adorn the foreground, with a blue sky overhead, making it one of the coolest kid-friendly museums in Northern California.

The Coolest Kid-Friendly Museums in Northern California

Who isn’t looking for some getaways to get everyone out of the house? We all are. With that in mind, here’s a roundup of my

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A vintage steam locomotive with the number X-45 on its front leads a red passenger car through a lush forest in Northern California. The train engine has a shiny brown and black exterior and is enveloped by tall green trees. Smoke is billowing from the chimney as the train moves forward, creating a scene like those featured in trains and museums.

Historic Train Rides and Museums in Northern California

The Golden State owes almost as much to the “iron horse” as to the yellow mineral that spurred the nation’s westward expansion in the mid-19th

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A skeleton of a large prehistoric animal resembling a saber-toothed cat is displayed in a museum exhibit at the California Academy of Sciences. The skeleton stands in a glass case on a sandy surface with rocks and small plants, placed against a teal-colored background.

Hollywood Meets Science at the California Academy of Sciences

There are few places on the West Coast that have impacted our planet as much as the California Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park.

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A sunny seaside scene with a sandy beach and rocky cliffs. People are enjoying the beach, swimming, and exploring the rocks. Tall palm trees line the edges, and the clear blue ocean stretches out to the horizon under a bright blue sky—just like a postcard from an ultimate guide to San Diego.

The Ultimate Guide to San Diego

Featured Photo: Andres Garcia via Unsplash A heavenly slice of the West Coast, San Diego stands out as a coastal paradise with a perfect blend

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A man and a child stand on a small staircase looking into the cockpit of an old aircraft inside a large hangar, enjoying one of Sonoma County's family-friendly adventures. An elderly man in a blue shirt and cap stands near the cockpit, while another person in a mask observes from behind.

Family-Friendly Adventures in Sonoma County

If you want to win that “Parent of the Year” award, keep reading. I spend a lot of time goofing around on weekends, checking out

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A red Rivian R1T electric truck navigates a rocky, off-road trail in a mountainous area surrounded by sparse pine trees. Embracing the spirit of California road trips, the terrain is rugged, with hills and mountain peaks visible in the background under a partly cloudy sky.

3 Electric Vehicle-Friendly California Road Trips

Are you ready for a road trip in your EV, but experiencing “charge anxiety” about where and when you’ll find charging stations? Year by year, month

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A group of people, wearing gloves, are diligently sorting and distributing various food items, such as canned goods and bananas, on a table at a Travel With Purpose charity event in California.

Travel With Purpose: California

As technology connects communities across the planet, our sense of being a global village, part of one big precious planet, grows. Today many travelers hope

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