Kidtastico | Best Family Fun Children Activities in Santa Cruz, San Jose, and Monterey

Stillwell’s “Snow in the Park” in Pacific Grove – Snow Play, Sleigh Rides, Petting Zoo, Jump Houses, Carnival Games, Kid’s Christmas Shopping

Mr. Kid — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 14:43:11 +0000

This has got to be the best kept secret in the Monterey Bay. Located in Pacific Grove, and off the beaten path in Caledonia park, Stillwell’s Snow in the Park must be seen to be believed. The event starts early when the snow machine shows up and covers a basketball court with a ten foot [...]

Christmas in the Park in San Jose – Ice Skating, Holiday Dioramas, Carnival Rides, and Light Displays

Mr. Kid — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 14:42:07 +0000

Every December, the Cesar Chavez Plaza in downtown San Jose is turned into a winter wonderland. Non profit groups create displays in a friendly competition. Some have a polished Disneyesque quality to them and some are just funky and fun with a cool hand made vibe. They also build an ice skating rink, bring in [...]

Vasona Park Fantasy of Lights in Los Gatos – Drive Through or Take The Mini Train and See An Amazing Christmas Lights Display

Mr. Kid — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 04:16:18 +0000

This is a fun event. You drive through Vasona park while listening to Christmas music on your car radio. The displays are huge and many incorporate animations. There’s dinosaurs and an erupting volcano, a pirate ship, and a few tunnels among the dozens of displays. Takes about 20 minutes to drive through. Dress warm as [...]

Dennis the Menace Park – Slides, Climbing Wall, Full Size Train, Paddle Boats

Mr. Kid — Sun, 10 Oct 2010 20:51:10 +0000

Located by the beach in Monterey, Dennis the Menace Park is an old school park with some new school flair. It’s loaded with artifacts from a bygone area before the lawyers, the social engineers and the child development specialists took over our parks and pretty muck killed anything that was unique and hand made. The [...]

My Museum – Monterey County Youth Museum, Hands-On Children’s Science Activities

Mr. Kid — Sun, 10 Oct 2010 13:00:03 +0000

Located in downtown Monterey, My Museum is a trippy little place full of hands on activities for the little ones. Somewhat like a miniature Discovery Museum, there’s a wide variety of themed play areas and each one incorporates a scientific principle (though some more convincing than others). Is the mini golf course science? Well sort [...]

Pacific Coast Air Museum – See Military Planes Up Close in Santa Rosa

Mr. Kid — Sun, 03 Oct 2010 12:24:07 +0000

A fun, little, funky aviation museum tucked away off highway 101 near the Sonoma Airport, Pacific Coat Air Museum is a great hands on up-close experience. Out back is a grassy field filled with military planes. It’s a good selection so both kids and their military aircraft enthusiast parents will be satisfied. Inside is a [...]

Hiller Aviation Museum – Antique Planes, Flight Simulators, Plane Watching, and 747 and Concord Exhibits

Mr. Kid — Sat, 02 Oct 2010 12:22:11 +0000

Located at the San Carlos Airport near Redwood City you can find the most charming Hiller Aviation Museum. Since Hiller is also located at a real airport, it’s also a good place for plane watching and they provide a great viewing area out back along the runway. Not just a forgotten place to hold old [...]

Watsonville Airport – Watch Planes, Get a Snack, Free Airplane Rides

Mr. Kid — Sat, 02 Oct 2010 00:33:51 +0000

When my daughter was about one and half she started noticing planes in the sky. Not just noticing them, but pointing and yelling “pain, pain” every time she got a glimpse of one. I knew we had an airport in Watsonville, so I figured why not go see them up close. Back before they put [...]

Gizdich Ranch – Strawberry Picking, Apple Picking, and Fresh Pies in Watsonville

Mr. Kid — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 03:47:53 +0000

There are two things I’ve learned from Gizdich Ranch. One, there is nothing better than fresh picked strawberries, and two, picking strawberries is one of the most painful things you can do. You can try bending at the knees, bending at the waste, sitting in one spot in a squatting position, or scooting along like [...]

Play In The Snow at Castle Rock in The Santa Cruz Mountains on Skyline Boulevard

Mr. Kid — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 01:39:30 +0000

It’s December 16th, 2008 and I’m heading out to the Point for a dawn patrol session. My car is covered in a thick sheet of ice so I melt it off with a couple of gallon jugs of hot water. The air is barely 32 degrees. When I get to the point the waves are [...]