Family outings in California: 1135 listings in 51 counties. Family-friendly events and outings everyone can enjoy together. Details can change. Check with the venue before you go. This is page 6 of 6, with 21 counties and 182 listings.
The restored Spanish, Mexican and American buildings around the old town plaza next to California's 15th mission, with museums, exhibits and family programs.
Hours
Daily 10am-4:30pm; closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day
Guided tours of William Randolph Hearst's hilltop estate, including an Accessibly Designed Grand Rooms Tour; daytime tickets include the film "Hearst Castle - Building the Dream."
Hours
Tour times vary by season, most from 9am; closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. Reservations up to 60 days ahead are strongly recommended.
Cost
Grand Rooms, Upstairs Suites or Cottages & Kitchen tours: adults $35, children 5-12 $18 (includes $5.50 registration fee)
Hilltop museum overlooking Morro Bay with interactive exhibits and daily nature videos on birds, whales, sea otters, geology and the Chumash, plus a Chumash garden.
Hours
Daily 10am-5pm except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day
A weekly hands-on STEAM project at Felton Library, this week making a Gnomevember peg doll gnome or fairy. Best for children 6+; under-6s need an adult to help. Expect to get messy!
Children 4 and up and their grown-ups make stuffed pumpkins, fabric owls and fall leaf wreaths. All materials provided, no registration; dress for mess.
Browse 50+ vendors with jewelry, art, pottery, candles, clothing and books, plus food trucks, a Friends of the Library book sale, a bake sale and a teen-run prize raffle.
A monthly family movie matinee in the Felton Library Community Room with the California Film and Cultural Center. Bring your own snacks; it's absolutely free.
Free holiday admission to the Boardwalk: a tunnel of lights, festive decor, free light shows every 15 minutes from 5 to 8pm in the Main Plaza, photos with Santa and 10-15 rides (weather permitting), with $2 rides after 5pm.
Dates
Nov 26, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027
Hours
12-7pm: Nov 26-29; Dec 5-6 and 12-13; daily Dec 19-Jan 3
Vintage excursion cars covered in thousands of lights roll through the streets of Santa Cruz, with a holiday sing-along, live music, hot spiced cider and a visit from Santa. One-hour ride on Roaring Camp's Beach Train.
Dates
Nov 27, 2026 – Dec 23, 2026
Hours
Departs 5pm and 6:30pm
Cost
Canopy cars adults $58.25, children $38.11; first-class coach adults $74.15, children $48.71; under 2 free (includes a $10 myboardwalkcard)
Ride the Redwood Forest Steam Train through the winter redwoods to Bear Mountain, sip hot cider with Santa Claus, then enjoy winter-themed activities in town. 75-minute train ride.
Kick off Winter Wonderland in the Boardwalk's Main Plaza with live entertainment, a tree lighting countdown and a festive drone show on the Main Beach.
Dates
Saturday, November 28, 2026
Hours
Park open 12pm-7pm; live entertainment 5pm; tree lighting countdown 5:30pm; drone show 6pm
Cost
Free admission; free entertainment, cookies and hot cocoa (first come, first served)
The official kickoff to the holidays downtown, with about 1,200 participants from Santa Cruz County schools, youth organizations and local nonprofits, and over 3,000 spectators. Rain or shine.
The Santa Cruz Yacht Club's 39th annual parade of 50 decorated power and sailboats through the harbor, rain or shine. Hot drinks and snacks are available around the south harbor.
Storytime with Santa and a showing of How the Grinch Stole Christmas in the Ballroom at The Grove: Santa Cruz Event Center; each attendee decorates cookies and gets a holiday headband.
Dates
Sunday, December 6, 2026
Hours
Premium early entry 4pm; general admission doors 4:30pm; storytime with Santa 5pm; movie 5:30pm
Ages
Adult beverages available for purchase. Must be 21+.
Cost
$18 general admission; $35 premium tickets (early entry, large popcorn, 1 hour time-play arcade card)
A brunch buffet in The Grove: Santa Cruz Event Center with a cookie decorating and coloring station, Santa's arrival and Santa story time. Reservations close December 9 or when full.
Dates
Sunday, December 13, 2026
Hours
Doors open 9am; appetizers 9-9:30am; buffet 9:30-10:30am; cookie decorating 10am; Santa arrives 10:30am; Santa story time 11am
Ages
Adult beverages available for purchase. Must be 21+.
Cost
Adult $39.99 per person; child (3-8) $34.99 per person
A 40-acre grove of old-growth redwoods on a flat 0.8-mile loop, where the tallest tree stands about 277 feet. Step inside the hollow Fremont Tree, then explore river, sandhills and grassland trails. Guided Redwood Grove walks are on the park's event calendar.
Wave-carved sea arch, a family-friendly beach and tide pools on the edge of Santa Cruz. From late fall into winter, thousands of monarch butterflies cluster in the park's Monarch Grove. No dogs.
Hours
8am-sunset; visitor center daily 11am-4pm through Jan 31
Learn about California's coast redwood forest aboard a 100-year-old steam train, with docent specialists explaining the redwoods and their ecosystems. 75-minute ride, plus a craft table.
Small natural history museum founded on Laura Hecox's collections, with exhibits and fossil collections near the East Cliff shore. Free for everyone on the first Friday of every month.
Hours
Tue-Fri 11am-4pm; Sat-Sun 10am-5pm
Cost
Adults $5; seniors 60+ and students $3; under 18 free; Free for everyone on the first Friday of each month
Swimming and picnic beach with a long stretch of sand below the bluffs, covered picnic areas and a visitor center. Just offshore sits the S.S. Palo Alto, a concrete ship built in 1919 (closed to the public). Dogs allowed.
UC Santa Cruz's hands-on aquarium on the bluff above Monterey Bay: a seawater touch tank, Monterey Bay tanks, and one of the largest blue whale skeletons on display. Daily tours are included with admission.
Hours
Tue-Sun 10am-4pm
Cost
Ticket prices vary by age (see source); children under 3, UCSC students and members do not need a ticket
Coastal park just north of Santa Cruz with early California ranching history: a working dairy farm, an 1840 adobe and a Victorian farmhouse. Guided coastal walks and ranch history tours are on the park calendar; bikes are allowed on all trails and roads. No dogs.
County museum on a knoll overlooking Markleeville, part of a historical complex with the Old Log Jail, the Webster School House, a stamp mill, a Basque bread oven, a blacksmith exhibit and antique machinery. Open seasonally, Memorial Day weekend through October.
Hours
Seasonal: Memorial Day weekend through the end of October: Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Join the community on Main Street to recognize and honor the brave individuals who served. Sponsored by American Legion Post 108; to enter the parade call (209) 267-9493.
Stroll a forest of more than 20 decorated Christmas trees from local nonprofits on Main Street during the Christmas Delights Open House, and vote for Best of Show.
Family holiday play by Ken and Jack Ludwig staged in Baker Street West's immersive Victorian London setting. The theatre is up 30+ stairs with no elevator.
Jackson's footbridge beside the National Hotel glows with an immersive tunnel of holiday lights, with even more lights this year for picture-perfect photos.
A holiday tradition of angelic singing, instrumental wizardry and championship Irish step dancing, with vocalist Amelia Hogan and Molly's Revenge fiddler John Weed. Open seating; beer and wine available.
Dates
Dec 4, 2026
Hours
Doors 7:30pm; show 8pm
Cost
$30 advance; $35 day of show; $15 kids 12 and under
Holiday stroll through 1894 Preston Castle styled as Christmas past. Gate entry gets you Santa, the gift shop and a craft fair; touring the castle costs extra. Tickets go on sale in November.
Dates
Dec 12, 2026
Hours
Sat Dec 12; Santa 12:30-2pm
Cost
Gate entry free (Santa, gift shop, craft fair); self-guided castle tour $25 ages 12+, $15 ages 6-12, under 5 free
The 19th annual lighted holiday parade down Main Street, rain or shine, with arts and crafts vendors in the auditorium from 1-8pm and food vendors at both ends of Main Street. Roads close at 5pm; a free shuttle runs from the Italian Picnic Grounds 3-5:30pm and after the parade.
Gold Country's own Black Irish Band brings 35 years of up-beat acoustic folk: Irish, Scottish, Italian and American songs, maritime and railroad tunes and Western ballads that appeal to all ages.
An 1859 Greek Revival home with 15 rooms of county history, including a Gold History Exhibit, past fashions, a Victorian bedroom and parlor, Native American and Chinese American collections and a schoolroom. Large-scale working models of the Kennedy and North Star mines run Fri-Sun at noon and 1pm.
Housed in an 1860 building, this small museum tells the story of Mother Lode women: walking-west routes from pioneer diaries, a schoolhouse, a boarding house, the old post office and a mine-shaft hallway.
A 50-minute naturalist-guided walking tour descends about 100 feet into three chambers of a vertical cave with spectacular formations and a blue lake. Five flights of stairs.
Hours
Daily; weekdays 10 or 11am-4pm (the site lists both; call (888) 488-1960), Sat-Sun 10am-5pm; closed Thanksgiving
Home to North America's largest collection of bedrock mortars and California's largest roundhouse still used by Native Americans, with a museum and walking trails in the Sierra foothills.
Hours
Park sunrise to sunset; museum 10am-4pm, closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day
Historic gold mine just north of Jackson, open on weekends and holidays through October. Admission is free; guided tours cost extra. Closed November–February; reopens in March.
Hours
Saturdays, Sundays and holidays 10am-3pm, March through October
America's last water-powered foundry and machine shop. On 2nd Saturdays docents fire up the forges and demonstrate sand casting; 4th Saturdays offer self-guided video tours. No reservations needed.
Hours
2nd Saturday of each month 10am-3pm; 4th Saturday 10am-2pm
A big foothill reservoir with 53 miles of shoreline for picnicking, biking and hiking, shoreline fishing (trout stocked October-June), picnic sites with barbecues and children's playgrounds, plus camping and cottages.
Dogs
Dogs are welcome in developed areas for a fee; keep them leashed and under control.
A perfectly preserved 1896 country store with dry goods, hardware, patterns and penny-candy jars still on its shelves. Free to visit; call the Sutter Creek Visitor Center ahead for a docent-led tour.
Hours
Thu-Fri 10am-4pm; Sat noon-3pm; Sun 10am-4pm (volunteer-staffed)
A welcoming, judgment-free hangout for kids, teens and young adults of all abilities, with games, crafts, a movie, chill zones and optional small-group activities. Inclusion staff are onsite to offer support. Register online.
Dates
Tuesdays November 3 and 17, December 1 and 15, 2026
The Butte County Fair's Holiday Jubilee kicks off the holiday season with local craft vendors, photos with Santa, free face painting with Miss Butte County, ornament decorating, a Mini Stills display of community-made wreaths, ornaments and holiday décor and a West Gridley 4-H cocoa and coffee bar.
A special Storytime for children and families in celebration of Native American Heritage Month, presented in partnership with the Oroville Union High School District Indian Education Program: a Native American story read aloud, followed by a hands-on craft activity.
A special Storytime for children and families in celebration of Native American Heritage Month, presented in partnership with the Oroville Union High School District Indian Education Program: a Native American story read aloud, followed by a hands-on craft activity.
Get ready for a prehistoric adventure during DinoVember: a family-friendly dinosaur-themed magic show with magician Kirby Romine, combining the excitement of dinosaurs with the wonder of magic for children and families.
Get ready for a prehistoric adventure during DinoVember: a family-friendly dinosaur-themed magic show with magician Kirby Romine, combining the excitement of dinosaurs with the wonder of magic for children and families.
Children preschool through sixth grade build and race their own Pinewood Derby car on a 45-foot inclined track and compete for the best design and most original car. Car kits can be purchased at the PRPD District Office at the Terry Ashe Rec Center.
Celebrate Thanksgiving at the Chico Ice Rink with turkey trot inspired ice rink games with prizes and fall crafts, wrapping up with the Turkey Bowl at 7:30 PM, where two community teams use a frozen turkey as a bowling ball.
Dates
Friday, November 20, 2026
Hours
6-9 pm
Cost
Free admission; ice skating $15 per person ($12 when you purchase tickets online)
A cozy seasonal craft at the library: make your own glowing luminary jar using tissue paper, twine, and a flickering LED tea light. Bring your own jar or use one of the jars the library provides.
Motorcycle toy run starting at the Silver Dollar Fairgrounds, with T-shirts, ride pins and food after the ride. If it rains, it moves to Sierra Steel Harley-Davidson.
A buffet brunch, a chance to meet Santa and capture your annual holiday photo, and Santa's Village with festive crafts, activities and a scavenger hunt in the rose garden. Ticket information to come.
A Holiday Craft Faire with unique gifts and festive decor, Santa's grand arrival, Tiny Voices singing holiday classics, and a Tree Lighting ceremony to cap off the evening. Fun for the whole family.
A cozy seasonal craft at the library: make your own glowing luminary jar using tissue paper, twine, and a flickering LED tea light. Bring your own jar or use one of the jars the library provides.
A cozy seasonal craft at the library: make your own glowing luminary jar using tissue paper, twine, and a flickering LED tea light. Bring your own jar or use one of the jars the library provides.
Wear your favorite pajamas for ice skating, a viewing of the holiday classic The Polar Express, themed crafts in the craft cabana, free hot chocolate and a free ride on the trackless train around the rink.
Dates
Thursday, December 17, 2026
Hours
6-8 pm
Cost
Ice skating $15; free train rides and hot chocolate
Chico Community Ballet's entirely original full-length ballet, inspired by the beloved world of Oz, travels from Munchkinland to the Emerald City and the yellow brick road between.
Dates
January 29-31, 2027
Hours
January 29 at 6:30 pm; January 30 at 1:00 pm and 6:30 pm; January 31 at 1:00 pm
Chico's city park, with Lower, Middle and Upper Park trails, the Caper Acres playground (closed Mondays) and the Peregrine Point disc golf course. The Horseshoe Lake gate (Parking Lot E) is closed to vehicles Sundays, Mondays and in inclement weather.
Hours
Most Lower Park lots and gates 7:30am-7pm (October-March); Main Upper Park gate 5:30am-9pm
Exhibits on Chico history in the downtown Carnegie Library building, including the Mechoopda, the Bidwells, the Chico Chinese Temple and Chico's natural history.
Hours
Thu-Sun 11am-4pm
Cost
Suggested admission $5 adults; $3 seniors, veterans and students; under 5 free
Thirty-six-acre community park in northwest Chico with a dog park and an off-leash basin below the pavilion bowl, plus a big playground, picnic shelters and a walking path.
Watch Chinook salmon and steelhead through the underwater viewing windows (best mid-September through June). Salmon spawning can be observed Monday-Friday from mid-September to mid-November.
About 9,200 acres of wetlands, fields and riparian woods on the Pacific Flyway, with a 3-mile auto loop (stay in your vehicle October-February), the paved Wetland Discovery Trail and viewing platform, and a taxidermy exhibit. Guided walks Saturdays and Sundays at 12:30pm, October through January, unless raining.
Hours
Daily, sunrise to sunset
Cost
CDFW Lands Pass required for ages 16 and up: $5.97 daily or $33.48 annual (2026); not needed if you carry your own California hunting or fishing license
A lake formed by the Oroville Dam, with boating, camping, and hiking, biking and equestrian trails. Dogs only in parking lots, on paved roads and in campgrounds.
Exhibits on Oroville Dam, the area's geology, wildlife, hydropower and cultural artifacts, plus a theater, a 47-foot observation tower with lake views, and access to the Dan Beebe Trail.
A temple built in 1873 that is both a place of worship and a museum, with Confucian and Buddhist temples, Tapestry Hall's embroidered art and costumes, and a garden with bamboo planted in the 1860s.
Hours
Sat-Sun 11am-3pm; other days when volunteers are available
Guided walking tours over nearly level, well-lit passages into the Jungle Room and its crystalline "vines." Tours are not wheelchair accessible, and backpacks and walking sticks are not allowed.
Hours
Fri-Sun 10am-4pm; Veterans Day weekend Fri-Sun 10am-4pm; closed Thanksgiving
Cost
Walking tour: adults (13+) $24, children (4-12) $16, 3 and under free; senior discount (also military)
Orland Area Chamber of Commerce holiday celebration, 5 to 8 p.m. The event location and vendor details have not been announced yet, so please check the chamber's page before you go.
The Orland Area Chamber of Commerce's Light Parade starts at 5:30 p.m. The chamber says the 7:30 p.m. finish is an estimate and that route details are still to come, so please check the chamber's page before you go.
Drive-thru holiday lights at the Glenn County Fairgrounds. One ticket covers one vehicle for one visit on any event night, and it is an all-weather event. All guests must stay inside the vehicle, with no passengers in truck beds or on flatbeds. The fair's page shows only the early bird pre-sale price, so please check the page for other ticket options.
Dates
Dec 17 - Dec 20, 2026, 5:30 PM - 9:00 PM
Cost
Early bird pre-sale $11 per vehicle; gate price not listed
Branch of the Orland Free Library in a 1917 Mission-style Carnegie building of wood and stone, said to be one of the smallest Carnegie libraries in the U.S. and the only one built at a crossroads. Hours can change on holidays, so please check the library's page before you visit.
Hours
Tuesdays 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.; Thursdays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Elk Creek branch of the Orland Free Library. If you can't reach the branch staff, the Orland Library can help at 530-865-1640. Hours can change on holidays, so please check the library's page before you visit.
Hours
Mondays 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Wednesdays 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Saturdays 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Hamilton City branch of the Orland Free Library, named for Chester W. Walker, a Glenn County businessman and civic leader. Hours can change on holidays, so please check the library's page before you visit.
Hours
Mondays 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.; Wednesdays 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturdays 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Main library of the Orland Free Library system, which also runs the Bayliss, Elk Creek and Hamilton City branches. Hours can change on holidays, so please check the library's page before you visit.
Hours
Monday, Wednesday and Friday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Tuesday and Thursday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
City of Willows library, with books, audiobooks, DVDs, public computers, free wifi and programs for all ages. Hours can change on holidays, so please check the library's page before you visit.
Hours
Tuesday 11:00 am – 5:00 pm; Wednesday and Thursday 11:00 am – 7:00 pm; Friday 11:00 am – 5:00 pm
An 11-acre museum at the old 1883 railroad depot a few miles north of Bishop, with restored equipment, historic buildings and late-19th and early-20th-century artifacts from around the Owens Valley.
Hours
10:00 - 4:00 most days. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Day.
Cost
Admission: $10.00 donation; children under 12 free
Free classic film screenings: The Maltese Falcon (Oct 27), Casablanca (Nov 10), Arsenic and Old Lace (Nov 24), Forrest Gump (PG-13, Dec 8) and Beauty and the Beast (G, Dec 22). Doors 5:30pm; concessions for purchase; assistive listening devices available.
Dates
Tuesdays Oct 27, Nov 10, Nov 24, Dec 8 and Dec 22, 2026
Lake County Office of Education's Norton Planetarium shows, each about an hour, hosted by astronomer Angelo Parisi, followed (weather permitting) by a look at the night sky through the observatory's telescopes. Fri Oct 30: Danger from Outer Space!; Sat Nov 14: STARS; Sat Nov 21: The Hot and Energetic Universe.
Dates
Oct 30, Nov 14 and Nov 21, 2026
Hours
7:30-8:30pm show; telescope viewing 8:30-11pm
Cost
Adults $10; students free; under 5 free; families of 4 or more can register together for $5
Northern California Old Time Fiddlers Association players jam in the red barn on the first Sunday of each month; burgers, hot dogs, beer, wine and soda from the grill.
Dates
Sun Nov 1 and Sun Dec 6, 2026
Hours
Starts at noon (the calendar lists 12-1pm; the event description says the jam runs noon-2pm)
Cost
$5 (includes parking); free for Historical Society members and under 18
The Lake County Symphony's fall concert, conducted by John Parkinson, with an opening performance by the Lake County Adult and Youth Concert Orchestra. Doors 1:30pm.
Now in its fourth year, Lakeport's Main Street glows with festively decorated Christmas trees, each styled by local businesses, families, classrooms and groups. Stroll downtown to enjoy the display through the holidays.
One afternoon when the whole town becomes a holiday stroll: local shopping, food and warm drinks, pictures with Santa, an indoor snowball fight, activities for kids and music around town. Rain or shine.
A family friendly event at the ranch: a reserve wine flight with a food pairing for grown-ups, hay rides for kids, cookies, cocoa and cider, and plenty of gift ideas. Reserve with a $10 deposit.
Dates
Saturday, December 19, 2026
Hours
11am-4pm
Cost
$30 members; $45 non-members ($10 deposit when reserving)
The Lake County Symphony Association's annual Christmas concert, conducted by John Parkinson, with an opening performance by the Lake County Adult and Youth Concert Orchestra. Doors 1:30pm.
A park on Clear Lake, California's oldest and largest freshwater lake, with swimming, boating, fishing and wildlife viewing. Dogs only in the parking lot, on paved roads and in campgrounds.
Lake County's museum in the historic courthouse, with Pomo baskets, exhibits on the geologic history of Clear Lake, gems and minerals, pioneer artifacts and a restored courtroom.
Hours
Thu-Sat 10am-4pm (the county page also lists Wed and Sun noon-4pm; call 707-262-4552 to confirm); closed county-observed holidays
Lake County Farmers' Finest certified farmers' market, rain or shine, with seasonal produce from local farms, artisan bread, honey and jams, handmade crafts and live music. CalFresh/EBT dollars are matched.
Riverside park, formerly known as Riverside Park, with a playground, shaded picnic and BBQ areas, basketball courts, lighted softball and soccer fields and wide grassy areas. The city's parks page says its parks are always open to the public and free to enjoy.
Lassen National Forest day-use beach near Aspen campground on Eagle Lake, for sandcastles, sunbathing, swimming and picnics. There is no lifeguard on duty, no dogs are allowed in the beach area and potable water is not available. The beach is open May 15 to September 30, so it is closed for the season until spring.
Hours
May 15 - September 30; day use only, open sunrise to sunset
Public library in an 11,100 square foot building in the heart of Susanville, with a collection of more than 43,000 items. The Children's Corner is a 1,920 square foot room designed for young children, with size-appropriate furniture and more than 11,000 books and materials, and it hosts pre-school and after-school reading programs. Please check the library's holiday closures before you visit.
Hours
Tuesday to Thursday 11 AM - 5 PM; Saturday 11 AM - 3 PM; closed Sunday, Monday and Friday
Community park along Paiute Creek with a playground, skate park, bicycle pump track, picnic areas and tennis courts, plus a pedestrian bridge to historic Roop's Fort. It is also home to Frank Ernaga Field, used for local high school and college baseball. The city's parks page says its parks are always open to the public and free to enjoy.
Granite cliffs, waterfalls and giant sequoias in the Sierra Nevada. Some roads close for snow from around November through May or June, and the Hetch Hetchy entrance is open only during daylight hours.
Hours
Open 24 hours, 365 days a year; Hetch Hetchy entrance open daylight hours only; call 209/372-0200 for road status
Cost
Private vehicle $35 (7 days); on foot or bike $20 per person; under 16 free; cashless, no cash accepted
Three programs: a 1964 film on acorn harvesting introduced by Eric Wilder (Kashia Band of Pomo Indians) at 1pm, a talk on sudden oak death at 2pm, and an acorn bread demonstration with samples at 2:30pm.
Dates
Nov 7, 2026
Hours
1-4pm
Cost
Included with museum admission ($7; $5 students and seniors)
Hands-on seed cleaning and swapping with tools and experts on site. Beginners welcome and families encouraged; wear garden clothes and bring bags or containers.
A handmade light show by Gardens staff and volunteers along lighted garden pathways, rain or shine. No dogs; free parking shuttle from the Mendocino College lot at 1211 Del Mar Dr.
Dates
Fri-Sun, Nov 27-Dec 20, 2026
Hours
Doors 5pm; tickets sold until 7pm
Cost
Adults $16 in advance, $26 at the door; 16 and under free
Grace Hudson's artwork, Pomo basketry and Carpenter-Hudson family history, the 1911 Sun House. Docent-led Sun House tours generally Fri-Sun 12-3pm. Current exhibition: Deep Valley: People, Places, Memory (through Feb 7, 2027).
Hours
Wed-Sat 10am-4:30pm; Sun 12-4:30pm
Cost
$7; $5 students and seniors; $15 families; free on first Fridays
The Mendocino Headlands visitor center in an 1854 house, with a scale model of Mendocino in 1890, historic photographs, tools and relics of the logging and lumber-shipping era, and free videos on request.
Beach, bluff, headland, dune, forest and wetland, with tide pools, seals on the offshore rocks and more than 90 bird species at Cleone Lake. Boardwalk at Laguna Point. Dogs not allowed at the seal rookery, Virgin Creek Beach or Ten Mile Beach and Dunes.
A 47-acre botanical garden with more than 4 miles of trails, about a half-mile walk from the main entrance to the ocean. Leashed dogs welcome; free parking.
Hours
Nov-Mar daily 9am-4pm; closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day
Cost
$24 adults; $19 seniors 65+; $9 ages 6-17; 5 and under free; $11 Mendocino County residents
A 1909 light station in a state historic park, with a history museum and gift shop in the lighthouse, a 1930s lightkeeper's home and a tidepool aquarium. Keep dogs leashed.
An approximately 75-90 minute, 7-mile round trip from the downtown Fort Bragg depot along the Pudding Creek Estuary, with a stop at Glen Blair Junction in the redwoods. Ticket includes entry to the model railroad barn.
Hours
11am (check-in 10:45, back 12:30); 1:45pm (back 3:15) and 4:15pm (back 6pm) on select days
Cost
$49.95 standard; $89.95 VIP; lap infants free; dogs $10.95; plus 8% historic preservation fee. Call ahead to confirm: 707-964-6371
Mendocino County's first certified farmers' market, founded in 1977, held Saturday mornings all year with live music and family events several times a month.
New kids' Aikido classes for ages 10-15 taught by a black belt instructor. Nonviolent, noncompetitive practice in rolling, safe falls, footwork and calm conflict skills. The first class is free.
Year-round youth Taekwondo with rolling monthly registration, so kids can start anytime. Classes focus on kicks, punches, forms and controlled drills with no full-contact sparring. Scholarships are available.
A community sing-along through folk, country, blues and rock, led by music director Rod Baggett. No auditions, rehearsals or singing experience needed; all ages and singing levels welcome.
Storytime, snacks and play for caregivers and kids 0-5, held outdoors in the library's back yard (inside in cold, wet or smoky weather). No registration needed.
Buy and sell new and used winter gear for the whole family ahead of ski season, with local shop and resort reps on hand and a silent auction supporting the district's scholarship fund.
Spanish bilingual storytime on the second Saturday of the month, followed by an arts & crafts, movement or music activity. Outside in the back yard, weather permitting.
A Downtown Truckee tradition for more than 45 years: local children decorate trees for the streets, the Rotary Club of Truckee serves hot cocoa, and Santa arrives for the lighting of the Bud Fish Tree.
Downtown Grass Valley lights its community Christmas tree, with the Grass Valley Cornish Carol Choir, a visit from Santa and holiday characters, and festive food and beverages.
The 58th annual old-fashioned Christmas street faire turns Mill and Main Streets into a festive marketplace with twinkling lights, local artisans, seasonal treats, carolers, live music and hot cider, honoring Grass Valley's Cornish Gold Rush heritage.
More than 100 artisan vendors with handcrafted gifts, plus musical entertainment, a gingerbread house and holiday displays, a community bonfire, wagon rides, food booths and visits with Santa.
Tahoe Donner's annual tree-lighting ceremony and celebration, with kids' crafts, cozy drinks, a raffle and appearances by Santa and Mrs. Claus. Free to attend; drinks, snacks and raffle tickets are available for purchase.
Holt Ballet Conservatory's reimagined Clara & the Nutcracker, set to Tchaikovsky's score, with guest artists and young dancers in a holiday show for all ages.
Three December evenings of twinkling lights and festive storefronts downtown: Sip-n-Shop, a Snowflake Scavenger Hunt for all ages, roaming carolers, surprise visits from Santa and a holiday selfie station.
A tradition since 1978: gas-lit hilly streets, roasted chestnuts, carolers in Victorian attire, 100+ artisan vendors, live entertainment, yuletide treats and Father Christmas. Broad and Commercial Streets are closed to through traffic; shuttles are recommended.
Hundreds of motorcycles ride gifts from Nevada City through downtown Grass Valley to the fairgrounds for local families, rain or shine. Line the route to wave the riders by, or drop off new unwrapped toys at the fairgrounds.
Dates
Dec 12, 2026
Hours
Sat Dec 12: kickstands up 12pm at the Rood Center, arrival at the fairgrounds about 12:30pm. Gift drop-off Fri Dec 11 9am-5pm and Sat Dec 12 9am-12pm
Hiking and recreation along Donner Lake, with a historic monument and visitor center exhibits paying tribute to pioneers who crossed the Sierra Nevada. Parking fee pay at the visitor center (10am-5pm) or the pay machine outside.
Hours
Park sunrise to sunset; visitor center daily 10am-5pm, closed Thanksgiving, Dec 25 and Jan 1
Site of one of California's oldest, deepest and richest gold mines, which produced 5.8 million ounces of gold before closing in 1956. See the mine buildings, the owner's home and restored gardens, and the entrance to 367 miles of shafts, plus 14 miles of trails across 856 acres.
Hours
Historic grounds daily 10am-5pm through Oct 31, then 10am-4pm Nov 1-Feb 28; closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. Trails and Penn Gate lot sunrise to sunset
Former site of California's largest hydraulic gold mine, where huge, colorful cliffs were carved by streams of water that washed away entire mountains. The park is 26 miles from Nevada City on slow, winding roads. More than 20 miles of trails; 3,000-acre park including the town of North Bloomfield.
Hours
Open daily sunrise to sunset on a self-guided basis; also daily 10am-4pm through Oct 31, then Sat-Sun 10am-4pm November-May
Nevada County residents 16+ can use a library card to reserve passes to museums, science centers, zoos, theaters, pools and other venues. Passes are released on the 1st of each month for three months out; two active reservations at a time.
Railroad and aviation artifacts, including Engine 5, an 1875 Baldwin that later worked as a movie engine at Universal Studios, plus wooden rail cars, an early steam automobile and docent-led tours of the museum, rail yard and restoration shop.
Hours
Sat-Sun 10am-4pm; Mon, Tue and Fri 10am-2pm; closed Wed-Thu
A Sierra foothills park along the cold, swift South Yuba River in a granite canyon, with historic bridges, toll crossings and trails to Gold Rush mine sites. Walk through the restored Bridgeport covered bridge, reopened in 2021.
The Quincy Chamber of Commerce's holiday evening on Main Street and the courthouse grounds, 5 to 8 p.m., with the official tree lighting, photos with Santa, live performances from local talent and the annual Light Parade.
Holiday train rides aboard a festive train covered in lights at the Western Pacific Railroad Museum, with free homemade cookies, hot cider, coffee and hot chocolate, and a chance for kids to meet Santa and Mrs. Claus. Special events in December are weather permitting, so please call the museum before you go.
Dates
Saturday December 5, Friday December 11, Saturday December 12, Friday December 18 and Saturday December 19, 2026; museum opens at 4pm, with train rides starting at 5pm and continuing until everyone has a turn (usually about 8pm)
Cost
Non-member admission is $20 per carload, or $15 with the donation of 4 non-perishable canned goods for EPCAN; free for FRRS members
Chester branch of the Plumas County Library, which runs on a winter schedule from November 1 to March 31. Branches are closed on all national and county holidays, so please check the library's page for closures before you visit.
Portola branch of the Plumas County Library. Branches are closed on all national and county holidays, so please check the library's page for closures before you visit.
Headquarters branch of the Plumas County Library in Quincy. Branches are closed on all national and county holidays, so please check the library's page for closures before you visit.
Railroad museum in Portola run by the Feather River Rail Society, home to one of the largest museum collections of diesel locomotives in the country. Visitors can take train rides and, through the Run-A-Locomotive program, operate a vintage diesel locomotive themselves. Train ride tickets are sold separately from admission. The museum is closed for the winter except for special events, and its hours depend on the weather, so please call before you visit.
Hours
Closed for the winter except for special events
Cost
Adults 19 - 64 $10.00; Youth 5 - 18 $6.00; Children 4 and under free; Senior (65 and up) and Active Military $8.00; Family Pass $25.00 (2 adults and any related children 18 and under)
Two-hour tour with a boat ride across the McCloud Arm of Shasta Lake, a bus ride and a guided cavern tour, about 17 miles north of Redding off I-5 (exit 695). Groups of 20 or more can reserve. Free parking.
Hours
Open seven days a week; closed Thanksgiving and Christmas; winter tours may be canceled for weather
Free guided tours walk across the top of the dam, ride an elevator down 400 feet and pass through the dam to a view of the spillway, plus the powerplant. Up to 20 people per tour; tickets handed out an hour ahead.
Hours
Visitor center and tours Fri-Tue 8am-4pm; closed Wed-Thu; call 530-247-8500 for tour times
Almost 300 acres with nearly 10 miles of paths and trails, a museum, exhibition halls, Paul Bunyan's Forest Camp, botanical gardens and the Sundial Bridge. Free parking and free wheelchair and stroller rentals.
Cost
Ticket prices not listed
Dogs
No pets in paid admission areas (museum, exhibition halls); leashed pets OK on the Sacramento River Trails, Sundial Bridge and in the Botanical Gardens.
Lava tube caves and trails open year-round. Get a free caving permit at the visitor center; Mushpot Cave, a short walk away, has a paved path and the only lighting. Bring a headlamp and flashlight. Current cave closures: Juniper, Hercules Leg, Sentinel, Lavabrook, Labyrinth and Sunshine caves.
Hours
Always open; visitor center daily 9:30am-4:30pm; winter snow can briefly close roads
Cost
Private vehicle $25 (7 days); caving permits free; pay at the seasonal fee booth at the north end or at the visitor center
County history museum in Yreka covering the region from prehistoric times to pioneer settlement, with a 2 1/2 acre Outdoor Museum of machinery, early transportation vehicles and historic and recreated buildings.
Hours
10:00am - 3:00pm (Tuesday - Saturday)
Cost
Adults (13 years and older) $3.00; children (6 to 12 years old) $1.00; children (5 years or younger) free
Trinity County Historical Society museum on Main Street, with the Hal Goodyear History Park next door: a blacksmith and tin shop, a carriage house, a ditch tender's cabin and one of only two operable steam stamp mills.
Hours
Fall: Wednesday through Saturday 11:00 am - 4:00 pm; Memorial Day to Labor Day: 7 days a week 11:00 am - 4:00 pm; history park open all year during daylight hours
Working steam-era railroad in Jamestown with historic trains, a roundhouse with operating turntable, maintenance shops and Hollywood film history; guided roundhouse tours daily and seasonal excursion train rides.
Hours
Daily 9:30am-4:30pm April-October; 10am-3pm November-March; closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day
Cost
Museum entry: adults $5, youth $3, children 5 and under free
Section
Section: Family outingshistoric site
