I came here after my kiddo had already visited because he talked so much about it…read more I've driven by so many times but this was the first time I stopped in to check it out. We walked in and we paid our entrance fee at the front and were told if we were interested in a membership we could use our entrance fee to pay towards that cost. My kiddo led our visit around the entire museum. I loved how interactive the areas were specially the cockpit area. The volunteers and staff were friendly and my kiddos enjoyment of the space solidified my interest in a membership which I ultimately got. Since then we have been back multiple times. We've enjoyed all our visits and check in goes smoothly since we already have a barcode. At our last visit I ended up setting the 5 minute timer for the cockpit area since we waited so long to get in. Probably the most popular space in this entire museum. While my kiddo and I played and several other families waited their turn patiently a parent walked up and asked how much longer we'd be there since her kid had been waiting a long time. Wild to me because we had been waiting in line that's not really a line but some seats in the back and not once did I see this parent waiting. She must of waited a whole minute before speaking to me. I told her we just got in and that I had set my 5 minute timer. She said she didn't see the sign and others pointed her right to it. Right in front of her face. She asked if I worked here. I said no but that the 3 volunteers out there did to redirect her and enjoy my 5 minutes. As one of the most popular attractions here it would be beneficial for volunteers to monitor the line and timers per group. It's insane to me that grown people can act like this or just oversee other waiting groups and act more impatient than a toddler. The space is way too small to be insufferable in a place to enjoy, explore and take turns. Front staff is great. Most volunteers are great. The volunteers in the cockpit benefit from helping maneuver cockpit time and potential lines. This is a well cared for museum and an enjoyable way to spend the day. Our family enjoys it and will continue to be members till my kids want to be.

Hiller Aviation Museum is one of the more unusual aviation museums I've ever visited. It is just…read moreabout 11 miles south of SFO off Hwy 101 adjacent to the San Carlos airport. The aircraft & artifacts are mainly from the collection of Stanley Hiller of the Hiller Aircraft Corp that has been developing helicopters and other experimental flying machines since the late 40's. So many of these unusual copters, gyros & flying platforms are on display, plus anything else Stanley had collected over the decades. There aren't a lot of more recognizable aircraft, but you learn a lot by reading about these rare, one-of-a-kind flying machines. On slow days, you buy your entry ticket in the gift shop and go through the entry hall that is dominated by a full scale replica of the X-Prize winning SpaceShipOne hanging from the ceiling. As you enter the main gallery, you have turn of the century wood & fabric biplane replicas of the Wright brothers & Glenn Curtiss along with early not-so-successful flying machines. Moving onto the middle 20th century, the Hiller Aviation Corp. designed some offbeat personal aircraft with personal vertical takeoff craft 70 years before their time. There are also more conventional winged aircraft like the Grumman Albatross (propeller seaplane) and Aero L-39 Albatros (Czech jet trainer), 2 totally different planes with similar names sitting right next to each other. Above them all is the mother of all remotely piloted drones, the Boeing Condor from 1988 with a huge wingspan of 200 ft! If you go out the back, you get to climb through the nose section of a Boeing 747-100 jumbo airliner from the 70's & 80's. The gift shop is one of the more extensive that I've seen with lots of souvenirs for all ages and aviation memorabilia for enthusiasts.

Honestly, never heard of this place until it popped up on Facebook. It had popped up as a place…read moreto go to for First Friday. No discounts for going but they do have some pop-up/ food truck type places here. This is on the outside in front of the entrance. Admission was a little expensive in my opinion. I think it was $29 and it was 5pm-8pm. It was a cool experience with the IlluminOdyssey and fun activities they had. It was raining off and on the First Friday of January. The kids weren't able to play in the playground because it was wet and it was kind of hard to see the animals because they were hiding. I think it would be best to go here when daylight savings time begins so it's bright outside still. I would definitely recommend going here at least once.

This is specifically about my experience trying to book a birthday party with CuriOdyssey. Their…read moreevent coordinator is extremely difficult to get a hold of because of their Friday to Sunday work schedule, and despite multiple emails and phone calls and messages left I never heard back from them. I had started planning in the fall for a January event, and the last communication I received Oct 2nd. No responses to any of the follow-up emails from me, from the messages I left in their voicemail box, or from the messages I left at the front desk. Not sure how everyone else is getting their events planned and scheduled there.

A small but excellent museum. The first courthouse I. San Mateo. Used the disabled lift to get…read moreupstairs. It worked fine but smelled like urine despite being open air. Once we got past that there are photo exhorts of local history. Best parts to me were the beautiful stained glass, the courtroom and model ships- including the golden hind and vaga. The builder had patience and talent! Gift shop was not great but that's ok. We had a good time! Easy parking nearby.

This museum features the history of the peninsula, from the Ohlones to the present, and educates…read morevisitors about the growth and changes that have had such a powerful impact on the community over time. There are so many different rooms and exhibits on two levels, make sure you give yourself at least one and a half hours (at minimum), in order to make the most out of your visit. I really enjoyed the Living the California Dream gallery detailing suburban life and middle-class living, in an object theatre with a repeating 6-minute show when the room darkens then highlights the items on display, including instruments, household appliances, and more. Ships of the World showcased a plethora of model ships in great detail, created by Charles Parsons, a resident of nearby San Carlos. So many scale models, and a section about shipwrecks, including a video discussing the many shipwrecks along the San Mateo coast, how pigeon point was named after a shipwreck, and details about the rydall hall wreck at point montara while transporting coal to SF from Wales... almost 100 shipwrecks from the 1850s to 1950s! The Extraordinary Cow Palace, in the changing exhibit gallery, was so interesting to explore, seeing the history of events and traditions known and loved today, such as the Great Dickens Christmas Fair and the rodeos. In addition, there was plenty of memorabilia dedicated to arts and entertainment, the music industry, and sports. The Innovators gallery showcased inventions of items like the first video tape recorder, and various accomplishments in technology, arts and entertainment, business, and agriculture. This includes the amazing contributions of Nolan Bushnell, his desired carnival-themed restaurant, the first Pizza Time Theatre in San Jose in 1977 (now known as Chuck E. Cheese), as well as Atari and its pong game (also in the 70's). Other exhibits to view and learn about include the Ohlone tule house, inhabitants' utilization of natural resources, the Spanish's impact on life through agriculture, tools and trade, whaling after the gold rush (blubber used for household items like lights, soap, and cosmetics), development of transportation, the real courthouse, displays about law enforcement and biographies of fallen officers, immigration in San Mateo county, and Maverick's, a surfer's dream for big waves near Half Moon Bay (there's even an interactive surfboard where you can ride the waves). The magnificent architecture of the great dome on the second level, is also something to appreciate here, the largest stained glass dome on the west coast, with captivating detail. Even the courthouse square outside the museum entrance is a beautiful area, with lovely fountains out front. The volunteers/staff are helpful and eager to share details about all of the fascinating exhibits. There are guided tours available, but I preferred to explore at my own pace. And taking advantage of first fridays' free admission totally made it worth the trip out.

No charge. As soon…read moreas we went inside, an employee met us with a smile on his face and a friendly question: Do we want a tour or not? My advice is to answer yes, because that way you get through the entire museum, learning interesting that you might have missed without a guide. This man was full of passion for the place. He found much of the material, and yes, he just is a bit volunteer! By the way, my favorite part of the museum was the train. So, if you've never been to this place - you should visit it. You won't spend a lot of time, but you will probably learn something new!

Such a great relic from times past. When trains were The mode of transportation. Very good set up…read moreand display for families to visit. Lots of care here.

As we were walking around downtown we noticed the art shop and thought to ourselves, lets see…read morewhat's inside? Local artist always have an understanding of the area that can be captured beautifully. Learned that the front room is rented by multiple artist and the back room rotates monthly whomever rents that space? It's a nice collaborative place. Everyone was nice to us. I purchased a small piece that is of Princeton By the Sea for $25. My husband picked up a print for $20. They had original art, prints, postcards, jewelry, glass art, photography, wood, mouse pads, etc.

This is the gallery showroom location for the non profit coastal arts league. It's a kind of co-op…read morefor local artists and members which is usually chock full of varied, local art displays. Parking is street only, and due to the popularity of some of the adjacent businesses this can mean you'll be a block or so away either on main or on one of the side streets. This is a medium sized space tucked away on the north end of a courtyard kind of space which usually has installations from a half dozen or so local artists. What you see displayed can be purchased and it's common for one of the artists to be in and/or around the building. It's staffed solely by volunteers who can be conversational but not necessarily well versed in the art. As they also offer classes inside typically the back part won't be utilized for gallery space but instead will look to be cluttered with whatever the last class left behind. The art rotates constantly thus no two visits will be quite the same. All mediums are represented at one point or another. On my visit there were paintings-acrylic, oil and watercolor-bronze sculpture, fiber/paper mache and some intriguing cloth pieces. Quite the varied experience really. If you live in the area, or are spending some time in town you might consider joining the art's league. There are a ton of member benefits including but not limited to: classes and workshops, free art screenings, meet the artist events, networking and most useful for those who are artists a consistent way to get your out in public view. Pricing is set by the artists themselves and doesn't appear to be negotiable in the gallery, but they do offer ways to contact the artist directly should you so chose. In an not quite entirely unrelated matter, the front desk/cashier has the keys to the public restroom next door, all you have to do is ask preferably politely. This is a good spot to browse for local, quality art pieces.

This place is a hidden gem in Palo Alto, in an industrial area surrounded by factories. It is a…read moremuseum of the work of Tony Foster, an artist from UK who paints beautiful watercolor landscapes. It's free, and a nice place to visit for an hour or so ... highly recommended.

We tried Story Time with Anna on Sunday. It was an hour experience that our grandson enjoyed. We…read moresigned up ahead of time and street parking was easy. There was also a sign that there is additional parking behind the museum. After checking in there was a craft/art activity with stickers and tempera paint sticks. Low mess :). Adjacent was a play area with colored scarves, a pretend campfire, felt board for the children to explore, and books. Before entering the museum area Anna gave an introductory talk describing what to expect. She made it interactive which was very nice. They also did a song to get their wiggles out. She then guided the group through the museum to the carpeted area with cushions for the kiddos. Ana talked about and asked questions about the art on the walls. She read Under the Same Sky to the children and made this an interactive experience also. It was just the right length of time, thirty minutes. This was just right for our 18 month old grandson.

I moved to Pacifica 6 years ago, and had no idea when I got here just what a gem of a town it…read moreis-ocean, open space, mellow vibe, no attitude, friendly people, and an historic Adobe from the mid 1800s! It is easy to miss when driving by because there is a fence along the busy street it butts up to, and there is almost no signage. It is part of the county parks, and is manned by only one person. The building itself is incredibly beautiful in its simplicity-traditional Mexican architecture with a large roof overhang for shade, and open grounds. The interior is full of period furniture, showing what it was like to live there in the 1840s. The "shop" is nothing more than a few shelves next to a desk and chair, where one can buy a postcard or book from a very limited selection. I appreciate the dedication that has gone in to keeping this building in such great condition. I for one am a big fan of hidden gems like these in a busy place like the San Francisco Bay Area.

We randomly decided to spend the day in Pacifica and a quick google search recommended a visit to…read moreSanchez Adobe. We came upon the small museum/Interpretive Center and were greeted by two lovely ladies. One lady showed us around the center and gave us a nice overview of the exhibits and the history of the area. Then the other lady led us outside to visit the Adobe house. The second floor is being fixed so we only toured the first floor. We returned to the museum building and we watched a couple short educational videos on the tv. Then we took about 15 minutes to get a closer look at the exhibits and to buy some postcards. The visit was totally free. They mentioned that a lot of kids come here for a field trip and they have cute hands on activities for them. I left with a greater appreciation for the Indigenous Peoples and early California history.

Great car show at the Half Moon Bay airport. 300 + cars,…read morelots of great food and beer from Half Moon Bay brewery ! My first time, but I won't miss those one ever again !!!

Described as so many types of festivals all in one (food fest, music fest, car show, air show, boat…read moreshow, maker fair, and more), of course, I'm there! But not quite... still had to sit through a line of traffic on Cabrillo Highway leading to the free spectator parking lot at Half Moon Bay Airport in the morning (30 min wait, one mile from the turn into the lot). But it was all worth it in the end. FYI, the wait for parking was only 30 minutes around 10am when the event opened, but my friend who arrived around noontime had about an hour wait, so if you wanna avoid traffic, you probably need to come early or much later, or bike from nearby, or have Uber drop you off on Cabrillo Highway then walk. Endless cars, aircrafts, vintage boats, tractors, motorcycles, emergency vehicles, military vehicles, a B-17 plane (visitors could go inside), 1904 Holsman (Hi-Wheeler), 1892 Columbia Full-Nickle High Wheel (bike), helicopter rides, Pacific Bus Museum and Niles Canyon Railway exhibits, there were a lot of cool and unique demonstrations and "dream machines" to experience, including antiques and futuristic... even a flying car (Alef) on display! Also got to watch the FIRST robotics competition by high schoolers, which was interesting, and enjoy wonderful live entertainment. The stage had a really great speaker system and sound quality, and the musicians performing were even better, engaging the crowd with the sounds of country, blues, and original songs. There were several picnic tables for eating and bales of hay for seating in front of the stage. Inside the food court were several food trucks and stands including Sam's Chowder Mobile, where we enjoyed some delicious and perfectly cooked fish and chips and a cup of warm and flavorful new england clam chowder (Sam's is always dependable in terms of quality). Our group also tried some garlic fries, crab fries, and a corn dog from other food stands, and everything had really good flavor at what you would expect from fair food in terms of pricing. The beer and wine were good too, of course the red blend coming from Half Moon Bay Winery (Braggers & Liars). The alcohol stands only accepted cash, about $7 per glass. Note, the food lines at the food court (same area as the entertainment stage) were super long, especially later into the day. But the lines at the few food stands in other areas of the event, placed randomly between exhibits, were much shorter. This is an awesome family-friendly event with plenty to do and see for people of all ages, certainly worth the cost if you're into vehicles of any kind or festivals of any kind. And you can bring your own food/drinks if you don't wanna wait in the lines at the venue. Plus, proceeds from the event are used to support the Coastside Adult Day Health Center, which is cool. We had an amazing time, walked away with cute shirts with awesome designs from one of the vendors on site, as well as great memories.