There have been MULTIPLE instances where I have passed by this museum every time I visited Fremont…read moreand each time I asked I was told, "nah, it's not for you. It's really only just for kids and not really for adults", so I've never had the opportunity to go until recently and I'm glad to say that it's NOT just for kids, but it's definitely a GREAT place for kids to come and learn about the local natural history. The workers there are extremely kind and welcoming. Super helpful and I loved my entire time there. You can tell that this museum has been a staple to the community and that it's well loved by all those who visit. There's a scavenger hunt for little kids and big kids with a prize at the end (we got the big kids one, lol), an arts and crafts room, an electricity show (sad that we missed it!), lots of interactive exhibits that aren't too overwhelming (not a fan of touch screens and tablets everywhere, so a lot of the analog and hands on stuff was really, really nice), and a gift shop. There's also meetings rooms and such, probably for the field trips that visit. First off, the gift shop. I LOVED IT SO MUCH! The fact that there are actual items that are under $1 and that a child can purchase with pocket change is amazing. It's not junk either since you can get various shells, minerals, stones, and toys/items that are tangentially related to what you see going through the museum. Definitely got a bunch of souvenirs here and I really wish that I went during the school year cuz there's lots of small trinkets and knick knacks that would have been great for my middle school class! For all those crystal/gem people, it is definitely and INFINITELY much cheaper to get the crystals here than at any new age healing shop, just a side note haha. They also had a section with some lab items that are sold at a cost that is MUCH, MUCH cheaper than what I've seen on some STEM teacher supplies catalogs. There were even some free Periodic Table mats as well. Amazing! But now onto a review of the actual museum! The exhibits are on the second floor along with the arts and crafts room. If more time permitted I can easily spend hours here as there is a lot to look at, read, and engage in. As mentioned above I really like that this museum isn't like so many of it's more modern counterparts. It was nice to focus on what was in front of me and actually pick it up and interact with it (the ones that you are allowed to touch of course), especially in a matching and sorting sense (great way to get that pattern recognition thinking and learning for kids and adults likewise) without being overwhelmed by touch screen voices/recordings, etc going off at once. There's also something very nostalgic, familiar, and heartwarming about how aged some of the décor and how obviously homemade some of the stations are. Once again showing the love and care that went into everything. Now, I have to say that I am IMMENSELY impressed from the standpoint of a STEM major and from someone whose gone a decent amount of museums by the VAST collection of fossils, specimens, and REAL pieces of history that they have here. ALSO, from the standpoint of someone whose worked with zoomers before, very, very impressed that so much of it is OUT IN THE OPEN for the public to view. I've been to the LA Natural History museum and this children's museum has things that that huge museum does not and that is mind blowing for sure. I have never seen a taxidermy river otter, koala, or bear cub before. They had so many marine fossils and specimens of crustaceans that I have never seen preserved in such a way either. The 2 things that amazed me the most were the pieces of local natural history such as the fossils of prehistoric mammals that were found in Fremont or nearby and what may potentially be two real human skulls on display (how they got there, I REALLY wished I asked but completely forgot). If there's an opportunity to, I would LOVE to go back and learn, interact, and explore some more (and go shopping in their gift shop again).

Such a fun place for kids to see and observe fossils, learn about local paleontology, and do a…read morescavenger hunt with a prize at the end all for $3 per person! What a steal! It's a very small museum in a very old office building. But it's a hidden gem. Probably best for kids at least 4-5 and up. The artifacts are fragile and kids need to be able to follow directions to not touch things that shouldn't be touched. But there are hands on activities as well. Highly recommend!

This museum, run by members and volunteers, showcases a small collection of materials from various…read morebus companies as well as actual buses guests can explore on site, some inside the garage and some parked outside on display. I checked out a few of them, and the staff was nice enough to unlock buses by request since I was the only visitor there and only a couple of them had their doors open initially. He also shared the history of some of the vehicles, such as the Pacific Greyhound Lines #1945 which was originally a General Motors coach (Missouri Pacific Stages #821), used in films (just like several others on site) converted into a motorhome, and restored before being donated to the Pacific Bus Museum. There was plenty of interesting details to learn about each, and I enjoyed viewing the posters and ads inside the buses too. There's a $5 donation fee for adults, and free admission for kids. I purchased a pull back toy bus from the gift shop for my nephew before leaving. They sell pricier model buses too (around the $75 range), as well as printed shirts. I'm not a fan of the limited and unpredictable hours of operation, but altogether I had a positive experience at this unique museum.

Never knew this place existed. Very cool collection of vintage buses and most if not all of them…read moreare in full working condition.

Staff is very knowledgeable, museum is kid friendly and interactive. Train layout is spectacular…read morewell detailed.

This is a tiny museum in the Niles Town Plaza, with extremely limited days/hours of operation…read more(select Sundays 10-4pm), so we had to take advantage on Sunday afternoon while I was in the area for Charlie Chaplin Days and the steam engine train ride nearby. This place offers the opportunity to learn about the history of the Niles Depot and several displays to explore related to the trains and railway, including the top section of a Southern Pacific semaphore signal, pot-belly stove, departure signs from 1909, old photos of passenger trains in Niles, model trains, dvd's, Niles dispatcher, old phones and typewriters, and a train that visitors can control (for a fee). There was also a model railroad which was cute, and it had a drive-in theatre which I've never seen before in similar exhibits, so that was cool. The museum pretty much consists of just two rooms, so it shouldn't take more than 30 minutes to check it out, though if you have a kid who's going to play with the train, it may take longer. Also, free admission.

This wonderful location must be the best kept secret in Northern California…read more Upon entering this old train depot building, I was immediately greeted by several nice club members. They gave a fantastic tour of all the levels of this wonderful model railway. It's far more complicated and sophisticated than I would have thought. These are smart people who obviously love their hobby. This is one of the more interesting things I've done in recent years. Thanks for making this such a wonderful asset to our community

I checked out the San Leandro Historical Railway Society during their open house on Sun 12/6/15…read more It was 2 days: Sat 12/5/15 and Sun 12/6/15 from 10am-4pm. Donation of $2 the sign said, Up to you what you want to give them there is a box you can give them some money or not. They have one main area for the model trains. Only the members can use the remote so the public can only watch the trains go by. Upstairs is for members only too. Another room is where they have some museum items: old typewriter, some old dishes, and some train items. Outside there's another area for trains, but because it rained a tiny bit they weren't running them. Boo for me. FREE parking in the lot and it's next to a park.

Located in Oakland! Came here with my little family to come check out what bubbles are all about! I…read morelovveee going on these little adventures with my lil family. Memories are always priceless and can never be bought! Bought my tickets ahead of time. There is parking right out front and gated so your car is safe, they have security guards as well. You can stay a long as you like when walking through no time limit! Which is cool because I know a lot of places are in a time limit. We had a ball! Saw so many cool things and had such a fun time. Definitely come by with your little family and have a family day!

Bubble Planet was PERFECT for my daughter. She's very sensitive to sound and certain textures, so…read moreI'm always careful with activities, but this place was a hit. Her favorite part was right at the beginning, where the sea animals were swimming on the floor and she could step on them to make them go faster. She also loved the bubble pit, the bubbles everywhere, and the VR experiences. Everything felt fun and gentle, not overwhelming. It also wasn't super crowded, which made the whole experience even better. The environment was calm enough for her to enjoy herself without getting overstimulated, and I truly appreciated that. If you have a child with sensory sensitivities or just want something fun and different to do, I definitely recommend Bubble Planet. We had a great time and would absolutely go again.

10/10 -- Worth Every Penny (Parlor/Dome Car Experience)…read more If you're considering the Niles Canyon Train of Lights, do yourself a favor and splurge on the Parlor Car or Dome car. It completely transforms the experience. From the moment you board, you're treated like a VIP: dedicated seating in a fully enclosed caboose, attentive service throughout the ride, and complimentary warm drinks and sweets that are perfect for a cold, wet winter night. Being waited on while rolling through a glowing canyon? Yes, please. One of the biggest perks is having your own reserved space, while still being free to explore the rest of the train--knowing your seat is secure and shared only with fellow Parlor Car Riders. It strikes the perfect balance between comfort and adventure. I've done both the 4:30 pm and 7:30 pm departures, and while both are enjoyable, 4:30 pm is the clear winner for me. You get to take in the scenery before the sun fully sets, which adds a magical transition from daylight to twinkling lights. The 7:30 pm ride feels more social and cozy--great for lingering conversations with family and friends--but the earlier ride lets you truly appreciate your surroundings. As for the cost, it's important to note that this railway is 100% donation-funded and entirely volunteer-operated. Knowing that every dollar goes directly toward preserving the historic railway, maintaining the trains, and supporting the volunteers who make this experience possible makes the price feel even more justified. You're not just paying for a ride--you're supporting a piece of living history. Bottom line: Cozy Thoughtfully curated For a great cause Perfect for winter evenings If you're on the fence about the Parlor Car or Dome Car upgrade--it's absolutely worth it.

All aboard! If you…read moreare looking for a low key outing that's suitable for all ages then consider booking a ride on Niles Canyon Railway. Enjoy a slow ride Sunol to downtown Niles and back, approx 1.5 hours. A docent will share tid bits of history during the ride. There are snacks for purchase and you can bring your own. I prepared a simple charcuterie for me and mom, gotta have something to nosh on as we enjoy the view. It's June and the hills are brown already but oh well it's still pretty. I was a little worried about whether my mom would struggle boarding the train as I didn't book ADA as she is not in wheelchair. The steps are slightly deeper than ours at home but she made it up without difficulty, there is a railing for support. Conductor did offer us to go to the car with the lift if we wanted. My next anxiety was holding up the boarding as mom navigated the stairs slowly and there quite a few people behind us. Everyone was patient thankfully and no one scoffed. Would love to do their holidays lights ride sometime but I haven't been successful in last few years to get tickets, they go fast.

"Wow!!" "This is so cool!" "I love this!" - me the entire time I was walking through Coyote Hills…read moreVisitor Center After completing the hilly loop at Coyote Hills, we stopped by the Visitor Center in search of a restroom before heading to our car. Talk about a hidden gem! I've been to Coyote Hills so many times but always assumed this was just a building of offices for the park rangers. I didn't know it was a whole interactive museum! Granted, it's a small museum but still. There's tons of educational exhibits that are both visually interesting and super informational. I love how much the exhibits really honor the land and the tribes that were here before. They also have displays and dioramas of the wildlife and what the land might've looked like before we had all of the buildings and technology, etc around. The staff was super helpful and did a great job helping us and all of the very curious kids there. She even brought out their snake for us to pet (you know, just me standing in a line behind all the kids because I was stoked to get close up with a snake lol). They also have a garden that is the perfect place for someone looking to just sit and enjoy the nature in a quiet space. It was a bit of a rainy morning when we stopped by so the garden was wet but I bet it's really beautiful in the spring. There's lots of picnic tables outside so this could be a fun, free adventure for families or friends/couples. So cool that they have so many planned activities too. If you're ever at Coyote Hills, def consider stopping by and donate to support!

Great Visitor's Center, just keep going past the first parking lot and it will be on your left in…read morethe back area with more interesting hill trails and closer access marsh trails. They have an outdoor garden called the "Nectar Garden" that has a small butterfly aviary but a much larger selection of indigenous and foreign plants. Throughout the garden are small fountains and different frog and animal statues which are fun for the kids to find. The plants are labelled and we enjoyed the large white lilies next to the the trumpet tree which has a similar pink bloom like cherry blossoms but are much larger. Inside are some dedicated exhibitions to the indigenous Ohlone, Bay Miwok, and Delta Youkes people which are very well done and informative. There is a 1:1 Tule Reed Boat, videos on keeping Ohlone crafts alive, and an impressive scale model diorama of a village. Drawers can be pulled out and more details can be discovered about tools and crafts from this area's earliest people. Before we came in, my oldest asked us what kind of animals lived in the marsh and all the answers were in the visitor's center. They have models of all the native plants and animals and there are even replicas of the gross but necessary sand worms and their egg sacs.

This is a very well-run entertaining and informative local museums of the Hayward area…read more They bring in special speakers on a regular basis primarily Saturdays for information of Interest in the local area. A very diverse selection of artwork that are all some local artists. This is some of the most popular artists in the East Bay Area. They also have a focus for children's activities for entertainment for education and enjoyment.