Very cool spot. This place is probably best for school-aged children. They do have one wall with…read moreconnector toys for the toddlers but that's about it. It's small but a nice spot to spend under an hour. Also finding the entrance was hard because google maps takes you to the wrong main gate.

I almost got into the Lawrence Livermore Laboratory! Yes, the Lawrence Livermore National…read moreLaboratory is self-described as "a premier research and development institution for science and technology applied to national security." Because they are working with important stuff pertaining to national security, nuclear materials and other top secret stuff, they won't let the average Yelper in there. But, right outside their front gate is the Discovery Center. The Discovery Center is a small museum that gives you a brief introduction to the lab and what they do. They have hands on and interactive exhibits for children to play with. Most of the exhibits were well maintained. It is an interesting way to spend an hour. The staff, at least on the day were there, was fantastic. Since we were the only ones there, she almost gave us a personalized tour to explain some of the exhibits and talk about the lab and what they do. They have an easy scavenger hunt for children with a nice t-shirt as a prize. They are pretty generous with the scavenger hunt and let children of all ages play. The museum is priced just right for most Yelpers. It is free! It's a nice place, with not a lot of visitors.

This is a quaint little farm in San Ramon that's open to the public (free). We came here with a…read moretoddler, who was a bit frighten by the animals at first, but eventually warmed up to them. They are all very gentle and just roaming around in their enclosed area. There is a horse, sheep, lamb, a goat, and some chickens. This is not a petting zoo. We came here on a Saturday and ran into the couple that runs the farm. They were eager to tell us all about the farm, its history, and current events happening at the farm. (Almost) every Saturday morning at 11:00 a.m. there is a free event, such as art with corn, ice cream making, rug weaving etc. See their website for schedule of events. They also have a tractor museum with many tractors restored by volunteers. Because we had a toddler with us, we had to cut our visit short and didn't get to check out the gift shop and the tour of the Victorian house (tours Saturdays at 12:00 pm and 1pm). We brought a picnic lunch and sat at one of several picnic tables scattered throughout the farm. It was a fun and educational outing, and we'll probably come back again.

We came here for their Holiday on the Farm event and were so pleasantly surprised by how much there…read morewas to do there: - arts and crafts in the Boone house - Glass Museum hours - Santa meet and greet and pictures - Magic show - brass band - face painting - kettle corn, cotton candy vendor - sheepdog/sheep demonstrations - chicken coop - tractor rides - tractor barn - lawn games - gift shop The best part about it all was that it was free (with the exception of tips for the face painter, food for purchase, tractor ride donations)! Love that we came here by chance and left so happy, overjoyed, and full of Christmas spirit. We would definitely come back for their other Saturday events and sheep shearing in April! Lots of parking, and staff are so welcoming. Had an issue with unruly kids and parents, but other than that, it was a pleasant experience all around.

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.

This was our first time at San Ramon Art and Wind festival, which is held annually at Central Park…read moreSun-Mon of Memorial Day weekend. Overall, a fun event and they literally used the entire park for all the venues. Tons of people. but with all that space you don't really feel too crowded unless you're lining up for restrooms or looking for parking. Highlights: * Parking is $10 at one of the lots. We parked at Iron Horse Middle School. Bring cash. Free Parking is available on the Market Place across from Central Park, but its likely going to be a zoo there. * They split the park in half - one side for folks to have picnics, chill, eat, and listen to the live bands that rotate throughout the day. They also have dance troupes too. No kites here. * The other side of the park closer to the baseball/soccer fields are a free for all for kite flying. Here you'll get neck strain trying to see all those kites in the sky. Our rambunctious 5yo loved running around here. * They also have a DJ and some sort of professional/expert kite flyers near the Skateboard park, with some impressively designed kites. * City Hall is open for kid's crafts and a puppet show. You also get access to clean bathrooms inside. * They have tons of vendor booths and food stalls lined up along the parking lots and fields. * And if music, food, chillaxing and just admiring the kites is too boring, they also have carnival games and rides in the area between Iron Horse Middle School and the entrance to Central Park. Definitely recommend this Festival since its normally sunny and windy in San Ramon during Memorial Day.

This event happens annually on the Sunday and Monday of Memorial Day weekend…read more We have been in the past and I returned this year, it's such a fun event for the kids/family. There's a lot of local vendors and businesses that table. There's arts and crafts for the kids. It's enjoyable walking around and see what there is offer. The park/splash pad is nearby if children want to play. Food can be a little expensive, so we pack our lunches or eat beforehand when coming here. I am actually very impressed with their garage system. I constantly see people sorting through to ensure the correct items are disposed in garbage, recycle and compost. We enjoy making the kites and trying to fly the kites in the field. It is fun to be out on the field flying and watching all these kites. Parking can be difficult at times, but they do have some paid parking lots nearby. I have also seen people walk through the iron horse trail to this event.

Very fun haunted house for adults. It is as good and as scary as it gets - and seemingly there are…read moreno corners cut - so much effort and money is put into decorations and costumes. Been a while since I've been but I have great memories here with college friends. We went with a big group and even the one grumpus in the group admitted he enjoyed it in the end (no I'm not talking about myself). The characters are amazing. They stay in character when you talk to them and put 110% into it. I think there are a couple other similar places to enjoy on Halloween - Great America does something and Winchester Mystery House might also be fun from what I hear.

I've been coming to Pirates of Emerson since 2021, and it's always such a blast! They've got four…read morehaunted houses, and this year they added three new games--which were awesome! The only downside was the lines; they were crazy long this year, and there seemed to be a much younger crowd (lots of middle schoolers). It might be cool if they made it 18+ to help keep the lines more manageable. Most of my night was spent waiting, but honestly, it's still one of my favorite Halloween traditions. Maybe next year they can add a couple more haunted houses to spread things out!

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.

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.

The Pleasanton Antiques and Collectibles Faire takes place on the town's main drag in May and…read moreOctober. I've been to lots (and lots) of antique fairs but this one stands out for multiple reasons: *Pretty much every business on the street was open, so there were a lot of places to grab a snack or something cold to drink; it also made the fair more festive-feeling overall (this isn't always the case with some small-town fairs) *There were plenty of places to sit and rest, which was especially nice because last Sunday's fair was in 90-degree-plus heat *Parking was free and easy on an adjacent street *The laid-back vibe was just so darn great If you want to find me, come to the next fair on October 12th and look for the chunky middle-aged lady buying up all the vintage Pyrex.

Great fair and great fun! For people think it's terrible because it was canceled, it was for safety…read morereasons, the wind was 20+ mph and tents could go flying easily, this has been reinforced since a big wind storm hit an antique street fair years back, and killed 6 people (and the wind speed then was 23 mph) this is for your safety not for your annoyance! It's a great fair and they care about your life!