I’ve been going to this place since I was a wee one, and I still like dragging kiddies here. THE field trip location for the Bay Area, this place is chock full of interactive exhibits and art installations that teach kids a little something while they play with magnetic sand and make tornados. When the little rugrats start asking questions you can’t answer, keep an eye out for the friendly folk in the orange vests. It’s their job to break the science down into chunks that kiddies can fathom.

Next to the Exploratorium, the Lawrence Hall of Science was THE field trip science spot. When I was a kid, they had a few animatronic dinosaurs set up. It was no Jurassic Park, but kids LOVE robot dinosaurs.

This one is for the little tykes. All kinds of things to run and play on, all the while secretly teaching them about the world in which they live. It places a huge focus on running and playing, so be ready for a pretty active day.

The Discovery Museum’s big brother, this place is the place to go for older kids who dig computers or video games. Lots of hands on stuff to do, kids are playing and learning. Special bonus: your admission includes a ticket to see an Imax movie. Always fun. Double Special Bonus: You can rent a Segway and tool around downtown San Jose, empthasis on “tool.” No one looks cool on a Segway.

This may be the most fantastic restaurant for kids ever. It’s dinner and a show, and the show involves heat and knives. I’ve been to Benihana when the table had nothing but adults, and I’ve been to Benihana when the chef had a kid to perform to. Believe me, it’s a lot better when a child is there. Stuff is flying all over the place, little onion towers are shooting off volcanos of steam. At one point, a piece of chicken performed a song and dance number. It really was a magical time.

A little bit on the pricey side (everything in this guide is a little on the pricey side), but well worth it. While not hitting Vegas levels of Eat-u-tainment, you get a decent meal and a robot gorilla. Every so often there’s a fake rain storm, complete with swaying trees and fake lightning. There’s also a great aquarium section. It can get pretty crowded, so either call ahead while you’re doing other Fisherman’s Wharf things, or just lets the kids run rampant in the restaurant’s gift shop.

I kid. I kid.

Specifically the ice cream shop at Ghirardelli Square. I know you can get Ghirardelli ice cream at Coldstone now, but the original is best. Let the kids look at the old chocolate making machinery while you wait. They don’t make the chocolate at Ghirardelli Square anymore, but don’t tell the kids. It’s disillusioning. Don’t forget to bring some chocolate home with you. If you’ve got a large group, order an earthquake sundae. Yeah, it’ll set you back $25.00, but the looks on your kids faces will be worth it.

Let me fill you in on a little trick that my father used to play on me when I was young. As a kid, I thought this was horrible, but now I see how totally awesome it is. If you have a group of out of towners who want to go wine tasting but you also have some kids with you, try this one out. Step one: Tell the kids that you’re going to Traintown. There will be a train ride that will take everyone to a petting zoo. This will be the most exciting thing these kids could possibly do. Step two: Stop at a winery first. Have your designated drivers entertain the kids with post cards that tell wine jokes, all the while swearing to the kids that the next stop will be traintown. Step three: Repeat with another winery. The kids will be so psyched to ride a train and feed a sheep that they wont care that you lied to them. Step four: Go to traintown. Step five: Go to yet another winery. By that point, the kids will be so pumped about having ridden a train that they wont care that you’re at another deadly dull winery. Win win situation!

Nothing tires out an older kid like laser tag. Once again, you can participate or just let the kids run around in the black lit nightmare room and just relax. I’ve played more than my fair share of Laser Tag games and I’ve always liked Laser Quest the best. It has a really well built arena without any places for cheap little punks to camp out and blast you from a mile away. Also, everyone gets to pick out a call sign, which then shows up on your score card. The die hard adult laser tag players tend to come during the week, so aim for a weekend to get a good arena without a lot of adults picking on your kids. It’s a good idea to schedule a reservation ahead of time.

Once upon a time, this was Marine World Africa USA. You could see kill whales, watch a jet ski stunt show and see a tiger. The most exciting ride in the whole place was a giant fiberglass blue whale with a ball pit in the middle. Then Six Flags bought the park. Now you can see animals and ride roller coasters. No matter what age your charges are, they’ll find something thrilling to do at this park. Don’t miss the Meerkat tunnels!

Admittedly, it’s a long drive to get out there. However, I can attest, it is totally worth it. You get to see how the best jellybeans in the world get made, and then they give you a free sample. Buy some more beans and keep them dangerously sugared up on the long drive back! I like the Bellyflops, a huge cheap bag full of rejected jellybeans. Most of them are just irregularly shaped, but sometimes you’ll get beans that are colored one thing and taste like another, or beans that have no jelly center, or beans that merge with other beans to create a huge mutant bean monster. Those are the best beans.