As So Cal begins to reopen, many families are looking for places to take the whole family for a mini vacation or just some memorable family fun! Here is a list of local Museums and Educational Centers that you just might want to add to your to do list.
If you plan to visit any of these locations - Please be Respectful of their Health and Safety Measures to help protect you and all of their guests.
Raymond M. Alf Museum of Paleontology Claremont
At the museum of Paleontology you can take a stroll through the Hall of Footprints and the Hall of Life. You can view lots of fossils as the inner workings of a paleontology museum, the fossil preparation lab and a collections storage room, through windows cut into the walls. If you can't make it to the museum, you can always take a virtual tour of the museum by clicking here.
For hours and admission, click on the following link. Hours and Admission
- Address: 1175 West Baseline Road Claremont, CA 91711 (Approx. 21 miles from Fontana 92336)
- Phone number: (909) 624-2798
Bowers Museum Santa Ana
The vision of the Bowers Museum of Santa Ana is to celebrate world cultures through their arts. With the current exhibits, you can see the spectacular art from around the world, including Taiwan, the Pacific Islands, Mexico, and more. You can even take a peek inside the Walt Disney Archives now through June 20th. Bowers Kidseum is currently closed for renovations. All family programs will continue at the Bowers Museum.
For hours and admission, click on the following link. Hours and Admission
- Address: 2002 North Main Street Santa Ana, CA 92706 (Approx. 47 miles from Fontana 92336)
- Phone number: (714) 567-3600
California Science Center Los Angeles
The California Science Center is Open. Enjoy the spaceshuttle Endeavour, Ecosystems, Discovery Rooms and so much more.
For hours and admission, click on the following link. Hours and Admission (Admission is Free)
- Address: 700 State Dr. Los Angeles CA 90037 (Approx. 54 miles from Fontana 92336)
- Phone number: (323) 724-3623
The Childrens Museum La Habra
The Children's Museum is now open. On-line reservations are required. Train station gallery, STEAM lab, Kids on Stage! There are many fun and exciting exhibits for your children to enjoy. All children visiting the Museum must be accompanied by an adult 18 years of age or older. All adults must be accompanied by a child.
For hours and admission, click on the following link. Hours and admission
- Address: 301 Euclid St. La Habra CA 90631 (Approx. 39 miles from Fontana 92336)
- Phone number: 562-383-4236
Discovery Cube LA and OC
Each site offers a variety of hand's on science fun and so much more. Check out the location of your choice to see which Cube you would like to visit. Or visit both! Advanced ticket purchase is recommended.
DC in LA
- Address: 11800 Foothill Blvd, Sylmar, Ca 91342 (Approx: 60 miles from Fontana 92336)
- Phone Number: (818) 686-2823
DC in OC
- Address: 2500 N Main St, Santa Ana, Ca 92705 ( Approx: 48 miles from Fontana 92336)
- Phone Number: (714) 542-2823
The Grammy Museum Los Angeles
The GRAMMY Museum explores and celebrates the enduring legacies of all forms of music. Click on the following for some virtual exhibits from the Grammy Museum. Exhibits at Home, Stream Collection: Live, and Gits Fest.
For hours and admission, click here.
- Address: 800 W Olympic Blvd Los Angeles CA 90015 (Approx. 52 miles from Fontana 92336)
- Phone number: (213) 765-6800
Griffith Observatory Los Angeles
The Griffith Observatory is open Fri - Sun. Griffith Observatory is southern California’s gateway to the cosmos! Visitors may look through telescopes, explore exhibits, see live shows in the Samuel Oschin Planetarium, and enjoy spectacular views of Los Angeles and the Hollywood Sign.
For hours and admission, click here.
- Address: 2800 E Observatory Rd Los Angeles CA 90027 (Approx. 55 miles from Fontana 92336)
- Phone number: (213) 473-0800
Kidspace Childrens Museum Pasadena
Kidspace is a nonprofit museum designed to delight and engage children emotionally, intellectually, and physically through joyful, kid-driven experiences. We invite all children to play, discover, create, and thrive, and to explore the world with curiosity and kindness. There's a Trike Track, Physics Forest, Rock Climbing, and so much more. Water play areas, so you might want to bring a change of clothes. All guests must have an online timed-entry ticket
For hours and admission, click on the following link. Hours and Admission
- Address: 480 N Arroyo Blvd Pasadena CA 91103 (Approx. 42 miles from Fontana 92336)
- Phone number: (626) 449-9144
La Brea Tar Pits Los Angeles
The museum at La Brea Tar Pits is open. You can experience the Ice Age, see live excavations, view fossils, and so much more. All guests need advanced online timed tickets.
For hours and admission, click on the following link. Hours Admission
- Address: 5801 Wilshire Blvd Los Angeles CA 90036 (Approx. 60 miles from Fontana 92336)
- Phone number: (213) 763-3499
The Museum Of Tolerance Los Angeles
Recipient of the Global Peace and Tolerance Award from the Friends of the United Nations, the Museum of Tolerance (MOT) is a human rights laboratory and educational center dedicated to challenging visitors to understand the Holocaust in both historic and contemporary contexts and confront all forms of prejudice and discrimination in our world today.
For hours and admission, click on the following link. Hours and Admission
- Address: 9786 W Pico Blvd Los Angeles CA 90035 (Approx. 62 miles from Fontana 92336)
- Phone number: 310-772-2505
Lomita Railroad Museum Lomita
The Lomita Railroad Museum is open.
For hours and admission, click on the following link. Hours and Admission
- Address: 2137 250th St Lomita CA 90717 (Approx. 68 miles from Fontana 92336)
- Phone number: (310) 326-6255
March Field Air Museum March Air Reserve Base
At March Field Air Museum there is plenty of Outdoor Exhibit Space, and two large Indoor Exhibit Hangars with plenty of room for social distancing. March Field Air Museum has the one of the largest display of military aircraft and artifacts in Southern California.
For hours and admission, click on the following link. Hours and Admission
- Address: 22550 Van Buren Boulevard March Air Reserve Base, CA 92518 (Approx. 31 miles from Fontana 92336)
- Phone number: (951) 902-5949
Natural History Museum Los Angeles
The Natural History Museum is open. Advance timed-entry tickets are highly recommended. Come and enjoy the beauty in the Butterfly Pavilion and Nature Garden. Take a walk back in time while you view dinosaur fossils and learn a little bit of history of how Los Angeles came to be.
For hours and admission, click on the following link. Hours and admission
- Address: 900 Exposition Blvd Los Angeles CA 90007 (Approx. 54 miles from Fontana 92336)
- Phone number: (213) 763-DINO (3466)
So Cal Railway Museum Perris
The So Cal Railway is open. Outdoor exhibits and Train operations are open. For Train and Trolley tickets, click here.
For upcoming and special events such as antique Truck Show, Day out with Thomas, and The Polar Express, click here.
For hours and admission, click on the following link. Hours and admission
- Address: 2201 S. A Street Perris CA 92570 (Approx. 40 miles from Fontana 92336)
- Phone number: (951) 943-3020
Pretend City Children's Museum Irvine
Pretend City is Open! Pretend City engages your child in real world experiences while playing and having fun. With a dentist office, grocery store, gardening center, a stage, and so much more, your child is sure to be entertained.
For hours and admission, click on the following link. Hours and admission
- Address: 29 Hubble Irvine CA 92618 (Approx. 50 miles from Fontana 92336)
- Phone number: (949) 428-3900
San Bernardino County Museum Redlands
We are open. In the Hall of History you will learn about the discovery and development of Inland Southern California. You can also see some awesome fossils, learn about plate tectonics, dazzle at the minerals, and so much more.
For hours and admission, click on the following link. Hours and Admission
- Address: 2024 Orange Tree Ln Redlands CA 92374 (approx. 19 miles from Fontana 92336)
- Phone: (909) 798-8608
Do you know of more Museums and Educational Centers that should be added to the list? E-mail them to me art cynthiam@macaronikid.com.
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