Summer Vacation To-Do: Theme Parks, Museums and the Zoo

This weekend marks the last straw in summer fun – students of and begin this week and students return to the world of academics next week.

So, it’s time to treat the kids to one last hurrah. Here are five places to go in the Bay Area this weekend to entertain your entire family.

1. CALIFORNIA’S GREAT AMERICA: Rollercoasters, games and more. Join the fun at Great America where you can drop 22 stories in less than four seconds on “Drop Zone” or scream through a 50-mile-per-hour ride on “Flight Deck.” Click here for more information on how you can plan your visit. Click here for discounts on tickets.
2. SAN FRANCISCO ZOO: Lions and tigers and bears! There’s something that is sure to spark everyone’s interest at the San Francisco Zoo, where more than 250 species of animals are housed. Don’t forget to check out their newest exhibit on Tarantulas before it ends in October. Click here for more information on how to get tickets.
3. RAGING WATERS SAN JOSE: Want to splash around somewhere besides the Silliman Aquatic Center? Head down to Raging Waters and take slippery slides that span over hundreds of feet or hang in the wave pool. Click here to read more about the water park’s atractions. Click here for details on tickets.
4. EXPLORATORIUM Discover the many fields of science this weekend at the Exploratorium at the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco.  The hands-on exhibits will give your family opportunities to explore astronomy, the earth and the human body. Click here to see what’s in store for you. Click here for details on admission.
5. SANTA CRUZ BEACH BOARDWALK Nothing screams summer more than the beach. You can ride rollercoasters, eat funnel cakes or just relax by the ocean waves. Click here for more information about rides and attractions on the boardwalk. Don’t forget your beach blanket, and, more importantly, your sunblock!