Entertainment
Channel Islands Harbor See a classic Californian harbor filled with thousands of vessels; rent an electric boat to tour the port from the water; visit the Ventura County Maritime Museum to learn about the history of the Channel Islands; surf, sail, or build sandcastles on the miles of beaches surrounding the waterfront. 2471 S. Victoria Ave., Oxnard, CA; +1 805 985 4852.
Fairytale Town Introduce yourself to Peter Rabbit; watch dynamic theater performances; enlist with Robin Hood and his band of Merry Men; climb Jack's beanstalk. 3901 Land Park Dr., Sacramento, CA; +1 916 264 5233. Fee.
Grauman's Chinese Theatre Visit this Hollywood landmark to see the handprints of the stars that have left their mark in the concrete outside the building; buy a ticket to catch a movie and enjoy the spectacular architecture. 6925 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles, CA; +1 323 461 3331. Fee for films.
Metreon Stretch your mind at this confluence of fun and technology; play in an interactive area based on the kid favorite Where the Wild Things Are; get down to some serious gaming at the arcade; take in a 3-D IMAX film or a see a more conventional show at one of the 15 screens in the multiplex. 101 4th St., San Francisco, CA; +1 415 369 6000. Fee.
The Paley Center for Media Uncover over a century of entertainment in this archive of popular media; find your favorite episodes from over 100,000 programs on file; watch in the comfortable viewing rooms; see commercials that highlight consumer trends from the last six decades. 465 N. Beverly Dr., Los Angeles, CA; +1 310 786 1000. Fee.
Paramount's Pictures Watch the filming of a show in the same theater where I Love Lucy was taped; take a tour of the grounds to get a taste of film magic from yesteryear in the last remaining Hollywood film studio. 5555 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, CA; +1 323 956 1777. Fee.
Queen Mary Explore the inner workings of this art deco steam cruiser; spend the night in a first-class stateroom; take the ghost and legends tour to learn more about the World War II veterans who died aboard the vessel during its use as a troop ship. 1126 Queen's Hwy., Long Beach, CA; +1 562 435 3511. Fee.
Roeding Park Walk through a real tropical rain forest at the Chaffee Zoo; play in the Mother Goose fairy-tale themed Storyland; steer a train, race a car, or pilot a paddleboat in Playland. 890 W. Belmont, Fresno, CA; +1 559 486 2124.
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk Take a ride on the Giant Dipper, a classic wooden rollercoaster; play a video game at the Casino Arcade; grab a corndog and a blanket for a picnic alongside the Pacific. 400 Beach St., Santa Cruz, CA; +1 831 423 5590.
Santa Monica Pier Tickle a sea urchin and get up close to a horn shark at the aquarium under the pier; get an aerial view of the bay from Pacific Park's Ferris wheel; take a spin on the vintage 1922 Looff Carousel. 200 Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica, CA; +1 310 458 8900. Fee.
Skunk Train See the massive Redwoods from this early 20th-century passenger train; take photos from one of the open observation cars. Laurel Street, Fort Bragg, CA; 800 866 1690.
Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad Ride deep into the heart of the old-growth forest on this retired logging path; spot a red-tailed hawk; listen to the Sugar Pine Singers on one of the dinner trips. 56001 Hwy. 41, Fish Camp, CA; +1 559 683 7273. Fee.
