GILROY GARDENS FAMILY THEME PARK - Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park blossoms as the California's only horticultural theme park Gilroy Gardens, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, features more than 40 family attractions including the six majestic gardens, unique educational exhibits including a live honey bee hive and monarch butterfly habitat, and rides designed to educate and entertain. Plus don't miss your opportunity to see the world famous Circus Trees - one of a kind natural wonders you have to see to believe. In general the park operates late March to mid November. In addition the Park opens for Gilroy Gardens Holiday Lights a special event in late November through December. The non-profit park was awarded a Golden Ticket for the last three years by International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) for Best Landscaping.

Visit web site

John Steinbeck's world comes alive at this interactive, multi-sensory museum for all ages. Experience a journey through "East of Eden", "Of Mice and Men", "The Red Pony" and much, much more. Open daily, One Main Street, Salinas.

(831) 775-4720 or visit web site

See California's towering redwood trees from two historic railroads. Visit an 1880's logging camp in the Santa Cruz Mountains. In Felton, six miles north of Santa Cruz. Take Highway 17 to Mt. Herman Rd. then left at Graham Hill Rd.

(831) 335-44484 or visit web site

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. Experience the California beach lifestyle. Great rides at the beach in Santa Cruz.

(831) 426-7433 or visit web site

Island Packers, Cruise Boat Concessionaire to the Channel Islands National Park from Ventura and Oxnard Harbors. Half day and all day trips with landing to camp, hike, kayak, whale watch and bird watch.

(800) 474-1361 or visit web site

Monterey Bay Aquarium. Explore the wonders of our ocean planet in nearly 200 galleries and exhibits at one of the world's finest aquariums. Highlights include a million-gallon indoor ocean with giant bluefin tuna, sharks, sea turtles, stingrays and barracuda; plus the largest jellyfish exhibits anywhere. Other permanent exhibits include playful sea otters, a towering three-story kelp forest, the award-winning Splash Zone family gallery and the Ocean's Edge galleries, a dramatic renovation of the aquarium's original galleries that opened in 2005. Highlights include a gallery devoted to the giant Pacific octopus; an acrylic tunnel through which visitors can walk beneath crashing waves; an expanded coastal wetlands gallery and shorebird aviary; new hands-on displays and high-definition video panels; and a Living Wharf gallery to help visitors discover how to make wise seafood choices.

Visit www.montereybayaquarium.org for an exciting preview.

Seymour Marine Discovery Center. Visit a working marine laboratory and learn how scientist explore the ocean. Enjoy exhibits, aquarium, touch tanks, the Ocean Discovery Shop, and unsurpassed vistas of the marine sanctuary. Marvel at the world's largest whale skeleton. Think like a scientist!

(831) 459-3800 or on the web

Vision Quest Ranch is home to Wild Things, which cares for over 100 exotic animals, as well as E.A.R.S., a non-profit elephant sanctuary. An overnight stay at the Vision Quest Safari Bed & Breakfast allows adults to get closer to exotic animals than they would on an African safari!

Stay in an authentic African style bungalow and listen to the lions and tigers roaring only yards away. Each canvas walled suite is creatively decorated and appointed with most conveniences found in a hotel suite. Suites are individually decorated in their own animal décor including the Giraffe Manor, the Big Cat House, the Pachyderm Palace, and the Zebra Zone. Every bungalow has a large deck providing a spectacular view of the 5-acre elephant play yard, a king or queen size bed, an indoor sitting area, full bathroom, TV/VCR, refrigerator, and coffee maker.

Awaken to a continental breakfast delivered by our animal friends. Guests will be invited to meet the facility trainers on their evening walks with many of the Wild Things (weather and animal(s) permitting). Guaranteed to be an overnight experience found nowhere else (not even in Africa).

Some of the more adventurous choose to add a full-contact animal tour to their stay. Wild Things offers a Pachyderm Package - which is a full contact elephant tour, a VIP Package - which is a full contact tour with an elephant, bear, and a small exotic cat, and the Walk With the Animals Package - which is an all day tour were guests tailor their day to what animals they would like to spend time with.

For children, Wild Things offers safari day camps, a Roar-n-Snore overnight camps, educational shows, birthday parties, and much more. Wild Things daily tour is open to all ages. Visit Wild Things - an African Safari Adventure in Monterey County.

(831) 455-1901 or visit web site