Space & Science Center Museum

Space & Science Center
3615 Auburn Blvd
Sacramento, CA 95821
(916) 575-3941 www.thediscovery.org

Take the I-80 Fwy (NOT the Capital City Fwy). Exit Watt Ave. Go south over the I-80 Capital City Fwy. Turn left on Auburn Blvd. The Space & Science Discovery Museum will be on your left a 1/2 mile or less.

Hours: 10-5pm most days depending on the season. Call to verify. $5 adult, $4 teens/seniors, $3 kids 4-12. Free 3 and under.

This Discovery Museum is home to Sacramento's only public planetarium. You can see the stars every weekend at 1:00 and 3:00pm. They also have animal shows, and free kids crafts every weekend. Every year is a different interactive theme. This year is Bone Zone and Tree Life, the animals that live in them. See the Dr's office to see bones, and learn about skeletons and your body. See the kitchen and fake food to learn what to eat to stay healthy. This museum also has the Challenger Learning Center where you can come with your school, birthday party or office to learn to succeed. Go outside along the trails and learn about trees, habitats and the outdoor ampitheatre. It is great fun in the fall to rustle through the leaves! Don't forget to look in the parking lot to see the life size of a whale and other animals! There is Renfree Park next to this museum if you still have energy you need to burn off.

Gold Rush History Discovery Museum

Gold Rush History Center
101 I Street, Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 264-7057 www.thediscovery.org

From the I-5, Exit I or J streets. Follow the signs to Old Downtown Sacramento. It will lead you to the old town area. Park in the parking structures or the metered spaces anywhere around the old town shops. The Gold Rush History museum is past the Railroad Museum to the north of all the shops.

The Gold Rush History Museum is part of the Discovery Museums (Space & Science Discovery Museum). One ticket in either one will get you a free ticket to the other one within 90 days. ($5 adult, $4teens/seniors, $3 kids 4-12, Free 3 and under. Open 10am-5pm. Open everyday July-August. Open Tuesday-Sunday and holiday Mondays in September-June.)

The Gold Rush History Museum is about the days when gold was being discovered and became discovered and the impact on the Sacramento region and people. Right in the entrance (after you pay) is a glass floor where you can see treasures excavated from the streets of Sacramento. It is really cool to look down through the floor. Upstairs are articfacts about clothes, rooms, and treasures from people of this time. Don't forget to try on clothes from this area and take old pictures! Downstairs is agriculture tools and canned food they used in this time period. The 1928 kitchen is really modern (for its time!). Kids will love the puzzles, fake food, and tractor and animal toys here. Lots of history in this museum.

C-Bar-C Park in Citrus Heights

C-Bar-C Park
8275 Oak Avenue
Citrus Heights, CA 95610

Greenback exit off I-80 North. Continue on Greenback going east 5 miles or so. Turn left on Fair Oaks Blvd. Go a mile or so. Turn right on Oak Avenue. C-Bar-C Park will be on the left at the first light.

This 25 acre park has one of a few dog parks around, for all you dog lovers. There is also a great nature trail that goes around the park that has information stations to learn about trees, plants and nature itself. The playground is not right next to the parking lot nor next to the dog park, it is next to the 4 baseball fields. The paved path that leads to the playground is at the west end of the parking lot. The playground has a small child playground and older child playground along with lots of swings. The open space is great for soccer as well.

Greenback Woods Park in Citrus Heights

Take the Greenback Blvd exit in Citrus Heights off I-80. Make the first left going east, at Verner Ave. Go a mile or less. Turn right on Flaming Arrow and park on the street next to the park. The golf course will be across teh streeet.

Greenback Woods Park is a cute, quiet, and large neighborhood park. It has a paved walking trail that goes around the perimeter of the park to explore and relax in nature. A nice BBQ area with shaded awnings. Two great playgrounds for all ages along with two types of swings. There is a great sand box area all kids of all ages will love to play and make sand castles in. There are no bathroom facilities at this park. It also has two basketball courts.

Fair Oaks Park and Library in Fair Oaks

Fair Oaks Park

Take the Madison Ave Exit (off I-80). Go a couple of miles and turn right on Fair Oaks Blvd. The library parking lot is to the right and the park driveway to the parking lot is right after the library driveway.

Fair Oaks Park has a wonderful shaded BBQ area with many tables that overlooks many beautiful oak trees and the playground. The playground itself is great in that it has the padded ground all over the playground, no tan-bark or chips. There is a large sandbox area for kids and their sand toys. There are soccer fields, ball fields and walking trails for dogs, people, and strollers.

The library is next to the park. It is in the Sacramento County Library system. It holds many events and classes. Go in and check out the possibilites.

Royer Park/Saugstad Park in Roseville

Royer Park
190 Park Drive
Roseville, CA 95678

Take the Douglas Blvd exit (off I-80). Go northeast towards old town. Continue on douglas a mile or less. (Follow the Royer Park signs.) Turn right onto Lincoln St. and left on Sutter and a quick left onto Park Dr. The parking lot is on the right.

Royer Park is in the old town Roseville area. The park itself has two cute playgrounds next to the parking lot. One playground is built like a castle with spires and hiding places and little areas under the slides to put people in "jail". It is very shaded in the summer! The other park is for older children. The slides are very HIGH! There are many slides and paths and stairs that take you up in the sky. There are swings for all ages. The Childrens Art Center building is next to the playgrounds. It is decorated very cute and colorful. There is a cute bridge down the park a little ways that goes over to a lake where you can feed some hungry ducks. There is also a steel bridge near the playground that goes over to the firestation and old town Roseville. It is a very cute setting. Kids of all ages will enjoy this park and open space. There are ball fields across Douglas Blvd. at Saugstad Park.

Maidu Park!, Community Center and Library in Roseville

Maidu Community Center, Sports Courts, playground, and Maidu Library
1550 Maidu Drive (off Rocky Ridge)
Roseville, CA 95661

Off Douglas Blvd (off I-80).Turn right onto Rocky Ridge Rd. Continue on Rocky Ridge a mile or less. Maidu Park is on the left at the Meadowlark Way traffic light signal.

Maidu Park is a huge park with many ammenities. Maidu is named after the Indians that lived in this area. There is a wonderful statue in front of the community center and library that shows an Indian family. The library is part of the Placer County library system. There is a community center that holds many events and classes for all ages. Check the Recreation Guide for all the evens and classes that you can sign up to take. It has a skate park and swimming pool. Many ball parks, and a very cute playground. The playground has big and small swings, a slide, two train carts that kids will love to crawl through, and a cool maze kids will love. If you child is a train lover they will love this playground and park! This park also has wonderful trails and paths that you can explore around the area.

Sylvan Oaks Library and Crosswoods Park in Citrus Heights

Sylvan Oaks Library and Crosswoods Park
6742 Auburn Blvd
Citrus Heights, CA 95610

Take the Greenback Exit go east and turn left on Auburn Blvd. The library is on the corner of Auburn Blvd and Van Maren Ln. Go through the light on Auburn and turn left into the parking lot.

This is a great library that holds many classes and books. :) All the Sacramento County libraries are all systemized that you can return your books to any library and your card is good at all of them from Elk Grove to Citrus Heights and around. It has toddler storytime (kids 18months-3years) on Wednesdays at 10:30am. Preschool storytime (3years+) is Thursdays at 11:00am. They both last 1/2 hour and include music, dancing, and stories. Call the library to verify. saclib.org

The Crosswoods Park is next to the library. This is known as the "bunny rabbit" park. Every once in a while you may see a rabbit crusing through the open space behind the playground area. They are people friendly too so you may be able to pet one. This park also has two tennis courts, and great open space next to the creek. The playground is a cute playground that is home to many ladybugs.It also has a community center with restrooms and BBQ areas to have parties. This park makes a great setting for a picnic or an event at the community center.

Van Maren Park!

Citrus Heights, CA
Take the Greenback Exit in Citrus Heights off the I-80. Go a few miles and turn left at Fountain Square Dr. Go past city hall and the post office. At the round-a-bout turn right at Woodside Drive. Then a left on Thalia Way. The park is on your left. You can park anywhere along the street.

This is one of the newer parks in Citrus Heights within the last year. It is a great quiet neighborhood park for all ages. There are two playgrounds, one for older kids, and one for younger ones. Unfortunately there are no swings. There is a great covered BBQ area and many tables covered by a metal canopy. A drinking fountain and a basketball court are next to the playground. There are no bathroom facilities. There is a lot of open space and wonderful paved trails that go alongside the Arcade Creek. You can even take a sturdy bridge across the river that leads to Costco and Wal-Mart, which are located on Auburn Blvd. Bring your scooters and bikes to ride around this park, along with soccer balls to play on the big grassy fields.

Rusch Park in Citrus Heights

Rusch Park
7801 Auburn Blvd
Citrus Heights, CA 95610

Take the Antelope Rd exit off I-80 in Citrus Heights. Go east on Antelope Rd. A mile or so on the left side is a parking lot next to baseball fields. Park here for the ball fields, skate park, and a playground. Continue on Antelope Rd and turn left on Auburn. Then turn left into the park entrance. The main Sunrise Recreation offices are here, as well as the swimming pool, classrooms, two more playgrounds, tennis courts, and BBQ areas.


This park is home to the Sunrise Recreation and Parks Department. Drop by and get more information on events, activities, facilities, and classes in and around the Citrus Heights area.

This 53 acre park, is the largest of all the parks in the Sunrise Recreation and Park area. This park features a popular skate park, three baseball diamonds, a swimming pool, four tennis courts, two basketball courts, volleyball courts, and eight BBQ areas. One fenced playground is in the middle of the park surrounded by many beautiful oak trees that make great shade. Another playground is next to the swimming pool, and one more playground area a few yards away next to a nice shaded BBQ seated area. There are many paved walking trails that go throughout this park. There are bathroom facilities by the baseball fields, and others in the recreation dept. building.

Howe Park in Arden

Howe Park
Take the Fulton exit on I-80 (Capital City Freeway) Go east on Fulton and turn right El Camnio Real. Then turn left on Bell Street. The parking lot will be on the right a 1/2 mile or so.
Or take the El Camino Real/ Bell St exit and continue on Bell St. until you see the park on the right side.

This huge open space park has many ammenities. A great place for the beginner to the elite fisherman to enjoy some nice fish in a man made pond. Many ducks, geese and seagulls roam this park and the lake area. They squak, quack and fly around to get your attention. They seem to love food! There is a small playground with slides and a climbing wall. I think they are in the mist of remodeling the other playground that had swings. There are many paved trails to walk, run or stroll along to view the beautiful scenery, and lots of beautiful bridges that go overlook the creek. It makes such a wonderful, peaceful setting. What a great place for adventureous kids to go explore the creek, if your parents let you. One paved trail takes you across Bell Street to Santa Anita park with a bridge, and more open space. Howe park has bathroom facilities, ball parks, tennis courts, and many parking spots. It is home to the Howe Park Community Center district offices. This is a beautiful park with many walkways and picnic areas.

Glen Hall Park in Sacramento by Sac. State

Glen Hall Park is by Sac State
Take the Cal Expo exit. On Exposition Blvd turn right on Howe Ave. Then Right on Fair Oaks Blvd. Turn right on Camellia Ave and then a right on Carlson Dr that will lead directly to the middle of the park.

This is a lovely neighborhood park by Sac. State. Many community donors help construct the cute fenced playground that is very accessible for the handicapped as well. It has lots of slides, swings, and play tractor that shovels and scoups. It also has many shade trees that will make it a great playground for the summer. A swimming pool, tennis coursts, and great open space to practice your frisbee throwing skill. And many fields used for soccer games on Saturdays makes this a wonderful park in a great community. There are bathroom facilities next to the playground and swimming pool.

McKinley Park in Downtown Sacramento

McKinley Park

This park is downtown Sacramento. Off of I-80 (Capital City Freeway), it is on the corners of E St through H St and Alhambra through 35th St.

This is a huge park has many great features for the whole family. A huge wooden playground that has many secret places to hide and explore. The playground has cool slides and swings for all ages. There is a pond right next to the playground that has many hungry (or not so hungry) but chubby, ducks, swans, and geese who would love to eat your stale bread. There are many benches that go around the pond that make a great setting to view. There is a swimming pool open during spring and summer, tennis courts, an art center, and a beautiful community garden to go through. There is also a library in the park.