Paris' Musee d'Orsay is being renovated. During the renovations many of its works will be on exhibit in only four museums: San Francisco at the DeYoung Museum, Nashville, Madrid, and Australia. Starting May 22 and through August you will be able to see works by Monet, Degas, Renoir and more. Included are James McNeill Whistler "Whistler's Mother". All works are presented in a way that gives one a feel for the richness, texture, and diversity of art in France at one time in the late 19th century. This is being described as a once in a lifetime opportunity to see these masterpieces away from their permanent museum and in a unique presentation. Take it from someone who has done it, seeing paintings like these in person is a completely different experience from seeing them in a book. Tickets are $20-25. Here is the DeYoung Museum's web site.

Quilting Stores in the Gardnerville, NV and Reno, NV areas

The Quilt House
1328 N. US Hwy 395
#105
Gardnerville, NV 89410
Ph. 775.782.8845

Up in Reno we have the following:
Windy Moon Quilts
440 Spokane
Reno, NV
Ph. 775.323.4777

Going Batty Quilt Shop
9744 South Virginia Street
Reno, NV 89511
Ph. 775.351.2424

Selected Attractions for the Entire Family

Computer Science Museum in Mountain View
Great America (50% discount tickets for hotel guests)
Maritime National Historic Park in San Francisco
Monterey Bay Aquarium in Monterey
Museum of Natural History (new in 2009) in San Francisco
Tech Museum in San Jose

Touring

The State of California publishes a well done and comprehensive 200 page slick visitor's guide to California. Click here for the top level of the web site, while at that site, click under Visitor's Guide 2010 to access the page from which you can order the publication and more travel info.

Santa Clara Area Attractions

Here is a comprehensive list of Santa Clara and San Francisco Bay Area attractions (attractions, sports, shopping, wineries). There is some redundancy with other items on this page, but we feel it is better to give too much information instead of not enough and someone misses something they would have liked to see/do.

Youth Activities in the Santa Clara Vicinity

Amusement Parks and Tours

Great America theme park - down the street from the Hyatt Regency - ask the hotel for discount tickets

Santa Cruz Beach and Boardwalk, Santa Cruz (37 miles) - rides, mini-golf, arcade

Happy Hollow Park and Zoo, San Jose (13 miles) - Zoo, rides for younger kids, play areas, adjacent to the

Roaring Camp Railroad, Felton (32 miles) - narrow gauge train rides, and a train ride to the Santa Cruz Beach and Boardwalk

Arcade

Dave & Busters, San Jose (8 miles) - great for kids of all ages, arcade, restaurant with several TVs, usually sports.

Museums

Intel Museum, Santa Clara (1 mile) - hands-on exhibits display how silicon chips are made and how they work. Great for groups. Free. Tours available. Check web site for hours.

Children's Discovery Museum, San Jose (5 miles) - One of the largest children's museums in the nation. Great for kids. Interactive and hands-on exhibits. Check web site for hours and ticket prices.

NASA Ames Exploratory Center, Mountain View (7 miles) - Experience NASA's technology and missions. Interactive exhibits are great for kids. Immersion theater includes unique views of planets. Check web site for hours and current exhibits.

Computer History Museum, Mountain View (7 miles) - A large collection of computer-related artifacts. Explore the history of computers. Great for teens and young adults. Free. Check web site for hours.

The Tech Museum of Innovation, San Jose (5 miles) - Great for kids (and adults) of all ages. The 3-story facility house several interactive exhibits. Also home of an IMAX theater. Check web site for more info.

Parks

Vasona Park, Los Gatos (15 miles) - Large park, paddle boats, fishing, picnic areas, hiking, train, play areas.

Sports (Spectator and Participation)

San Jose Giants, San Jose (10 miles) - Minor league baseball

Sky High Sports, Santa Clara (4 miles) - Trampoline center, call for hours and prices.

Santa Clara Swim Club Central Park, Santa Clara (3 miles) - Olympic-style swimming pool.

Oakland Athletics, Oakland (32 miles) - Professional baseball

San Francisco Giants, San Francisco (36 miles) - Professional baseball

Help promote our hobby! The O Scale Kings is a non-profit 501(c)3 corporation whose mission is to promote 2-rail O scale model railroading. For more information, click here.

2010 O Scale National Convention

Attractions of Interest To The Family

French Impressionism Exhibit in San Francisco