We were fortunate enough to tour the Glass House. Tours are only available on Saturdays and not…read moreconsistently. When we showed up, there was no docent as promised, but we were able to ask a nice lady to give us the tour. There is a video online worth watching about this property prior to visiting the house; it will give you more context and understanding. Great historical experience but they need more docents and support.

This white two story Italianate Victorian farm house build in 1877 has long been visible from busy…read morehighway 680; standing near the freeway and busy San Ramon Valley Blvd. it's a vivid reminder of the Valley's past. I always wanted to visit the house, but it only recently opened to the public has a house museum. I was fortunate to be able to join a small group for a private tour. As soon as we were met by a Docent in period dress the mood was set. Walking over the bridge to the house she started to tell the history of the Glass Family and the Valley as it was in 1877. Stepping though the door is really a step back in time. The nine room house is decorated as it would have been when the Glass family lived there. Everyone of the nine rooms was clean and not a bit of dust could be seen on the many knickknacks that the Victorians adorned their homes with. Everything in the house is original to the period. While the rugs, wallpaper, and some of the fabrics on furniture are new, they are all period reproductions. The knowledge that the two docents, Pat and Kim, shared was amazing. In addition to the story of the Glass family and the San Ramon Valley, they peppered their talk with some CA. history. I came away with even more of an appreciation of women in the 19th century working in those long dresses There is a connection between the Glass family and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. You will have to take a tour with either Pat or Kim to get the rest of the story.

We came here for their Holiday on the Farm event and were so pleasantly surprised by how much there…read morewas to do there: - arts and crafts in the Boone house - Glass Museum hours - Santa meet and greet and pictures - Magic show - brass band - face painting - kettle corn, cotton candy vendor - sheepdog/sheep demonstrations - chicken coop - tractor rides - tractor barn - lawn games - gift shop The best part about it all was that it was free (with the exception of tips for the face painter, food for purchase, tractor ride donations)! Love that we came here by chance and left so happy, overjoyed, and full of Christmas spirit. We would definitely come back for their other Saturday events and sheep shearing in April! Lots of parking, and staff are so welcoming. Had an issue with unruly kids and parents, but other than that, it was a pleasant experience all around.

Our family had the best time here. We attended the fall fest last weekend and there was great…read moremusic, we learned more about East Bay Parks and rec Association. We learned a little bit about the history of the farm and we got to do a scavenger hunt. All around we really liked it Unfortunately with the parking somebody dinged your car left their car paint on our car with no cameras around, which was unfortunate for us because now there's a dent and paint from somebody's white car. All in all, the weather was great, the wine was incredible, we wish there was more options for food, but at least the children were able to eat lunch and have fun.

10/10 -- Worth Every Penny (Parlor/Dome Car Experience)…read more If you're considering the Niles Canyon Train of Lights, do yourself a favor and splurge on the Parlor Car or Dome car. It completely transforms the experience. From the moment you board, you're treated like a VIP: dedicated seating in a fully enclosed caboose, attentive service throughout the ride, and complimentary warm drinks and sweets that are perfect for a cold, wet winter night. Being waited on while rolling through a glowing canyon? Yes, please. One of the biggest perks is having your own reserved space, while still being free to explore the rest of the train--knowing your seat is secure and shared only with fellow Parlor Car Riders. It strikes the perfect balance between comfort and adventure. I've done both the 4:30 pm and 7:30 pm departures, and while both are enjoyable, 4:30 pm is the clear winner for me. You get to take in the scenery before the sun fully sets, which adds a magical transition from daylight to twinkling lights. The 7:30 pm ride feels more social and cozy--great for lingering conversations with family and friends--but the earlier ride lets you truly appreciate your surroundings. As for the cost, it's important to note that this railway is 100% donation-funded and entirely volunteer-operated. Knowing that every dollar goes directly toward preserving the historic railway, maintaining the trains, and supporting the volunteers who make this experience possible makes the price feel even more justified. You're not just paying for a ride--you're supporting a piece of living history. Bottom line: Cozy Thoughtfully curated For a great cause Perfect for winter evenings If you're on the fence about the Parlor Car or Dome Car upgrade--it's absolutely worth it.

All aboard! If you…read moreare looking for a low key outing that's suitable for all ages then consider booking a ride on Niles Canyon Railway. Enjoy a slow ride Sunol to downtown Niles and back, approx 1.5 hours. A docent will share tid bits of history during the ride. There are snacks for purchase and you can bring your own. I prepared a simple charcuterie for me and mom, gotta have something to nosh on as we enjoy the view. It's June and the hills are brown already but oh well it's still pretty. I was a little worried about whether my mom would struggle boarding the train as I didn't book ADA as she is not in wheelchair. The steps are slightly deeper than ours at home but she made it up without difficulty, there is a railing for support. Conductor did offer us to go to the car with the lift if we wanted. My next anxiety was holding up the boarding as mom navigated the stairs slowly and there quite a few people behind us. Everyone was patient thankfully and no one scoffed. Would love to do their holidays lights ride sometime but I haven't been successful in last few years to get tickets, they go fast.

Enjoyed an evening of Disney jazz with the Jeff Bordes Quartet and Alanna Vicente. The lovely…read moresounds of the piano, bass, drums, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, and vocals paired with an excellent sound setup and lighting in this theater. No concessions were available on site, but they did offer guests free bottled water in the lobby. Photography and video recording was allowed for this particular show. Note, you can't see the full stage from the side balcony section unless you lean forward drastically as the seats are too far from the railing and unmovable. There are also poles in front of some of the side balcony seats with no advanced notice about the obstructed view when purchasing tickets... there's a reason these are the cheapest seats in the house. The performance was great, including beloved tunes from Mary Poppins (Chim Chim Cher-ee), Cinderella (A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes), 101 Dalmations (Cruella De Vil), Aladdin (Never Had a Friend Like Me), The Little Mermaid (Kiss the Girl), Snow White (Some Day My Prince Will Come), Lady and the Tramp, The Princess and the Frog, Jungle Book, and a non-disney encore of What a Wonderful World.

The firehouse arts center is a great venue for performing arts. The acoustics are excellent. As…read morefor seeing the stage there isn't a bad seat in the house. The seats are comfortable with enough leg room. The center is kept clean. The art displays are engaging. The concessions are good quality and different than most theater fare.

This art gallery impressed me so much -Kim, the sweet, friendly and knowledgeable manager chatted…read morewith us as we looked at all the amazing artwork. Some paintings were absolutely astonishing - made me wish I had more wall space! This is an art gallery for everyone. Make sure you go in and enjoy!

This studio is bright and beautiful, and I always feel welcomed. They have so many works of art to…read moreadmire. Unique stand out and colorful conversation starters, striking handmade jewelry, prints representing Ca and the Bay Area. I stopped in yesterday because my daughter was attending a birthday party across the street. I've already taken note of my next splurge. I am so happy to share that unlike some touristy spots, this gallery has a wide selection of reasonably priced art and gifts. High end is available, but there truly is something for everyone. I could spend hours in awe of the talent on display. I look forward to bringing some home soon.

Location is great! Close to freeway right off of 580. We…read morelove coming here because parking is easy and free and there is no entrance fee. There's also plenty of photo opportunities throughout the place and a good selection of pumpkins. We'll be back every year :)

Our favorite pumpkin patch and corn maze! I've come here for many years and have enjoyed the…read morevarious activities this farm has to offer. It gets crowded on the weekends so be prepared for lines. When you arrive there is a ticket booth near the parking lot to get ride tickets but if you walk further into the venue there are other ticket booths with much shorter lines. We took our 1 1/2 year old son on the cow train and he loved it. The corn maze is super fun and nice they have trivia questions along the route so you can answer questions to see which way to go.

Always the best! Concerts so fun! Clean and safe! You can spend the whole day exploring. They have…read moreeverything from food, to animals, to stunt bikes to drones and much much more.

Waste of time and money, one of the worst festivals ever. Charge $15 to park, $25 to get in, jump…read morehouses for kids additional charge per jump house, nothing else for kids. Food vendors ok but not enough for the crowd, merch vendors mixed - some very cheap, some ok, a few excellent quality. Set up for eating was awful - picnic tables spread across open asphalt pavement - no umbrellas and not enough seating for the crowd. Hot!!! Families were sitting on the sides of dirty concrete planters or dirtu steps trying to eat. Everyone was trying to find a little shade. Inside the buildings where merch vendors booths were located the AC was either non-existent or not keeping up. Never will I take my poor mom to this again. The organizers should be fired.

Very fun haunted house for adults. It is as good and as scary as it gets - and seemingly there are…read moreno corners cut - so much effort and money is put into decorations and costumes. Been a while since I've been but I have great memories here with college friends. We went with a big group and even the one grumpus in the group admitted he enjoyed it in the end (no I'm not talking about myself). The characters are amazing. They stay in character when you talk to them and put 110% into it. I think there are a couple other similar places to enjoy on Halloween - Great America does something and Winchester Mystery House might also be fun from what I hear.

I've been coming to Pirates of Emerson since 2021, and it's always such a blast! They've got four…read morehaunted houses, and this year they added three new games--which were awesome! The only downside was the lines; they were crazy long this year, and there seemed to be a much younger crowd (lots of middle schoolers). It might be cool if they made it 18+ to help keep the lines more manageable. Most of my night was spent waiting, but honestly, it's still one of my favorite Halloween traditions. Maybe next year they can add a couple more haunted houses to spread things out!

This place is a hidden gem in Palo Alto, in an industrial area surrounded by factories. It is a…read moremuseum of the work of Tony Foster, an artist from UK who paints beautiful watercolor landscapes. It's free, and a nice place to visit for an hour or so ... highly recommended.

We tried Story Time with Anna on Sunday. It was an hour experience that our grandson enjoyed. We…read moresigned up ahead of time and street parking was easy. There was also a sign that there is additional parking behind the museum. After checking in there was a craft/art activity with stickers and tempera paint sticks. Low mess :). Adjacent was a play area with colored scarves, a pretend campfire, felt board for the children to explore, and books. Before entering the museum area Anna gave an introductory talk describing what to expect. She made it interactive which was very nice. They also did a song to get their wiggles out. She then guided the group through the museum to the carpeted area with cushions for the kiddos. Ana talked about and asked questions about the art on the walls. She read Under the Same Sky to the children and made this an interactive experience also. It was just the right length of time, thirty minutes. This was just right for our 18 month old grandson.