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Pacific Bus Museum

4.0 (11 reviews)
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Bus museum from the locked gate.
Lynne C.

Let's face it, a bus museum - how weird. But, I'm weird & was bored so I'm down to check it out. Idk if it was because it's a holiday weekend, but it was closed. I have to say my daughter was relieved it was closed, she thought it was a joke till she saw the busses from behind the gate haha.. 5 stars cause it's easy to find, and I'll be back so I can take pics in front of these busses, in them, under them.... And pick up something from their gift shop.

Los Gatos High School
Sue Ellen E.

We attended the annual Open House, but didn't buy the lunch because we'd already eaten at a restaurant in town. If we hadn't, I'd do the lunch; it looked fantastic! There was also a souvenir marketplace with all kinds of cool bus memorabilia. I bought postcards of old Peerless buses. This is an outdoor museum on unpaved ground, so be cognizant of that when deciding on footwear. Between the varied terrain and climbing steps up into the buses, stable shoes are important! I spent a big chunk of my youth riding buses, so the antique buses were really special. Some are a bit stinky, and quite dusty. That didn't bother us, but be aware. Bring wet wipes!! There are lots of opportunities to pose with buses if any call out to you. We saw most all of them in an hour. Some of them are fancy, double decker sightseeing buses. Some are lovingly restored but not running anymore. It's a very special place. How wonderful that people care enough to take care of these old buses. This is the only museum of its kind we've ever seen! The only area of improvement would be the bathroom. It was rather hidden, small, and personal. There isn't a standard public restroom. Be aware of that if you need to change diapers or tampon or whatever. Try to use the bathroom before you arrive, or after you leave. But they do have a toilet, in a pinch. It's probably very challenging just to keep the lights on and water bill paid, with what the land must cost to support all these buses.

The mighty SF Muni represented at the Pacific Bus Museum
Lora T.

Another hidden gem in the Bay Area, the Pacific Bus Museum is a working exhibit of vintage commercial and public transit buses that have been lovingly assembled, restored and maintained by a volunteer crew of enthusiasts. Currently located at 37974 Shinn St, Fremont, this is a great summer weekend day trip for families. On the first Saturday of the month from April to November, volunteer docents will take you on a history tour through the collection, which is always evolving as buses are restored and new buses are acquired. You can get on board and explore several of the vehicles and even play "bus driver" with the classic models. A chance to examine old engines and other under-the-hood construction should please any gearhead. Pop-culture historians will appreciate the vintage interior banner ads and other roadside graphics. We also attended an annual BBQ and flea-market which brought together bus and vintage vehicle enthusiasts from all over. Admission is free, but donations are gratefully accepted.

1950's Bus, photo credit, Pacific Bus Museum

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Ask the Community - Pacific Bus Museum

What days and hours are you open?

We are open the 1st and 3rd Saturday of every month from 10am-2pm. https://pacbus.org/visit

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Review Highlights - Pacific Bus Museum

I purchased a pull back toy bus from the gift shop for my nephew before leaving.

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Children's Natural History Museum

Children's Natural History Museum

4.7(18 reviews)
1.2 mi

There have been MULTIPLE instances where I have passed by this museum every time I visited Fremont…read moreand each time I asked I was told, "nah, it's not for you. It's really only just for kids and not really for adults", so I've never had the opportunity to go until recently and I'm glad to say that it's NOT just for kids, but it's definitely a GREAT place for kids to come and learn about the local natural history. The workers there are extremely kind and welcoming. Super helpful and I loved my entire time there. You can tell that this museum has been a staple to the community and that it's well loved by all those who visit. There's a scavenger hunt for little kids and big kids with a prize at the end (we got the big kids one, lol), an arts and crafts room, an electricity show (sad that we missed it!), lots of interactive exhibits that aren't too overwhelming (not a fan of touch screens and tablets everywhere, so a lot of the analog and hands on stuff was really, really nice), and a gift shop. There's also meetings rooms and such, probably for the field trips that visit. First off, the gift shop. I LOVED IT SO MUCH! The fact that there are actual items that are under $1 and that a child can purchase with pocket change is amazing. It's not junk either since you can get various shells, minerals, stones, and toys/items that are tangentially related to what you see going through the museum. Definitely got a bunch of souvenirs here and I really wish that I went during the school year cuz there's lots of small trinkets and knick knacks that would have been great for my middle school class! For all those crystal/gem people, it is definitely and INFINITELY much cheaper to get the crystals here than at any new age healing shop, just a side note haha. They also had a section with some lab items that are sold at a cost that is MUCH, MUCH cheaper than what I've seen on some STEM teacher supplies catalogs. There were even some free Periodic Table mats as well. Amazing! But now onto a review of the actual museum! The exhibits are on the second floor along with the arts and crafts room. If more time permitted I can easily spend hours here as there is a lot to look at, read, and engage in. As mentioned above I really like that this museum isn't like so many of it's more modern counterparts. It was nice to focus on what was in front of me and actually pick it up and interact with it (the ones that you are allowed to touch of course), especially in a matching and sorting sense (great way to get that pattern recognition thinking and learning for kids and adults likewise) without being overwhelmed by touch screen voices/recordings, etc going off at once. There's also something very nostalgic, familiar, and heartwarming about how aged some of the décor and how obviously homemade some of the stations are. Once again showing the love and care that went into everything. Now, I have to say that I am IMMENSELY impressed from the standpoint of a STEM major and from someone whose gone a decent amount of museums by the VAST collection of fossils, specimens, and REAL pieces of history that they have here. ALSO, from the standpoint of someone whose worked with zoomers before, very, very impressed that so much of it is OUT IN THE OPEN for the public to view. I've been to the LA Natural History museum and this children's museum has things that that huge museum does not and that is mind blowing for sure. I have never seen a taxidermy river otter, koala, or bear cub before. They had so many marine fossils and specimens of crustaceans that I have never seen preserved in such a way either. The 2 things that amazed me the most were the pieces of local natural history such as the fossils of prehistoric mammals that were found in Fremont or nearby and what may potentially be two real human skulls on display (how they got there, I REALLY wished I asked but completely forgot). If there's an opportunity to, I would LOVE to go back and learn, interact, and explore some more (and go shopping in their gift shop again).

Such a fun place for kids to see and observe fossils, learn about local paleontology, and do a…read morescavenger hunt with a prize at the end all for $3 per person! What a steal! It's a very small museum in a very old office building. But it's a hidden gem. Probably best for kids at least 4-5 and up. The artifacts are fragile and kids need to be able to follow directions to not touch things that shouldn't be touched. But there are hands on activities as well. Highly recommend!

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Children's Natural History Museum - Van de Graaf generator demo

Van de Graaf generator demo

Children's Natural History Museum
Children's Natural History Museum

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Computer History Museum - Software Arch in Revolution exhibition.

Computer History Museum

4.4(391 reviews)
11.7 mi

Spent a few hours at the Computer History Museum and didn't expect it to feel as reflective as it…read moredid. The museum walks you through the evolution of computing, from early mechanical calculators to modern microprocessors, software systems, and AI. You can see machines like ENIAC (one of the first general-purpose electronic computers) along with punch-card systems, the Apple I, and other machines that once felt futuristic and now look dusty and almost fragile. Everything here is built in layers, not in isolation: ideas evolving over time, people contributing in ways that are not always visible at first, yet shaping the outcome. Still, it is striking to see how these machines have become extensions of how we think nowadays (our brains). We offload memory, rely on algorithms to anticipate what we want, and increasingly hide behind screens. We run away from the real world and avoid real human connection. In some ways, it can feel easier to trust systems than real people because systems are predictable, responsive, dopamine-inducing, and do not require human effort or vulnerability. People do. People are messy. Here where the museum unexpectedly becomes even more reflective. It makes you wonder how easily we stay self-contained, avoid the messiness of real connection, and fill the space with endless technological distraction. Roughly 1 in 2 U.S. adults report experiencing loneliness, with in-person social interaction declining over time. Technology makes it easier to stay in your own world, away from uncertainty, risk, and the effort real closeness requires. So where does this lead us? What is our future? Is it for our good? If it feels easier this way, is it actually better? Are we becoming more connected, or just more efficiently alone? P.S. I think the admission for youth should be cheaper.

A fantastic journey through the history of computing! So…read moremuch to explore here and they even offer demonstrations. Always a great time.

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Computer History Museum - Punched Card Gallery in Revolution exhibition.

Punched Card Gallery in Revolution exhibition.

Computer History Museum - Calculators Gallery in Revolution exhibition.

Calculators Gallery in Revolution exhibition.

Computer History Museum - Calculators Gallery in Revolution exhibition.

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Calculators Gallery in Revolution exhibition.

Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo - Feeding the tortoise

Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo

4.4(388 reviews)
12.2 mi

I had to run some errands in Palo Alto, and my little one tagged along with me for this trip. I…read morethought it'd be fun to bring her along to this museum. There isn't much fun stuff to do in Palo Alto if you're a tiny tot, but this place seemed like it was created for the little ones! Would highly rec if you are in Palo Alto for a day and want to bring your young child somewhere. There are different parts to this - a museum, and also a mini zoo. The museum has all sorts of fun activities, similar to the Bay Area Discovery with building blocks, magnets, trains, cars, tops, etc. The mini zoo is also quite fun with a variety of animals, although not many. The quality of the animals was great, though. They had a feeding hour for the Flamingos when I was there, and although my toddler was not interested, it seemed like the staff stayed for the whole hour, and made sure that anyone who wanted to do it had a chance to do so. Other animals there included a free-roaming peacock! The only draw here is that it's a little small, compared to a real zoo, or a real museum such as the Bay Area Discovery Museum, or the California Academy of Sciences. That being said, the price for this museum was quite reasonable, at $14 per person over 1 year old. Even for the 1.5 hours I was there, I thought it was well worth it! Free parking too. If in the area, I'd definitely stop by again.

Pretty nice little spot for the kids to spend some time. It's not very large, so be prepared for…read morethat. Still, we were able to spend a quality couple of hours here and enjoy the time with the kids. A nice little museum with a tree house and some animals that the kids will enjoy. Again, slightly small, but overall a good time.

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Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo - Flamingo!

Flamingo!

Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo - Feeding the flamingos

Feeding the flamingos

Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo - Climbing in the Tree House!

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Climbing in the Tree House!

Old Mission San Jose - Inside

Old Mission San Jose

3.6(58 reviews)
4.3 mi

Was in the area, and got some free time plus we visited 5-6 missions in California so far so might…read moreas well visit this one. Very nice and grand looking. It's not original since the original was burned down back then. We came around 3-4pm so not much of visitors. Parking is easy and staff are nice and accommodating. Grand service area with high ceiling. Good & glad that we visited.

As a 4th grade teacher, I unfortunately would not return for another field trip. The mission itself…read moreis historically interesting, but the tour structure was not well suited for elementary students. Much of the experience involved long lecture segments in a quiet, echo-heavy church environment, and many students struggled to remain engaged or even follow portions of the presentation clearly. The larger issue was logistics and time management. Our tour was scheduled to end at noon but was still actively running around 12:30, which compressed lunch into only a few rushed minutes before buses needed to depart. Departure became chaotic because the gift shop remained fully active during bus loading, making it extremely difficult for teachers to regroup students and leave on time. I appreciate the historical importance of the site, but future elementary field trip groups should be aware that the pacing, scheduling, and transition management may not align well with the realities of supervising large groups of 4th graders on a tight school schedule.

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Old Mission San Jose - Inside

Inside

Old Mission San Jose - Spanish organ concert inside church (Mission San Jose's 227th anniversary)

Spanish organ concert inside church (Mission San Jose's 227th anniversary)

Old Mission San Jose

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Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum - Window Display

Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum

4.5(106 reviews)
0.7 mi

Cool look at the silent film industry! You can tell there was a lot of significant history in this…read morebuilding and they did amazing work to preserve it. Some original pieces were shown, such as the original bench from the Edison Theater. It's the only remaining original seats from there! Many types of cameras, equipment, and items. Several nods to Charlie Chaplin - his background, movie posters, cardboard cutout, mural, and merch. They have knowledgeable and friendly staff that give guided tours. They are huge fans, so excited to describe everything and share stories. Admission is free, but donations are welcome. On the right side, there's a gift shop of museum souvenirs as well as shelves of silent films you can buy to watch at home. They also have silent film showings with piano accompaniment on Saturday evenings. You can buy popcorn, candy, and drinks. There's a small theater at the back past the center aisle. It would be a fun date night or family activity!

Basically the only tourist attraction in Fremont…read more Criminally underrated place that I only heard about through a chance mention from an Uber driver. They have all kinds of screenings of great films. I just caught It's a Wonderful Life (1946) and intend to come back for Wild Strawberries (1957) and maybe The General (1926) next week. The theater seats are somewhat uncomfortable and the patrons are mostly really old white Boomers, but the latter is understandable given the subject matter and the usual demographic of people interested in this sort of thing. (Plus the general exodus of younger whites from California over the past 10 years and especially since COVID. It's a bit of a bummer for me because it's now much tougher for me to get a white girlfriend. Not that non-white girls aren't wonderful, but you know, I could just go abroad for a better and frankly higher-quality selection. I'm in America for my white girl.) The husband-wife team who run this place (Tony and Rhonda) are great, and everyone's extremely nice. I wish the gift shop had a better selection of old books though. Most of the Blu-rays on sale are superfluous with a Criterion Channel subscription, and the books on sale are pretty boring and seem to be ad hoc sales from people's used book collections. I haven't actually been to the museum proper yet (they're only open weekends 12-4 and I tend to only really wake up on weekend evenings/nights), but I love any theater that airs old films. Those are few and far between these days. The only other ones I know of in the Bay Area are in San Francisco. Once again, I'm totally shocked something like this is in Fremont.

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Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum - Entrance to theater and cold drinks

Entrance to theater and cold drinks

Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum - Charlie Chaplin Lookalike Contest

Charlie Chaplin Lookalike Contest

Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum - Charlie Chaplin Lookalike Contest

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Charlie Chaplin Lookalike Contest

Niles Canyon Railway

Niles Canyon Railway

4.3(194 reviews)
5.6 mi

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.

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Niles Canyon Railway
Niles Canyon Railway - Outside of train

Outside of train

Niles Canyon Railway

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California Nursery Historical Park - water fountain with ability to fill up reusable bottles

California Nursery Historical Park

3.9(30 reviews)
0.9 mi

some more photos i took on the walk i took recently, it is still so beautifully maintained…read more the bathrooms were pretty clean with baby changing stations in each, water fountains have the option to refill reusable bottles. still not too busy, went around 6pish during the week--did not encounter more than 10 folks, get out here people! it is peaceful and beautiful and interesting to learn about the history from the various placards around the place. free to enter, free to park

I live nearby and just finally roamed these grounds just this past year 2025. Been in twice about…read more8 months apart and even in that short time it seems they are still working on this, so let the evolution unfold. I found the park to be much more attractive on the more recent visit. I lived in this town for most of my adult life. I have vague memories of this land in the Niles District to be a large nursery of some sort. Never entered in those days as never thought of it as being an option. Not sure how open it was for public back in those days. But recent plaques tell the history of this nursery and definitely has a role in California's growth. This nursery has been around since the late 1800s, and even has ties to General Vallejo who helped shape Northern California. Since a major railroad line went through this town, this nursery was able to grow and get its products out and about. Fruit trees, landscaping trees and brush, flowers and palm trees all were grown here and transported to other parts of the state/country. There are still older buildings here that reflects those olden days. The nursery eventually closed, and the city turned this open space into a public park. It is not that big, but you can easily walk about a mile walking around. There are different sections, and most have paved paths that go around. There's a central park square up front that now has benches and patterned grass and rose bushes. This looked better on my second out, not sure if I caught the blooms at the right time, but it was quite colorful and floral on that visit. Lots of palm trees, an area for fruit trees and another area with typical city landscape plants. No one really working out here, more a casual stroll. Lots of elderly and family's with small children and definitely lots of leashed dogs. Sometimes after a nice dinner, I'll stop in and just take a light stroll as to walk off a part of my meal. The lighting is usually more dramatic, the air a tad cooler, birds singing, bees bouncing off flowers, humming birds buzzing by my ear, just relaxes and pleases me. I let time slow down and just submit to the moment.

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California Nursery Historical Park - Hachiya persimmons seen 9/21/25 - not ready yet

Hachiya persimmons seen 9/21/25 - not ready yet

California Nursery Historical Park
California Nursery Historical Park - New landscaping at California Nursery Historical Park.

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New landscaping at California Nursery Historical Park.

Pacific Bus Museum - museums - Updated May 2026

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