Does your child (or inner child) have a need for speed? Put your petal to the metal and get your motor running to one of these great events, museums and more designed for maximum speed.

PLANES

planes

Pacific Coast Air Museum

The Pacific Coast Air Museum., located at the Charles M. Schulz - Sonoma County Airport, features: * Dozens of historic aircraft * Educational exhibits * Knowledgeable aircraft crews * Unique space for parties and events

Pacific Coast Air Museum

Hiller Aviation Museum

The Hiller Aviation Museum, a Smithsonian Affiliate, was opened to the public in 1998 by helicopter designer and inventor Stanley Hiller Jr. and features a collection on display of over 50 aircraft from more than a century of aviation history. Events and activities are featured regularly, allowing you to immerse yourself in aviation dreams, from flying a realistic flight simulator to exploring the science of aviation with hands-on exhibits and unique laboratory experiences.

Hiller Aviation Museum

Hamilton Field History Museum

Model Airplanes and Link Trainer, Maps of Hamilton Field, Photos of planes and crews, Oral Histories about base 1932-1975, Videos of base and interviews.

Hamilton Field History Museum

Sonoma Valley Airport

Sonoma Valley Airport (aka Schellville) is a privately owned Public Use Airport serving Sonoma County since 1946.

Sonoma Valley Airport

USS Hornet

Aircraft Carrier Hornet Foundation preserves and honors the legacy of USS Hornet, a national historic landmark, and its role in naval aviation, the defense of our country, the Apollo Program and exploration of space. The USS Hornet Sea, Air & Space Museum connects the greatest generation of Americans with future generations, educating and inspiring them to meet their challenges.

USS Hornet

Oakland Aviation Museum

Educate about the role of historic North Field at Oakland International Airport, Oakland and the Bay Area in the development of aviation on the West Coast and in the US by collecting, preserving and interpreting aircraft and aviation artifacts that reflect this proud heritage. Celebrate the history and technological achievements of aviation. Inspire individuals by linking aviation’s past to the future.

Oakland Aviation Museum

San Francisco International Airport

SFO Museum Louis A. Turpen Aviation Museum and Library

San Francisco International Airport

The San Francisco Airport Commission Aviation Library and Louis A. Turpen Aviation Museum provides unique opportunities for learning about the development of commercial aviation and the role it plays in our everyday lives. Located in the International Terminal, it is an architectural adaptation of the Airport's 1930s passenger lobby. The collection focuses on air transport with an emphasis on the West Coast and the Pacific region. Exhibitions, research services, and educational programs are offered to the public free of charge.

San Francisco International Airport

Moffett Field Historical Society Museum

Dedicated to education about and preservation of the heritage of one of Northern California’s most significant historic sites ... Moffett Field.

Moffett Field Historical Society Museum

Alameda Naval Air Museum

The historic legacy of the Alameda Naval Air Station will be preserved at the Alameda Naval Air Museum located in the former Air Terminal Building #77 at Alameda Point. Our museum features archival materials, photographs and stories of the war workers of World War II up to the eventual closing of the base in 1997.

Alameda Naval Air Museum

TRAINS

trains

Railroad & Ferry Depot Museum

OPEN – April thru October, Saturday and Sunday, 1-4 pm (OPEN on Sunny Sundays, 1-4 pm, October-April)

More than a pretty waterfront town, Tiburon has a rich railroad and maritime history, which is captured in the Railroad & Ferry Depot Museum. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Museum rests on Shoreline Park with priceless views of San Francisco, the Golden Gate Bridge, and Angel Island.

Railroad & Ferry Depot Museum

Billy Jones Railroad

The Billy Jones Wildcat Railroad is committed to providing a great experience to children and adults alike. Ride aboard a real steam engine as it goes through beautiful Oak Meadow and Vasona Parks. Go round and round on 106 year-old carousel. The Billy Jones Wildcat Railroad has rides, food, and most importantly fun!

Billy Jones Railroad

Roaring Camp Railroads

Continuing to preserve a piece of the 1880's and early California that was the dream of Founder, F. Norman Clark.

Roaring Camp Railroads

Sonoma TrainTown

Fun for Everyone! We love to see you smile. Friends and family of all ages will enjoy a train ride in wine country. Open daily through summer months & weekends during fall, winter and spring (when raining we are closed).

Sonoma TrainTown

Redwood Valley Railway

Redwood Valley Railway in Tilden Regional Park offers steam train rides along a scenic ridge on a scaled-down steam train. For information, including hours and ticket prices, call (510) 548-6100.

Redwood Valley Railway

Golden Gate Live Steamers

Located in Tilden Park in the hills above Berkeley, California, the Golden Gate Live Steamers is a 501(c)(3) non-profit museum whose mission is to operate a miniature live steam railroad, to teach, inform & promote model engineering craftsmanship for the benefit of our members and to educate the public on what live steaming & model engineering is all about.

Golden Gate Live Steamers

Ardenwood Historic Farm

Board the farm’s train. It takes you back more than 100 years to a time when railroads connected the East Bay’s farms to towns and cities. The train is operated by Ardenwood’s Railroad Museum with staff and docents dressed in period costumes.

Ardenwood Historic Farm

Oakland Zoo

Outback Express Adventure Train

Oakland Zoo

Take a trip back to 1922 through Oakland Zoo’s history before you make it to your final destination of Wild Australia. View wallaroos, wallabies, and emu from the train and enjoy the stunning views of the Bay Area.

Oakland Zoo

Mt. Tamalpais Gravity Car Barn

Gravity Car Barn

Mt. Tamalpais Gravity Car Barn

The Barn is typically staffed and open to the public from noon to 4:00 pm on Saturday and Sunday.

Mt. Tamalpais Gravity Car Barn

Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit

Serves Cloverdale, Healdsburg, Windsor, Santa Rosa, Rohnert Park, Cotati, Petaluma, Novato, San Rafael, Larkspur and nearby areas.

Napa Valley Wine Train

Napa Valley Wine Train offers an authentic, memorable experience that echoes the glory days of train travel, with fine dining service, multiple course meals, Napa Valley scenery and ultimate relaxation aboard an exquisitely restored vintage train.

Napa Valley Wine Train

South Bay Historical Railroad Society

Preserving the local area railroad heritage while running a working museum to benefit the community. Our members are volunteers and work on the renovation and preservation of the Santa Clara Railroad Depot, the Santa Clara Tower and the two maintenance-of-way buildings.

South Bay Historical Railroad Society

Western Pacific Railroad Museum

The Museum is located on 37 acres in Plumas County California, 50 miles due north of Truckee CA at the entrance to the beautiful Feather River Canyon in the City of Portola. We have 140 pieces of equipment and are a hands on museum. We also have a "Run-A-Locomotive" program where you can be the engineer for an hour.

Western Pacific Railroad Museum

Skunk Train

For over a hundred years the Skunk Train has been transporting passengers on the World Famous Redwood Route, with depots in both Fort Bragg and Willits, in beautiful Mendocino County – two hours north of San Francisco in California.

Skunk Train

California State Railroad Museum

Experience the feats of engineering and ingenuity that have kept the Golden State steaming along for nearly 200 years – from immaculately restored engines and cars to exciting events and exhibits that bring the railroad to life.

California State Railroad Museum

Railtown 1897 State Historic Park

At Railtown 1897 State Historic Park in Jamestown, California, history comes to life with vintage steam trains, a working roundhouse, and the timeless Sierra Railway Shops, a designated California Historical Landmark.

Railtown 1897 State Historic Park

Niles Canyon Railway

A living history museum interpreting the importance of our heritage railroads in the development of California and the nation. The purpose of the organization is to preserve the physical aspects and atmosphere of Pacific Coast railroading during the period from 1910 to 1960. Our mission is to develop and operate a working railroad museum for the benefit of the general public.

Niles Canyon Railway

Western Railway Museum

With over 50 historic cars on display, 22 miles of track and 22 acres the Western Railway Museum is ideal for families and group outings. The Museum features historic railway exhibits, vintage streetcar and interurban train rides, a large shaded picnic grounds, our Museum Store, library archives, and Depot Cafe.

Western Railway Museum

Howarth Park

The simulated 1863 C.P. Huntington steam train takes guests on a quarter-mile train ride through the tunnel, down to the pond, across a bridge and into the forest! All riders under 42 inches in height must be accompanied by someone at least 16 years of age. Children 12 months or younger may ride for free.

Howarth Park

Walnut Creek Model Railroad

Diablo Valley Lines

Walnut Creek Model Railroad

The Walnut Creek Model Railroad Society (WCMRS) operates the Diablo Valley Lines (DVL) model railroad, one of the most mountainous and one of the largest exclusively HO scale model railroads in the United States. This model railroad features standard gauge, narrow gauge, and interurban (overhead electric) freight and trolley lines.

Walnut Creek Model Railroad

Golden State Model Railroad Museum

A visit to our 10,000 square foot Museum of operating model trains provides an inexpensive, fun-filled outing for young and old, with plenty of room for youngsters to stretch their legs and expend energy as they follow trains along the 200+ feet of public walkway.

Golden State Model Railroad Museum

Randall Museum

The model railroad landscape and train exhibits will be open to the public everyday during regular museum hours. These trains are replicas of real Bay Area trains that mobilized our community for decades. We are very grateful for the work completed by the Golden Gate Model Railroad Club members for automating the system and making this amazing train layout more accessible to our visitors.

Randall Museum

San Francisco Railway Museum

The museum is a celebration of San Francisco’s rail transit history, focused on exploring the positive impacts streetcars and cable cars have made on the quality of urban life in this great city.

San Francisco Railway Museum

San Francisco Zoo

Little Puffer Steam Train

San Francisco Zoo

For hundreds of thousands of people who rode the Fleishhacker Playfield Limited, affectionately known as "Little Puffer", the return in 1998 of this historic miniature steam train was a cause for joy.

San Francisco Zoo

Cable Car Museum

Located in the historic Washington/Mason cable car barn and powerhouse, the museum deck overlooks the huge engines and winding wheels that pull the cables. Downstairs is a viewing area of the large sheaves and cable line entering the building through the channel under the street.

Cable Car Museum

Railroad Park Resort

Regarded as one of the best places to stay in northern California for romantic getaways and family vacations. Our caboose motel is also ideal for those looking for lodging near Mt. Shasta and outdoors lovers exploring the Northern California portion of the Pacific Crest Trail. From the caboose lodging and vintage cabins to the RV park and campground, an enjoyable stay awaits you here.

Railroad Park Resort

AUTOMOBILES

automobiles

Half Moon Bay Airport

Pacific Coast Dream Machines Show

Half Moon Bay Airport

There will be no 2024 Pacific Coast Dream Machines Event this Spring due to delays in the permitting process through the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Half Moon Bay Airport

Balestrieri Family Farms

Touch-a-Truck

Balestrieri Family Farms

Touch-a-Truck is a hands-on family event that allows children to explore unique and exclusive vehicles of all types up close and in one place! From public service emergency vehicles, landmovers, and utility trucks, we give kids the chance to honk horns, push buttons, and have fun!

Balestrieri Family Farms

Downtown San Rafael

May Madness Classic Car Show & Parade

Downtown San Rafael

Saturday, May 11th, 2024 ~ 12:00 - 6:00 pm

Come join the 33rd Annual May Madness Car Show and Parade. Free to Spectators. DON'T MISS THE MAY 5TH, FRIDAY NIGHT CRUISE! Cruisin' 4th Street the Friday before the big event - The meetup is at 5pm at Terra Linda High School, no sign ups needed, classic cars only.

Downtown San Rafael

Downtown Petaluma

Cruisin' The Blvd. Petaluma's Salute To American Graffiti

Downtown Petaluma

May 16-18, 2024

Join us each year in May as Cruisin’ The Boulevard honors George Lucas’ timeless, coming-of-age film, American Graffiti, most of which was filmed here in Petaluma in the early summer of 1972. Grab your favorite squeeze, jump into your hot rod, candy-colored screamin’ machine or the family car for that matter, and cruise on back to the “happy days” of the ‘50s and ‘60s.

Downtown Petaluma

Shoreline Park

Tiburon Classic Car Show

Shoreline Park

Sat., June 15, 2024

A wonderful community event, held annually in Tiburon near the ferry boat landing, against the beautiful backdrop of the Tiburon Waterfront Park. The show celebrates the beauty of classic automobiles. Food, ice cream, soft drinks and adult drinks are available. Or, bring a picnic, relax on the lawn by the bay and enjoy the spectacular cars.

Shoreline Park

Nostalgia Days Novato

With the sound of classic rock ‘n roll floating in the air and a live band playing, thousands of visitors enjoy free admission as they admire hundreds of vehicles of all types, including classic cars, hot rods and kustoms – just to name a few. The afternoon is capped off with a full slate of awards given to the best in each category as well as cash prizes for Best in Show and the People’s Choice. Hundreds of local families come out to cheer for the police escorted Hot Rod Cruise through Downtown Novato on the Friday evening before the main event.

Moscone Center

San Francisco International Auto Show

Moscone Center

November 27 - December 1, 2024

#SFAutoShow features the world’s major manufacturers displaying their model cars, trucks, SUV’s, crossovers and alternative fuel vehicles.

Moscone Center

Sonoma Raceway

Year round events on a 1,600 acres and expanded into one of the premier motor sports venues in the country, hosting 340 days of racing activity each year, including the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing and the Verizon IndyCar® Series.

Sonoma Raceway

Antique Autos in History Park

Annual Antique Autos in History Park …a living history day … is presented by the Santa Clara Valley Model T Ford Club and History San José. This event fills History Park (Kelley Park, 693 Phelan Ave., San José, CA) with period-correct pre-1946 vehicles, fire equipment, bicycles and motorcycles. In addition to many antique vehicles, there will be participation by the Early Day Gas and Tractor Association, displays of Early Crafts and Antique Collectibles, a Dixieland Band, Singers, Dancers, Barbershop Quartet, Blacksmith Shop Demos, Trolley Rides, History San José Open Houses, and Kids Activities. Bring the family for a day of viewing, entertainment and fun. Admission to the event is: Adults $ 10, Seniors $ 8 Children (6 – 12) & HSJ Members $ 5, Participants & Children Under 6 Free.

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Planes, Trains & Automobiles

PLANES

TRAINS

AUTOMOBILES

Ronnie's Awesome List