When in Crescent City, tour Ocean World for an exciting family adventure. This is one of the best privately owned small aquariums in the United States. Go on a fully guided 45-minute tour, that begins with a visit to the tide pool where kids and adults can touch the sea life—sea stars, anemones, sea slugs and more. In the main aquarium are three environments, one of which features a rocky bottom and has 20 different species of rockfish, wolf eels and giant sea stars. The sandy bottom environment has a school of sharks and at the open ocean environment you can watch bat rays “fly” along with 40-pound striped bass. The aquarium has an abundance of aquatic life including sharks, seals, sea lions, rays and wolf eels, and features shark petting, an interactive tide pool and highflying sea lion performances. For more information, call (707) 464-4900. www.oceanworldonline.com

Klamath’s most popular attraction, Trees of Mystery (800) 638-3389, offers tours through a pristine redwood forest. The Skytram takes visitors on an aerial tour through the lofty canopy of an ancient redwood grove. Situated right in the center of the Redwood National and State Parks, Trees of Mystery is California’s original redwood nature attraction and has been welcoming visitors to this part of the world since 1946. Nearly a mile of groomed interpretive trail through the awe-inspiring redwoods. Part of the trail (the Trail of Tall Tales) is devoted to the mythology of Paul Bunyan, America’s larger-than-life logger from the turn of the century. The trail, museum, gift shop, restaurant, and motel are all geared toward the family or group traveler.

Trails are open and maintained year-round. There is also a shuttle to SkyTrail for those who cannot easily walk the trail. www.treesofmystery.net