Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum
1660 Park Ave, San Jose, CA (408) 947 3635
This unusual museum highlights ancient Egypt and its mysterious legends. See real mummies on display, walk through halls that simulate the majestic pyramids, and take a stroll in the peaceful rose gardens. The Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum has the largest collection of Egyptian artifacts on display in western North America.
Museum of Death
6031 Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood, CA (323) 466 8011
Despite the morbid name, the goal of the Museum of Death in LA, according to its establishers, is “to make people happy to be alive.” The museum is meant to educate visitors about death, something that is incredibly lacking in the United States. Visitors will enjoy the authenticity and enthralling nature of the exhibits, which entice, pique curiosity, and make for a truly interesting day.
California Automobile Museum
2200 Front St, Sacramento, CA (916) 442 6802
Inside this 72,000 square-foot museum is collected more than 150 classic cars, muscle cars, race cars, and historic models on display. You’ll also find a variety of other interactive and educational exhibits. The California Automobile Museum is truly a one-of-a-kind place.
Whaley House Museum
2476 San Diego Ave, San Diego, CA (619) 297 7511
If you’ve always wanted a haunting experience, look no further than the Whaley House Museum in historic Old Town San Diego. Dating back to the 1800s, the tragic history of the house consists of mysterious killings and hauntings. It is definitely something to experience—whether or not you see ghosts, the tour and stories of the house are worth it either way.
USS Hornet Museum
707 W Hornet Ave, Alameda, CA (510) 521 8448
Another spooky stop is the USS Hornet Sea, Air, and Space Museum. The museum itself is inside the USS Hornet aircraft carrier, which was built in the 1940s and retired in the 1970s after serving with the US Navy. The museum displays pieces of US history and military history, although rumors and stories of hauntings have floated around the museum for years. One of the tours offered at the museum highlights the hauntings and chilling history after the museum has closed.
Museum of Ice Cream
1 Grant Ave, San Francisco, CA (855) 258 0719
If you have an affinity for ice cream, did you know there’s an actual museum dedicated entirely to ice cream? The energy of the Museum of Ice Cream and its exhibits are contagious and a lot of fun. Shower yourself in sprinkles, take pictures next to giant ice-cream cones, and explore the bright and colorful rooms.
Walt Disney Family Museum
104 Montgomery St, San Francisco, CA (415) 345 6800
Young and old will love the Walt Disney Family Museum. Take a glimpse into the life of the infamous genius behind the Disney conglomerate, Walt Disney. Discover the legacy he left behind for everyone to be entertained by his beloved creations.
Burlingame Museum of Pez Memorabilia
214 California Dr., Burlingame, CA (650) 347 2301
This place is an absolute doozy of a throwback. With his Pez candy dispenser collection dating back over a decade, Gary Doss decided to open a Pez museum in 1995. The Burlingame Museum of Pez Memorabilia is colorful space with a lot of fun history in it. Tour the gallery and learn all about these cute little candy dispensers.
Musée Mécanique
45 Sausalito – San Francisco Pier 41, San Francisco, CA (415) 346 2000
Located on buzzing Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco, Musée Mécanique is an unforgettable treat. It’s an interactive museum of 20th-century penny arcade games and artifacts. Here, you can walk through the early history of gaming, and even play a few of the more modern pinball games while listening to the self-playing piano!
Legion of Honor
100 34th Ave, San Francisco, CA, (415) 750 3600
The Legion of Honor is part of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco. The building itself is immaculately gorgeous, as is the art. Come and see the masterpieces you won’t be able to see anywhere else, as well as beautiful fine art exhibits.
Winchester Mystery House
525 S Winchester Blvd, San Jose, CA (408)247 2101
This is the destination for lovers of the odd and ghostly. The Winchester Mystery House is a mansion that was once home to Sarah Winchester, the widow of gun man William Wirt Winchester. With the Winchester fortune, Sarah didn’t stop building the estate, nor did she stop trying to reach the dead. Tour the estate to see for yourself the doors that lead to nowhere, a seance room, and the overall bizarre architecture.
Gamble House
4 Westmoreland Pl, Pasadena, CA, USA, (626) 793 3334
Architecture lovers and enthusiasts won’t want to miss the Gamble House, where architecture and design are presented as fine art. This National Historic Landmark is a stunning display, inside and out. Take a guided tour around the museum to admire fine pieces from the arts and crafts era.