Located right next to the picturesque Professorville neighborhood, the Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo has been a reliable source of family fun since 1934, when it was established as the first children's museum west of the Mississippi. The zoo houses around 200 species of animals, including snakes, reptiles, tortoises, sharks, raccoons, bats, a red-tailed hawk and two bobcats. A total of 14 hands-on museum exhibits are designed to educate children about physics, earth science and math. It is also a popular destination for field trips and birthday parties.

Founded in 1990 from the private collection of Frank Livermore, the Museum of American Heritage is housed in the historic Williams House, a 1907 Craftsman-style home right across from scenic Heritage Park. The museum's exhibits display technology and inventions from the 19th and 20th Centuries in an era-appropriate setting. Special exhibits rotate through the gallery several times a year highlighting certain historical artifacts, from toasters to toys. The museum also offers children's summer camps and several special events throughout the year. Another plus: admission is free, though donations are welcome and appreciated. For your tiny tots the Lego Exhibit is worth a watch, there is also a pretty garden at the back of the museum. A visit to Museum of American Heritage will make you ponder over how life used to be 100 years ago.

The Cantor Arts Center at Stanford University at Stanford University is a historic art museum incorporating pieces from the original private collection of Leland Stanford himself. Known widely for its assemblage of over twenty bronze statues in the Rodin Sculpture garden, the museum is the third largest Rodin collector in the world. The Cantor Arts Center also exhibits many diverse visual art displays varying from California artists to international cultural pieces. Visitors can also enrich their educated palette and refresh themselves in the charming museum cafe.