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.

Located on the Stanford University campus, Hoover Tower offers a small museum at its base and excellent views of the Bay Area at the top at an extremely reasonable price. Visit the museum and then take an elevator ride to the top while a guide tells tidbits of trivia about the tower's history. At 285 feet (87 meters) tall, the tower is a must-visit attraction. Be sure to check out the carillon of 48 bells housed at the top of the tower. Stanford students get in free with ID!

One of the United States' premier educational establishments, Stanford University's heritage, expansive curriculum and highly-qualified faculty attracts some of the brightest minds from all across the planet. Founded in the year 1891, student life is given tremendous importance by fostering a love for the literary, performing and visual arts, while athletics and fitness facilities abound throughout the campus. Spread across close to 8,000 acres (3,237 hectares) of hilly land, its Spanish architecture inspired residential campus is one of the finest in California. The Stanford Memorial Church, the Lou Henry Hoover House, the Hoover, and 'The Dish' are some of its campus' most famed attractions. Notable alumni include the likes of Elon Musk, Reese Witherspoon and Google CEO Sundar Pichai.

Under the direction of Jane Stanford, the Stanford University Memorial Church was completed in 1903 in memory of her husband Leland Stanford. Located in the center of the university, it is a jewel of the campus and a beautiful attraction. It is one of the oldest interdenominational churches in the western United States. The building was designed by Charles A. Coolidge in the Romanesque style, and constructed by John McGilvray, who also was in charge of San Francisco's City Hall.

The Baylands Nature Preserve is known for its birdwatching and is considered one of the best birdwatching areas on the West Coast, offering both tidal and fresh water habitats. This park boasts of a total of 1940 acres (785 hectares) of swampland, which is the largest tract of undisturbed swampland remaining in the Bay Area, and 15 miles (24 kilometers) of trails. Besides birdwatching, visitors can also enjoy canoeing, kayaking or windsurfing in the ponds and lakes. Educational signs have been put up in place to educate visitors about natural habitats. Kids will love Baylands too as it is home to the Palo Alto Duck Pond and the trails too vary in difficulty levels. This park is open daily from 8a till sunset.