Charles Chocolate Factory

6529 Hollis St
Emeryville CA
(510) 652-4412
11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.
Wed., Fri., Sat. and Sun



Many people eat chocolates but they have no idea how they're made. Especially when it comes to handmade chocolates. Thanks to Charles Siegel chocoholics can increase their chocolate knowledge with a tour of his Charles Chocolates factory in Emeryville.

When you walk in, you are summoned to a chocolate bar. It has a comfy couch and a row of stools with an eye level view of the company's factory floor. There, several highly trained white suited chocolatiers filling molding trays and performing other very important chocolate making tasks.

Siegel and the others on his staff who give the tour promise of a free raspberry truffle as a reward for making it to the end of the half-hour show. This is the only artisanal chocolate factory in the country to offer one. Anyone can view the chocolate making without a tour during regular business hours.

During the tour, Siegel asks the assembled to slow down, and bite the morsel in half and then compare the thinness of the walls of his handmade "Rolo". When you compare it to the machine made version, there's no question that the shell on Siegel's product is much thinner. Making them by hand allows him to create a thinner shell. Segal says that the shell is really just a delivery vehicle to get a soft filling into your mouth. Which I would say are very rich and good.

Lawrence Hall of Science

Centennial Drive
Berkeley, CA 94720
510-642-5132

Lawrence Hall of Science (LHS) is a resource center for preschool through high school science and mathematics education, and a public science center with exciting hands-on experiences for learners of all ages.

LHS was established in 1968 at the University of California at Berkeley. It is a national leader in the development of innovative materials and programs for students, teachers, families, and the public.

Their mission is to inspire and foster learning of science and mathematics for all. LHS is the public science center of the University of California, Berkeley and an innovative leader in the field of science and mathematics education.

To advance interest, skills, and knowledge they engage students and their families in exciting science and mathematics activities, at the center or in their classrooms, schools, and communities. They also design and distribute effective instructional materials and exhibits. Lastly, they create distinctive learning and leadership opportunities for educators. LHS is committed to serving all, especially those with limited access to science and mathematics.

The Tech Museum of Innovation

The Tech Museum of Innovation
201 South Market Street
San Jose, CA 95113
Phone: (408) 294-TECH (8324)


The Tech Museum is located in downtown San Jose. It is fun for all ages! It offers background information and allows you to explore technologies that affect our everyday lives. The museum tries to motivate the innovator in everyone. The museum is 132,000 square feet and is divided into galleries that focuses on innovation, the human body, internet, and exploration. In addition to the galleries offered, the Tech Museum also has the Hackworth IMAX Dome Theater, and area for workshops and labs, cafe, and retail store.

Hours of operation: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. daily

Paramount's Great America

Paramount's Great America is an amusement park that has a theme park as well as a water park (Boomerang Bay)! It features several roller coasters (featuring Invertigo) as well as other rides. There is also a carnival setting where you can play games. There are live shows and plenty of fun for kids (as a kids park is also available). Kids can meet there favorite Nickelodeon characters too!

Tickets prices are as follows: right now Season Passes are available for just $49.99 (this includes admission into the park all season long), regular pricing includes adult admission for $53.99, junior/senior admission for $35.99, 2-day tickets for $59.99 (this is for admission 2 days in a row and must be used by the same person), and there is also a ticket available for $29.99 that includes admission after 4 p.m. that is only available at the front gate.

There are also group rates. Opening day for the regular 2009 season is March 29th, 2009. The park returns to opening for weekends only on August 29th, 2009.

For more info, please go to http://www.cagreatamerica.com/.