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Field Trips

This page is continually under construction. We’re generating a list of physics field trip destinations. More will be added over time, if you have your favorite that we haven’t added, please leave a comment at the bottom describing your trip).

These destinations are all recommended by classroom physics teachers. If you run a museum or other physics field trip destination and wish to be listed, please ask a physics teacher who visits your facility to recommend we list you.

Click on the destination name for a longer description and a link to the destination’s web site. List is sorted in ZIP code order to help teachers find destinations near them.

Destination ZIP, City, State Short description
Exploratorium 94123
SF, CA
Offering a wide variety of activities and subjects, the Exploratorium is a one stop shop for all ages! The museum offers exhibits on mathematics, thermodynamics, optics & lights, motion & kinematics, energy, electricity, magnetism and everything in between! The museum offers materials for teachers and students as well.
Six Flags Discovery Kingdom 94589
Vallejo, CA
Not as many rides as Great America in Santa Clara, but still plenty of rides for students to analyze motion. “Physics Day” is usually in May.
California’s Great America 95054
Santa Clara, CA
Plenty of rides, and lots of teacher support pages to help you plan your trip. “Physics Day,” usually in May.
UC Davis McClellan Nuclear Radiation Center 95652
McClellan, CA
Research reactor. Physics topics included fission reactions, necessary safety precautions and use of control rods.
Aerospace Museum of California 95652
McClellan, CA
They have a great collection of engines, many with cutaways so students can see the inner workings of piston and jet engines. Working model of control surfaces.
iFly SF Bay 94857
Union City, CA
iFly SF Bay’s Educational Science Program covers physics topics like gravitational and drag forces, terminal velocity, independence of horizontal and vertical motion, mass flow rate, Bernoulli’s Principle, work and energy, and stability.  We apply these topics directly to the operation of our $8.5 million vertical wind tunnel and to the emerging sport of indoor skydiving.

More? Send them in or leave a comment below.