Itinerary: Day of Discovery

Call it Columbus Day, Discoverers’ Day, or whatever you prefer. However you look at it, Monday is when we’re supposed to recognize the people who explored the Americas.

But just because we’ve mapped the globe doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty left to explore--especially from a child’s point of view. This weekend, take the kids to places where they can make discoveries of their own.

Friday

Start your exploration with a visit to the Ralph M. Parsons Discovery Center at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County (900 Exposition Blvd., Los Angeles. $8, adults; $5.50, students; $2, ages 5-12. [213] 763-DINO), where hands-on science is the rule of thumb. Feel lion, snake, elephant and beaver skins or select a book from the Kid’s Corner to learn more about the animals that share the planet. Live fish, reptiles and amphibians are on view in the Backboned Buddies exhibit.

Next, drop by the Page Museum at the La Brea Tar Pits (5801 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles. $6, adults; $3.50, students; $2, ages 5-12. [323] 934-PAGE). The museum exhibits chronicle the animal life that roamed the Los Angeles Basin during the later part of the Ice Age, 10,000 to 40,000 years ago.

The collection includes fossil skeletons of mammoths, mastodons, wolves, ancient bison and California’s official state fossil, the saber-toothed cat. Outside the museum, you can check out the tar pits, an observation pit and a water-filled abandoned quarry with a replica of a mammoth trapped in the tar.

Saturday

Start the day with a visit to the STAR Exploration Station Children’s Museum (3909 Sepulveda Blvd., Culver City. $5 adults; $4 children. [310] 445-1428). This wildlife sanctuary works in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife and the California Department of Fish and Game to provide sanctuary for tropical birds, exotic reptiles and sea life that have been smuggled into the country. The Exploration Station is open to the public Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Where possible, visitors can touch and interact with the animals.

Or, head south for the Discovery Dinosaurs exhibit at the Children’s Museum at La Habra (301 S. Euclid St., La Habra. Open Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday, 1-5 p.m. $4. [562] 905-9793). Open through Jan. 23, the exhibit re-creates the world of a working paleontologist. An excavation pit marks the beginning of the prehistoric adventure where youngsters can search the sands for fragments of real dinosaur bones. A paleontologist on hand Saturdays offers lessons about fossils and stories of the dinosaur age.

Sunday

Learn about Jewish culture, traditions and faith with a visit to the Zimmer Jewish Discovery Children’s Museum (5870 W. Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles. $3; $2 for ages 3-7. [323] 857-0072). The interactive museum allows children and adults to discover Jewish heritage together. Exhibits include “Back in Time,” a trip through a time machine that visits the Red Sea and Mount Sinai, and “Where We Grew Up: The Story of the Los Angeles Jewish Community.” The museum is open Tuesday through Thursday from 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. and Sundays from 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.

A longer voyage could take you to the Big Bear Discovery Center (40971 Highway 38, 2 1/2 miles east of Fawnskin, Big Bear Lake. [909] 866-3437). The Discovery Center provides visitors with information about the San Bernardino National Forest and the available activities.

The center features displays about trees, birds, animals and historical findings in the forest. The center is open daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. free of charge. Guided bike, canoe and walking tours are conducted on weekends for a fee.