Southern California is chock full of tucked away gems that will intrigue students and adults alike– performance groups, STEAM groups, and history groups.  Let Forum Music Festivals find clever and unique options to add to your festival trip.

•  Bowers Museum – This little museum boasts amazing exhibitions, an opportunity to perform, and an easy centralized location.  Student-friendly pricing for school tours is available.  School tours include interactive, docent guided tours.  Current and past exhibitions include “The Crown Jewels of the Walt Disney Archives,” Ancient Arts of China,” “Beethoven: The Late Great,” and many more exhibits from a range of topics.

• Presidential Libraries – Southern California boasts two Presidential Libraries – the Nixon Library in Yorba Linda and the Reagan Library in Simi Valley.  Traveling exhibitions feature historical topics of interest in the modern day. A Presidential Library visit can be squeezed into a tour & travel weekend.  Permanent exhibits at the Reagan Library range from stepping aboard Air Force One or walking through a replica of the Oval Office.  The Nixon Library’s galleries feature topical subjects such as a Marine One presidential helicopter, and oral history recordings of Vietnamese refugees and immigrants. 

• Soka University Performing Arts Center – Newly built in 2009, the beautiful 1,000 seat Soka Performing Arts Center features superb acoustics and a black box theatre. Events are scheduled as varied as the Pacific Symphony, Joshua Bell & Academy of St Martin in the Fields, Delfeayo Marsalis & the Uptown Jazz Orchestra, as well as many solo world-class artists.  The university is close to many group-friendly dining options.

• Griffith Observatory – Dating back to 1935, the historic Griffith Observatory is located 1,134 feet above sea level in Los Angeles.   Among exhibits and shows to enthrall visitors are the Foucault pendulum, the Zeiss refracting telescope, and fascinating planetarium shows.  The views of Los Angeles are spectacular. The grounds and building are not to be missed.

• The Grammy Museum – The Grammy Museum, in Downtown L.A., connects the dots between music’s history and the heritage of recorded music.  School tours can include workshops and classes.  Exhibits have included “Take Me Out to the Ball Game:  Popular Music and the National Pastime,” “This is Nat King Cole,” and “Face the Museum” merging photography and music to showcase legendary musicians.  Inhabiting 4 floors of exhibits, the museum includes artifacts, films, and interactive experiences.

• Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach is the 4^th most-visited aquarium in the nation.  With more than 100 exhibits, the Aquarium displays about 12,000 animals representing the Pacific Ocean.  All ages may enjoy educational programs. The Aquarium’s animal encounters range from sharks & rays to Penguins to seals & sea lions & the beloved otters. 

• Warner Bros Studio Tour offers tour options that include the Friends Fountain, an Interactive Sound Stage, set tours of “The Big Bang Theory” and “Friends”, and 100 years of storytelling. The Sony Studios Tour takes your group through soundstages that include “The Wizard of Oz,” “Men in Black”, or game shows such as “Jeopardy.” Dining options can be added.

• Don’t forget the fabulous beaches! Your students would love an excursion to the beach.  Huntington Beach (Surf City USA) has volleyball courts, basketball courts, fire-rings for bonfires, and a mufti-use trail.  Picnic areas may be reserved.  Information about services and parking can be found here.

Southern California is home to thrilling theme parks, but discovering new options adds to a wonderful student trip in a very unique way. Forum Music Festivals is ready to start the ball rolling. Call us at 1-888-76-FORUM.