Bishop
Bishop is a town that time forgot, nestled under the spikey peaks of the Sierra Nevada, and summer days are long and lazy. When I was a kid, after days of backpacking in the high country, we'd often stop in Bishop, go for a swim and have a picnic dinner under the big old trees in the park.
Laws Railroad Museum and Historical Site - Laws open-air railroad museum is a "must see," where kids can imagine what the Owens Valley was like when the town of Laws was a stop on the Carson and Colorado Railroad. Today, the wind blows through the tumbleweeds and the railroad no longer runs, but the old station is still there and a bunch of 19th century wooden buildings with period furnishings.
Kids can ring the bell on the locomotive, climb on the caboose, play hide and seek around the old train cars. Check out the blacksmith's shop with farming and mining implements, the old schoolhouse (ring the school bell), station agent's house, general store, post office, print shop, fire station, miner's shack and bank. Inside the old station is the baggage room, waiting room and model trains, hear the whistle blow. Be sure to walk all the way south, past the buildings, to see the old wooden water tower and turntable for the trains.
Editor's note: Next to the general store is a western display of different cattle brands. The barbed diamond brand is the Chance family - Jess Chance, our boys' great-grandfather, ranched cattle in the area.
For more photos and info, read our blog post: Laws Railroad Museum
Bishop City Park - On a hot day, the public swimming pool and shady city park is the place to be in Bishop. The pool has a large pool with water slide, plus separate children's wading pool. Ducks float on a small stream running through the park, little ones can play in the playground, and there are plenty of shade trees and picnic tables.
Eastern Sierra Tri County Fair - This is a favorite old-fashioned country fair with rodeo and roping events, amusement rides, carnival booths, petting zoo, "Favorite Cookie Contest," country music. Kids can buy real cowboy hats, eat bar-b-qued beef, and sample cotton candy. Here's the schedule.
Keough's Hot Springs - South of Bishop, for over 70 years, this naturally heated pool has been fun for families. Stop in for a swim, there's also a picnic area and snack bar. Open year round.
Here's our own Travel for Kids hand-picked list of family hotels, all styles and price ranges, convenient to fun things to do with kids in Bishop:
