Make ice cream, see cowboy treasures. Indoor summer fun for kids in, near Modesto

Summer doesn’t officially arrive for a few more days, but the kids are out of school and temperatures are rising in the Central Valley.

Which means a lot of families are searching for places to go in the Modesto region that will appeal to children — especially indoors with air conditioning (see caveats below).

We’re here to help.

From museum treasures to cowboys to airplanes and making your own ice cream, the region offers plenty of options that not everyone might know about — or think to visit — so we’ve put together a list.

The good news is that they’re gas price-friendly locations, all just short trips in and near Modesto.

Some of the locales offer summer camps where you can drop off your kids for fun and activities.

Next week, we’ll get outside Modesto and outside literally, with waterway and Mother Lode adventures.

But for now, we’ll stay (mostly) indoors. While certainly not inclusive of all the places the region has to offer, here are a few options:

Great Valley Museum – This city treasure at Modesto Junior College holds a wealth of enjoyment for young and old, including hands-on activities and a room that houses about two dozen live animals and insects. There are ongoing exhibits on Central Valley habitats, plants and flowers, animals and more.

Science On a Sphere projects more than 600 visuals onto a 6-foot-diameter sphere, ranging from ocean currents to ultraviolet visualizations of the sun.

Inside the museum is the William R. Luebke Planetarium, which offers shows to the public on Saturdays.

On the first Friday of the month from 7-10 p.m., visitors also can discover the universe at the planetarium, where the MJC Astronomy Club offers free telescope viewings on top of the Science Community Center. This is one of those outdoor caveats mentioned above.

Regular museum hours are Wednesdays through Saturdays, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Planetarium hours are the second and fourth Saturday of each month, with shows at 11 a.m. and noon. Museum-only admission is $8 general, $5 age 17 and under, age 55 and older and for military members; planetarium-only admission costs are the same and separate.

It’s located on the MJC West Campus, 2201 Blue Gum Ave., Modesto. For more, see www.mjc.edu/gvm/index.html.

McHenry Mansion – For a unique look at the Victorian era, check out downtown’s McHenry Mansion.

It was built by rancher and banker Robert McHenry and his wife, Matilda, in 1883 in the High Victorian Italianate style.

The visitor center is the first stop for those who want a 45-minute docent-led tour of the restored Victorian mansion, kicked off by a short video on the history of the building. Free tours are offered 12:30-4 p.m. Fridays, Sundays and Mondays. The center also houses a gift shop, 924 15th St. See mchenrymansion.org.

McHenry Museum – Down I Street from the mansion sits the McHenry Museum, willed by Robert McHenry’s son Oramil to house the city’s library. After a new library was built in 1971, the building was converted to a museum that continues to offer historical exhibits.

The museum features history from across Stanislaus County, with each city having its own archive. Visitors will see a number of exhibits, such as gold mining artifacts, the founding of Modesto by railroad, irrigation and agriculture development and re-creations of a general store, a blacksmith shop, a one-room schoolhouse, a barbershop, a 1950s diner and more. The museum also has temporary exhibits that change periodically.

Open noon-4 p.m. Fridays-Sundays, the museum is at 1402 I St. Admission is free. mchenrymuseum.org.

Modesto Children’s Museum – Built for kids, there are plenty of activities at this downtown spot.

There’s a Color Story Train, a carousel “changing color” exhibit, a Tall Tales Stage where kids can put on costumes and perform their own show, a two-story adventure climber, light lab, water lab, air lab, maker lab, Valley Proud display and a gated Little Rainbows area for ages newborn to 3.

Affectionately called MoChiMu, the children’s museum has a summer line-up of camps planned through August. The week-long camps are 9 a.m.-4 p.m. and cost $325.

Open almost daily (closed Tuesdays) from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., MoChiMu is at 928 11th St., Modesto. Admission for adults and children is $15, free for babies up to 11 months old. See www.modestochildrensmuseum.org.

Be Anything Museum – Also known as BAM, this museum features an extensive Barbie doll collection, as well as programs.

The idea behind the spot is to promote empowerment, inclusivity of diverse backgrounds, education and more.

There are Barbies from over the decades representing a variety of careers, ethnicities and cultures. Some of Barbie’s friends and family such as Ken, Midge, Francie and Skipper are on display, along with carrying cases, clothes, shoes, other accessories and more.

Admission is $8-$10, free ages 4 and under. BAM, at 1111 I St., Modesto, is open 10:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Wednesdays-Saturdays.

Carnegie Arts Center – This art gallery in Turlock also offers options for children and families.

Offered free, Family Fridays are held evenings on select Fridays once a month and provide opportunities for kids to get involved in making art. Saturday Studios, also once a month, allows families to drop in for $5 per maker between 11 a.m.-2 p.m. to get artistically creative (children must be accompanied by an adult).

There are still spots remaining for a variety of youth art camps, planned through the end of July. Camps come with various costs. For more see carnegieartsturlock.org.

The Carnegie Arts Center is at 250 N. Broadway, Turlock, and open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays. General admission to the gallery is $7, $5 for seniors and students with a valid ID. See www.carnegieartsturlock.org.

Oakdale Cowboy Museum – Rodeos and ranching are highlighted at this museum in the “Cowboy Capital of the World.”

The Rodeo Gallery holds a collection of memorabilia from local rodeo champion cowboys, trophy saddles, buckles, photographs and more. The Ranching Gallery rests in the waiting room of the Old Southern Pacific Railroad Station and displays branding irons and other collections, as well as photo opportunities for children to dress up and hop on an old saddle.

Museum hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays. Located at 355 E. F St., admission is free. See www.oakdalecowboymuseum.org.

Castle Air Museum – This is another outdoor/indoor spot.

The museum is on a portion of the former Castle Air Force Base in Atwater. It offers a large collection of more than 70 aircraft and historical artifacts ranging from pre-WWII to present-day.

Some of the rarest preserved bombers in the nation are on display, such as the Douglas B-18 Bolo, Douglas B-23 Dragon, Convair B-36 Peacemaker, North American B-45 Tornado, Boeing B-50 Superfortress, and Convair B-58 Hustler, according to the museum website.

Also there and available for weekend tours is a former Air Force One plane, the VC-9C Presidential Aircraft, that served the administrations of Presidents Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush. Tours of the plane are offered Saturdays and Sundays only, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. VC-9 tours are $10 in addition to museum admission.

The indoor museum houses a collection of wartime memorabilia such as aircraft engines, military uniforms, historic photos, and personal military artifacts from the past century, including the once top-secret Norden Bomb Sight.

Visit Castle from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. daily with last admission to the aircraft exhibit area at 3:15 p.m. The museum is at 5050 Santa Fe Drive, Atwater, and admission is $15 to $25, free ages 5 and under. www.castleairmuseum.org.

Hilmar Cheese Company – The Hilmar Cheese plant offers a variety of tours and fun. A new public AgXscape Game features teams of adults and children (reading level fourth grade and above) who make their way through simulated dairy farm challenges to unlock a secret answer. It’s not an escape room, so kids won’t feel trapped. See the website to reserve a time. The one-hour challenge is $20 per team.

There’s also a public ice cream making activity and tour. The hands-on activity includes freezing a bag of ice cream, a movie and gift at the end. See the website to reserve a time for the $4 admission tour.

Self-guided tours also are available to learn how cheese is made and explore interactive, exhibits about cows, dairies, cheese making and watch a movie. These tours are free.

The visitors center, at 9001 N. Lander Ave. in Hilmar, is open 7 a.m.-6 p.m. Mondays-Fridays and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays. See www.hilmar.com.