Local museums are where curiousity meets a vast wealth of knowledge. Whether visitors want to uncover the agriculture roots of the area, enjoy interactive science and wildlife exhibits, or even crave some football history during the offseason, at least one of these Central Valley museums can provide that information.

What is Paxton Gate? When you give two quirky landscape designers a storefront to explore their interest in succulents, insects and taxidermy, you get the crazy weird store, Paxton Gate. Paxton Gate started as an eccentric garden store, and has transformed into a life-size terrarium filled with what they like to call “treasures and oddities:” odd books, furniture, vintage and antique tchotchkis, lab vials and real bones and insects (they have been collected from their natural habitat).

1. I taught students how to dissect squids. The best part was making calamari afterwards.

Not all pets are furry, snuggly, or come when you call. But exotic pets like lizards, birds, turtles and snakes inspire curiosity, spark the imagination and foster wonder. More Lodians are choosing pets in cages or tanks over traditional dogs, cats and hamsters for a few reasons. Many exotic pets require less daily care and won’t shed on your furniture. Scaly limbs and dramatic names bring to mind dinosaurs and creatures of myth. Take a look at a few of the exotic pets in Lodi and where you can          buy your own:

Naomi Abdaljawad, owner of GBU Enterprises in Lodi, cradled a small, furry creature in her hand. 

Clark Pest Control, one of the sponsors of the Lodi Grape Festival, is bringing big activities to this year's event.

Lodi resident Lola Luvianos glanced skeptically at the cockroach sitting in the palm of Clark Pest Control's Patty Smith.

Spiders! For some, spiders are the stars of their worst nightmare. They creep, they crawl and they hide, lurking in the corners just waiting for their chance to jump out and devour you before you have a chance to run. They can be black and shiny, they can have multiple eyes and some are just down right big and hairy.

From animals to comedy and dancing, the Grape Festival features a variety of shows and exhibits to entertain both the young and the old. Here is what you can expect to see:

Q: Describe your typical Saturday afternoon.

Visiting the Lodi area with kids? Here are local hot spots to keep you both busy:

World of Wonders Science Museum

2 N. Sacramento St., Lodi

209-368-0WOW (209-368-09069)

Hands-on science museum where children and adults can learn about the world around them through science.

What would Lodi’s biggest event of the year be without its tried-and-true exhibits? They range from grape murals that put Lodi on the map to creepy, crawly reptiles that you can actually handle.

October started with a bang! First, the weather has begun to behave and the trees are beginning to crisp up and shed.

Music director Randy Knutson was leading a hymn at the beginning of a special service on Sunday at St. John's Episcopal Church, but he got some extra help.

Clerestory, an eight-man classical a'cappella ensemble from the Bay Area, will perform at 4 p.m. Sunday at St. John's Episcopal Church, 1055 S. Lower Sacramento Road, Lodi.

An all-day, faith-based Lavish Women's Conference designed to be fun and upbeat will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 10 at Hutchins Street Square, 125 S. Hutchins St., Lodi.

An all-day, faith-based Lavish Women's Conference designed to be fun and upbeat will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 10 at Hutchins Street Square, 125 S. Hutchins St., Lodi.

The community is invited to participate in a six-week focus on what it takes to build healthy relationships, beginning Sept. 26 and 27 at Crosslands/Heartland Church, 2223 W. Kettleman Lane, next door to Target, in Lodi.

When we were kids, with the reflexes of a mongoose, it was no trick to catch a fly. The sad thing was, when we did catch a fly, it would soon be known as a "walk," because to be a "fly" you have to have wings.

Cue the theme music to "Indiana Jones."