Where Now
Bring the Grown-Ups Along!
With so many great things to see and do, families give the San Francisco Bay Area a rating of 10 out of 10. Take a look at eight of the most entertaining and delightful family-friendly activities in the city and beyond that definitely get the kid stamp of approval. LAURIE JO MILLER FARR
(FACING PAGE) ©TIM GRIFFITH; (THIS PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT) ©LAURIE JO MILLER FARR (2); ©GABRIELE MALTINTI / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM
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EXPLORATORIUM
Stimulate all your senses at this hands-on interactive space located on a refurbished waterfront pier. “Explainers” help kids tinker with wood, make mechanical contraptions or build a circuit board. Don’t miss the tactile dome. PIER 15, THE EMBARCADERO, 415.528.4444, WWW.EXPLORATORIUM.EDU
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CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
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WALT DISNEY FAMILY MUSEUM
Yes, kids. Walt Disney was a real person. His creative genius is on display at this museum dedicated to his life and bigger-than-life imagination. Catch the special exhibit “Mickey Mouse: From Walt to the World,” to learn about Mickey Mouse’s influence on art and entertainment. 104 MONTGOMERY ST. IN THE PRESIDIO, 415.345.6800, WWW.WALTDISNEY.ORG
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ANTIQUE CAROUSELS
Explore a rainforest, an aquarium and outer space at this sprawling natural history museum in the middle of Golden Gate Park. Make sure you catch the planetarium show, the penguin feeding and the coral reef dive. See Claude, the 24-year-old albino alligator and don’t miss the observation deck and living roof.
Take a spin on one of San Francisco’s four vintage carousels. Find hand-carved horses at the Children’s Creativity Museum; frogs, dogs, roosters and pigs at Golden Gate Park; sea lions, dolphins and sea dragons at Pier 39; or a full menagerie of animals at the San Francisco Zoo.
55 MUSIC CONCOURSE DRIVE, 415.379.8000, WWW.CALACADEMY.ORG
LOCATED AT THE CHILDREN’S CREATIVITY MUSEUM AT YERBA BUENA GARDENS, GOLDEN GATE PARK, PIER 39 AND SAN FRANCISCO ZOO.
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