Bay Area Museums For Kids

San Francisco is not just a town of high culture museums – although we have plenty of those. It’s also a place where kids can find their creative side.  Here are just a few places in the Bay Area that offers families a playground for creative thinking and exploration.

Bay Area Discovery Museum (map)
The Bay Area Discovery Museum is a one-of-a-kind indoor/outdoor children’s museum located next to the Golden Gate Bridge in Sausalito, offering hands-on art and science exhibitions, cultural festivals and special events.

Kids can explore a shipwreck, collaborate on natural art projects, grab the “catch” of the day in a simulated Fisherman’s Wharf, or discover the wind, currents and creatures of the Bay.

Tues.-Fri.,  9 a.m.-4 p.m, Sat.-Sun., 10 a.m.-5 p.m., closed last two weeks of Sept. $10 adults, $8 children 1-17, $8 seniors 62+, infants under 1 free. Free on first Wed. of each month from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

California Academy of Sciences (map)
Families can explore earth, ocean and space in the only place in the world to combine a natural history museum, aquarium, planetarium and world-class research and education facility under one roof.

Designed by award winning architect Renzo Piano, the world’s largest public green building is topped with a living roof, a 2.5-acre expanse of native California plants, providing a habitat for birds, butterflies and insects, which blends seamlessly into the beautiful landscape of San Francisco’s iconic Golden Gate Park.

Daily interactions with animals, educators and biologists within immersive, hands-on exhibits offer discovery and wonder for visitors of all ages. The Academy inspires lifelong curiosity and appreciation for the natural world. Experience the depths of a Philippine coral reef, climb into the canopy of a Costa Rican rainforest and fly to the outer reaches of the Universe.

Hours: Mon.-Sat., 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun., 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; Admission: $24.95; children 6 and younger, free; children 7-11, $14.95 ; youth 12-17, students 18+ (with I.D.) and seniors 65+ (with I.D.), $19.95. Free third Wed. of each month.

Cartoon Art Museum (map)
The Cartoon Art Museum is the only museum west of the Appalachian Mountains dedicated to the preservation, education and exhibition of cartoon art in all forms. View rare, original cartoon art.

Open Tues.-Sun., 11a.m.-5 p.m.; closed Mon. and holidays. Admission is $6 for adults; $4 for students and seniors; $2 for children age 6-12; under age 5 free. The first Tues. of every month is “pay what you wish day.”

The Exploratorium – Palace of Fine Arts (map)

The Exploratorium is the original hands-on science museum – its interactive exhibits make learning fun.  The museum is open year-round, but closed on Mon. Children are $9 (children under the age of 3 are free) and adults are $14.  Admission is free the first Wed. of every month.

San Francisco Cable Car Barn & Museum (map)
The City’s cable car system is run from a circa 1907 red brick barn. Examine the winding machinery designed to make the motorless cars navigate city streets and study Andrew Hallidie’s original prototype Car No. 8.

Hours: open daily 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Admission: free. Located at 1201 Mason St.

San Francisco Fire Department Museum
The San Francisco Fire Department Historical Society (SFFDHS) preserves the heritage and records the history of the San Francisco Fire Department (SFFD).  Guests can see displays of documents, graphic items, fire memorabilia, apparatus, appliances and other items.  Admission is free. Hours: Thurs.-Sun., 1p.m -4 p.m.

Zeum

A multimedia arts and technology museum where kids and families explore creativity through hands-on programs including clay animation, video production, and more. Hours: school year hours Wed.-Fri. 1-5 p.m., Sat.-Sun. 11a.m. –5 p.m. Admission: $8-10; free for members and children under age 4.

Photo courtesy of Flickr Pargon