5 BEST Bay Area Attractions for Families
Are you taking the kids to San Francisco? Those traveling to San Francisco with children are going to want to plan activities that will keep the kids interested. We have some great Bay Area attractions for families you should consider.
5 BEST Bay Area Attractions for Families
San Francisco is packed full of wonderful things to do like riding a trolly and seeing the Golden Gate Bridge, but if you are looking for more specific attractions for families, we have great ideas on things the kids will love:
1. California Academy of Sciences
One of our favorite Bay area attractions for families happens to be located in Golden Gate Park.
Named one of the largest Natural history museums in the world, the California Academy of Sciences is more than just a museum.
It is an aquarium, planetarium, and also research building.
Your kids will have a great time exploring the indoor rain forest, the earthquake simulator, dinosaur fossils and all the interactive features inside!
Make sure that you give yourself plenty of time here! I’d say at the least, 3 hours.
Hours of Operation:
Monday – Saturday: 9:30 am – 5 pm
Sunday: 11 am – 5 pm
Thursday Night Life (21+):6 – 10 pm
Admission Varies, but the earlier you book your ticket, the better (The California Academy of Sciences is on the San Francisco CityPass).
2. The Walt Disney Family Museum
When you think of Disney, you probably don’t think of San Francisco!
Located in the Presidio of San Francisco, The Walt Disney Family Museum chronicles the life of Walt Disney (made possible by his eldest daughter, the late Diane Disney Miller).
Inside you will find interactive galleries, exhibits narrated in Walt’s own voice, early drawings, cartoons, movies, and a 13-foot model of Disney’s original vision of Disneyland.
This is one of our favorite Bay Area attractions for families traveling with children of any age since everyone is familiar with Disneyland and the Disney catalog of movies.
Hours of Operation:
10 am-6 pm every day but Tuesday
Admission
The Walt Disney Family Museum is on the San Francisco CityPass
3. Exploratorium at Pier 15
Even if your kids aren’t particularly interested in science, they will find this interactive space with more than 650 hands-on exhibits a fun way to spend the day!
Exploratorium is full of things to keep both their minds and bodies engaged.
At this museum, you will find different themed galleries to explore.
Your kids can do everything from standing inside a powerful natural vortex to creating their own sculpture with reusable materials.
Kids will be fully engaged in learning how things work in many different capacities!
Be sure to see the 22-foot-tall Tinkerer’s Clock in motion, find out how bugs come together to decompose a rat carcass and explore the Tactile Dome where you will put your senses to the test.
Throughout the Exploratorium you will find docents to answer questions and live demonstrations taking place.
And the fun doesn’t end inside. There is even more going on outside, like a fully immersive fog display that explains how fog works.
Since the museum is indoors and outdoors, be sure to wear appropriate clothing and kids should wear clothes that allow them to explore the museum and interact with ease.
The Exploratorium is on the San Francisco CityPass
4. Aquarium of the Bay
If you are planning a trip to Fisherman’s Wharf, you really should take the kids to the Aquarium of the Bay.
While small, this aquarium has some neat features that make it worth a visit (especially since it is on the San Francisco CityPass).
You will get to see all the different types of aquatic life, from jellyfish to sea anemones. There are sharks, different reptiles, and even some super cute river otters.
Hours of Operation:
Open Every day from 10 am – 6 pm
Aquarium by the Bay is on the San Francisco CityPass
5. Lucasfilm
If you have kids who are fans of Star Wars, you should make the trip to Lucas Film headquarters.
Located in the Presidio of San Francisco, this is the main campus for Lucasfilm.
Lucasfilm’s campus is a working production facility so while you can’t tour the production studio, you can walk in the lobby and see some pretty cool memorabilia!
The main lobby is open to the public from 8 am-5 pm Monday-Friday.
Location: 1 Letterman Dr, San Francisco, CA 94129
San Francisco CityPass
One thing we do recommend is purchasing a San Francisco City Pass in advance of your trip.
This card can save you a ton of time and money as many of the places on our list of favorite Bay Area activities for families are on it:
One-time admission to 4 attractions
Guests can visit each of these attractions:
- California Academy of Sciences
- Blue & Gold Fleet’s San Francisco Bay Cruise
In addition, guests can choose 2 more attractions from this list:
- Aquarium of the Bay
- Exploratorium
- San Francisco Zoo & Gardens
- San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA)
- The Walt Disney Family Museum
Have you been to San Francisco with kids? What are some Bay Area attractions for families you would recommend?
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