San Francisco Bay Area Region

Bay Area Discovery Museum - Located at the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge, the nationally recognized Bay Area Discovery Museum is a one-of-a-kind indoor/outdoor family museum that offers a full range of activities for children ages six months to eight years. The Museum’s unique programs feature hands-on art and science exhibitions, special performances and cultural festivals -- all with a focus on fun!

California Academy of Sciences -

Lawrence Hall of Science - The Lawrence Hall of Science is located at the University of California, Berkeley which offers a fun family center featuring hands-on exhibits, events, classes, and summer camps, workshops, labs and planetary shows.

Hall of Health - The Hall of Health, sponsored by Children's Hospital Oakland, is a community health-education museum and science center dedicated to promoting wellness and individual responsibility for health.

San Francisco Municipal Railway (Muni) - The San Francisco Municipal Railway (Muni) provides transportation to all points of interest within San Francisco. The Muni system operates both diesel and electric trolley buses, historic streetcars and the world famous Cable Cars.

Phoebe A. Hearst Museum of Anthropology - Explore the diversity of human cultures from the state of California and around the world, visit The Phoebe A. Hearst Museum of Anthropology at the University of California, Berkeley.

Berkeley Art Museum - The Berkeley Art Museum is located at the University of California and is particularly noted for its collection of late twentieth-century art.

University of California Botanical Garden - The University of California Botanical Garden is located in Strawberry Canyon above the Berkeley campus overlooking the San Francisco Bay.  The Garden features one of the most diverse plant collections in the United States.  The Garden's 34 acres contain over 13,000 species and more than 21,000 plants from all over the world arranged by region.

Old Faithful Geyser of Napa Valley California - Visit this spectacular, nature-directed performance. The stage, walled by thick bamboo and plumed pampas grass, appears as an innocent pool of shallow water until time for the major attraction. Uprising steam and bubbling hot water announce the geyser. Then, while Mount Saint Helena and the craggy Palisades mountains stand silent as backdrops, Old Faithful Geyser of California throws a tower of thousands of gallons of water skyward.

Sharpsteen Museum - The Sharpsteen Museum's  permanent exhibits are designed to present the history of the upper Napa Valley from its pre-history to post World War I with an emphasis on people and changes brought by the period of U.S. emigration and development.   

Roaring Camp Railroads -  Deep in the heart of the magnificent redwood forests of California's scenic Santa Cruz Mountains, south of San Francisco and north of the beautiful Monterey Bay, is America's last steam-powered passenger railroad with year-round passenger train service: the historic Roaring Camp & Big Trees Narrow-Gauge Railroad.

NASA-Ames Research Center - The Ames Visitor Center is an exhibit hall where the public is invited to come see and experience first-hand NASA's historic accomplishments and ongoing research.  There are many artifacts on display including wind tunnel models, a Mercury spacecraft, a Moon Rock, a space suit, and several research aircraft.  Ongoing research programs are highlighted with displays, models and interactive computer software.

Blue & Gold Fleet - Blue & Gold Fleet is the Bay Area's largest provider of ferry and water excursion services. Blue & Gold Fleet is the exclusive provider of tours to Alcatraz under concession to the National Park Service. Additionally, they offer a range of cruises including spectacular Bay Cruises, ferries to Sausalito, Tiburon, Alameda/Oakland, Vallejo and Angel Island.

Lick Observatory - University of California Observatories/Lick Observatory conducts leading-edge research to answer the most profound questions in observational astronomy.  Lick Observatory is open to daytime visitors nearly every day of the year. Visitors can enjoy a brief guided tour of the Great Lick Refractor in the main Observatory building.

Chabot Space and Science Center - At Chabot Space & Science Center (CSSC), the universe is yours to experience. Set amid 13 trail-laced acres of East Bay parkland, with glorious views of San Francisco Bay and the Oakland foothills, CSSC is a hands-on celebration of sights, sounds, and sensations.

Children's Fairyland - Children's Fairyland is an historic 10 acre outdoor park in which children's literature is "brought to life" through fairy tale exhibits, animals, and Talking Storybooks which children activate by turning a "Magic Key." 

Jack London Square - Jack London Square is a special spot at the water's edge where places for shopping, dining, and daydreaming are all waiting for you. Jack London Square features 15 varied restaurants, specialty shops, USS Potomac, Yoshi's Jazz Club. Accessible via ferry from San Francisco.

Museum of California - The Museum of California is devoted to the art, history and natural sciences of California.

Oakland Zoo - The Oakland Zoo is nestled in the rolling hills of 525-acre Knowland Park. Each year thousands of families and school groups from around the Bay Area come to visit over 300 native and exotic animals that live in naturalistic habitats at the Zoo.

Paramount Theatre - Oakland's Paramount Theatre is one of the finest remaining examples of Art Deco design in the United States.  The Paramount Theatre is the home of both the Oakland Ballet and the Oakland East Bay Symphony and, as one of the San Francisco Bay Area's premiere performing arts facilities, hosts a year-round schedule of popular music concerts, variety shows, and movies.

Preservation Park - Located near Oakland's City Center, the Park's 16 turn-of-the-century buildings are today renovated and with their facades restored, are set among manicured lawns and lush plantings, complete with Victorian park benches and street lamps. 

Western Aerospace Museum - The Museum's facilities are located in a vintage hangar at Oakland International Airport's historic North Field.

Hiller Aviation Museum - A collection dedicated to man's concept of flight.  Our Museum exhibits highlight the many historic advancements native to Northern California, and show how technologies resident here today will shape the future of air transportation.

San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf - Fisherman’s Wharf, San Francisco’s most popular destination is known for its historic waterfront, delicious seafood, spectacular sights and unique shopping, Fisherman’s Wharf offers a wide array of things to do for everyone.

The Wax Museum at Fisherman's Wharf - Step back in time and enjoy the ancient art of wax sculpting. Visit celebrities, U.S. presidents, world leaders, and lots more.

San Francisco Cable Cars - Interactive demos on how cable cars work, cable car route maps with popular destinations, cable car fares and etiquette, and the location and hours for the San Francisco Cable Car Powerhouse.

Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco - The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco (FAMSF) is the City's largest public arts institution. Comprised of the M.H. de Young Memorial Museum and the California Palace of the Legion of Honor, FAMSF is also the City's most successful public/private partnership.

Cartoon Art Museum - The Cartoon Art Museum is one of three museums in the United States dedicated to the preservation and exhibition of cartoon art in all its forms. This unique institution houses approximately 11,000 original pieces in its permanent collection; a complete volume research/library facility is located on the museum's premises. In addition to seven major exhibitions a year, the museum has a classroom for cartoon art and a bookstore.

Chinese Culture Center - The Chinese Culture Center of San Francisco is a major community-based, non-profit organization established in 1965 to foster the understanding and appreciation of Chinese and Chinese American art, history, and culture in the United States.  The Center offers a variety of educational and cultural programs. These programs range from lectures, workshops, and classes to art exhibitions, dance and musical performances, and cultural exchanges.

Exploratorium - Housed within the walls of San Francisco's Palace of Fine Arts, the Exploratorium is a collage of over 650 science, art, and human perception exhibits. The Exploratorium is a leader in the movement to promote the museum as an educational center.

Museum of Craft & Folk Art - The Museum of Craft & Folk Art is the only museum of its kind in northern California. Its unique exhibition program is dedicated to contemporary craft, American folk art, and traditional ethnic art.

Pier 39 - San Francisco's Number One Attraction provides visitors with postcard views of Alcatraz, the Golden Gate and Bay Bridges, the San Francisco Bay and the City skyline.  Visitors can enjoy shopping, entertainment, dining, and more!  

Ripley's Believe it or not Museum - Two floors, 11 galleries, over 10,000 square feet of exhibits, state of the art interactive displays, illusions and much more!

San Francisco Museum of Modern Art - The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art is considered one of the world's most innovative museums of modern and contemporary art.

San Francisco Zoo - The largest zoological park in Northern California and one of the Bay Area's most popular cultural and recreational attractions, the San Francisco Zoo is home to over 250 species of exotic and domestic mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish and invertebrates.

Aquarium of the Bay -  Aquarium of the Bay  is a truly unique educational facility dedicated to the San Francisco Bay and its surrounding waters.  The self-guided journey begins with a decent into a 707,000-gallon aquarium. Visitors then enter 300-feet of clear acrylic tunnels. A staff of expert naturalists is on hand to answer questions and encourage exploration of this mysterious world beneath the surface of the Bay. Visitors finish with a hands-on meeting with sea stars, urchins and sharks.

Legion of Honor - The Legion of Honor, San Francisco's most beautiful museum, displays an impressive collection of 4,000 years of ancient and European art in an unforgettable setting overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge.

Yerba Buena Center for the Arts - The mission of Yerba Buena Center for the Arts is to present arts and entertainment reflecting the San Francisco Bay Area's diverse cultural populations to the widest possible audiences.  Program areas include Visual Arts, Performing Arts, Film/Video and Education.

Children's Discovery Museum - The striking 52,000 square foot purple building was designed to serve the needs of children, families and schools as a center for learning and discovery.  Encompassing the broad themes of community, connections and creativity, exhibits invite self-directed, open-ended explorations, while programs provide facilitated, focused, and sustained interactions.

Happy Hollow Park and Zoo - The Park is a peaceful, creative and safe place for children of all ages, with the main focus on "little ones" between the ages of 2-10. There are creative play areas, children's rides, hand puppet and marionette shows, special events, and birthday areas.

Asian Art Museum - The Asian Art Museum of San Francisco is one of the largest museums in the Western world devoted exclusively to Asian art. Its holdings include nearly 15,000 treasures spanning 6,000 years of history, representing cultures throughout Asia.

Mexican Heritage Plaza - The Mexican Heritage Plaza/Centro Cultural de San José is in the heart of San José's oldest and largest Mexican-American community.  The Plaza features a theater, thematical gardens, a pavilion, plaza, festivals and events for the entire family.

Raging Waters - Raging Waters, the Bay Area’s largest water theme park, offers family recreation on the grounds of Lake Cunningham Regional Park in San Jose.  There are water slides, thrill rides and attractions designed for every member of  the family including an interactive family play structure and pint-sized attractions for the little ones.

Roscicrucian Egyptian Museum & Plamentarium - This beautiful complex, established in 1927 in San Jose, California, houses several Egyptian-style buildings on a five-acre, park-like setting featuring broad lawns, palm trees, rose gardens, and exotic plants from around the world.

San Jose Museum of Art - San Jose's premier art museum, with a focus on contemporary art in all media.   The Museum also offers a unique museum store and café.

San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles - The Museum’s exhibits and programs promote the appreciation of quilts and textiles as art and provide an understanding of their role in the lives of their makers, in cultural traditions, and as historical documents.

Tech Museum of Innovation - The Tech Museum of Innovation in San Jose, California is a hands-on technology museum devoted to inspiring the innovator in everyone.  Explore over 250 interactive high-tech exhibits in a 132,000-sq.-ft. museum and Northern California's only IMAX® Dome theater.

Winchester Mystery House - Historic 160-room Victorian mansion built by rifle heiress Sarah Winchester. Beautiful details mixed in with bizarre oddities, such as doors opening onto walls and stairs going nowhere. Guided tours offered daily.

Intel Museum - At the Intel Museum in Santa Clara, you can experience the power of computer chips first hand, and the evolution of their development.

Paramount's Great America - Paramount's Great America is considered Northern California's most thrilling park.  The park offers shows, thrill rides and entertainment for the entire family.

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk -  Located on a mile-long beach between Monterey and San Francisco, the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is your admission-free hot spot for beach vibes and classic rides!

Hakone Japanese Gardens - Saratoga's beautiful Japanese gardens are located just 1/10th of a mile above the Village of Saratoga. In this city park you will find one of the most beautiful and authentic Japanese gardens in the United States.

Montalvo Arts Center - This century-old, Mediterranean-style villa nestled among 175 acres of the beautiful Saratoga, California foothills, is home to Montalvo, the organization. Gallery exhibitions, concerts, literary readings, and special events take place throughout the year.

The Marine Mammal Center - The Marine Mammal Center rescues and rehabilitates more marine mammals than any other insitution in the world.  Our education programs aim to increase public knowledge and awareness of the marine environment as a critical link to the survival and health of all life. The Center's education/docent programs reach hundreds of thousands of people, from pre-school to seniors, each year.

Six Flags Discovery Kingdom - Experience wildlife and wild rides at America's only combination theme park, wildlife park, and oceanarium. Come see how more than 30 exhilarating rides, 10 shows, and 35 exotic animal attractions add up to one amazing adventure.

Lindsay Wildlife Museum - Lindsay Wildlife Museum is a wildlife rehabilitation and educational center that focuses on native California wildlife and natural history. The museum exhibits live, non-releasable native wildlife.  Founded in 1955, the museum operates the oldest and one of the largest wildlife rehabilitation hospitals in the United States, treating more than 6,000 injured and orphaned wild animals each year.

The Ruth Bancroft Garden - Preserving an exceptional example of American garden design, The Ruth Bancroft Garden demonstrates the beauty and excitement possible in a water-conserving landscape and is Internationally recognized as one of the finest private gardens in North America.

Filoli Center - Filoli is a wonderous 650 acre estate 30 miles south of San Francisco.  Magnificent gardens are seemingly untouched by the passage of time.  A grand Georgian mansion sits amongst these gardens where hundreds of rare flowers, plants and trees flourish.  Wander trough the estate on the brick paths that invite visitors from all over the world to explore the grace an beauty of Filoli.

The  Vintage 1870 - An almost infinite variety of merchandise awaits!  Accessories for the home, garden, and bath. Fine art, wines and wine tasting, gourmet foods, handmade chocolates, unique toys and books, jewelry and gems, romantic gifts and unique collectibles from Napa Valley and around the world complement an exciting array of fine clothing and accessories for all ages.

Waterworld USA, Concord - Waterworld USA is an exciting water park featuring pools, slides, thrilling rides and more located in Concord.

The Friends of Photography (Ansel Adams Center) - The Friends of Photography is a not-for-profit international visual arts organization that operates the Ansel Adams Center for Photography in San Francisco. The Friends promotes visual literacy by presenting, analyzing and interpreting photography as the fundamental medium of visual experience.