
Cool Museums In San Francisco – San Francisco may be famous for its bay views, Victorian houses and cable cars, but it’s also a fun place for kid-friendly culture. From the lively streets of Chinatown to major theaters and world-class museums, this city has something for every family looking to expand their lifestyle. Here are five museums that you and your kids will love.
One of the most famous museums in San Francisco, the California Academy of Sciences is a place for children and their parents to learn about our planet and beyond. With several floors to explore, you will find a beautiful aquarium, an earthquake simulator, a sparkling gem collection, a white alligator, and a four-story water forest where countless butterflies fly around you. There is a lot to see here, but don’t miss the planet games. Outside the museum is the Music Concourse, where children can burn off energy.
Cool Museums In San Francisco
Not all children enjoy visiting art museums, but the de Young Museum can be a wonderful surprise for older children. From the interesting features of the African and Oceanic collections to the amazing paintings of modern works, this museum will help your children develop a different view of what art is. Children who have studied the history of the Mayans, Aztecs or Incas in school will especially enjoy the collection of Mayan paintings and sculptures.
San Francisco’s 10 Best Museums For Culture Lovers
Whether you visit the museum or not, don’t miss the Hamon Tower. It’s free to climb, and once you’re there, you’re treated to a 360-degree view of the city and San Francisco Bay.
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The museum also offers de Youngsters studio where children aged 3 to 8 can see art in a way that suits them best. While you’re there, pick up the Youngsters Discovery Guide for family-friendly ways to explore the museum together.
If you want a traditional look at art history, try the nearby Legion of Honor, a beautiful building in a beautiful park overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge. While the building itself is reason enough to visit, the museum houses an impressive collection of French sculpture, Impressionist paintings and classical art.
Awesome Museums In San Fransisco, Ca, To Visit In 2023
Housed in an old military building in beautiful Presidio National Park, the Walt Disney Family Museum offers an in-depth look at the life and work of Walt Disney. Be aware that this museum includes a lot of historical pieces (think Academy Awards and first drafts), so despite its name, it might not be the best choice for young children. Check out special shows like “Mickey Mouse: From Walt to Earth,” which runs through early 2020.
After visiting the museum, explore the Presidio by walking on Crissy Field or hiking to Wood Line or Baker Beach.
Located on Pier 15 with a view of San Francisco Bay, the Exploratorium is an excellent choice for curious youngsters and their parents. This large learning laboratory has hundreds of hands-on exhibits for your children to learn about science, art and humanities. One of the best here is the Tactile Dome, a dark, twisting sculpture where you walk, crawl and slide guided only by your sense of touch.
If you’re looking for a hands-on experience suitable for young children, try the Children’s Creativity Museum. Featuring multimedia stations, interactive technology, stories and short films, this museum is a fun place for children aged 2 to 12. Before you go, don’t miss the adjacent playground and the historic carousel with animals hand-carved by artist Charles I.D. Looff in 1907. Living in downtown San Francisco? Combine a visit to this museum with a walk in the Yerba Buena Gardens.
San Francisco Best Museums — This Life Of Travel
With so many accommodation options in San Francisco, it can be difficult to choose, but these three family-friendly properties stand out.
For nature in the middle of the city, try the Inn at the Presidio, located near the Walt Disney Family Museum. This historic hotel offers two rooms for families to stay, and with an outdoor fire pit and miles of hiking trails steps away, there’s plenty to do. A bonus here is the free afternoon wine and cheese service and a large continental breakfast.
If you want to stay close to the action, you can’t go wrong with the kid-friendly Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco. This luxury hotel is located on Market Street in the heart of downtown San Francisco. At check-in, your little one receives a stuffed animal, and once inside the room, children are treated to milk and cookies. The hotel also offers live board games, weekly movie nights, small cooking classes and great kids meals with a view at the MKT Restaurant.
With a sleek modern feel, the InterContinental San Francisco Hotel offers family-friendly rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows and modern amenities. This beautiful blue tower in downtown San Francisco is not just a luxury hotel – it’s also a great example of green architecture. With LEED Gold certification and many energy saving features, the InterContinental is the choice for sustainability-minded families.
What To See At San Francisco’s Splendid Palace Of Fine Arts
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Want to save all the great intel and tips you’re getting on Ciao Bambino? My Trip Planner allows you to book reservations, family-friendly hotel reviews, and family vacation packages. Just click the heart icon on whatever you want to save. Site registration is required to get started. Exciting planning!The museums of San Francisco honor its close ties to Asia as well as the love of science and the progress of the tech hub. You will find museums here exploring the city’s history from the early days, when the bay was full of sailing ships bringing gold seekers to America, as well as its idiosyncratic history over the past centuries.
The city has many museums, big and small, that guarantee days of looking at the prizes. Here are 10 of our favorite museums that capture the local vibe and culture.

Known by the slightly more complex acronym, SFMOMA, this museum has an impressive collection of modern art displayed over seven floors. The collection is extensive, and the museum was an early investor in emerging art forms such as photography, installation, video, digital art and design.
Walt Disney Family Museum
Don’t miss exclusive photos and special shows. Imagine yourself among the fascinating paintings in Agnes Martin’s room, then take a look at Warhol’s iconic pop art, and hit the seventh floor for an exhibition of cutting-edge contemporary work and exciting multimedia installations. Sunny days are perfect for a relaxing coffee at the rooftop cafe and sculpture garden.
With four historic ships converted into floating museums, this marine park is the main attraction of Fisherman’s Wharf. Moored alongside Hyde Street Pier is the 1891 schooner
All are run by the National Park Service and the exhibits are located near the Maritime Museum, which was built as a casino and public bathhouse in 1939 by the Depression-era Works Progress Administration (WPA). Beautifully restored paintings depict the mythical worlds of Atlantis and Mu and exhibits include maritime ephemera and dioramas. Note the entrance way carved by famous African American artist Sargent Johnson.
The bayside Exploratorium is full of fun-filled interactive exhibits that bring science to life © Worayoot Pechsuwanrungsee / Shutterstock
Unusual Museums In The San Francisco Bay Area
Is there a science to skateboarding? Do toilets hang counterclockwise in Australia? Combining science and technology, San Francisco’s dazzling hands-on Exploratorium challenges you to question how you know what you know. As exciting as the shows are: a 9-acre, glass-encased pier that juts out over San Francisco Bay, with large outdoor spaces that you can explore for free.
The 600-plus displays have push buttons, knobs and dials to adjust, all made by artists and scientists at the museums’ in-house workshops. With fun activities such as the punk hairdo experiment, courtesy of the static-electric station, it’s one museum kids won’t want to leave.
Visitors can imagine what it was like to be Chinese in San Francisco during the gold rush, the construction of the transcontinental railroad and the Beat heyday in this wonderful museum, originally built as the YWCA of Chinatown in 1932. Historians have uncovered some interesting facts related to the Chinese history of San. Francisco, including 1920s silks
Exhibits reflect personal and Chinese American perspectives on events in the country’s history – including the Civil Rights movement, the Cold War, and the Chinese Exclusion Act, which legally excluded Chinese immigrants from US citizenship and civil rights from 1882 to 1943.
Fine Arts Museums Of San Francisco: Legion Of Honor & De Young Museum Ticket
A taste of San Francisco’s golden age of street transportation at the Cable Car Museum © wonderlustpicstravel / Shutterstock
Hear that rumble coming from under San Francisco’s cable car tracks? It’s the sound of the cables pulling the cars, and they all connect inside the historic downtown Washington and Mason Cable Car Barn. The handling, the engine, the braking system… if these electrical wonders warm your heart, you will be impressed by the free Cable Car Museum.
This fascinating museum isn’t just a warehouse for antiques – it’s the powerhouse that keeps the famous Powell-Mason line running. You can trace the cables running down the road, through the open gate and
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