Aquarium of the Bay
Walk-through tunnels put sharks, rays and schools of fish overhead, and the river otters are a crowd favorite, all focused on San Francisco Bay wildlife. Steps from the PIER 39 sea lions.
Musée Mécanique
Free admission to a delightfully noisy collection of antique coin-operated machines: fortune tellers, player pianos, pinball and old-time arcade games. Bring a pocketful of quarters.
The Walt Disney Family Museum
Interactive galleries trace Walt Disney’s life, from early sketches to the making of Disneyland, in a historic 1897 Army barracks. Kids 5 and under are free; open Thursday–Sunday.
Chinese Historical Society of America Museum
Housed in a Julia Morgan–designed landmark, this museum tells the story of Chinese Americans through artifacts, photos and rotating exhibitions. Currently open Wednesdays and Saturdays only.
Coit Tower
Climb the Filbert or Greenwich steps (or ride the 39 Coit bus) to this Art Deco landmark. 1930s murals line the ground floor, and the elevator leads to 360-degree bay views.
San Francisco Zoo & Gardens
More than 1,500 animals across 100 oceanside acres make the zoo a full-day adventure. It’s open 365 days a year, with discounted admission for SF residents and free entry for kids under 2.
Legion of Honor
Perched in Lincoln Park above the Golden Gate, this grand museum pairs European art and sculpture with dramatic ocean views. Youth 17 and under are free, and the lawns and nearby coastal trails are made for exploring.
de Young Museum
Visitors 17 and under are always free, which makes this art museum an easy add-on to a park day. The twisting Hamon Observation Tower has sweeping views over the treetops to the ocean and downtown.
California Academy of Sciences
An aquarium, planetarium, four-story rainforest and natural history museum under one living, plant-covered roof. Watch African penguins, peer at a coral reef and wander among free-flying butterflies. Kids 2 and under are free.
Lombard Street (Crooked Block)
Walk the stairs beside the famous zigzag block and watch cars wind through its tight turns. Flower beds and bay views make for great photos, and a Powell-Hyde cable car stops at the top.