Cable Car Museum
This free museum lets you watch the giant wheels that pull the city’s cable cars, with historic cars and photos explaining how it all works. Pair it with an actual cable car ride.
Fort Mason Center for Arts & Culture
This waterfront campus in historic piers hosts galleries, theaters, festivals and food events all year, with open space and views of the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz. It connects easily to walks along Marina Green.
Palace of Fine Arts
The huge domed rotunda and colonnades beside a lagoon feel like a storybook setting. Families walk the paths, watch the swans and ducks, and take photos. The grounds are free to wander.
Balmy Alley Murals
This short alley is lined end to end with colorful murals, making it a free open-air art walk. The paintings tell stories about Latino culture, community and history, and Precita Eyes Muralists runs guided tours for families who want the background.
Oracle Park
The Giants’ waterfront ballpark is a classic family outing with big bay views, and guided behind-the-scenes tours run year-round. Walk along McCovey Cove before or after.
Grace Cathedral
This grand cathedral has two labyrinths to walk, stunning stained glass and a treasure-hunt map for young visitors. Children under 12 get in free.
Ferry Building Marketplace
This landmark waterfront food hall has dozens of local vendors, so everyone can find something to eat. The farmers market outside is lively, and it’s fun to watch the ferries come and go.
Exploratorium
More than 600 interactive exhibits invite everyone to touch, test and experiment, from light and sound to bay ecology. It’s easy to spend a whole day here, and children 3 and under get in free.
SFMOMA
Visitors 18 and under get in free (book a ticket in advance), which makes this big modern art museum an easy family outing. Families can try hands-on art-making, and strollers are welcome in the galleries.
Children’s Creativity Museum
This hands-on museum lets kids make their own animation, build and design projects, and try tech-based art. The historic LeRoy King Carousel is right outside, and it works well for a half-day visit.