Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
60
2 Exploratorium
Your kids may well list this highly regarded
science museum as their fav orite place in
San F rancisco. This hands-on museum
offers so many exhibits that y ou r eally
should arrive right when it opens at 10am
to have a full hour to enjo y just a fraction
of them. I f y our kids ar e y oung, they 'll
find easy-to-understand exhibits at the
light and optics ar ea at the r ear, while the
biology displays on the mezzanine lev el
will fascinate older kids. I f a toddler
amongst y ou is o verwhelmed b y all the
activity, have a par ent take him or her to
the back play ar ea for a br eak, but don 't
linger there too long, as ther e is simply so
much to see. See p. 160.
3 The Palace of Fine Arts & the
Wave Organ
When y ou step out of the dar kened
Exploratorium Hall into the light of day ,
take a moment to appr eciate the lo vely
scenery at the Palace of Fine Arts (p. 161)
abutting the E xploratorium. H ave y our
kids look at the ducks and run on the grass
before heading nor th on B aker S treet,
crossing M arina Boulev ard and continu-
ing to the water 's edge. Walk onto the
breakwater, wher e y ou'll see the bizarr e
Wave Organ (p. 202), created by scientists
from the Exploratorium.
4 Crissy Field
Head west to vie w this r estored wetlands
area, which less than a decade ago was an
unsightly abandoned militar y airstrip .
You'll see joggers, dog walkers, bike riders
of all ages, str oller-pushers, and plenty of
other locals enjoying what is the y oungest
national park in the Bay Area, located next
to the Golden Gate Bridge. Crissy Field is
best at this time of day, when the morning
fog has worn off but the afternoon winds,
which attract expert wind- and kite-surfers
from thr oughout the B ay Ar ea, hav e not
yet picked up.
5 de Young Museum
Now walk or take the P residio-Go shuttle
to Richar dson A venue and F rancisco
Street. There, transfer to the no . 28-19th
Avenue bus. Take it to the corner of F ul-
ton Street and 19th Avenue; then walk east
to the de Young Museum (p. 179). Many
areas of this terrific museum, including
the main lobb y, to wer, and sculptur e
garden, are free to visitors. You may want
to go first to the cafe for a quick lunch (see
“Take a B reak” below). Then head up to
the Tower, which affor ds gr eat vie ws of
northwest S an F rancisco and the P acific
Ocean, vistas y ou won 't hav e seen fr om
Coit Tower. From ther e, y ou'll also get a
bird's ey e vie w of the astounding living
grass roof the California A cademy of Sci-
ences, your next stop on the tour.
6 DE YOUNG CAFÉ
Hop in line t o order creative sandwiches
made with sustainable ing redients (even
the PB&Js use or ganic peanut butt er),
enticing salads , or health y hot dishes .
Then grab a table outside t o enjoy lunch
by the sculptur e gar den. The k ids can
touch the sculptur es and ev en go inside
of one as y
3
ou sip y
our post-lunch
espresso.
7 California Academy of
Sciences
Step into the most ecological museum
building in the world. O pened in S eptem-
ber 2008, the much lauded and ecologically
cutting-edge Academy of Sciences is home
to 40,000 liv e animals, a planetarium, an
aquarium, and a natural histor y museum.
See p . 178 for ho w to best organiz e y our
time here. Beyond the impr essive building
itself, there is a lot to see her e.
8 Golden Gate Park
Beyond the de Young M useum and the
Academy of Sciences, G olden G ate P ark
Search WWH ::




Custom Search