The Exploratorium at the Palace of Fine Arts
3601 Lyon Street, San Francisco
415.561.0399
www.exploratorium.edu
Neighborhood: The Marina
Cost: 14 dollars per adult and free for children under 3. 11 dollars for seniors, students 18+ and children 4 and older.
Parking: Free parking available – some spaces are limited to 2 hours.
Coco and Noy Dance in the Cool Steam
Yes, a wonderful place for kids, this we knew. But did you know that the Exploratorium is also toddler-friendly? (I even recommend bringing your babies here.) A perfect rainy day activity and extra fun outing for children since 1969 (I’m sure many of you remember it from your youth), the Exploratorium brings the best of science to your little ones through a children-can-touch-everything-and-anything philosophy that makes this museum unlike any other. This hands-on museum consists of both permanent and temporary exhibits and experiments – so if you have a membership there is no way you could ever tire of the place.
I know many of you may be saying, “I have been there a million times and I know it is kid friendly…” but I just wanted to give this museum more props for designing a space in which not only can kids and adults learn, but also toddlers can discover the world through using all of their senses.
My mommy friends and I marveled at how fascinated our little ones became when playing with the most giant bubble maker you will ever see, wind supported plastic balls blowing up straight in the air while maintaining their position and oversized chairs that resembled one that Goldilocks would have sat upon. Mine enjoyed the puppet theater in the fenced off baby/toddler area while I sat on the comfy couches and watched other toddlers read, play with wooden toys and interact with each other. We ate and relaxed in the snack bar area with food we brought from home, (it seemed no purchase was necessary to use the space.)
The staff is so helpful and informative – one staff member was thoughtful enough to warn us that a loud bell to signal that the museum was going to close was about to go off next to us – so we could move our children away if need be.
You may say that fourteen dollars is a bit pricey for an afternoon out, but as an escape from the rain or a special treat it is well worth the admission. And if you’d like to make this destination into a regular outing, it would be worth your while to invest in the membership as it pays for itself in a couple of visits with the family. Of course like all the museums in town, there is a free day for you to enjoy – check the website for current discounts. Also, a friend recommended to me that you come in the early morning hours as the Exploratorium is often not yet crowded with field trips.
And after all of this fun and learning, get in a little walk or picnic in the outdoors and enjoy the gorgeous scenery of the Palace of Fine Arts. Watch ducks and swans swim by and run up and down the grassy hills. (This lake is not fenced, so be prepared to watch little ones carefully.)
For dinner afterwards near this venue, we recommend Amici’s East Coast Pizzeria (at 2200 Lombard Street @ Steiner 415-885-4500) as a very kid friendly restaurant with a good children’s menu, tasty food and child friendly (read: extremely patient and tolerant!!) servers and staff.
