Duck Tours

What about a taking a Duck Tour as a cool summer activity for kids? I took my kids on the San Francisco Duck Tours and it was educational and so much fun. Here is their website: www.bayquackers.com Regards, Nicole

there is a little shuttle (check their web site for price) that goes around the island and stops at various points of interest. you can get off and wait for the next shuttle there, or stay on your shuttle. So especially if you don't mind splitting up your group, it will be very easy to accomodate walkers and non-walkers. Be sure to go to the immigration museum (free, but closes around 3). It is so moving. You don't have to spend a long time there, so even with a little one it's feasible. have fun!

Exploratorium

Exploratorium: if you are already a member at the Lawrence Hall of Science, you can get into the Exploratorium free. This is really designed for older kids, but I took my son when he was one and two years old, and he still found lots to do: buttons to push, lights and smoke to look at, etc. They used to have a special toddler area with legos and similar toys, but last time I was there it was temporarily closed. You might call and check.

Ferry Rides

Holliday

Tavie

Al

Date: Sun, 14 Jul 1996 15:47:58 -0700
From: Andrea
Subject: inexpensive vacationing in SF

Golden Gate Park:  This is a terrific park, with lots of playscapes all in
the area near the carousel.  The aquarium there is really fun for toddlers
(they can get closer to the fish than they can to zoo animals), and they
also have stuffed animals in a big diarama (this is also free to Lawrence
Hall of Science members).  You can go see the flowers in the Conservatory
(call to see if it's open; it was damaged by wind last winter but I think
it's OK now) and the model boats.  And buffaloes!  And a windmill!  And go
for a walk on the beach (or just drive out the beach and sit on the
retaining wall if you don't want to walk far, and watch the sunset).

Last year for my daughter's 11th birthday we held an overnight, with the main attraction being a trip to the 10 pm Laserium show in SF (the particular one was LaserRage, but I don't think they show that any more). We provided the usual cake, ice cream etc (and had a contest to see who could eat their cake most neatly with NO HANDS), as well as breakfast for the kids. We asked the parents to pay for the show itself ($5 each for the kids; $7 for any adults who wanted to go). The kids agreed that this was one of the best birthday parties they'd ever been to.

Dawn

Museums

For those who live in SF or like to go there, here are my suggestions for things to do:

First, many city attractions have "free" days. For example, the first Wed of the month is free at the SF Zoo, the Exploratorium, the Academy of Sciences, and I believe the de Young art museum. I think Fort Mason, too, but you should call. The Bay Area Discovery Museum (Sausalito) used to be free on the first Thursday; call to verify. It's worth the time to give a call to any place you may be interested in.

My favorite activity is at the Art Museum. At 10:30 at the de Young, and 2:00 at the Legion of Honor, there are free art programs for kids 3-1/2 to 6 and 7 to 12. Art teachers quickly show the kids a room, with very age appropriate information, and then they go back to a central hall and do a related art project. The teachers are absolutely fantastic -- among the best I've seen.

Pier 39 Aquarium

Underwater World (Aquarium) at Pier 39: Not Worth It. I think it's a tourist trap. It costs about as much as the Monterey Aquarium but it is vastly smaller and has only a few things to see. For my money, the aquarium in Monterey is much much better. Fabulous, in fact.

Had so much fun with my 17-mo. old daughter last week-end at Pier 39 that I thought I would write in about it. Claire has been interested in seals and sea lions, mostly because her uncle has been teaching her to imitate the sounds that they make! So we decided to go see all those sea lions at Pier 39. They were loud and smelly and Claire loved it. She also chased pigeons to her heart's content and road the carousel. The boats were also fascinating to her. For a toddler who loves the noise and hussle-bussle of lots of people and attractions, it's a fun and inexpensive trip to take. Pack for cold wind and fog though... you never know what weather you are going to get!

Lynn

Stern Grove

Stern Grove: free concerts Sundays at 2:00 during this part of the summer (thru sometime in August, I think mid-August). Bring a folding chair.

Teddy Bear Factory

From: Wendy
Subject: More fun ideas
Date: Thu, 18 Jul 96 09:55:00 PDT


In SF (Potrero Hill area) , Basic Brown Bears has an $8.00 tour, during 
which they show you how they make their stuffed animals and let you stuff 
(and keep) your own bear. They do try to sell you additional "bear clothing" 
on your way out, but you don't have to do that.

From: Allen
Subject: The San Francisco Zoo 
Date: Sun, 1 Oct 1995 13:08:04 -0700 (PDT)


I took my son to the Zoo the other Weekend.  It is a fun way to spend
the day.  Took the BART to SF and the L muni to the Zoo.

If you take a bag lunch you can do it all for less than $15.00.

The beach is right there also, lots of Sand Dollars, but most were
broken.

Allen


Date: Mon, 2 Oct 1995 09:08:27 -0700
From: Dianna 
Subject: Re: The Oakland Zoo

Joining either the Oakland Zoo or the SF Zoo gets you into the other,
by the way.  The $45 includes admission for 2 adults and kids,
the adults do not have to be married, related, etc.  Another mother
and I share a Zoo membership and it works out quite well.

Dianna

Date: Sun, 14 Jul 1996 15:47:58 -0700
From: Andrea
Subject: inexpensive vacationing in SF

SF Zoo:  This is great.  If you are a member at the Oakland Zoo you can get
in free.  It's much bigger and different from Oakland Zoo, but I like both
of them.  They have a special white alligator now, and a baby rhino, and
about a zillion monkeys who are especially lively at zoo opening time (10:00
am).