San Francisco - teeming with activities - is one of the most exciting places to vacation. There are lots of things to do for kids - and adults, too.
One of the highlights of San Francisco sightseeing is Alcatraz - otherwise known as The Rock. Famous for its historic inhabitants, this small island in the bay has been home to some of the most notorious criminals in the history of the United States. While Alcatraz is no longer an inhabitable penitentiary, former inmates have included Al Capone, George "Machine Gun" Kelly, Robert Franklin Stroud (The Birdman of Alcatraz), Morton Sobell and many other dark figures from America's bloody past. Today, a number of tour and slideshow packages are offered to guests, among which are Impressions of Alcatraz - visitors enjoy the opportunity to take photographs of the island's breathtaking vista; The Military Years - a history of Alcatraz when it served as a stronghold in the San Francisco Bay; Indian Occupation - a perspective of the Indian movement, which was fueled by a group of Native Americans from various tribes who attempted to reclaim Alcatraz as their own in the latter portion of the 1960s and early 1970s; Nature on the Rock - a tour of the island's unusual flora and fauna, including roses that are so unique, they don't have catalogued names; Prison Life on Alcatraz - history of Alcatraz Prison and its infamous inmates; and Hopi History - history of the 19 Hopi Indians who were held as prisoners on the island beginning in 1895. In addition to the hype of the prison itself, there are also gardens on the island of Alcatraz. A former shadow of what they once were, these garden areas offer unusual plant life and represent what's left of the spectacular gardens that were once maintained by residents and inmates. Daytime and evening tours of the island are available, and souvenirs can be purchased both in the cellhouse and in local shops near the dock.
Exploratorium is an interactive children's museum, providing a variety of hands-on exhibits and activities. Among the hundreds of exhibits that the museum has to offer are Tactile Dome - roam through complete darkness with nothing but your sense of touch to guide you (not recommended for children under the age of 7, claustrophobics, those who have suffered back or knee injuries, those in casts or women in their last term of pregnancy); Traits of Life - biological exhibits which are designed to answer questions about life's essential elements; and Seeing - containing various interactive exhibits, such as Bird in a Cage, Disappearing Act, Café Wall and Changing Illusions. Other areas and exhibits include Matter/World, Mind and Learning, Hearing and a host of others. Numerous special events are offered each month, which may include Cabaret Mechanical Theater Exhibition, Physics of Toys: Slimy Science, Art Life, Situation Abnormal: Performances You'll Never See on Broadway, Physics of Toys: Trip the Light Fantastic and Arts for the Holidays: Playing with Tin. Films are shown on a regular basis in the McBean Theater, and there's always something going on in the Workshop, Learning Studio and Biology Lab. For the little ones of the family, a Preschool Play Area is available, near the Tactile Dome, and there's a variety of science-related gifts available for sale in the museum's store - located between the ATM and the Complexity exhibit area. There's a great deal to see at the museum, so you should plan to spend a good amount of time and wear comfortable walking shoes.
The San Francisco Zoo is the place to be, if you're looking for a day of fun in the great outdoors. Among the 250 species of animals, you'll meet the Polar Bear, Giant Anteater, Capybara, Yellow-Backed Duiker, American Cream Draft Horse, Snow Leopard, African Lion, Tiger Salamander, African Warthog, Sumatran Tiger and a bevy of their animal cousins. There are numerous exhibits and attractions, as well, which include African Savannah, Australian Walkabout, Eagle Island, Family Farm, Primate Discovery Center, Wetlands, Wildlife Theater, Dentzel Carousel, Lion House, Koala Crossing, Insect Zoo, Little Puffer and many more. One of the main perks of The San Francisco Zoo is The Children's Zoo - a special area of the main zoo that specifically targets youngsters. There are lots of kid-friendly exhibits, such as Meerkats and Prairie Dogs - designed to show kids how the Meerkats behave and socialize by providing a variety of interactive representations, such as crawl-in tunnels and a viewing tube; Nature Trail - a beautiful scenic path that allows children to interact with the various animals that inhabit the area; and Companion Animals - dedicated to teaching youth how to care for domestic pets. In addition, activities for the little ones abound, which may include Meet the Keeper, train rides, animal feedings and a great deal more. The San Francisco Zoo is host to a wide variety of special events. Among them are Special Animal Encounters, Radical Reptiles, Boo at the Zoo, Storytime Safari, Let's Build an Ocean, Love Those Lemurs and Jungle Bells, to name a few. On the way out, don't forget to stop at the gift shop for a souvenir or two. This is a huge facility, so be sure to wear comfortable walking shoes.
Zeum - on the rooftop at Yerba Buena Gardens - offers lots of exhibits and activities for families. At the entrance, you'll find the 1906 Charles Looff Carousel - originally located in one of the city's parks. Youngsters will love the interactive exhibits, which may include Reality Check - kids have access to a variety of tools relating to art, media and technology, in order to produce their own presentation in the area of one of their interests; Sound Walk - a walkway for children to jump, skip, dance or simply walk on that produces a variety of sounds, including music, language and lots more; and MetaField Maze - a virtual reality game, requiring youngsters to move a marble through a complicated labyrinth using a series of body movements. Special events are also on hand throughout the year, covering a variety of topics and interests. In addition, Zeum offers Production Studios - an interactive environment which allows children to work with various forms of media tools. Some of these scenarios include Animators Studio - kids and adults team up to create clay characters, which they'll then animate through the use of video and digital equipment; Production Lab - learn to produce your own show using video, digital and sound technologies; and Digital Workshop - a classroom arena with state-of-the-art computers and digital equipment that folks can use to create their own web pages, illustrations, animations and much more. You'll also enjoy Zeum Theater, along with A.C.T - the resident acting company. Among the theater bill shows, you'll have the opportunity to see presentations such as The Four of Us, by Itamar Moses. Before your departure, be sure to stop at the Zeum Store for a bit of souvenir shopping.
The San Francisco Cable Car Museum offers great exhibits and fun activities for the entire family. This is a free attraction that's open to the general public every day except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. Whether you choose to visit the Observation Gallery or the Sheave, you'll find marvelous displays - including interactive exhibits - designed to please adults and children alike. Kids will especially enjoy the opportunity to ring a genuine cable car bell, just inside the museum. The Sheave offers bay windows, designed to give visitors a peek at the underground cabling system of the cable cars. In the Observation Gallery, on the upper floor, you'll be greeted by the Cable Car Museum arch, which you'll pass through on your way to some stunning exhibits. Visitors can view an original Powell Cable Car, which has the unique feature of no front windows; Grip Car No. 8 from the Clay Street Hill Railroad; assorted machinery used in the cable car movement process, such as various engines, a cable winding machine and more; a variety of cable cars from numerous points in time; a photographic presentation of the cable car system's renovation, which took place in the early 1980s; a uniform display of the cable car operators; a mural depicting the Powell and Market turntable; and the museum's collection of model cars in beautiful glass case displays. Just above the Observation Gallery, you'll find the storage facility for the fleet of cable cars that were once used during San Francisco's cable car heyday. Also on the premises is a bookstore, which stocks a variety of souvenirs related to San Francisco and its cable cars. Due to the size of this attraction, you'll need to wear comfortable walking shoes.
At Pier 39, you'll find Aquarium of the Bay - a four part exploration of the bay and the creatures that inhabit it. The exhibit areas of the aquarium consist of Discover the Bay, Under the Bay, Touch the Bay and Save the Bay. Your tour begins with Discover the Bay - an introduction to the environment and its various inhabitants, including a resident expert who's available to address questions. Under the Bay consists of a moving walkway which glides you through two transparent tubes, enabling you to get an underwater view of the 23,000 aquatic creatures in their natural habitat. Touch the Bay consists of a series of interactive exhibits that are available to visitors as they take part in a coastal California experience. Small pools are available which enable adults and children to touch various forms of water creatures. The last stop - Save the Bay - addresses the need for public support and involvement in an effort to save the natural environment. Save the Bay also includes a store where guests are invited to purchase souvenirs from a variety of aquatic gifts. Special events are offered on a regular basis, which may include presentations or activities such as Grab-A-Bite, Sevengill Shark Feeding, Tide Pool Feeding Presentation, Bat Ray Feeding Presentation and Creatures of the Deep, to name a few. Sleepovers are offered, as well, allowing guests to camp out in the transparent tunnels. Kids will love the idea of falling asleep "underwater", surrounded by thousands of water creatures. At the beginning of the overnight experience, folks will be given a tour of the aquarium, followed by a series of activities, animal demonstrations and interactive opportunities which are guided by aquarium staff members. This will be a real vacation treat for the youngsters of the family!
San Francisco is teeming with attractions for tourists and families, both on the bay and inland. There's a new experience around every corner, and a potentially great vacation for those who are interested in exploring this lovely Northern California community. For further information on these and other attractions, contact the Department of Tourism or your local travel agent.
