Posts Tagged ‘california academy of sciences’

Big kids are locked up in school and it’s time for parents to roam freely with the littles (and the homeschooled). Now is the time to visit the places that are unthinkably crowded in summertime.

California Academy of Sciences: Go now, now, now, in between the summertime season (when tickets to the planetarium sold out most days) and the Great Time of School Field Trips, which starts soon. The planetarium show, Journey to the Stars, is really cool, and you can linger for a long time in the rainforest without feeling like other visitors are prodding you in the back. 55 Music Concourse Drive (at JFK Drive) in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, 415-379-8000; calacademy.org.

Exploratorium: Absorbing exhibits you can finally let your child investigate to her heart’s content include the spinning sand wheels, the giant bubble-maker, the beach balls blown up into the air, and the two faraway posts where you can hear each other talking. The spinning striped tent is also a lot better for small kids when the big ones aren’t roughhousing in it. 3601 Lyon Street (at Presidio Avenue)., 415-561-0360, exploratorium.edu.

Bay Area Discovery Museum: Fearlessly let your kids play with the train in the room with the great big boat or paint and squeegee windows for endless moments. There’s always a table at the cafe during lunchtime on fall weekdays, and plenty of parking in the lot. 557 McReynolds Road (at Fort Baker), Sausalito, 415-339-3900, baykidsmuseum.org.

Children’s Fairyland: The weather is still great in September and October, and Fairyland’s schedule reflects this, open Wednesday through Sunday until Halloween, though you might want to stick to the weekdays for the lightest crowds. The Jolly Trolley is all yours! Toot toot! 699 Bellevue Avenue (at Lake Merritt), Oakland, 510-452-2259, fairyland.org.

Party Playhouse: You sit on the couch and read a magazine, the kids climb (and climb, and climb), with no big kids to freak them out in a nook or cranny you can’t see. 56 Hill Street (at Washington Street), Daly City, 650-756-7529, mypartyplayhouse.com.

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It’s arts galore and other midsummer delights this weekend.
Arts & Wonder Festival

Free admission to six different local museums over three different days, with special art activities for families at each location.

When: Fri.-Sun., 7/16-18, see website for times; All ages; Free.

Where: Various locations in San Francisco; see onlyinsanfrancisco.com for details.

Disney 55: A Birthday Celebration

More than half a decade ago, Walt Disney opened the doors to Disneyland. Celebrate the occasion with a weekend full of special guests, film programs, and other events.

When: Fri.-Sun., 7/16-18, see website for event times; Age 3+; Free-$20.

Where: Walt Disney Family Museum, 104 Montgomery Street (at Lincoln Avenue), San Francisco; disneygo.com.

Teddy Bear Festival

A special zoo party with all the usual animals plus crafts, live music, face painting, and puppet shows.

When: Sat. & Sun., 7/17-18, 10am-4pm; All ages; Free for children aged 14 and under if they bring a stuffed teddy bear.

Where: San Francisco Zoo, Great Highway (at Sloat Boulevard), San Francisco; 415-753-7080; sfzoo.org.

Family Nature Crafts

Each Sunday, families are invited to participate in hands-on art activities inspired by current exhibits.

When: Sun., 7/18 (and every Sunday thereafter), 11am-12:30pm; Age 4-8; Free with paid admission (Free-$25).

Where: California Academy of Sciences, 55 Music Concourse Drive (at MLK Drive in Golden Gate Park), San Francisco; caladacademy.org.

A Nightmare Before Christmas in 3D

The spooky holiday classic screens in eye-popping 3D during its week-long engagement at the Castro Theatre.

When: Fri. 10/23 through Thu. 11/5; 7pm, 8:45pm (Sat., Sun. & Wed. shows at 1:30pm, 3:25pm, and 5:10pm); Age 6+; $7.50-10.

Where: Castro Theatre, 429 Castro Street (at Market Street), San Francisco; 415-621-6120; castrotheatre.com.

Scare Grove

A Halloween carnival specially aimed at families, with a haunted house, hay rides, bounce houses, rides, and treats.

When: Fri., 10/23, 4-9pm; Age 2+; $5 for an all-access pass.

Where: Sigmund Stern Grove, Sloat Avenue (at 19th Avenue), San Francisco; sfgov.org.

Creepy Crawly Week

Get weirded out by science with an exhibit of scary animals, a scavenger hunt for spooky creatures, and naturalist lessons in which you get to meet (and sometimes touch!) frightening critters.

When: Sat., 10/24 through Sun. 11/1; Age 3+; Free with paid admission (Free-$25).

Where: California Academy of Sciences, 55 Music Concourse Drive (at JFK Drive) in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, 415-379-8000; calacademy.org.

Jack o’ Lantern Jamboree

Come in costume to this annual Halloween party, which boasts roaming costumed characters, jump houses, pumpkin crafts, face painting, and the festive, make-believe atmosphere of Fairyland.

When: Sat. & Sun., 10/24-25, 10am-5pm; All ages; $10 per person.

Where: Children’s Fairyland, 699 Bellevue Avenue (at Lake Merritt), Oakland, 510-452-2259, fairyland.org.

 Now that the holidays are over, you can have some real fun.

Family Appreciation Day

Dozens of San Francisco museums and attractions throw open their doors for this city-sponsored shindig, offering free admission for families with children up to age 18. All you need to participate is some type of proof that you’re an SF resident, like a driver’s license or utility bill, and you’re in. Given that admission to the Academy of Sciences is so pricey, and the place is still so new, it’s going to be a huge draw for families. Escape the crowds there (and the runoff crowd at the nearby deYoung, also free), by hitting SFMOMA, the Exploratorium, taking a tour of Chinatown, or exploring the fascinating old ships at the Hyde Street Pier.

When: Sun. 1/11, time varies by location; All ages (at least one adult must accompany children); Free.

Where: Various locations in San Francisco, visit dcyf.org for details.

River of Words: The Natural World

This year’s iteration of the annual River of Words contest asked children to consider the natural surroundings in the place where they live, everywhere from California to the Ivory Coast. The resulting artworks and poems provide a moving picture of a child’s world.

When: Ongoing daily through 1/31/09; 9am-5pm; Age 3+; Free.

Where: Crissy Field Center, Building 603 in the Presidio, Mason Street (at Halleck Street) 415-561-7752, crissyfield.org.

Playhouse Disney Live

Peek in on the Mickey House Clubhouse at this sing-along show, where Mickey is planning a musical party for his friends: Pooh, Tigger, Darby, Hanny Manny, the Little Einsteins, and other faves.

When: Fri., 1/9, 3:30 and 7pm; Age 2+; $20-47.

Where: Paramount Theatre, 2025 Broadway Avenue (at Grand Avenue), Oakland; 510-465-6400, paramounttheatre.com.

Earthcapades

It’s like Cirque du Soleil, but instead of being menaced by angry French clowns, you learn stuff about the planet.

When: Sat., 1/10, 10:30am; Age 3+; $4-5.

Where: La Pena Cultural Center, 3105 Shattuck Avenue (at Ashby Avenue), Berkeley, 510-849-2568, lapena.org.

California Academy of Sciences Grand Opening Party

After years of wait and speculation on the retrofitting/renovation of the famed museum in Golden Gate Park, the Academy throws open its doors this weekend for a big party. Live music, food, family activities and tours of the new facility happen all weekend, with free admission into the museum Saturday. Huge crowds are expected to be checking out the new digs of the Morrison Planetarium, Steinhart Aquarium, and Kimball Natural History Museum, which are rumored to be palatial and a far cry from the cramped space on Howard Street the museum just moved from. The event begins with a Native American blessing, followed by a butterfly release to symbolize the Academy’s new life. Then performances of dance and music companies begin in the bandshell (performances are free both days), and family activities crank up. Of possible intense interest to your preschool-age kids: The Sippy Cups play at 10:30am Saturday.

When: Sat.-Sun., 9/27-28; 9:30am-9pm Sat., 9:30am-5pm Sun., Age 2+; Free-$25.

Where: California Academy of Sciences, 55 Music Concourse Drive (at JFK Drive) in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, 415-379-8000, calacademy.org.

How Berkeley Can You Be? Parade and Festival

The wacky city commemorates its weirdness with this annual parade, replete with art cars, crazy floats, and costumed revelers. One word of warning: You may see boobs. A family festival follows the march, with live music, magicians, jugglers, children’s activities, and food stands. The art cars park on Center Street, so it’s fun to march up and down the rows, checking them all out closely.

When: Sun., 9/28, Parade starts at 11am, Festival runs 12-5pm; All ages; Free.

Where: Parade begins at California and University Avenues and ends at Center Street at Civic Center Park, Martin Luther King, Jr. Way (at Center Street), 510-644-2204 #15; howberkeley.com.

The Great Train Expo

Tiny trains by the thousands crowd into this celebration of all things on tracks. Try your hand at operating model trains, get some instruction on building railroads, or spend your spare cash on wares from hundreds of vendors.

When: Sat.-Sun., 9/27-28, 10am-4pm; Age 3+; $7 (Free for kids under 12), admission good for both days.

Where: Santa Clara County Fairgrounds, 344 Tully Road (at Seventh Street), San Jose, trainexpoinc.com.