SAN FRANCISCO
Our Guides: The Yee Family (parents Deanna and Eric, Hannah and Megan, both age 7)San Francisco is a city of neighborhoods, and each one has its own special flavor. We love to visit them all. The Muni buses and streetcars make it easy, and our twin girls love to ride them, especially the old-fashioned streetcars downtown on Market Street. Here are a few of the favorite places we've discovered on our many explorations around town.
EXPLORE
1. Golden Gate Park: The girls can spend hours at the Koret Children's Quarter, a playground with swings, climbing ropes, and even a cement slide (we always bring cardboard to slide on). Other must-visits in this huge urban paradise: the beautiful carousel (only 50 cents a ride for kids), the Botanical Garden (free admission!) and Stow Lake, where we feed the ducks or use the paddleboats or bike carts. Free; rental prices from $11 to $18 per hour
2. The Exploratorium: Located in the Palace of Fine Arts, this facility calls itself "the museum of science, art, and human perception." We always check out the Heat and Temperature section in Matter World, the big geyser, and the tornado exhibits. What do the girls love best about the Exploratorium? "You can touch everything and you don't even get in trouble!" $14 for adults, $9 for kids ages 4 to 12. 3601 Lyon Street; 415-561-0360
3. Walter Haas Playground: This spot in the Diamond Heights neighborhood is a real favorite of local families, including mine. There's a wide range of equipment, so both little and big kids can have fun. The views of downtown and the East Bay are spectacular, but bring a jacket: the park can be very windy late in the afternoon. Diamond Heights Boulevard at Addison Street
4. Coyote Point Museum for Environmental Education: Just 30 minutes from the city in San Mateo, this fun-packed destination doesn't feel anything like school, despite its name. There's a chick hatchery, a small zoo where you can watch river otters and foxes being fed, and an aviary filled with native California birds. The museum is located in the Coyote Point Recreational Area, so we can also enjoy the water views, picnic, and play on the new Magic Mountain Playground -- Hannah and Megan pretend to be princesses while climbing around the three-story castle structure. $6 for adults, $2 for kids ages 3 to 12. 1651 Coyote Point Drive, San Mateo; 650-342-7755
