I volunteered there many years ago and loved it. I love going there to support the hospital. Always…read morehas useful things that a patient would need. Great selection of travel, snacks, and gifts.

Hours say that the store opens at 8am, but it didn't open at 8am the day I really needed something…read more A few days later when I came back later in the morning, I asked the lady when they actually opened and she told me "whoever was on that day was probably running late. You should give them some slack." It sounds to me like it was my fault for not giving that person "slack" for running late, and it was my fault for trusting that they open when they say they open. I'm sure they're great; but if it matters for you to get something early, just know that there is a possibility that it may not be open.

I've been wanting to go for years. Finally made the visit and it was worth it…read more The museum is bigger than expected. I spent 2 hours there and could have stayed longer, but there was a schedule to stick to. It's cool that it's a museum about Walt and his life. How the company came to be. How the animation making changed over the years. Really cool for the whole family to visit.

If you're a hardcore Disney fan, read no further. You'll think this spot is five stars…read more For those who are mildly interested, this is a museum too heavily focused on Walt Disney's early years. It's literally like the family album come to life. The other thing you'll notice is this very much a non-critical examination of the man and his legacy. For example, he was a chain smoker and it killed him. No mention. Racial issues in hiring and screen work? No mention. And he's not really put into context of American culture. The place is more a collection than a museum. Just know that going in.

I mean, it's all about socks. You need socks? This is the place. Every pair is so wonderful,…read morethey're all gift-worthy. They even sell Baggu bags to take your Baggu socks home with. There's sexy tights, and cute kid's tights, funny socks, frilly socks, men's socks, women's socks, it's a store full of socks. If you've got a serious thing for socks, they've got a frequent shoppers program. She sells chic socks by the sea shore

Great selection! Lots of socks ranging from casual socks to hiking and cool patterns socks!…read more Thanks to Thrum for a great experience! I had a couple questions and he answered them all and helped me out with recommendations as well! Definitely coming back soon for some more socks.

A beautiful garden for a relaxing walk. We visited on a Wednesday afternoon at the end of June. It…read moreis suitable for all ages, though some areas are a little steep and include stairs. My elderly mother needed occasional support, so that is something to keep in mind. There are plenty of benches throughout the garden, perfect for resting or simply enjoying the scenery. There is also a good amount of shade, which makes the visit more comfortable. The garden is thoughtfully designed and very well maintained. There is a small souvenir shop and a café on-site as well. I would love to return in the spring to see it in full bloom.

I really wanted to love this place, but I left disappointed…read more The garden is well maintained and undeniably pretty. The pagoda, koi ponds, and traditional buildings make for beautiful photos, and it's a peaceful place to walk. That said, I couldn't shake the feeling that it just wasn't worth the price... Admission was $15, and I was completely through the garden in about 30 minutes without rushing. Later, I walked across the street to the San Francisco Botanical Garden, which also cost $15, and spent hours exploring. The size, variety, and overall experience weren't even comparable. I also stopped at the tea house. There was a line just to order, and while the matcha and snacks were good, they weren't exceptional. Paying over $10 for a cup of matcha felt steep, and the food didn't justify the wait or the price. I tried the matcha, dorayaki, dango, onigiri, and mochi. Everything was enjoyable, but nothing memorable enough that I'd come back for it. If you're trying to decide how to spend your time in Golden Gate Park, I'd skip the Japanese Tea Garden entirely. Instead, visit the Botanical Garden and then find one of San Francisco's many excellent Japanese cafés or bakeries for matcha and snacks. You'll get a much better experience for about the same amount of money. The Japanese Tea Garden is pretty, but for me it felt more like a quick photo stop than a destination. At $15, I expected a lot more.

This "museum" acts as the information center and gift shop for the "F" line. The "F" line are the…read morehistoric streetcars that run down Market St and the Embarcadero to Fisherman's Wharf. These street cars are the star of the attraction and definitely worth the ride. For $5.70 one can buy an all-day Muni pass which allows you to ride these cars along with all other transit EXCEPT the cable cars. These cars are a collection of preserved vehicles from the '30s to '50s. Each one was given from a city in the US. They were originally brought to San Francisco to substitute for the cable cars when the c.c. Went under major renovation back in the '80s. The street cars became a hit with locals and tourists and are now a part of historic transit systems in San Francisco. The museum is small but detailed. It is open limited hours and run by a team of volunteers. They are passionate about these street cars and it shows. They are very detailed oriented but expect a pause every 10 minutes when a street car goes rolling by. The museum is free with a suggested $5 donation. It will only take about 30 minutes to cover it but a great stop if a rail fan.

I love this place. I never thought about reviewing it lol bc it's always just a place we stop into…read moreon walks around this area. It's a nice place to just come and walk around. I'm not sure about parking bc we only come here on foot when we're doing what I call "urban hiking"... we like to hike our own city on lazy days. This is on one of our routes. It's got very clean restrooms and a cute gift shop. I think I I just like it bc we're used to coming through here and it smells good lol like, it's got its own unique scent and vibe. I'd recommend stopping by if you're a local. If you're a tourist and you are interested in this type of thing, for sure. It's a pretty educational and cool little spot.

Beautiful Mission. We drove through the San Louis Obispo area and hit up a lot of those missions so…read morewe decided we should see our local mission. If you're following google maps, make sure you put in the actual Mission and not just Mission Dolores because it will take you to the high school or park. We followed the gps and ended up at the beautiful high school. We also walked along the park. The park is large and lush and attracted lots of people on this beautiful Sunday afternoon. Parking for the mission is challenging. There is lots of street parking, but everyone is parked and we didn't see anyone leaving. We did find Sunday Church Parking. I believe it said tow away zone except between 8:30 and 4:30 on a Sunday. It was a smidge after 4:30 and a space opened up and we took it. Thankfully we didn't get a ticket, but I did see 2 meter maids coming though when we left. The mission is beautiful. I wish we had come earlier so we could have taken a tour.

This is a well preserved California Mission, one of the 21 along the El Camino Real. Today it…read morestands as a reminder of a time in California history when Spain ruled the area. This mission held its first mass just one week before the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Today all that remains is the chapel, a couple of small rooms attached and a portion of the cemetery. The majority of the complex is long gone, buried beneath the city that built up around it. The chapel has been restored and could be used today. The alters, wooden pews and decor resemble what this church may have looked like in its prime over 200 years ago. Today it sits in the shadows of the Basillica. Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for kids and seniors. The site can be easily toured in under an hour. However, to get the full story one may want to spend some more time.

I came during the Free Summer Weekend. The staff at the front desk and inside the museum were…read morefriendly and welcoming. The museum is small but had interesting exhibits. One of my favorites were the stop-motion quilts by Greg Climer. To be honest, I'm not sure if it's worth the full admission price given the size of the museum, so be on the lookout for free admission days!

While this museum is small - it's always very interesting. A lot of interesting and eclectic…read moreexhibits. The gift shop is amazing - I could go crazy here!

Always a pleasure to return to Lovejoys for tea. Lovely, comfortable setting, generous portions…read more We had a queens tea and high tea with salmon, chicken apple walnut, ham and roast beef sandwiches. The High Tea consists of a selection of two sandwiches, mandarin orange salad, cole slaw, scone, and a small sweet treat. A pot of tea as well. This is quite substantial for me! The Queens tea is the High Tea plus fruit, a crumpet and dessert from the tray. A quaint room but cozy enough to have a small party. Street parking is a bit of a challenge. There is parklet seating as well. Reservations are required to ensure a table. My favorite place in the Bay Area for tea!

Lovejoy's Tea Room takes you into the world of British high tea and dining. The tables both inside…read moreand outside are beautifully adorned with floral-patterned cushion, doilies that cover every table, and serveware collected from the UK. The service here is very quick - our waitress was kind to explain different menu items and give us recommendations for our first time here. We went with an assortment of high tea specials, tea sandwiches, scones and crumpets. The baked goods came out warm and fresh, which was deliciously paired with the creamy butter. The sandwiches were all very refreshing and light! Some of my highlights would be the sandwiches paired with cucumber, and the selection that included chutney. They have an expansive menu of teas for you to choose from, whether you prefer black teas or those that are more floral. I would say you can't go wrong with sharing and it makes for a wonderful experience. My time here was amazing and I really loved coming here!

I've been coming to the Exploratorium since I was in elementary school 40 years ago, and after all…read morethese years, I can honestly say that my love for this place has only grown deeper. I'm now a STEAM instructor myself, and I still feel the same sense of wonder every time I walk through the doors. The Exploratorium understands something incredibly important: science isn't just a collection of facts to memorize. It's something to touch, hear, build, question, experiment with, and experience. What I admire most is the institution's mission to make science tangible, accessible, and genuinely fun. The exhibits invite curiosity instead of demanding expertise, which makes them just as engaging for adults as they are for children. Every visit reminds me that science belongs to everyone. As someone who teaches kids for a living, I know how difficult it is to create experiences that are both educational and exciting. The Exploratorium has been doing exactly that for decades, and they continue to set the standard. Their educators, exhibit designers, and staff have created something truly special. San Francisco is full of iconic landmarks, but for me, the Exploratorium will always be one of the city's greatest treasures. It played a role in shaping the person I became, and I have no doubt it will continue inspiring generations of curious minds. I was a science-loving kid when I first walked in, and, thankfully, I'm still a science-loving kid now.

We visited the Exploratorium as part of the City Pass. It was definitely a full day of exploring…read moreand was better towards the end of the day when the summer camp kids left. My kids enjoyed but we also had to take breaks in-between. Why 3 stars you ask? It's a huge space, but all of the exhibits were similar to science museums we have in So Cal. Some things were broken or not operational the day we went. Lunch offerings were super healthy which is a plus. But we liked 2/4 entrees we ordered. Priced are as expected for museums. Logistics wise, you really have to come early to secure good parking. We came an hour after opening and street + parking lots were full. If you plan to come, I say it's a deal via City Pass, but I wouldn't pay full admission prices to go.

Located in the Golden Gate Park this California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco is the…read moreultimate natural history museum that offers an aquarium, planetarium, as well as a 4-story rainforest ! I think it will take me a week to literally be able to go see everything !! Anazing aquarium with a Philippine Coral Reef, and was able watch feeding time of the fish in this particular aquarium!! 2 scuba divers cleaning aquarium during the presentation!!

The California Academy of Sciences is a wonderful place to visit for all ages. It was my first time…read morethere, though others in my group had visited before. We went on a Wednesday morning during summer break. Tickets can be purchased online or in person; we bought ours on-site and there was no line. Inside, it was busy but not overcrowded, so it was still very enjoyable. Positives: - Clean and well maintained throughout. - Indoor, multi-level space that is accessible. - Convenient food court with multiple options. - Plenty of seating areas for taking short breaks. - A wide variety of exhibits and experiences. Our favorites were the Osher Rainforest and the Steinhart Aquarium. You can easily tailor your visit to be short or long depending on your pace. There is also a lot of engaging and educational information throughout the museum. Be sure to check the daily schedule posted on-site or online to learn about special exhibits and events. Negatives: The only downside was the bánh mì from the food court, which was underwhelming. Overall, I highly recommend the California Academy of Sciences. It is a great outing, especially for families with children.