• Choose a category
• All
• Classic-Fiction

By Root 627 0

access to everything from giant-bubble blowing to Einstein’s theory of relativity. It’s like a mad scientist’s penny arcade, an educational fun house, and an experimental laboratory all rolled into one. Touch a tornado, shape a glowing electrical current, or take a sensory journey in total darkness in the Tactile Dome ($3 extra, and call 415/561-0362 to make advance reservations)—even if you spent all day here you couldn’t experience everything. Every exhibit at the Exploratorium is designed to be interactive, educational, safe, and, most importantly, fun. And don’t think it’s just for kids; parents inevitably end up being the most reluctant to leave. I went here recently and spent 3 hours in just one small section of the museum, marveling at all the mind-blowing hands-on exhibits related to light and eyesight. On the way out, be sure to stop in the wonderful gift store, which is chock-full of affordable brain candy.

The museum is in the Marina District at the beautiful Palace of Fine Arts ★★, the only building left standing from the Panama Pacific Exposition of 1915. The adjoining park with lagoon—the perfect place for an afternoon picnic—is home to ducks, swans, sea gulls, and grouchy geese, so bring bread.

3601 Lyon St., in the Palace of Fine Arts (at Marina Blvd.). 415/EXPLORE (397-5673) or 561-0360 (recorded information). www.exploratorium.edu. Admission $15 adults; $12 seniors, youth 13–17, visitors with disabilities, and college students with ID; $10 children 4–12; free for children 3 and under. Free for all 1st Wed of month. Tues–Sun 10am–5pm. Closed Mon except MLK, Jr., Day, Presidents’ Day, Memorial Day, and Labor Day. Free parking. Bus: 28, 30, or Golden Gate Transit.

Haas-Lilienthal House Of the city’s many gingerbread Victorians, this handsome Queen Anne house is one of the most flamboyant. The 1886 structure features all the architectural frills of the period, including dormer windows, flying cupolas, ornate trim, and a winsome turret. The elaborately styled house is now the only Victorian house museum in the city that has its rooms fully furnished with period pieces and is open to the public. The San Francisco Architectural Heritage maintains the house and offers docent-led 1-hour tours (the only way to see the house), which start every 20 to 30 minutes on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

2007 Franklin St. (at Washington St.). 415/441-3000. www.sfheritage.org. 1-hr. guided tour $8 adults, $5 seniors and children 12 and under. Wed and Sat noon–3pm; Sun 11am–4pm. (Note: Some Sat the house is closed for private functions, so call to confirm.) Bus: 1, 12, 19, 27, 47, or 49. Cable car: California St. line.

The Haas-Lilienthal House.

The Legion of Honor ★★ Designed as a memorial to California’s World War I casualties, this neoclassical structure is an exact replica of the Legion of Honor Palace in Paris, right down to the inscription HONNEUR ET PATRIE above the portal. The exterior’s grassy expanses, cliff-side paths, and incredible view of the Golden Gate and downtown make this an absolute must-visit attraction before you even get in the door. The inside is equally impressive: The museum’s permanent collection covers 4,000 years of art and includes paintings, sculpture, and decorative arts from Europe, as well as international tapestries, prints, and drawings. The chronological display of 4,000 years of ancient and European art includes one of the world’s finest collections of Rodin sculptures. The sunlit Legion Cafe offers indoor and outdoor seating at moderate prices. Plan to spend 2 or 3 hours here.

In Lincoln Park (34th Ave. and Clement St.). 415/750-3600, or 863-3330 (recorded information). www.famsf.org. Admission $10 adults, $7 seniors 65 and over, $6 youths 13–17 and college students with ID, free for children 12 and under. Fees may be higher for special exhibitions. Free 1st Tues of each month. Free admission with same-day tickets from the de Young Museum. Tues–Sun 9:30am–5:15pm. Bus: 18.

Italian-Style Saturday Sing-Along

If you haven’t completely fallen in love with San Francisco yet, then