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.

Beautiful Japanese Garden with winding paths, Buddha, Koi Fish, and a tea shop…read more... It truly was relaxing and transported me to another place. Loved seeing the plants and trees native to Japan. Will definitely return. So beautiful and relaxing!

Mixed feeling about this beloved garden, nothing like it once was…read more The best experience lives within the beautiful, very much authentic Japanese tea house, run by Japanese staff, who are friendly and professional. But it does get super busy, and hard to find a seat. There's no high chair for babies. Understandably so, but it is hard for mothers, be aware. The hojicha comes in a traditional (restaurant style) mug, burning hot, but satisfying. The matcha service comes with small wagashi (Japanese dessert). The noodle udon was hopeless. The view to the water and garden is spectacular. Not dampened by the constant crowd rushing through the gate. There are still quite a few photo genetic spots and features: the beautiful tall bridge (oil painting like), bronze buddha, the architecture of the gift shop (bathroom close by), and the pogoda, and the chubby koi fish. But water is poorly maintained, had weird bubbles and looking stagnant. Leaves are not swept up / cleaned - being messy is not being zen. Overall, I can totally see why it is popular, but it is nothing like what it used to be. Book ahead, book online, residents of SF need to show up early to claim the free tickets. It gets "sold out" (rolling my eyes). Recommend coming here on a weekday, not on weekends, unless you are from out of town. Recommend book ahead of time. Recommend packing light. It is impossible to park here for free. It takes skills and can raise conflicts. Paid parking is super expensive. Worth a visit on a not-so-busy day. Because of the popularity of the garden, hourly tickets (even free residents' ones) get sold out, requires buying the next hour, and lining up. It's very hard to line up as someone who needs accessibility. For example, if a person has a stroller, with a little baby, there's very little empathy from staff, they will separate your family by asking another person in the group to line up (beyond steps), while the stroller person waits on the platform. I would say at least one of the staff is not courteous at all. He was rude and demanding, and not empathetic of visitors who travel with family, from afar, or needing accessibility help. The line was poorly managed.

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.

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.

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.

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 is the first team room I visited a loooong time ago. First with my grandmother and mom,…read moreand now with my daughter. Celebrated birthdays, Mother's Day, baby showers, and bridal showers here. Always a treat when we visit. During our recent visit, kiddo and I ordered the Queen's tea. We always order the cream cheese and mandarin orange and smoked salmon sandwiches. This time we also ordered the chicken curry and tomato and cheddar - both good but would've like a bit more tomato. Table next to us ordered the sausage rolls which looked good - will have to give it a try next time. Reservations are highly recommended since it can get quite busy.

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.

This is hands down one of the best activities to do as a local or as a tourist (and as a child or…read moreadult). If you're an adult I'd recommend checking out the Thursday night admissions which are from 6-10pm ish. No kids allowed and 21+. So fun. We just went to the disco night which had free disco gem make up, karaoke, free DIY disco jelly fish crafts and free photo sessions. Lots of value! If you become a member you get discounts on events, merch, food and with my membership I can bring someone for free each time.

Sooo many kids here in the daytime especially weekends. Not a peaceful stroll. Adults who are…read morelooking for a quieter time may enjoy the nightlife event much more. Awesome rainforest walk! With butterflies Ants and bugs!