San Francisco is widely held to be an expensive city within which to live, but this phenomenon is nothing unique to the city, any finite space – San Francisco is a peninsula with a mountain capping its fourth side, will drive costs up based on the simple economic laws of supply and demand. But contrary to that image, there are plenty of free diversions to be found in and around the city. Here are a few things to do in San Francisco that will give you change back from a penny:
- Exploratorium: This is a science museum of a different kind that every age will enjoy and if you can pull your kids out of here in less than two hours, you’re in rare company. Set in the beautiful landmark building of The Palace of Fine Arts, the Exploratorium has thousands of exhibits and every one of them they want people to touch and involve themselves with which is what kids always want but are so often discouraged from doing at most museums. The Exploratorium is equal parts education and fun, but only the fun seems obvious.
- Golden Gate Park: This is San Francisco’s Central Park, but to compare it to New York’s outdoor space within the city does it an injustice. Golden Gate Park is not only larger, but it also offers a greater diversity of distractions. There are roaming bison in its center, and a full zoo at its southern end, and to the west it runs into the Pacific Ocean with the biggest beach to be found in northern California. There are museums for science and art and an observation tower to survey not just the rest of the park, but vistas to include the Golden Gate Bridge and downtown. There are gardens and lakes, biking and hiking trails, archery and golf, and enough wide opened fields and intimate settings to give everyone what they want; even on its busiest of days, it never seems overly crowded.
- Cable Car Museum: Everyone wants to ride the cable cars when they plan their San Francisco tours. It’s the only city built on hills in America, and one of the few in the world, so the cable cars are an unusual experience for almost all visitors. The museum offers everyone the interesting history of how the city tackled its hills, a solution that has never needed improving from its inception. A little knowledge of the system’s origins and functionality affords you a greater sense of pleasure; and all ages will enjoy the experience of the museum and the ride afterward even more.
- Walking Tours of San Francisco: There are walking tours all over the city, covering just about every area of interest, from great authors, to city history, prominent figures, or famous homes. These tours are guided by members of a particular society or association or just people who love their subjects and want to share some insight with others, so pick something of which you’re curious and get yourself on an informative and entertaining walking tour. And with the city’s hills, you might also find yourself with some exercise throw in if you’re lucky.
