Travel is more fun with kids

Saturday February 6th: free day at the Sacramento Museums

On Saturday February 6th, 25 museums will be open for free for everybody all day long. The Wells Fargo Museum at the Capitol Mall does not participate as it is closed on weekends.

Here is the list of the participating museums and you can click here to find the map.

Aerospace Museum of California
3200 Freedom Park Drive
916.643-3192
Hours: Tues – Sat 9am-5pm; Sun 10am-5pm Free admission

California Automobile Museum
2200 Front Street 
916.442.6802  916.442.6802
Hours: Daily: 10am – 6pm; 3rd Thurs 10am – 9pm

California Foundry History Museum
5301 Price Avenue 
916.929.8001  916.929.8001
Hours:Mon–Fri 11am–3pm

The California Museum
10th & 0 Streets 
916.653.7524  916.653.7524
Hours: Tue-Sat 10 am-5pm; Sun noon-5pm

California State Capitol Museum
Capitol Building, 10th & L Streets 
916.324.0333  916.324.0333
Hours: Daily 9am 5pm • Free Admission

California State Indian Museum
2618 K Street 
916.324.0971  916.324.0971
Hours: Daily 10am–5pm

California State Military Museum.
1119 2nd Street
916.854.1900  916.854.1900
Hours: Tues–Sun 10am–5pm

California State Railroad Museum
2nd and I Streets 
916.445.6645  916.445.6645
Hours: Daily 10am–5pm

Crocker Art Museum
216 O Street 
916.808.7000  916.808.7000
Hours: Tues–Sun 10am–5pm; 1st & 3rd Thurs 10am–9pm; Free Every Sunday 10am-1pm courtesy of Bank of America.

Discovery Museum Science & Space Center
3615 Auburn Boulevard
916.575.3942  916.575.3942
Hours: Tues–Fri noon–4:30pm; Sat–Sun 10am–4:30pm

The Don & June Salvatori California Pharmacy Museum
4030 Lennane Drive 
916.779.1410  916.779.1410
Hours: Mon–Fri by appointment • Free Admission

Explorit Science Center
2801 2nd Street 
530.756.0191  530.756.0191
Hours: Tues 10am-5pm, Wed-Fri 2-5pm,
Sat-Sun 11am-5pm

Fairytale Town
3901 Land Park Drive at Sutterville Road
916.808.7462  916.808.7462
Hours: Daily 9am–4pm; Nov–Feb Thurs–Sun 10am–4pm (weather permitting)

Folsom History Museum
823 Sutter Street • Folsom
916.985.2707  916.985.2707
Hours: Tues–Sun 11am–4pm

Governor’s Mansion State Historic Park
16th and H Streets 
916.323.3047  916.323.3047
Hours: Call for hours

Heidrick Ag History Center
1962 Hays Lane • Woodland
530.666.9700  530.666.9700
Hours: Mon-Fri 10am-5pm, Sat 10am-6pm,
Sun 10am-4pm

Leland Stanford Mansion State Historic Park
800 N Street 
916.324.0575  916.324.0575
Hours: Call for hours

Museum of Medical History
5380 Elvas Avenue
916.456.3152  916.456.3152
Hours: Mon–Fri 9am–4pm • Free Admission

Old Sacramento Schoolhouse Museum
1200 Front Street 
916.483.8818  916.483.8818
Hours: Mon–Sat 10am–4pm; Sun 1–4pm • Free Admission

Old Sacramento State Historic Park
Front and I Streets • Old Sacramento
916.445.6645  916.445.6645
Hours: Daily 10am–5pm • Free Admission

Sacramento Historic City Cemetery
Enter on Broadway at 10th Street
916.448.0811  916.448.0811
Hours: Call for hours

Sacramento History Museum
101 I Street • Old Sacramento
916.808.7059  916.808.7059
Hours: Call for hours

Sacramento Zoo
Land Park Drive at Sutterville Road 
916.808.5888  916.808.5888
Hours: Daily 9am–4pm; Nov–Jan Daily 10am–4pm

Sojourner Truth Multicultural Arts Museum
2251 Florin Road
916.320.9573  916.320.9573
Hours: Mon–Fri 8am–4pm; Sat–Sun 10am–5:30pm
(by appointment)

Sutter’s Fort State Historic Park
2701 L Street 
916.445.4422  916.445.4422
Hours: Daily 10am–5pm

 

Wells Fargo History Museum – Downtown
400 Capitol Mall
916.440.4161  916.440.4161
Hours: Mon–Fri 9am–5pm • Free Admission
Not open that day

Wells Fargo History Museum - Old Sacramento
1000 2nd Street
916.440.4263  916.440.4263
Hours: Daily 10am–5pm • Free Admission

Related post
Tips for a drama free visit with children to any museum

Things To Do

San Francisco: free days at the Museums in January 2010

Happy New Year! I am wishing you and your family all the best for 2010.

Lydie

Museum of Modern Art
Free on Tuesday January 5th
Closed on Wednesdays

De Young Museum
Free on Tuesday January 5th
Closed on Mondays

Museum of Legion of Honor
Free on Tuesday January 5th
Closed on Mondays

Asian Art Museum
Free on Sunday January 3rd
Closed on Mondays

Academy of Sciences
Free on Wednesday January 20th

Exploratorium
Free on Wednesday January 20th
Closed on Mondays

Conservatory of Flowers
Free on Tuesday January 5th
Closed on Mondays
Review of the Golden Gate Express Garden Railway exhibition

Cartoon Art Museum
Tuesday January 5th is ‘pay what you wish day’
Closed on Mondays

Related Posts: 
Paris: free days at the Museums and more
French National Monuments and Museums now free in France for anybody under 26
Tips for a drama-free visit to any museum with your children
Maurice Sendak exhibition at the SF Jewish Museum. Closing on January 19th, 2010

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Things To Do
San Francisco

San Francisco: free days at the museums in December 2009

Museum of Modern Art
Free on Tuesday December 1st
Closed on Wednesdays

De Young Museum
Free on Tuesday December 1st
Closed on Mondays

Museum of Legion of Honor
Free on Tuesday December 1st
Closed on Mondays

Asian Art Museum
Free on Sunday December 6th
Closed on Mondays

Academy of Sciences
Free on Wednesday December 16th

Exploratorium
Free on Wednesday December 16th
Closed on Mondays

Conservatory of Flowers
Free on Tuesday December 1st
Closed on Mondays

Cartoon Art Museum
Tuesday December 1st is ‘pay what you wish day’
Closed on Mondays

Note that the Contemporary Jewish Museum will be free for all on Friday, December 25th, from 11 am to 4 pm.(Target Family Day)
Read my review of the Maurice Sendak exhibition.

Related Posts:
Paris: free days at the Museums in November
Paris: free days at the Museums and more
French National Monuments and Museums now free in France for anybody under 26
Tips for a drama-free visit to any museum with your children

Contemporary Jewish Museum free on Sunday Nov 8 for SF Public Library Cardholders

This Sunday, November 8th from 11 am to­ 5 pm, San Francisco Public Library cardholders of all ages can enjoy a free entrance at the Contemporary Jewish Museum.

Enjoy their current exhibitions ‘There's a Mystery There: Sendak on Sendak, As It Is Written:Project 304,805’ and ‘Jews on Vinyl’.

For families, librarians will be on hand to share stories and there will be special miniature book making activities from 1-3 pm.

Before going with your little ones, read my review on the Sendak Exhibition.

Contemporary Jewish Museum
736 Mission Street (between Third and Fourth streets)
San Francisco, CA
Tel: 415.655.7800.

Related posts

Maurice Sendak exhibition at the SF Jewish Museum
Tips for a drama-free visit to any museum with your children
San Francisco: free days at the San Francisco museums in November

San Francisco: free days at the museums in November 09

Museum of Modern Art
Free on Tuesday November 3rd
Closed on Wednesdays

De Young Museum
Free on Tuesday November 3rd
Closed on Mondays

Museum of Legion of Honor
Free on Tuesday November 3rd
Closed on Mondays

Asian Art Museum
Free on Sunday November 1st
Closed on Mondays

Academy of Sciences
Free on Wednesday November 18th

Exploratorium
Free on Wednesday November 18th
Closed on Mondays

Cartoon Art Museum
Tuesday November 3rd is ‘pay what you wish day’
Closed on Mondays

Related Posts:
Paris: free days at the Museums in November
Paris: free days at the Museums and more
French National Monuments and Museums now free in France for anybody under 26
Tips for a drama-free visit to any museum with your children
Maurice Sendak exhibition at the SF Jewish Museum

Paris: free days at the museums in November 09

Le Louvre
Free on Wednesday November 4th
Closed on Tuesdays

Musee de l’Orangerie
Free on Sunday November 1st
Closed on Tuesdays

Musee d’Orsay
Free on Sunday November 1st
Closed on Thursdays
Part of their Art collections will be exhibited at the DeYoung Museum in 2010.

Musee Rodin
Free on Sunday November 1st
Closed on Mondays

Centre Pompidou
Free on Sunday November 1st
Closed on Tuesdays

Musee Picasso
Closed for renovations till February 2012

Related Posts:
Free days at the San Francisco Museums in November
Paris: free days at the Museums and more
French National Monuments and Museums now free in France for anybody under 26
Tips for a drama-free visit to any museum with your children

October 18 – Target Family Day: free day at 5 SF museums

On Saturday October 18th from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm, you will be able to visit the following museums for free (free admission sponsored by Target): San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, Contemporary Jewish Museum, Museum of the African Diaspora,and the Zeum. You will also be able to enjoy the Yerba Buena Gardens Festivals, all this within one block!

Check the map!

Families will be able to explore the galleries, discover the art, participate in some art projects, and see some live performances.

If you want to go to more than one museum that day, I would advice to pick one wing of the museum, concentrate on that particular one and move on to an other museum. Children can only assimilate so much at the time. I would definitely finish with the Zeum Museum, a more kid friendly space.
Keep in mind that the museums will be crowded so stay away from the most popular wings. I see these free events as a way to get your children to have a feel of the museum and wanting to come back for more.

San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
151 Third Street (between Mission and Howard)

Go to the Rooftop Garden and enjoy an afternoon of performances, art-making, and creative inspiration. 

Spy by the window to see if you can spot Waldo on one of the roofs!

Richard Avelon: photographs 1946-2004 (Please note that a special timed ticket, for $5, is required for general (nonmember) entry for that particular exhibition)
Sensate: bodies and design
Photography now: China, Japan, Korea

My favorite: between Art and Life (contemporary Painting and Sculpture collection): we absolutely loved it.

Look for that painting from Beatriz Milhazes

and much more!

Contemporary Jewish Museum
736 Mission Street (between Third and Fourth)

Do not miss the ‘There is a Mystery there’: Sendak on Sendak. Read my review before going.
Enjoy making art all day long at the museum (open till 5:00 pm)

 

Museum of the African Diaspora
685 Mission Street (at Third)

You will be able to discover the new exhibition: The art of Richard Mayhew. After touring the exhibition, you can enjoy some dance performances by Jetta Martin and Company, jazz improvisations as well as performances and jazz session with Oaktown Jazz Ensemble.

Zeum
221 Fourth Street (at Howard)

You can enjoy all the activities offered by the Zeum for free (read my review of the Zeum) and enjoy carousel rides as well.

 

Yerba Buena Gardens
Mission Street (between Third and Fourth)

Enjoy three stages:"

The Esplanade: with Circus Bella, the Unique Derique, and the Prescott Circus Theatre
Children’s garden: with Chelle and friends and the Venezuelan Music Project
Jessie Square: with the Pi Clowns

Related posts

Tips for a drama free visit to any museum
Zeum Review
Maurice Sendak exhibition at the Jewish Museum review
Free days at the SF Museums in October

Maurice Sendak exhibition at the SF Jewish Museum

Our family went to the Maurice Sendak exhibition : ‘There is a Mystery there:Sendak on Sendak’ at the Contemporary Jewish Museum in San Francisco. The exhibition opened on September 8th and will close its doors on January 19th, 2010, so you have plenty of time to go and discover it.

The exhibition features original watercolors, drawings, and sketches from Sendak’s books.

What we liked

It is a small exhibition but that worked for us. Why say in 10 galleries what you can say in 4 or 5? 

I learned a lot about the Man. I have read ‘where the wild things are’ to my children, it is one of their favorite books but I did not know much about the author and his other books.

Maurice Sendak books are available to read by the exhibition entrance. My youngest (7) spent a lot of time there.

Beautiful artworks, we loved discovering what his first idea for the 'Where the Wild Things Are' book cover had been.

The kids (7 and 11)  got a gallery discovery booklet, courtesy of the museum. They were not in the mood to play the games or answer the questions, they just took the cut-outs inside and looked for the matching figures on the walls. It was not the purpose of the figures but that definitely kept them busy and had them look at every single artwork.

There is a video showing Maurice Sendak talking. We liked that we could put a face and voice on the author.

What we did not like so much

I have to say that we found the exhibition very enjoyable.However, my 11 years old daughter regretted that there was not enough watercolors and drawings from 'Where the Wild Things Are'.

Should you go?

If you like Maurice Sendak or even if you know only ‘where the wild things are’, give it a try. We had a nice time, the exhibition is small enough that you can be looking at some part of the exhibition and your children (unless they are toddlers) at another part. It is a feel good exhibition. Go check it out. The museum is free this Sunday October 18th as part of the Target Family Day event.

For a younger children approach, read Amy Graff story on her visit with her 5 years old son.

The movie 'Where the Wild Things Are' is being released on October 16th. You could do a Where the Wild Things Are themed week-end by going to the exhibition and to the movies!

MUSEUM INFORMATION
Jewish Museum San Francisco
www.thecjm.org
736 Mission Street, San Francisco
(415) 655-7800

Museum Hours
Daily (except Wednesday) - 11 AM - 5 PM
Thursday - 1 PM - 8 PM

Tickets

Adults: $10
Seniors (65 and older) and students with a valid ID: $8
Members and youth 18 and under: Free
Thursdays after 5 PM: $5 for all visitors (free for children 18 and under and Members)
Admission includes entry to all galleries/exhibitions.

Related posts

Tips for a drama free visit to any museum
Zeum Review
Free days at the SF Museums in October

Things To Do
San Francisco

Disney Family Museum: discover the man behind the mouse

We were fortunate enough to get a peek inside  the Disney Family Museum in San Francisco last Sunday. The museum opens on Thursday October 1st and is located in the Presidio Park.

Before going, I made sure that my two daughters (7 3/4 and 11) knew that this was not a walk in Disneyland but an insider view on the life of the man behind the company. If you do not want to risk disappointment, your family needs to be aware of this.

What we liked

Learning about the personal and professional life of Walt Disney through videos, family pictures. It is the whole purpose of the museum and it is a success. My youngest daughter's reaction after a couple of galleries was priceless: 'Oh no, his real name is Disney! He gave his own name to his company. How funny, his real name is Walt Disney!' We had told the children about it but for some reason, that detail got lost on the youngest child. And this is the main purpose of the creation of this museum: Diana Disney, his daughter, was afraid that the general public will forget about her father and the man behind the mouse.

There is too much to tell and it was such a pleasure to discover the museum that I do not want to give too much away but you will discover the original drawings (it was interesting to see the original Mickey Mouse sketches), the Alice series, the awards, especially the Oscar(s) received for Snow White (you will locate the award right away), the process behind the music, the sounds, the colors, the cartoons, the movies, etc, there is so much to learn and enjoy about the achievement of Walt Disney.Make sure that you make your child notice the lack of colors and the lack of sound in the first cartoons.

You think that you know so much about the man, well, think again, unless you are a die hard fan, I am sure you will spend a lot of time in the first two galleries discovering his life before creating Mickey Mouse. .

The interactive screens: my daughters played some game of pairing some music and characters. Lots of kids had fun playing that game. There were also some synchronizing images and sounds activities.

My 11 year old really enjoyed seeing the drawings come to life and particularly enjoyed the galleries where you can see movies on the upper side of the walls, you can watch side by side the colorless drawings and and the actual cartoons.

My 7 year old liked all the photos and drawings, especially the ones where she could actually discover who Walt Disney was.

Meeting people passionate about the life of Walt Disney and sharing additional knowledge. We talked with a book writer who wrote several books about Disney and the artists who knew him and enjoyed sharing insight with a visitor who is a Disney fanatic.

The view going before entering the last set of galleries: you are in front of a glass wall with the Golden Gate Bridge in the background: breathtaking.

We did not get to try

The theater. It will open on the actual opening day. To start: Fantasia, October 30 and 31 will see Halloween themed Disney stories (The skeleton dance, the Mad Pluto, Pluto’s Judgment Day, and more), later you will get Christmas stories. In November, Sleeping Beauty will be showed.

We got to meet our friends from Trekaroo at the visit. We trusted Brennan’s advice and skipped the food at the cafe. Our kids grabbed some cookies and apples: can not go wrong with this.

I was surprised by

The Gift Store: I thought the quality of the items is really high. Nothing plasticky as we often see in the Disney store. A lot of Art items are available.

What we did not like so much

My children lost interest at the  Disneyland Park gallery. They liked the model of the park but for some reasons, this area did not touch them the same way the previous galleries did. They were more familiar th that part and instead of exploring the gallery,decided that they would rather whine about how they never get to go to Disneyland (even though their uncle took them to Disneyland Paris last summer!)

The Timed-entry.  You have a window of 15 minutes to show up at the entrance with your printed ticket. My GPS sent us first to Montgomery Street in Downtown San Francisco and we arrived 5 minutes before scanning time even though we left really early. If you arrive after your window expired, they will try to get you in as soon as there is an opening or a slowdown in entrance. And if it never happens, you will have to come back another day. Well, you do not want this to happen, so plan accordingly.The galleries are not big and pacing out entries make complete sense. There was a lot of people in the museum but we never felt it was overcrowded so obviously it works.

Know before you go

No strollers allowed

Do not go with children under 7. I doubt they would like more than the cartoons in some of the galleries.

Buy your tickets before you go, it is a timed-entry, make sure you do not leave in a hurry. You can buy the tickets 60 days in advance.

Is the the ticket price worth it?:

Adult: $20
Child: $12.50

The tickets are not cheap. We stayed almost three hours in the museum and really had a nice time. I am highly recommending it if your children can read and are big enough to process all the information. I definitely do not recommend it with toddlers.

MUSEUM INFORMATION
The Walt Disney Family Museum
www.waltdisney.com
104 Montgomery Street
The Presidio of San Francisco
San Francisco
T 415 345 6800

Open  Wednesday-Monday: 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.
Closed every Tuesday

The Disney Family Museum gave my family complimentary tickets . I received no other compensation besides the tickets, and the Museum did not express any requirement that I express a particular point of view.

Things To Do
San Francisco

Saturday Sept. 26: free entrance at participating US Museums

On September 26th, enjoy free general admission for one person and a guest at hundred of museums all over the US.

You NEED to print the Smithsonian Magazine Museum Day admission card to receive two free entrances. Download the admission card.

Click here to find the list of the participating venues nationwide.

Read my tips for a drama-free visit to museums with children.

Here is the list of the participant venues in the San Francisco Bay Area

Bedford Gallery Walnut Creek

Blackhawk Museum Danville

California Automobile Museum (formerly the Towe Auto Museum) Sacramento

California State Military Museum and Resource Center Sacramento

California State Railroad Museum Sacramento

Cartoon Art Museum of California San Francisco

Chabot Space & Science Center Oakland

Contemporary Jewish Museum San Francisco

Coyote Point Museum for Environmental Education San Mateo

Crocker Art Museum Sacramento

Exploratorium San Francisco

Explorit Science Center Davis  

Lacis Museum of Lace and Textiles Berkeley

Lindsay Wildlife Museum Walnut Creek

Monterey Museum of Art Monterey

Museum of Craft and Folk Art San Francisco

Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD) San Francisco

Sacramento Zoo Sacramento

San Mateo County History Museum Redwood City

SF Camerawork San Francisco

Sonoma County Museum Santa Rosa

Sonoma League for Historic Preservation Sonoma

Sun Gallery, Hayward Area Forum of the Arts Hayward

The California Museum for History, Women and the Arts Sacramento

Zeum: San Francisco's Children's Museum San Francisco

Enjoy your Saturday!