Indoor places for a rainy day in San Francisco

A pier full of things to pull, spin and stand inside. Nothing is behind glass, nobody minds the noise, and a five-year-old can lead the whole visit.

Rainforest dome, planetarium, aquarium and a penguin colony under one Golden Gate Park roof. The one to spend a whole wet day in.

Studios in Yerba Buena Gardens where kids make claymation, music and art with their hands. Built for ages 2 to 12, and the old carousel is right outside.

A museum paired with an outdoor play space, useful when you want an indoor backup for the outing.

Richmond indoor playground with crafts for toddlers and preschoolers.

Polk Street indoor playground with rope mazes and slides for toddlers through school age.

Presidio trampoline park with a café and kids' menu; loud, bouncy, and built for school-age kids.

A free room at the wharf packed with working penny arcade machines, from a hand-cranked carnival to old strength testers. Bring quarters and expect to stay.

Wide, quiet galleries near Civic Center. Doable as one floor and out again, and there is room to push a stroller through every room.

Three floors of art and history off Yerba Buena Gardens. Compact, calm, and stronger with school-age kids than with little ones.

A San Francisco museum dedicated to the history of cable cars.

Presidio bowling alley; loud, fun, and built for preschool and school-age kids.

Mission mini-golf with a kids' menu; lively fun for preschool and school-age kids.

A mall floor of arcade games, bowling and karaoke. Buy time rather than tokens, and go on a weekday if you can.