Aquarium of the Bay
A small aquarium at the foot of Pier 39 where glass tunnels put sharks and rays overhead. About an hour with little kids, and the sea lions are just outside.
Kid essentials
- Monday
- 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Tuesday
- 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Wednesday
- 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Thursday
- 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Friday
- 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Saturday
- 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Sunday
- 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
How kid-friendly is it?
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Nearby places
A small play break in the middle of the busy waterfront, easy to pair with the carousel and a stop to watch the sea lions.
Two decks of shops and food built out over the water, with a carousel at the end and the sea lions barking off the far side. Loud, flat and easy to push a stroller round.
Public steps wired to play notes as you climb them. Free, outdoors, and kids will do the same eight stairs twenty times.
A mirrored maze on Pier 39 that takes about fifteen minutes to get lost in, for school-age kids.
A working WWII Liberty ship you can walk through, engine room included. Steep ladders and high sills.
Dozens of sea lions hauled out on the floating docks, barking and shoving each other off. Free, visible from the walkway, and most reliable in winter.