Academy of Sciences, CaliforniaAn aquarium, planetarium, natural history museum, and a 4-story rainforest all under one roof! 55 Music Concourse, Golden Gate Park 379-8000, www.calacademy.org
Aquarium of the Bay300 feet of crystal clear tunnels bring you up close and personal with 20,000 of the Bay's most amazing marine animals. PIER 39. 1-888-SEA-DIVE, aquariumofthebay.com
Asian Art MuseumOne of the largest Asian art collections in the Western world, over 13,000 art objects spanning 6,000 years of history. 200 Larkin/McAllister 581-3500, asianart.org
Cable Car Barn & MuseumDisplays the history of San Francisco's cable cars and the underground cables that pull the cars along the tracks. 1201 Mason/ Washington 474-1887, cablecarmuseum.org
Contemporary Jewish MuseumPresenting contemporary perspectives and Jewish views on art, history, and culture. 736 Mission/3rd St. 655-7800 thecjm.org
de Young Museum17th-21st century art from the Americas, the Pacific & Africa, international textiles and costumes. GG Park, 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Dr. 750-3600, deyoungmuseum.org
GLBT History MuseumCelebrating 100 years of SF's gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender past — the only museum of its kind in the U.S.
4127 18th St/Castro St. 621-1107
Haas-Lilienthal HouseThis Victorian survived the 1906 Earthquake. Authentic furnishings and San Francisco artifacts. Tours Wed. & Sat. 12-3, Sun. 11-4.
2007 Franklin/Washington 441-3004, www.sfheritage.org
Legion of Honor MuseumOver 4,000 years of art including works by El Greco, Rembrandt, Monet and many other famous artists. Lincoln Park,
100 34th Ave. 750-3600, legionofhonor.org
Museum of the African DiasporaExhibitions and programs featuring the art, history, culture of Africa and of people of African descent world wide. 685 Mission/3rd St. 358-7200
Museum of Pez MemorabiliaFeatured in Time Magazine! 900+ Pez dispensers, classic & banned toys. Minutes from SFO, Burlingame, (650) 347-2301, pezmuseum.com
Ripley's Believe It Or Not! MuseumThis museum of the odd and unusual was inspired by the 1920s newspaper column "Believe It Or Not!"
175 Jefferson/Mason 771-6188, ripleysf.com
San Francisco Maritime National ParkHyde Street Pier historic ships, Maritime Museum, Visitors Center. Fisherman's Wharf 447-5000, nps.gov/safr
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art SFMOMA on the Go:Free outdoor exhibit of eight sculptures by world-renowned artist Mark Di Suvero. Crissy Field.
Note: Museum is closed for expansion until 2016
151 3rd St./Mission 357-4000, sfmoma.org/onthego
San Francisco Botanical GardenA living museum within Golden Gate Park, offering 55 acres showcasing over 8,000 different kinds of plants from all over the world. Open daily at 9am. Now through September: Last entry at 6pm. 9th Ave./Lincoln Way, Golden Gate Park 661-1316, sfbotanicalgarden.org
USS PampanitoAuthentic WWII submarine. Exclusive iPod audio tour features voices of Pampanito crewmen. National Historic landmark.
Fisherman's Wharf, Pier 45 775-1943, maritime.org
The Walt Disney Family MuseumThe fascinating and inspiring story of Walt Disney is illuminated in more than 1000 artifacts. The Presidio, 104 Montgomery 345-6800, waltdisney.org
Wells Fargo History MuseumInteractive exhibits, rare artifacts from California's early history: stagecoach, mining tools, gold, maps. 420 Montgomery/California 396-2619, wellsfargohistory.com
Yerba Buena Center for the ArtsA multidisciplinary arts center presenting visual and performing arts, films and public programs. 701 Mission/3rd St. 978-ARTS (2787), ybca.org
Bay Area Museums Aircraft Carrier USS HornetRestored WWII and Apollo recovery ship. WWII bomber, F-14 fighter, Apollo quarantine facility and command module. 707 W Hornet, Alameda. (510) 521-8448, uss-hornet.org
Bay Area Discovery MuseumSpectacular setting under the north tower of the Golden Gate Bridge. Hands-on exhibitions for children ages 1-8. Fort Baker, Sausalito 339-3900, baykidsmuseum.org
Lawrence Hall of ScienceThis user-friendly museum features interactive experimentation in geology, animal behavior and plant life. UC Berkeley (510) 642-5134, lhs.berkeley.edu
Monterey Bay AquariumThis nonprofit aquarium is home to more than 6,500 specimens of Marine life indigenous to the Monterey Bay. Monterey (408) 648-4888, montereybayaquarium.org
Oakland Museum of CaliforniaThe only museum devoted exclusively to the art, ecology and history of California. Downtown Oakland (510) 238-2200, museumca.org
The Tech Museum of InnovationSee how technology is changing the way we live. Featuring the IMAX® Dome theater. 201 South Market St., San Jose (408) 294-TECH, thetech.org
Winchester Mystery HouseFind out why Sarah Winchester built a 160-room house with doors, stairs and passageways leading nowhere. San Jose. (408) 247-2101, winchestermysteryhouse.com
University Art MuseumAt UC Berkeley, this museum features works by Rothko, Cézanne, Rubens, local area artists. Special rotating exhibits. Berkeley (510) 642-1295, bampfa.berkeley.edu
USS PotomacFranklin D. Roosevelt's "Floating White House" is now a National Historic Landmark and floating museum. Port of Oakland, FDR Pier (510) 839-8256, usspotomac.org