1. the new Calif Acad of Sci (planetarium, aquarium, rain forest) Kids 3 and under not allowed in the planetarium which is/was like a ride on a flying saucer which takes off thru the roof of the planetarium, flys over the rose garden, down the peninsula over Monterery, San Diego, Galapagos, the moon, planets, other galaxies, and back. Spectacular. Dizzying. Unfortunatly they have come up with a boring new program. I don't know how to check that in advance. Acquarium tends to be crowded.
2. Exploratorium an old favorite, now at pier 14 (walkable north of Ferry building).
3. Children's Discovery Museum in San Jose.
4. The Tech Museum of Innovation in San Jose
5. Monterey Bay Aquarium in Monterey. Sea Horse exhibit fall 2009. Asilomar is nearby.
6. Sky High Trampolines, Santa Clara. Check youtube for sample views
7. Vertical wind tunnel
8. Golden Gate park. (arboretum at the same location as Cal Academy)
9. Pier 39 San Francisco's premier tourist trap. Fun looking at aggressive sea lions on nearby floats. Bay boat rides.
10. Aquarium of the Bay at pier 39, underwater tunnel 300' long. Sharks! pretty jazzy web site introduction.
11. Anno Nuevo Elephant seal mating and birthing.
12. Seymour Center at UCSC waterfront, Visit a working marine laboratory. Exhibit halls, aquarium, touch tanks, tours to marine mammal research overlook, Ocean Discovery Shop, and unsurpassed vistas of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Hold a sea star? marvel at the world's largest whale skeleton? touch a shark?
13. Musee Mechanique (old music machines and games, moved to Fisherman's wharf)
14. Oakland Zoo is said to be much better than San Franciso Zoo (hilly walking).
15. Safari West in Santa Rosa (3 hour tour).
16. Favorite beach hike at "Mavericks" world famous surfer competition beach. Scan the map to see a little northward to the Jean Laurer trail along the seacliffs.
17. Ferry building (ferry to Sausalito) From Caltrain take surface tram to Folsom St. Walk (.4mi) to Ferry building. Walk from here to Pier 39 (1.4mi), then to Fisherman's wharf (0.5mi), then Ghirardelli square (0.6mi), where you pick up trolley, Hyde St back to Union Square Powell St, and to Caltrain (1.2mi). Whew! Sounds like a long day! Better taxi that last leg.
18. Fort Funston (live web cam) often watch hang gliders up close. Click thru the wide image on the live web cam until it fills your screen. Afternoons best.
19. Zeum San Francisco, Children's museum San Francisco
20. Niles Canyon Railway train rides from Sunol to Niles. Closed November and December. Spotty openings in winter. I think the Golden Gate railway museum is actually at the Sunol end of the line, but not sure. I think there is a small museum at both line ends, and a big railroad yard with historic trains in the middle of the canyon.
21. Walt Disney Family Museum in San Francisco at Presideo
22. Museum of American Heritage (Palo Alto), Mechano Mania exhibit Thanksgiving week 2009.
23. San Jose Christmas in the Park (opens Nov 27, 2009)
24. Hiller Aviation Museum San Carlos
25. NASA Space Center NASA Ames at Moffett Field and Moffet Field space museum, is here, Wednesday thru Saturday; 10am to 2pm
26. Half Moon Bay, Pier and marina area. Mavericks beach walk. Mezza Luna restaurant.
27. Roaring Camp Railroad, Felton
28. Elkhorn Slough Safari Pontoon boat trip at Moss Landing. See marsh birds sea otters, harbor seals.
29. Hidden Villa Los Altos. Few winter activities.
30. Great America. Famous for roller coasters but recommended by Bob for its water park, Boomerang Bay Few winter activities.
31. Raging Waters park in San Jose. Recommended by Beavers
32. Shoreline Park, Mountain View.
33. Las Palmas in Sunnyvale is a better park than the one you list in Mountain View, says Bob.
34. Ardenwood farms in Fremont
35. Coyote point We haven't been there in years!
36. Bol Park (on the path to Gunn high school) Donkeys -- they come out to the large field by Laguna Ave on Sundays from 10-11a for kids to visit up close and personal.
37. Bill Jones Wildcat Railroad and carousel, Los Gatos, Vasona Park, limited hrs in the fall and winter
38. Happy Hollow Park and Zoo San Jose
39. carousel in San Jose
40. Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
41. Computer History Museum
42. WinterLodge Ice Skating open only from Sept-April.
43. Stanford Art Museum
44. Tilden Park, Berkley steam train and carousel. Yelp
45. Palo Alto Bowl - if it remains open that is - fun and cheap, though.
46. Silliman center in Newark 45'x75' Activity Pool with zero depth entry and water play structure, includes 6 platforms, over 30 different water jets, 2 water guns, 2 slides and 3 overhead rope pulls. 245 foot Lazy River complete with inner tubes to ride on. 2 Water Slides with the tower rising 20 feet above the pool deck;
47. Fairyland in Oakland Definitely Sydney's favorite. Sammy's second favorite after the Aquarium. Odas prefer SF zoo.

Eating places fun with kids

1. Sushi Tomo on El Camino Way. Moving boats at sushi bar, also bento boxes.
2. Dim sum at Fu Lam Mum, 153 Castro St, Mountain View
3. Cliff house, San Francisco sea overlook for meals or just deserts. Also the starting point for a very long walk high along the coast to the golden gate.
4. Kid friendly restaurants guide to