Do you have to be a parent, cause I love those places and have gone by myself? </35yearoldgayman> - Derrick

Derrick - of course not! The Tot Spot in the Bay Area Discovery Museum might be unavailable (you have to be under 40 inches tall), but I have a good time at these places, particularly the Exploratorium and Academy of Sciences. - Hutch Carpenter

Gilroy Gardens, Monterrey Bay Aquarium, Children's Discovery Museum - Atul Arora

Hutch, I was there for Thanksgiving and the Exploratorium was packed! My next visit up there will be focused on hitting up as many museums as I can. These are some great notations. Thanks. - Derrick

SF Zoo - Mike Doeff

Monterey Aquarium - Glen Campbell

Sigh....I miss the Bay Area!! And the Zeum was pretty cool. - Katie: Witch Of The West

I'm an auntie, but I love having the zoo- sisters have- aquatic playground thing in berkeley, tech museum in SJ, monterey bay aquarium, that planetarium in berkeley hills, oakland zoo, oakland museum, the western theme park in SJ... I go to zeum here but haven't done a membership, moma membership is great (for older visitors) - anna sauce

I can't wait to come back up, SF'ers. My b-day is in April, but I'd like to come up before then. Just sayin'... :) - Derrick

Derrick: If you come to town, we are having a meet-up just for you. - Nadine Schaeffer

Nadine, I've been up three or four times since September. I'll be at Panchita's #2 on 16th/Valencia eating pupusas. :) - Derrick

How come I only know about 2 of these times? Must stalk harder. - B. Hatin

Kaia, cause you only go to Folsom and the leather parades. C'mon now. - Derrick

Hah! Just let me know when and I will join the stalking posse Derrick. - Nadine Schaeffer

Love the responses here. SF Zoo, Children's Discovery Museum, Planetarium, Zeum. Haven't yet hit the Monterrey Bay Aquarium, but I know that's coming for us. - Hutch Carpenter

The Zoos are great. The Chabot Space and Science Center in Oakland. The de Young (they do a great Friday night thing for kids with crafts, etc.). Another great spot for kids is the Adventure Playground in Berkeley which is free. - Thomas Hawk

Adventure Playground? I'll have to add that to the list. We've been over to Children's Fairyland in Oakland, which is pretty cool. - Hutch Carpenter