Welcome to the ultimate guide to indoor educational activities for families in Northern California! Are you looking for a fun and engaging way to spend quality time with your loved ones while also learning something new? Look no further! This beautiful region is home to a wide variety of museums, science centers, art studios, and more, all designed to inspire curiosity, creativity, and a love of learning in children of all ages. Whether you're a family of history buffs, science enthusiasts, or art lovers, these indoor options offer a chance to explore and discover in a comfortable, climate-controlled environment. So, gather the kids, pack a picnic lunch, and get ready for a day of family fun and learning!


Children’s Museums

  • Children's Museum of Sonoma County, Santa Rosa - Offers hands-on exhibits and activities for children to explore and learn, suitable for ages 0-8. Admission is $9 for adults and children, open Tuesday-Sunday 10am-4pm.


  • Bay Area Discovery Museum, Sausalito - Offers hands-on exhibits and activities that inspire creativity and curiosity in children, suitable for ages 0-8. Admission is $15 for adults and children, open Wednesday-Monday 9am-4pm.


  • San Jose Children's Museum, San Jose - Offers hands-on exhibits and activities that inspire learning and creativity in children, suitable for ages 0-8. Admission is $12 for adults and children, open Tuesday-Sunday 10am-5pm.


  • The Napa Valley Museum, Yountville - Offers exhibits and activities that explore Napa Valley's history, art, and environment, suitable for all ages. Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for children, open Wednesday-Sunday 10am-4pm.


  • The Sacramento Children's Museum, Rancho Cordova - Offers interactive exhibits and activities that encourage children to learn through play, suitable for children up to age 8. Admission is $7.50 for adults and children, open Tuesday-Saturday from 9am-4pm, Sunday 12pm-4pm.



Science and Tech Museums

  • SMUD Museum of Science and Curiosity (MOSAC), Sacramento - Offers interactive exhibits and activities that educate and inspire curiosity in science, technology, engineering, and math, suitable for all ages. $17 for adults, $15 for seniors/educators/students/military, $14 for kids aged 2-17, under 2 is free. Open 10am-4pm on weekdays, 10am-5pm on weekends.


  • Exploratorium, San Francisco - Offers interactive exhibits and activities that explore science, art, and human perception, suitable for all ages. Admission is $29.95 for adults and children, open Tuesday-Sunday 10am-5pm.


  • The Lawrence Hall of Science, Berkeley - Offers hands-on science exhibits and activities, as well as planetarium shows and outdoor science adventures, suitable for all ages. Admission is $15 for adults and $12 for children, open Wednesday-Sunday 10am-5pm.


  • The Discovery Museum Science and Space Center, Sacramento - Offers interactive exhibits, planetarium shows, and science experiments that encourage children to learn about science and space, suitable for all ages. Admission is $11.75 for adults, $9.75 for children 3-17, open Tuesday-Sunday from 10am-5pm.



  • The Tech Museum of Innovation, San Jose - a family-friendly science and technology center in the heart of downtown. Our hands-on activities, experimental labs and design challenge experiences empower people to innovate with creativity, curiosity and compassion. Admission is $27 for adults, $22 for children ages 3-17 and students. Open Tues-Fri, 10am-3pm, Sat from 10am-5pm, and Sun from 11am-5pm



Historical Museums

  • The Museum of the San Ramon Valley, Danville - Offers exhibits and activities that showcase the history of the San Ramon Valley, suitable for all ages. Admission is free, open Wednesday-Saturday 12pm-4pm.


  • The California Palace of the Legion of Honor, San Francisco - Offers a variety of art exhibits, as well as tours and art classes, suitable for all ages. Admission is $15 for adults and free for children, open Tuesday-Sunday 9:30am-5:15pm.


  • The Oakland Museum of California, Oakland - Offers exhibits and activities that explore California's art, history, and natural science, suitable for all ages. Admission is $15 for adults and $6 for children, open Wednesday-Sunday 11am-5pm.


  • The California State Capitol Museum, Sacramento - Offers exhibits and activities that explore the history of the California State Capitol building, suitable for all ages. Admission is free, open Monday-Friday 9am-5pm, Saturday 9am-4pm, Sunday 11am-5pm.


  • The California State Military Museum, Sacramento - Offers exhibits and activities that explore the history of California's military, suitable for all ages. Admission is free, open Monday-Friday 9am-4pm.



Art Museums and Studios:

  • The Vacaville Art League and Gallery, Vacaville - Offers art classes and workshops, as well as rotating art exhibitions, suitable for all ages. Admission to the gallery is free, classes and workshops may have fees, schedule varies.


  • The Arts Benicia, Benicia - Offers art classes and workshops, as well as rotating art exhibitions, suitable for all ages. Admission to the gallery is free, classes and workshops may have fees, schedule varies.


  • The Clay Arts Center, Vallejo - Offers pottery classes and workshops, as well as rotating art exhibitions, suitable for all ages. Classes and workshops may have fees, schedule varies.


  • The Firehouse Arts Center, Pleasanton - Offers art classes and workshops, as well as rotating art exhibitions, suitable for all ages. Classes and workshops may have fees, schedule varies.


  • The Sanchez Art Center, Pacifica - Offers art classes and workshops, as well as rotating art exhibitions, suitable for all ages. Admission to the gallery is free, classes and workshops may have fees, schedule varies.


  • The Creativity Art Center, San Francisco - Offers art classes and workshops, as well as rotating art exhibitions, suitable for all ages. Classes and workshops may have fees, schedule varies.


  • Joyful Art Studio, Vacaville


  • Happy Life Pottery, Benicia


  • Crocker Art Museum, Sacramento - Offers a variety of art exhibits and activities for all ages, including family-friendly tours and art making workshops. Admission is $10 for adults and children, open Tuesday-Sunday 10am-5pm.


  • The Museum of Craft and Design, San Francisco - Offers exhibits and activities that explore the world of craft and design, suitable for all ages. Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for children, open Wednesday-Sunday 11am-6pm.


  • The Cartoon Art Museum, San Francisco - Offers exhibits and activities that explore the world of cartoon art, suitable for all ages. Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for children, open Wednesday-Sunday 11am-5pm.


  • The Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive, Berkeley - Offers a variety of art exhibits and film screenings, suitable for all ages. Admission is $15 for adults and free for children, open Wednesday-Sunday 11am-5pm.



Theaters and Performing Arts:

  • The Magic Theatre, San Francisco - Offers plays and theatre productions that are suitable for all ages, with a focus on new works. Admission varies depending on the production, open with varying schedule.


  • The Bay Area Children's Theatre, Berkeley - Offers a variety of productions that are suitable for children and families. Admission varies depending on the production, open with varying schedule.


  • The Theatreworks Silicon Valley, Mountain View - Offers a variety of productions that are suitable for children and families, including their "Family Matinee Series" which is specifically designed for young audiences. Admission varies depending on the production, open with varying schedule.


  • The California Theatre Center, Sunnyvale - Offers a variety of productions that are suitable for children and families, including their "Young Audiences" series. Admission varies depending on the production, open with varying schedule.


  • The Palo Alto Children's Theatre, Palo Alto - Offers a variety of productions that are suitable for children and families, including their "Mainstage" series which is specifically designed for young audiences. Admission varies depending on the production, open with varying schedule.


  • The Berkeley Playhouse, Berkeley - Offers a variety of productions that are suitable for children and families, including their "Family Series" which is specifically designed for young audiences. Admission varies depending on the production, open with varying schedule.


  • The Woodland Opera House, Woodland - Offers a variety of productions that are suitable for children and families, including their "Family Theatre" series that is specifically designed for young audiences. It is a historic theater that provides a unique experience, admission varies depending on the production, open with varying schedule.


  • The Museum of Performance + Design, San Francisco - Offers exhibits and activities that explore the world of theater, dance, and music, suitable for all ages. Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for children, open Wednesday-Saturday 12pm-5pm.



Planetariums:

  • The Chabot Space and Science Center, Oakland - Offers a variety of planetarium shows and telescope viewing, suitable for all ages. Admission is $18 for adults, $14 for children 3-12, open Wednesday-Sunday 10am-5pm.


  • The Morrison Planetarium, San Francisco - Offers a variety of planetarium shows, suitable for all ages. Admission is included with the general admission to California Academy of Sciences, open Monday-Saturday 9:30am-5pm, Sunday 11am-5pm.


  • The Lawrence Hall of Science, Berkeley - Offers a variety of planetarium shows and outdoor science adventures, suitable for all ages. Admission is $15 for adults and $12 for children, open Wednesday-Sunday 10am-5pm.



Aquariums:

  • The California Academy of Sciences Steinhart Aquarium, San Francisco - Offers exhibits and activities that explore the marine life of the California coast and the Pacific, suitable for all ages. Admission is $39.95 for adults, $34.95 for children 4-11, open Monday-Saturday 9:30am-5pm, Sunday 11am-5pm.


  • The Monterey Bay Aquarium, Monterey - Offers exhibits and activities that explore the marine life of the Monterey Bay and the Pacific, suitable for all ages. Admission is $49.95 for adults, $29.95 for children 3-12, open daily 10am-5pm.


  • The Aquarium of the Bay, San Francisco - Offers exhibits and activities that explore the marine life of the San Francisco Bay and the Pacific, suitable for all ages. Admission is $24.95 for adults, $17.95 for children 4-12, open daily 10am-8pm.



Special Interest:

  • The Aerospace Museum of California, McClellan - Offers exhibits and activities that explore the history of aviation, suitable for all ages. Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for children, open Tuesday-Saturday 9am-4pm.


  • The California State Railroad Museum, Sacramento - Offers exhibits and activities that explore the history of railroads in California, suitable for all ages. Admission is $12 for adults, $6 for children, open daily from 10am-5pm.



Cultural Museums:

  • The Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California, San Francisco - Offers a variety of cultural exhibits and activities, including classes, workshops, and events, focusing on Japanese culture, suitable for all ages. Admission varies depending on the event, open with varying schedule.


  • The Mexican Heritage Plaza, San Jose - Offers a variety of cultural exhibits and activities, including classes, workshops, and events, focusing on Mexican culture, suitable for all ages. Admission varies depending on the event, open with varying schedule.


  • The African American Museum and Library, Oakland - Offers a variety of cultural exhibits and activities, including classes, workshops, and events, focusing on African American culture, suitable for all ages. Admission is free, open Tuesday-Saturday from 10am-5pm.


  • The Sikh Heritage Museum, Elk Grove - Offers a variety of cultural exhibits and activities, including classes, workshops, and events, focusing on Sikh culture, suitable for all ages. Admission is free, open with varying schedule, please check the website for specific hours of operation.


  • The Museum of the African Diaspora, San Francisco - Offers exhibits and activities that explore the history and culture of the African diaspora, suitable for all ages. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children, open Wednesday-Sunday 11am-6pm.


  • The California State Indian Museum, Sacramento - Offers exhibits and activities that explore the history and culture of California's native tribes, suitable for all ages. Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for children, open Tuesday-Sunday 10am-5pm.


I hope this guide has provided you with plenty of options for indoor educational activities to enjoy with your family in Northern California. It's so fun to learn together with our kids, when we find ourselves able to open ourselves to the joy of curiosity and discovery and model that for them! Or, if we're honest, they usually model it for us, haha! These indoor options are not only fun but also perfect for those rainy days, too hot or too cold days, and for when you simply want to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Remember to check the admission fees and the hours of operation before you go, and most importantly, don't forget to have fun! Let these indoor activities be a way to create unforgettable memories with your loved ones, and to appreciate the beauty of the simple things in life!