Expect a moderate climate and blue skies when you visit San Francisco, but there are rainy days as well. Climbing hills beside the famous cable cars or biking a steep incline aren't the only ways for a fun and fit day. San Francisco offers a wide variety of indoor activities for every member of your traveling party.
Immerse Yourself in Art
San Francisco is home to world class art museums. The de Young Museum and the Legion of Honor offer collections of fine art. The de Young features permanent collections of American, African and Oceanic art. Many traveling exibits are also on display. The collection of the Legion of Honor includes primarily European and ancient art. Find works by El Greco, Matisse, Monet, Picasso, Rembrandt, Rubens and Watteau.
The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art or SFMOMA was the first West Coast museum devoted to modern art. You'll find painting, scupture, photography, architecture, design and media arts.
The Asian Art Museum offers one of the most comprehensive Asian art collections in the world. The collection includes 17,000 pieces spanning 6,000 years, from tiny carved jade pieces to monuments.
Explore Science
The California Academy of Sciences and the Exploratorium can satisfy your scientific curiosity on a rainy day or any day. The California Academy of Sciences at 412,000 square feet is the greenest museum on Earth. It houses a diverse collection, including a coral reef, rainforest, penguins, a swamp, a Tyrannosaurus rex, an 87-foot blue whale and a planetarium.
The Exploratorium is a hands-on museum filled with experiences for sight, sound and touch. Whether you're experiencing total darkness in the Tactile Dome, testing how quietly you can walk or learning about the stuff of life, you will be fascinated and entertained throughout your day.
Go Shopping
The Embarcadero Center offers 100 retail shops, restaurants and a five-screen theater. The entire center spans five blocks in San Francisco's commercial district. Convenient to Union Square, the San Francisco Shopping Center boasts the second largest Nordstrom department store in the United States, the West Coast flagship for Bloomingdale's as well as 170 boutiques and restaurants. Laid out in five stories, get your exercise here by opting for the stairs rather than the curved escalators or the express elevators to Nordstrom.
The Stonestown Galleria Mall in west San Francisco offers many amenities. Enjoy their farmer's market every Sunday.
Discover History
At San Francisco Cable Car Museum, learn the history and technology of these mobile landmarks. The museum houses a collection of cable cars, photography and mechanical exhibits.
Enjoy Live Theater
San Francisco hosts a tremendous array of live theater. Whether you want to catch a local acting guild or a touring Broadway production, you can find a wide variety in the city by the bay. San Francisco boasts over 20 theaters and concert halls. (See Reference 4)
Hit the Gym
If you plan a workout on the streets of San Francisco, don't let a rainy day spoil it. San Francisco offers a wide array of gyms and health clubs. If you already have a gym membership back home, you may be able to enjoy the day at a San Francisco health club through the International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association's Passport program.
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