Free Summer Attractions

Asian Art Museum

200 Larkin (at McAllister), S.F., 581-3500, www.asianart.org

Free on the first Tuesday of each month (children 12 and under always free), 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive

2626 Bancroft (at College), Berkeley, (510) 642-0808, www.bampfa.berkeley.edu.

Free on the first Thursday of each month (children 12 and under always free), 11 a.m.-7 p.m.

California Academy of Sciences

875 Howard (between Fourth and Fifth streets), S.F., 750-7145, www.calacademy.org.

Free on the first Wednesday of each month (children under 4 always free), 10 a.m.-8:45 p.m.

California Palace of the Legion of Honor

Lincoln Park (Clement at 34th Avenue), S.F., 863-3330,

www.thinker.org/legion/index.asp.

Free every Tuesday (children under 5 always free), 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Exploratorium

3601 Lyon (at Marina), S.F., 561-0360, www.exploratorium.edu.

Free on the first Wednesday of each month (children 3 and under always free), 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Golden Gate Park Historical Walking Tours

Friends of Recreation and Parks

263-0991, www.frp.org.

Free walking tours of Golden Gate Park, including several toddler-friendly options.

Musee Mecanique

Pier 45 (at Taylor), S.F., 346-2000.

Admission is always free, Monday-Friday 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Saturday-Sunday 10 a.m.-8 p.m.

Museum of Craft and Folk Art

Fort Mason Building A, Buchanan (at Marina), S.F., 775-0991, www.mocfa.org.

Free on the first Wednesday of each month, 11 a.m.-7 p.m.

Oakland Museum

1000 Oak (at 10th Street), Oakland, (510) 238-2200, www.museumca.org.

Free on the second Sunday of each month (children under 6 always free), noon-5 p.m.

San Francisco Cable Car Museum

1201 Mason (at Washington), S.F., 474-1887, www.cablecarmuseum.com.

Always free.

San Francisco City Guides

S.F. Main Library

100 Larkin (at Ninth Street), S.F., 557-4266, www.sfcityguides.org.

Free walking tours every day of the week, focusing on subjects ranging from neighborhoods and popular landmarks to themes like "Art Deco" and "Bawdy & Naughty."

San Francisco Fire Department Museum

655 Presidio (at Pine), S.F., 558-3546, www.sffiremuseum.org.

Free admission always, open Thursday-Sunday 1-4 p.m.

San Francisco Maritime Museum

Polk (at Beach), S.F., 561-6662, www.maritime.org.

Admission to the museum building is always free.

San Francisco Museum of Modern Art

151 Third St. (at Mission), S.F., 357-4000, www.sfmoma.org.

Free on the first Tuesday of each month (children 12 and under always free), 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

San Francisco Zoo

Sloat (at 45th Avenue), S.F., 753-7080, www.sfzoo.org.

Free on the first Wednesday of each month (children under 3 always free), 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Strybing Arboretum and Botanical Gardens

Golden Gate Park, Ninth Avenue (at Lincoln), S.F., 661-1316.

Admission is free, as are guided tours, Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Saturday-Sunday 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Yerba Buena Center for the Arts

701 Mission (at Third Street), S.F., 978-2787, www.yerbabuenaarts.org.

Free on the first Tuesday of each month, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.