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Discovery Zones
Every Discovery Zones invites hands-on exploration.

Iceless Skating

Slip, slide, spin and glide! ‘Tis the season for trying something new and safely taking risks. Lead with imagination and discover your capabilities in a winter wonderland under the Golden Gate Bridge. Iceless Skating is back – no winter gear needed!

Closed-toe shoes required. Iceless closes at 3:30PM.

Planet Putt Putt

What is better than a round of mini golf? It’s like a kid-sized sport with physics and problem solving built in. We’ve designed an outer-space themed course where children can explore different ways of hitting balls through various obstacles. The course emphasizes exploration over precision, encouraging children to experiment with different techniques and tackle unique challenges.

Play By Ear

Dive into a musical landscape where your child is the artist and every touch unveils a new sound. Created by Sung Kim of Hare and Arrow Arts, this interactive exhibit merges sculpture with music, inviting children to craft harmonies or produce a delightful racket. It’s not just about hearing—it’s about feeling and seeing music in motion.

Art Studios: The Print Shop

Children get creative and messy at The Print Shop with hands-on print-making using markers, ink, and gelli plates. Side-by-side with children from across the Bay Area, they’ll design their own prints, ink them up, and then press and roll to reveal their masterpiece. Once the prints dry, they’ll have a one-of-a-kind souvenir to take home.

The Print Shop closes at 3:30PM.

Gumnut Grove

Children love to push limits, so we built a climbing structure where they can push them to the sky! Best for children over 5 years old, they can climb up to the treetops, explore a network of bridges and ladders, investigate the mechanics of a wood-chip conveyor belt, and zip down the exit slide when they want to rejoin the grownups on the ground.

How Things Work

If your child likes to ask “Why?” then this is the Discovery Zone for them. Here they’ll find answers to everyday questions including where water goes when you flush the toilet, how a piano works, and how to turn on a light with an electrical circuit.

Tot Spot

Inspired by the Bay Area’s natural wonders, the Tot Spot is a safe space for toddlers to explore. Children 42” and under can climb ramps and slides in the Forest Room or feel the water move under their feet, knees, and hands in the Bay Room’s waterbed play area.

Try It Studio

Does your child love music? Can they spend hours building crazy contraptions and puzzling out patterns? This Discovery Zone is the perfect place to put their skills and curiosity to the test. They’ll discover the limits of building design with magnetic tiles, explore pattern making on our giant weaving wall, and play with the principles of coding in a larger than life music box.

Lookout Cove

This 2.5-acre outdoor wonderland has activities and curiosities around every corner, tree, and bush. Whether your children want to indulge in construction dreams in the gravel pit, create music on our giant xylophone and drums, or channel their inner fishermen on Faith, our real-life salmon fishing boat, the biggest challenge will be getting them to leave.

Discovery Beach

Every parent knows that sand and water can keep children entertained for hours. When the beach isn’t an option, this Discovery Zone offers an expansive play area with sand, water, and lots of buckets to share with some new friends. Parents can relax in comfy chairs and watch the fog roll over the Golden Gate Bridge while their children enjoy endless opportunities for messy fun and creativity.

Bay Hall

Does your child dream of fishing for crabs from a seafaring trawler? We’ve got them covered. Have a budding train engineer? They can explore to their heart’s content on our expansive Fort Baker Train table.

Mud Kitchen

In the far reaches of Lookout Cove, children will discover a magical, messy Discovery Zone perfect for creative play. Here, they can roll up their sleeves and concoct mud pies, dirt drinks, and sludgy puddings, sharing their imaginative dirt-themed treats with the whole family.