If you've got kids that are into "things that go" - or even if you are yourself - the Bay Area has got you covered. From the Cable Car Museum to Oakland Aviation Museum. From the USS Hornet to San Francisco Railway Museum. There's something for everyone.
Today I'm sharing a round up of our favorite museums dedicated to "things that go" in the Bay Area.
Cable Car Museum
When you think of San Francisco, what are the first few things that spring to mind? Chances are, one of them will be the iconic cable cars. San Francisco's classic cable cars have been carrying locals and tourists alike up and down all of those steep hills since the 1870s. But just how do they work? Well, if that's a question that you've ever wondered, the Cable Car Museum is the place for you. Not only is the museum home to interesting vintage cable cars, tools, and paraphernalia, it's also home to the actual cables that run the entire system! It's pretty amazing to see. The cables are attached to giant wheels that spin continuously. This keeps the cables moving throughout the city. The cable cars themselves are not actually powered. Rather, they grip onto the cable and get dragged along. When it's time to stop, the conductor pulls the grip to release the cable. Pretty cool, hey?
The Cable Car Museum is always one of our favorite places in San Francisco to take visitors. There are plenty of ways to get to the museum but the best way, of course, is by cable car! All four lines go by the museum but I always recommend taking the California Street line. It's not as popular with tourists as the other lines so there is never a queue and the views over the Bay are pretty amazing.
The San Francisco Cable Car Museum is located at 1201 Mason Street in San Francisco. It is open daily (apart from certain holidays) and admission is free. You can find more information about the museum and San Francisco's cable cars at http://www.cablecarmuseum.org/
