Family-Friendly Summer Freebies and Deals

3601 Lyon St, San Francisco, CA 94123 (map)

The tactile dome may cost extra, but with standard exhibits on hearing, the mind and learning, the stuff our world is made of and more, there's plenty to see for free the first Wednesday of each month.

261 12th St, Oakland, CA 94607 (map)

Take a look behind the scenes at this family-owned business, which has cranked out thousands of cookie-encased messages daily for more than three decades. The 10- to 15-minute tours cost $1, and everyone leaves with a free sample bag.

1 Jelly Belly Ln, Fairfield, CA 94533 (map)

Free 40-minute tours leave every 15 minutes from 9am-4pm, daily, wending their way through a working factory where the beans and other candies are created. (It sounds simple enough, but a single Jelly Belly bean takes more than a week to make.) There are plenty of samples available at the visitor's center, and lunch is for sale in the factory cafe.

2200 Mission College Blvd, Santa Clara, CA 95052 (map)

Free educational facility showcases the chip-maker giant's history, technology and manufacturing processes via exhibits and drop-in activities.

1451 Middlefield Rd, Palo Alto, CA 94301 (map)

Free museum and zoo (though donations are appreciated) features activity-based educational exhibits, a collection of native and exotic animals and an array of on-site and outreach classes, camps and workshops.

655 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94105 (map)

Kids aged 6-14 create their own mini-comics and learn everything from storyboarding to character design at this $5 Saturday cartooning class.

699 Bellevue Ave, Oakland, CA 94610 (map)

A children?s paradise and one of the first-ever theme parks, Fairyland features family fun for a $6 admission fee daily.

Zoo Rd & Skyline Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94132 (map)

The San Francisco Zoo features a free day the first Wednesday of every month.

498 Buena Vista Avenue East, San Francisco, CA 94117 (map)

Free tennis courts open to all are located near a playground and offer beautiful views of the city.

160 University Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94710 (map)

Designed and built by children, this playground gives kids the chance to explore boats and towers, ride a zip line and practice using construction tools like hammers and paints. Open daily and free for groups of 4 or fewer children.

1300 Senter Rd, San Jose, CA 95112 (map)

Head to Happy Hollow for $1 admission on the first Tuesday of every month and experience the rides, fun houses, puppet shows, and zoo animals from jaguars to wallabies.

Pier 39, San Francisco, CA 94133 (map)

An aquarium featuring two glass tunnels with 700,000 gallons of water and 23,000 aquatic animals. Ticket rates are discounted when purchased online.

4444 East Ave, Livermore, CA 94550 (map)

This East Bay public pool and playground features a 22-foot spiral water slide, a climbing structure with "water cannons" and a kid-friendly pool design, where the water deepens gradually. Admission costs just $2-$4, depending on age.

Hwy 1, Stinson Beach, CA 94970 (map)

Pack a picnic and take the beautiful coastal drive along Highway 1 to this mellow beach, where lifeguards are on duty for swimmers and surfers from late-May through mid-September. Use of the grills, showers and restroom facilities is free.

777 Embarcadero Rd, Palo Alto, CA 94303 (map)

This park pool in Palo Alto offers a heated flower-shaped kiddie pool, as well as a lap pool, which is used for recreational swimming during summer. Admission is just $4 for kids and $5 for adults.

670 Del Ganado Rd, San Rafael, CA 94903 (map)

This well-kept public pool in central Marin offers a heated gradual-depth children's pool and a lap pool. San Rafael residents get in for $4-$5, depending on age and families pay just $5 on Friday evenings.

200 Shoreline Hwy, Mill Valley, CA 94941 (map)

A comfortable, casual cafe that features a children?s menu for eats under $5 daily.

4920 Dublin Blvd, Dublin, CA 94568 (map)

Kids' plates cost just $3.75 at this Dublin diner, which serves up mini burgers, mini mac 'n cheese and more favorites for children 10 and under.

Fort Mason Ctr Bldg C, San Francisco, CA 94123 (map)

This nonprofit children's theater (often starring child actors) puts on plays based on classic fairytales and children's literature, and admission for all shows is only $6 for kids and $9 for adults.