Maybe I'm just nostalgic, but I definitely miss the old Academy of Sciences. We were not impressed with any aspect of the newly-remodeled experience. We had to stand in a really, really long line to get in, the price (about $25/adult) is extraordinarily high, the crowds were thick and hard to navigate. Much of the facility has a sleek, high-tech look and feel, but the exhibits were largely uninteresting. The aquarium is hidden downstairs in the dark (not that the aquarium was ever impressive), and it still had that uncleaned-fish-tank odor hanging about it, which you'd think would not already be present. The cafe was overly crowded and chaotic, and they don't offer kid's meals/portions. I didn't walk away feeling that I'd like to go back, that my money was well-spent, or that we had a good day out as a family.

I went to the Exploratorium as a kid, and I love taking my son there. He's 4 now, but we've been taking him to this cool place since he was 1. He might not understand everything that's going on there, but he still has a blast. The Exploratorium is geared toward school-age children and teens, but that doesn't stop the youngest members of the family (or the oldest) from enjoying themselves. Parking fills up quickly, and it can get quite crowded inside.

Our 4-year-old enjoys trips to the SF Zoo--the giraffes, the gorillas, the sleepy Koala name Travis, and of course the train. He always has a wonderful time. I think younger kids definitely have fun here. However, my husband and I tend to view the zoo a little differently. A lot of the animals look depressed, many of the enclosures are in desperate need of an update, and there are far too many strollers demanding the right of way. It's the best zoo in the area that we have been to, and the closest to us, so we continue to go periodically. Parking can be hectic. Arriving early is a plus.

The exhibits show their age, the facility is small, and every family we encountered was cranky. There's usually at least one fun thing about every outing we go on, but the only highlight we found here was leaving. Our 2 year old son was bored, didn't find much to interest him, and we weren't particularly interested in trying to engage him in the dull and aging exhibits. Other children appeared bored, and they and their families didn't seem to want to be there either. Families would be better off taking a picnic and strolling around Lake Merritt, and skipping Children's Fairyland altogether.

We've only been here twice, for the Halloween event both times, when our son was 1 and 2 years old. I think paying full price for kids age 1 and up is a bit silly, since there are not a lot of exhibits a 1 or 2 year old can take full advantage of. Still, we had a fun family day each time we went, and The Bay Area Discovery Museum is a fun destination now and then.