Weather in San Francisco is notoriously difficult to describe. It changes quickly, often catches people off guard, and rarely matches the forecast. A little rain, however, is no reason to skip the trip. In fact, rain gives people a good reason to visit some of San Francisco's many experiences that are often overlooked during sunnier days.
Food Tasting Tours
One of the best ways to spend a rainy day in San Francisco is to eat. Some of San Francisco's best restaurants can be found off the beaten path, and the only way to find them is to book a food tasting tour. These tours combine storytelling, history, and food to give you a one-of-a-kind experience. Great food is just as great whether the weather is wet and rainy or sun is shining.
Walt Disney Family Museum
Fans of Walt Disney would greatly appreciate the Walt Disney Family Museum. Here, Disney's story is brought to life. The story of Disney goes far beyond Mickey Mouse, and includes a biography and creative career that is fascinating in its own right. This stop is especially great for families, but even serious Disney fans will find much to enjoy.
Walt Disney Family Museum
Walt Disney Family Museum is located by the Golden Gate Bridge. It is not affiliated with Disney. Its three floors are filled with Walt's awards, early sketches, and a model of Disneyland that is a must-see for Disney fans. The museum's collectors will appreciate the thoughtful gift shop. More than 1,600 works from across history can be found in the museum, including artifacts and original pieces. Their animation collection is one of the strongest; it includes early Mickey Mouse artwork as well as a collection of 348 frames from the 1928 film Steamboat Willie that contains 16 seconds of animation. The resources in this collection are impressive in both quantity and quality. Aquarium of the Bay At this aquarium, guests can walk through a 300-foot tunnel where they will see rays, sharks, and over 20,000 other animals. The aquarium offers interactive experiences and animal feeding, as well as jellies and other galleries of strange deep-sea critters. This attraction is also a great place to escape the rain. Aquarium of the Bay Located at the Intersection of Embarcadero and Beach Street in San Francisco, the Aquarium of the Bay has three sections dedicated to life found in the San Francisco Bay. In the first section, Discover the Bay, guests will see an assortment of aquarium habitats with animals such as moray eels, bay pipefish, and Garibaldi fish. The second and largest section, Under the Bay, also has a 300-foot long tunnel where guests can observe thousands of animals from the bay and other aquatic life. This is one of the bay’s biggest attractions and part of this section as well. In the third section called Touch the Bay, guests can touch a variety of amazing sea creatures, such as bat rays, leopard sharks, sea stars, and sea cucumbers, which are a favorite with kids.
Oracle Park
Oracle Park is the home of the San Francisco Giants and is the only ballpark in the U.S. where hitting a home run can cause a “splash hit” effect. Baseball fans can go on a tour of the park and see areas that are off-limits to the public, including the ones used by the players and coaches.
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Shopping in Union Square
Westfield San Francisco Centre in Union Square is a nine-story shopping center with over 200 stores and restaurants, making it a favorite with shoppers and those interested in dining. The area also has the popular American department stores Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s, and Nordstrom, creating a shopping excursion that could take several hours.
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Union Square
Ideally located in the center of downtown, Union Square features a tall monument that honors the U.S. Navy’s victory over the Spanish fleet during the Battle of Manila Bay. Four streets border the square, each filled with independent boutiques and shops, as well as luxury retailers and department stores like I. Magnin and Macy’s. The area is full of high-end fashion and boutique stores, making the square a premier shopping destination. Just to the southwest of the square is San Francisco's theater district. Whether or not you plan to make a purchase, it’s a vibrant area that is definitely worth the visit.
SPiN SF
If you love the sport of table tennis, you will want to go to SPiN SF. This venue has a chill vibe and a strong street art culture centered on live DJ shows, a private bar, and a terrace. When the rain makes outdoor activities less fun, playing a few rounds of ping pong is a better option than waiting for the rain to clear up. San Francisco Museum of Modern Art Seven floors of modern and contemporary art means SFMOMA is always worth visiting, rain, shine, or fog. With over 33,000 works by artists such as Frida Kahlo, Gerhard Richter, and Andy Warhol, the 170,000sq ft museum ensures you will spend hours enjoying the art. San Francisco Museum of Modern Art The SF MoMA was the first museum on the West Coast of the USA to collect modern art. Its large and iconic feature is a tall striped cylinder with a skylight which pours light down from the roof to the ground floor. The building's striking design complements the city’s artistic spirit, making it a popular subject for photographers. The collection features defining 20th-century works by Western artists such as Spanish Fauvist Henri Matisse, American Pop artist Andy Warhol, and Mexican painter Frida Kahlo. While smaller in scale than New York's MoMA, it has considerable depth, especially when there are special exhibitions.
