Hi -

I will be traveling with 2 children ages 14 and 11 to San Francisco in mid June. Has anyone purchased a city pass? For one price you can see the SFMOMA, take a bay cruise, visit the Exploratorium, Legion of Honor, California Academy of Sciences, Steinhart Acquarium, Asian Art museum, and use the muni and cable cars free for 7 days. Adult tickets are about $40. Is this a good idea?

The CA academy of sciences has moved out of GG park and is now down town. The aquarium is in a preview state as it is not finished.

Yes it sounds like a great idea. We went a few years ago without the pass. If I went back based on what you said it covers and the cost, I'd get it.

The cable cars themselves are $2 per ride I believe. So in 7 days just using the cable cars you will get your money's worth.

Of the places you mentioned though, we only went to the Exploratorium. We spent 5 hours there. It was great!

Our way to save money was to buy the Entertainment guide. It had 2 for one coupons to many places we visited such as Angel Island, Alcatraz, the Exploratorium, and a Graylines tour (we did a 7 hour wine tour). It also had discounts at many restaurants that we ate at and a discount for chocolate at the Ghirandelli store.

I just had a muni pass for three days and found it to be kind of a rip off. You don't need the cable car rides to get around the city. One or two rides and I was over the thrill. To make the three day muni pass pay for it self you have use the system about 4 times a day. Regular train and bus service is $1.25. I was not finding that I did that.

Would have been better to by 10 tokens for Muni.

Of course you are asking for something else. Yeah I would add of the cost of what you think you will reasonably think you can cover. If it looks like you can cover ground to make it cost effective go for it. These all enclusive pass vouchers are usually just a way for any city to make more money. That has been my experience anyway.

You also have 90 minutes in between rides for transfers

Also, a ride on the cable car is now $3 one way, no transfers accepted. I think the pass is great for visitors because it includes the sights, the bus, and the cable cars.

With the children of this ages you definitely want to visit all the museums listed and take buses and cable cars. Go for it!