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Walk the Golden Gate Bridge
See the towers up close and feel the scale of the bay from the bridge sidewalk.
THE BUDGET GUIDE
Big city. Small budget.
A few thoughtful ways to go out without turning every stop into a ticket purchase.
Choose nearby stops and check current hours, admission rules and transport. Free admission can exclude special exhibitions, food, rides or parking.
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Cable Car Museum
See the giant wheels and cables that keep a city icon moving beneath the streets.
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Main Library & Exhibitions
Browse an exhibition, settle into a reading corner and give a busy day a quieter chapter.
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PIER 39 Sea Lions
Watch the waterfront’s loudest residents turn floating docks into their own stage.
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Musée Mécanique
Trade a screen for a mechanical marvel in a waterfront arcade full of character.
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Heart of the City Farmers Market
Make a neighborhood produce stop beside Civic Center and fill a bag with what is in season.
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Nature Exploration Station
Look at nature through magnifying glasses, then use drawing tools to record what you discover.
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Museum of Craft and Design
Find a fresh perspective on everyday materials and design in a compact Dogpatch museum.
Updated October 30, 2026. Check dates and prices before making plans.