Bay Area Discovery Museum - Sausalito

If you are looking for an adventure for your preschooler, a trip to the Bay Area Discovery Museum in Sausalito is sure to be a hit! It’s a bit of a drive from Santa Rosa but well worth the journey. Your preschooler will engage in a variety of educational and fun activities such as digging for treasure, crab fishing, arts and crafts, bridge building, learning about ocean habitats and wildlife, and so much more!

About the Bay Area Discovery Museum

The goal of the Bay Area Discovery Museum is to “engage, delight and educate children through exploration of and connection with the local environment and the diverse communities that live here.” It occupies several buildings at Fort Baker in Sausalito, near the base of the north end of the Golden Gate Bridge. They have both indoor and outdoor discovery areas for curious preschoolers to explore.

In addition to all of the wonderful permanent installations the museum has one building that houses an exhibit that changes every few months or so, special events and guest throughout the year, and you can even have your preschoolers next birthday party there!

Benefits to Preschoolers

A preschooler, by nature, is curious about his/her surroundings yet is often told that certain things are off limits to explore. The Discovery Museum provides an environment rich in learning opportunities that are completely “hands on.” From pretending to captain a fishing boat to learning about air currents your preschooler will be able to self guide him/herself through a wonderfully designed museum with intriguing exhibits around every corner.

Some Challenges for Preschoolers

Although preschoolers are allowed to use every exhibit, some of the lessons to be learned may be a little above their understanding. The museum is geared for ages 0 to about 8 years old.

Another drawback is that you can’t take strollers into the buildings. They have stroller parking outside each one but if you have packed along anything valuable, you should carry it with you inside the buildings.

All in all, there aren’t too many challenges for preschoolers at this wonderful place!

Tips for your Trip

  • Second Saturdays of each month are FREE from 1-4pm. Check out the calendar of events on their site when planning your visit.

• Take a lunch!! Or at least bring snacks. There is a café there that has some healthy food choices but is a little expensive especially if you have a whole family to feed. They have plenty of picnic tables, most with a wonderful view of the Golden Gate Bridge, just watch out for the pigeons!

• If you have a pretty active preschooler, be ready to spend the whole day there. With so much to see and many things to explore, your child will expend a lot of energy and will be ready to nap on the drive back to Santa Rosa.

• They have an area for children 3 years and under so if your preschooler is on the younger side they will have someplace to explore that is geared toward them. It’s great if your preschooler has younger siblings as well.

• Leave your purse and valuables in the car. You are not allowed to bring strollers into the buildings(so you can’t stash the stuff in the stroller basket) and you won’t want to have to carry everything with you when you are trying to have fun with your preschooler.

• Also, check the weather for Sausalito before you go. The temperature can be quite different than it is in Santa Rosa. Be prepared with a sweater as well as sunscreen.

Details:

Cost is $8.50 for adults, $7.50 for children

Bay Area Discovery Museum
East Fort Baker
557 McReynolds Road
Sausalito, CA 94965-2614
(415) 339-3900
www.baykidsmuseum.org