by Gudrun Enger, of Kitchen Gadget Girl

The forecast for the rest of the week is rain, rain, rain! And, when I find myself at home with the kids on a rainy day, I itch to get out and explore. Here are my top 5 recommendations for (indoor) family activities in San Francisco Bay Area on a rainy day:

Zeum, Yerba Buena Park

Zeum, Yerba Buena Park

Zeum

Located in the middle of Yerba Buena Park, in the South of Market area of San Francisco, Zeum focuses the experience on technology and hands-on time with Animation, Video Production, Sound Production, Performance, and Visual Arts. Follow Zeum on Twitter to keep up with the latest news.

Palo Alto Junior Museum and Zoo

This local attraction, which has served Palo Alto for 70 years, is definitely a fun place to go on a rainy day – out back, there is a small zoo with bugs, bats, geese, turtles, ferrets, hedgehogs and bobcats. Inside, loads of hands-on science activities keep kids busy and out of your hair.

Bay Area Discovery Museum

This hands-on children’s museum at Fort Baker in Sausilito has tons of fun things to explore on a rainy day. And they have a blog! Check out the Bay Area Discovery Museum Blog for up-to-date and insider information on their programs and projects.

California Academy of Sciences

California Academy of Sciences

California Academy of Sciences

I profiled this San Francisco attraction back in November – still a great place to take kids on a rainy day. If you really want to maximize your experience, get there early, pick up your Planetarium tickets right after you arrive, and hit the Rainforest before the crowds descend.

Children’s Discovery Museum

San Jose has its own children’s museum, a wonderful attraction for a rainy day. The “main street” of the museum teaches kids about traffic lights and stop signs, while exhibits through out the 3 floors introduce concepts about light, air and shape. Definitely worth a visit to the Children’s Discovery Museum!