slow-dog.free bay area things to do

Your list of free, almost-free, or free-yet-slightly-illegal-or-unethical things to do in the Bay Area.

I'm creating this page, because I've found myself with extra time on my hands, and looking for things to do which don't cost much. A cursory web search comes up with several garishly colored pages which attempt to do the same thing, with varying degrees of success. Most are somewhat out of date, so consider this an updated list. It's focused on things that I, or my friends might be interested in doing, so it is probably not anywhere near complete. Since I live in Oakland, it's focused primarily on things to do in San Francisco, Oakland, and Berkeley.

museums

California Academy of Sciences :: free admission first Wednesday of each month :: includes Steinhart Aquarium, Natural History Museum, and Morrisson Planetarium.

Exploratorium :: free admission first Wednesday of each month.

Asian Art Museum :: free admission first Tuesday of each month.

SF MOMA :: free admission first Tuesday of each month.

Legion of Honor :: free admission first Tuesday of each month.

Cartoon Art Museum of San Francisco :: "pay what you wish day" is the first Tuesday of each month.

Yerba Buena Center for the Arts :: free admission to galleries first Tuesday of each month.

Oakland Museun of California :: free admission second Sunday of each month (does not include special exhibitions.

San Francisco Cable Car Museum :: always free admission.

San Francisco Zoo :: free admission first Wednesday of each month.

Cantor Arts Center :: Stanford galleries including Rodin sculpture garden.

Stanford Linear Accelerator :: free tours (requires sign-up).

hiking & walking

SF City Guides :: free guided walking tours of SF.

Bay Area Hiker :: provides info and maps on parks, trails, and hikes throughout Bay Area.

East Bay Regional Park District :: maps

Golden Gate National Recreation Area :: admission is free to most areas, including Crissy Field, Fort Point, Marin Headlands, Golden Gate Park, etc.

Muir Woods :: $3 entry, "not strictly enforced."

Presidio of San Francisco

eating & drinking

Anchor Brewing Company :: 2 hour tour with tasting by appointment only.

Speakeasy Ales & Lagers :: tour with tasting by appointment only.

St. George Spirits :: Alameda makers of eau de vie, grappa, Hangar One vodkas, and other spirits have a tasting room open Wednesday through Sunday, noon to 7 PM.

Scharffen Berger Chocolate :: free one hour tours every day (reservations strongly suggested) of their Berkeley factory.

Takara Sake :: Berkeley tasting room and tour.

Pyramid Brewery :: tour and tasting at the Berkeley alehouse Mon-Fri 5:30 PM, Sat-Sun 2 and 4 PM.

Bison Brewery :: Berkeley brewery tours by appointment.

Marin French Cheese Company :: free tour and tasting.

Jelly Belly :: free 40 minute Fairfield factory tour and tasting.

Budweiser :: free Fairfield factory tour and tasting.

games and events

Oakland A's :: discounted View ($6) and Bleachers seats for AAA members :: $2 Wednesdays

Stern Grove :: free concerts on Sundays in the summer.

other