We (2 adults, 2 school-age kids) will be visiting the Bay Area for a family event this July. Besides the usual suspects - Exploratorium, Creativity Museum, Monterey Bay Bay Aquarium - what would you suggest as a family-friendly place to take a couple of young kids? We're planning to do some of touristy stuff, too, like Fisherman's Wharf, Ghirardelli Square, and a cable car ride but we're willing to try something different. We've planned to visit the Japanese American Museum in SJ as a nod to my and my kids' heritage and will of course hit up Japantown in SF.

I'm also open to any hotel/parking tips you might have. We're going to be in San Jose for a couple of days and will day trip to Monterey but for our few days in SF proper, I imagine a car will be more of a hindrance than a help. But I'd be grateful for confirmation.

I haven't been in the Bay Area since our honeymoon 12 years ago and I'm sure much has changed. I hope that at the very least, the Great Eastern and Sanpo are still in business.