Terra Mia, San Francisco

Since 1994, when the first iteration of Terra Mia Ceramic Studio opened, Christine Simmons and her team have been helping kids and adults get creative. The studio eventually relocated to its current site, a large space full of natural light and color splashing from finished ceramic pieces. The wide variety of paintable pottery the space contains, as well as the helpful input of friendly staffers, earned the studio SF Weekly's award for the best DIY ceramics shop in 2012.

After adding finishing touches to pottery, guests can sit for spells on an outdoor patio loaded up with plants. The patio leads to a cozy, sunny-walled room that's ideal for birthday parties, girls' nights out, or private gatherings of people born with brushes for fingers.