The city of San Francisco boasts 182 playground, 82 recreation
centers, and more than 300 coffee shops, not to mention numerous museums,
historical and cultural centers. There is something for everyone in this beautiful city by the bay.
No visit to the city is complete without a visit to Fisherman’s
Wharf. Located on the northern waterfront, the area is filled with
souvenir shops and stalls selling crab and clam chowder in sourdough bowls.
There is also a colony of sea lions that call the area home as well as a bunch
of historic ships to explore. At Ghirardelli
Square check out the boutiques and eateries that are housed in the famed former
chocolate factory. Within the Wharf District you will also find Pier 39,
Anchorage Square, the National Maritime Museum, and Historic Hyde Street Pier.
The most visited museum in the San Francisco area is the California Academy of
Sciences. Visitors can walk through a four-story rain forest and
watch the butterflies. There is also a Planetarium, Aquarium, and living roof.
On average visitors spend about 3 to 4 hours exploring all the museum has to
offer.
Disney fans will love to visit the Walt Disney Family Museum founded
by Walt Disney’s daughter Diane. Parents enjoy browsing all of the memorabilia,
and children will enjoy the museums’s Little Open Studio for story time and
family-friendly activities. The museum also offers special film screenings of
Disney movies.
Voted the #1 Spot for Kids in the country by CNN head to Pier 15
along the waterfront and visit the Exploratorium. This science
museum encourages everyone to touch, explore and play with its over 600
exhibits. The onsite cafe and waterfront restaurant both serve seasonal and
sustainable cuisine prepared by local chefs.
At Pier 39 you will find the Aquarium of the Bay which is
easily accessible from anywhere in the city. Kids will enjoy learning about the
plants and animals that call the Bay Area home as well as exploring the lab
where they can touch a star fish, baby shark or stingray.
The
Children’s Creativity Museum is geared towards children ages 2-12
and inspires kids to imagine, create and share in a multimedia environment.
Exhibits include a Music Studio, Animation Studio, Imagination Lab and Cloud
Gallery.
Experience San Francisco’s Chinatown, the largest
outside of Asia and the oldest in North America. Make sure to check out the Golden Gate
Fortune Cookie Factory on Ross Avenue, and see how the fortune gets
inside the cookie. Click on this link
for a self-guided walking tour of the area.
Train enthusiasts will love a ride on a historic streetcar on
Market Street between Castro District and Fisherman’s Wharf followed by a visit
to the free San
Francisco Railway Museum. The museum is closed on Monday’s but open
from 10 am to 5 pm the rest of the week.
Alcatraz, once a world-famous maximum security prison on Alcatraz
Island in the San Francisco Bay is one of the most popular tourist attractions
in the area. While there are several tour providers, Alcatraz Cruises
offers a Family Pack ticket which includes round-trip ferry ride to Alcatraz
Island, cell house audio tour, and optional programs and exhibits. The Family
ticket is for 2 adults and 2 children (ages 5-11) and costs $120.25. Tickets to
Alcatraz should be booked as far in advance as possible, as tours sell out
quickly.
Located north of San Francisco is Muir Woods, a national
park known for it’s towering Redwood Trees. Visitors enjoy the many trails that
wind through these tall trees. The park is open daily, but hours vary by
season. Reservations to visit the park are now required. Please note there is
no WiFi or cell service in the area so please download your parking or shuttle
reservations before you arrive.
The Golden Gate Bridge connects San Francisco to California’s
northern counties. This beautiful bridge has tremendous 746-foot tall towers,
sweeping main cables, and signature orange color. Visitors to the area who want
to learn more about its history and construction can do so at the Visitor’s
Center.
Day Trip Suggestions-
Sonoma or Napa Valley- If you happen to be visiting the area
without young children both the Sonoma and Napa Valley
wine countries are just a short distance from the city.
Silicon Valley- Tech lovers will enjoy a trip to Silicon
Valley home of tech giants Google and Apple. A stop at the Computer History
Museum gives visitors a better knowledge of the evolution of
technology over the last 100 years.
Sequoia
and Kings Canyon National Park- Explorers could spend weeks hiking
the 800,000 acres of natural wilderness. The park also offers paved trails of
shorter hiking routes that visitors can enjoy as guided walks or solo.
Other nearby areas to explore: Sausalito, Carmel-by-the-Sea,
Big Sur,
and Monterey.
San Francisco Professional Sports Teams- The San Francisco
area has six professional sports teams. For game tickets visit the team website
or a reputable ticket broker.
San
Francisco Giants- Professional Baseball Team, regular season runs
late March through the end of September. Tours are available of Oracle
Field year round with certain blackout dates. Please check the
website for details.
Oakland
Athletics- Professional Baseball Team, regular season runs late
March through the end of September.
Oakland
Raiders- Professional Football team, regular season runs September
through December. The team will be relocating to Las Vegas for the 2020 season.
San
Francisco 49ers- Professional Football team, regular season runs
September through December.
San
Jose Sharks- Professional Hockey Team, regular season runs from
October through early-April.
Golden
State Warriors- Professional Basketball Team, regular season runs
from mid-October through mid-April.
Family Friendly Restaurants
Squat &
Gobble- Known for its crepes, this kid friendly establishment has a
patio, high chairs, booster seats and offers one kid’s meal free with every
adult entree from Monday through Thursday after 5 pm. There are 3 locations in
the area.
The
Ice Cream Bar Soda Fountain- Fifties-style soda jerks in bowties,
caps and aprons scoop ice cream from behind a vintage soda fountain. This spot
also serves soup and super sized sandwiches.
Foreign
Cinema- See a movie on a giant outdoor wall screen while enjoying
dinner. Kids enjoy a 3 course prix fixe meal (veggie and fruit to start; pasta,
chicken or steak; and ice cream for dessert) also comes with crayons and a
coloring book. Reservations accepted and recommended.
Baby
Blues BBQ- Serving BBQ ribs, wings, pulled pork, brisket, and
chicken, it’s a great place to watch the big game. Kids love the dedicated Kids
Korner with toys, games, and a craft table.
Urban
Putt- A high-tech 14 hole indoor mini golf set in a converted
Victorian home in the Mission area serving mini-corn dogs, fried chicken and
soft serve ice cream. Go early, as after 8 pm it is reserved for the 21+ crowd.
Pier 23
Cafe- Perfect after a visit to the Exploratorium, the kids menu has
fish n’ chips, burgers, hot dogs, grilled cheese and pasta. This popular spot
has amazing views of the bay from it’s huge patio. Complimentary cowboy hats
come with crayons in a Mason jar for the kiddos. Avoid at happy hour however.