It is so easy to fall in love with a city like San Francisco. Our kids loved the trolleys, the wharf, the bridge, the chocolate and so much more. Plus, while the kids were exploring the many different parts of San Francisco, we were enjoying its amazing scenery, fantastic architecture and rich history. The city is simply iconic.
AMAZING KIDVENTURES!!
Fisherman’s Wharf
The Wharf and Pier 39 is a fun location for the entire family. In addition to the absolutely gorgeous views of the Bay, Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz, you will find sea lions basking in the afternoon sun and and an open air fish market where you can find delicious clam chowder, shrimp, fish and chips or dungeness crab. The Pier offers an aquarium and maritime museum, along with shops full of trinkets and souvenirs. Our kids loved watching the boats pull in and out of the berths (this is the place to book a cruise around the bay or take a tour of Alcatraz.) And don’t miss Boudin where the kids can eat sourdough bread baked into the shape of crabs, teddy bears and alligators.
Fisherman’s Wharf offers public parking and is also very easily accessible via the cable cars or trolleys.
KID INDULGENCE!!
Ghirardelli
Up the street from Pier 39, is the original Ghirardelli Ice Cream and Chocolate Shop. What kid, or adult for that matter, doesn’t love ice cream and chocolate. Stop on in for a single scoop cone or if you are so inclined, a decadent sundae that feeds your entire group (or if you just want to take a peak everyone gets a free chocolate sample for simply walking into the shop.) Our kids favorite was the brownie sundae topped with hot fudge – the banana split came in at a close second. Ghirardelli’s can be crowded and the seating is first come first serve so you may have to walk around for a bit to get a table. While you wait the kids can explore Ghirardelli Square or watch the small display showing how chocolate is made. Ghirardelli is simply too delicious to miss.
Exploratorium
The Exploratorium is on our list of the best children’s museums because of its unique approach to learning. The museum is completely hands on and encourages kids to physically explore and manipulate the museum’s many exhibits. As a matter of fact one of the museum’s galleries is called “tinkering” and that’s exactly what kids are supposed to do – think, investigate, experiment, explore and uncover. The museum’s galleries highlight the exploration of living systems, natural phenomenon, thoughts and feelings and the properties of light and sound. Our kids loved exploring this museum so much that it was hard to get them to move from one gallery to the next. There are so many amazing exhibits that your family can definitely spend a large part of its day here. And when your kids get hungry, there is a great cafe in the museum itself, the Seaglass Cafe, which serves delicious hot plates and even makes sushi to order. The Cafe also has a great view of San Francisco Bay. This is on the top of our list when deciding what to do with the kids.
Trolleys and Cable Cars
I think San Francisco is one of the only cities where public transportation is an adventure in and of itself. Our son, who is fascinated by anything with wheels, automatically fell in love with San Francisco’s cable cars and trolleys.
The most popular form of transportation, at least for tourists, is the cable car which includes two lines: the Powell-Hyde line ends near Ghiradelli square and the Powell-Mason line which ends at Bay Street in Fisherman’s Wharf. Depending on where you want to end up or what you want to see you choose your line accordingly. There are seats both on the inside and outdoor of the cable car.
Due to the popularity, lines to board the cable car can be extremely long. The last time we were in San Francisco we waited 45 minutes to board and it was raining on and off while we were standing in line. It is possible to board the cable car at various mid-line stops along its route – but it is likely that it will be standing room only so if you have very young children this may not be the best option. We boarded the cable car right off of Market Street which has many different stores to explore so we were able to entertain the kids for a decent amount of time.
In addition to the cable car, San Francisco’s trolleys (street cars) are both fun for the kids and extremely convenient. The most tourist oriented line is the “F” line, which includes stops at Embarcadero, Pier 39, the Wharf, Market Street and Union Square to name a few. The line is pretty easy to navigate – a map of the stops can be accessed via internet.
California Academy of Science
Located in Golden Gate park, the California Academy of Science is another amazing museum. Concentrating on the importance of land, space and water, the museum’s main exhibit is a 3 story dome where visitors climb a spiraling staircase and explore 3 rainforest habitats -complete with birds and butterflies. The dome is kept pretty warm and humid in order to allow the plants and animals to florish in rainforest conditions – so if it is cold outside you will definitely want to shed those layers! The dome is truly one of the most beautiful museum exhibits I’ve ever seen.
Another favorite with our kids was the discovery tidepool, coral reef and aquarium where kids can come face to face with all kinds of sea life. The sea stars kept my 3 year old completely mesmerized as did the glow in the dark fish and anenome. My son loved the shark and rays freely swimming in the reef exhibit.
And if that wasn’t enough, there is also an area called the swamp where children can visit reptiles and a super rare albino alligator (no really.) And don’t forget to visit the cute penguins in Tusher African Hall and check out the museum’s unique living roof which is covered with grass and plants and showcases eco-friendly energy systems.
This museum was so unique and fun to explore. A definite must for the family. (Note: We stopped at the museum as one of our stops on the San Francisco Hop On Hop Off Tour (see below.))
San Francisco City Sightseeing Hop On Hop Off Tour
If you are looking for a super easy way to explore the entire city, well you can’t make it any easier than the Hop On Hop Off Tour. Various tours are offered including a downtown tour, full city tour or even a tour of the nearby town of Sausalito. Depending on how much time you have and how much you want to see you can tailor your ticket for both location and time (24, 48 or 72 hour access.)
Though my husband and I had been to San Francisco on various occasions we had never taken an official tour and we were curious about the experience – especially with kids. We bought a 2 day ticket and were able to take both the downtown and city tours. Stops on the tour included the Golden Gate Bridge, Golden Gate Park, Fisherman’s Wharf, Union Square, Lombard Street, Chinatown and the Palace of Fine Arts, plus many more. We found it very convenient for getting to different attractions , especially the Golden Gate Bridge and Park which are outside of the city center. We had pretty good luck not having to wait for the buses to arrive – though at one point we did wait over 20 minutes and the kids got a little restless. Overall the kids loved riding in the open air – just beware that San Francisco can get chilly so jackets were a must (there was also an indoor seating area but then you might as well just take the bus.)
Accommodations
San Francisco Marriott Marquis
The Marriott Marquis is one block from Market Street and right next door to the Moscone Center and Yerba Buena Public Square. The lobby of the hotel is impressive with glass elevators shooting up to the top floor – which houses a bar with a fantastic view (you can always come in with the kids and take a peek.) The rooms are spacious and comfortable. For a family traveling with kids, the location of the hotel is fantastic. It is in the middle of the hustle and bustle of the city and is also a block from the BART station, the trolley and cable cars making it easy to come and go. There is a large Target right next door as well as a mall and movie theater. Yerba Buena includes a beautiful garden and children’s museum. In addition to the mall, the area is home to various name brand stores – Old Navy, H&M, Disney Store, Sephora, etc. – so shopping is readily accessible.
(Note: Because San Francisco has limited parking space, I cannot stress how great the Marquis’ location is for those that opt not to rent a car. We typically take a cab or the BART (subway) into the City and then explore via public transportation. The city center is very very easy to navigate via trolley or cable car. If you do decide to rent a car, make sure you check your hotel website because overnight parking in the city can cost you $50+ a day.)
Where to Eat
Castagnola’s Seafood and Chophouse
Located in the heart of Fisherman’s Wharf, Castagnola’s is a sit down seafood restaurant with an Italian flare. The restaurant is kid friendly and the atmosphere is fun and lively (some of the other seafood restaurants on the pier provide a more romantic sit down experience.) If you sit closer to the back of the restaurant you get a great view of the pier. The food was delicious and I would highly recommend the shellfish cioppino and clam chowder. The restaurant had a kids menu with the usual choices, plus fish and chips. The fact that the restaurant is in Fisherman’s Wharf also makes it easy to take a family walk after eating such a hearty meal.
Boudin
One of our kids’ favorite restaurants was Boudin – which hands down has the best sourdough bread in town. The downstairs area of Boudin is casual and the tables are first come first served. Make sure you order the sourdough bowl filled with clam chowder or chili for a heavenly food experience. The kids menu includes different types of sandwiches (including grilled cheese), soups and pizza. If you are looking for a sit down experience, upstairs you can enjoy Boudin Bistro which is a bit more formal but still kid friendly. The Bistro menu includes Boudin’s delicious soups and sandwiches, plus seafood and meat dishes. Make sure to take the kids upstairs to enjoy the bakery museum where they can watch the bread being made. Our kids also loved seeing the animal shaped breads – which included teddy bears and crabs.
Buena Vista Social Club
Though the Buena Vista Social Club boasts a long bar and is officially known as the birthplace of the Irish Coffee (coffee, whisky, sugar cube and whipped cream), we did take the kids there for breakfast – when the atmosphere is more restaurant than anything else. There is a bit of a wait as the restaurant is pretty small so an early arrival is recommended. While the kids ate breakfast, my husband and I were able to enjoy an Irish Coffee which was absolutely delicious. Keep and eye out for the talented bartenders expertly pouring rows of Irish Coffees.
Mel’s Drive In
Mel’s Drive In is located close to the Marriott Marquis and is as kid friendly as you can get. In a nutshell it is a diner that serves American comfort food – the hamburgers are its claim to fame. The kids loved the fact that their kids meal came in a cardboard box shaped in the shape of a classic car. They also loved choosing songs from the jukebox (with moms help of course.) Service was very quick and after a long day of walking it was nice to enjoy chili fries and a chocolate milkshake.
