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Do you want to have fun with your kids in San Francisco?
We were pleasantly surprised by how kid-friendly San Francisco is.
We are sharing our best tips on what to do in San Francisco with kids, including information on two awesome hotels we stayed at, advice on how to get around, and how to book a trip to San Francisco.
We go deep and wide when we visit a destination. What is unique to the area is what we want to experience. We are not just visiting a museum or playground in any town. We have fun attractions to share with you.
The bay area is a city on the water with several bays, a large Asian influence, and delicious fresh seafood.
Craig and I took a trip to San Francisco in 2006 when we were a couple, but this time we went with our kids and it was so much fun.
You will be happy to know that there are many family activities in San Francisco to keep your family entertained. Our girls loved visiting San Francisco, a city with a lot to see and do.
After spending months in the wilderness areas of Utah, it was a treat for them to come back from the national park. They needed a break and it was exciting.
We have a list of things to do in San Francisco with kids.
Is it fun or scary? Your kids can decide what this family activity is.
I'm sure they'll stick to the right side of the law even if they choose one of the two options.
Kalyra was surprised by how much she enjoyed it and both of our kids had questions after it.
Our friend told us the next day that they were interested in learning more about what happened to the two escapees. They recently discovered that they escaped and made it to South America.
They couldn't get over the fact that the children of the guards lived on the island and that the prisoners were right next to them.
It was unnerving to walk into those prison cells and feel what the prisoners would have felt, and our 7 year old was a little freaked out.
The audio tour of Alcatraz is exceptional.
clanging cell doors and footsteps as former inmates and guards recant their stories and explain what life was like on Alcatraz is an authentic experience that they have created.
The wind would have been howling and the water would have been cold. On a fog free day, they would have had good views.
My children talk about the experience for days after it. They gained something important from it. It was one of the most interesting family activities in San Francisco.
You can book your tickets online in advance at Alcatraz, one of the most popular things to do in the bay area. You can check out the package tours that include Alcatraz.
Why not do an Alcatraz Night Tour and combine it with a Muir Woods tour and Sausalito Day Tour. We’ve heard the night tours are AWESOME. And Muir Woods is one of our favorite things to do in San Francisco region. You need transport to get there. This tour makes a lot of sense.
After a week of exploring the city, we were able to take our kids on the famous cable cars.
They'd heard the bell clang and watched it go up and down the hilly streets, learning how they worked on our private walking tour.
Is there a better way to ride a cable car in San Francisco than by letting the girls stand on the side?
I was a little worried but I was sure they were responsible enough to hold on and not fall off. It would take a lot to come off.
I enjoyed riding in the cable car and watching the driver work on the brakes, lever and bell, and then spending the last five minutes off the side once a space opened up.
The cable car is one of the most fun things to do in San Francisco with kids.
The cable car lines can be long. It's time for the first thing in the morning.
The Powell- Hyde line is less busy than the other lines. We lined up for about 30 minutes after jumping on the train near Ghirardelli Square.
The cable car costs $7 a ride, so if you want to get around San Francisco, you should go from one end to the other.
The City Pass covered it for 3 days. The San Francisco Sightseeing Pass now includes a 1 day Muni passport which includes cable car rides.
The Cable Car Museum is located in Nob Hill.
The girls weren't excited about the sea lions of San Francisco because they've seen so many of them before.
I enjoy watching the cute, playful and funny animals bark, wrestle, sleep and swim in the waters just off Pier 39 at Fisherman's wharf.
Several of the docks here have been taken over by them. Adding this to your list of best things to do in San Francisco with kids is a good way to get used to seeing sea lions in the wild.
Your kids may also love it.
There is a lot of kitschy things at Pier 39. We didn't hang around for long, but we did some activities that were included on our Sightseeing Pass and the girls loved it.
We had fun visiting the top attractions in San Francisco. You will love the Museum of 3D Illusions.
One of the top things to do with kids in the San Francisco area is to drive around in a GoCar.
You may think that these small yellow cars are not kid-friendly when you see them zipping around the streets. Our girls had a blast and it was one of the top family activities in San Francisco.
We only had an hour included with it. I didn't think that was enough time. We left in peak hour traffic and didn't get to jump out of the car because we were held up.
I would recommend hiring a car for more time and doing the longer routes around the park.
It was a fun way to get around.
You can check the deals on Get Your Guide.
This is not something to do in San Francisco with toddlers. There is no age limit, but there is a weight limit.
Excess vehicle insurance for a motorbike is what the GoCars are classified as, so be sure to check your car insurance or travel insurance policy.
I don't think I've seen anything like this before in San Francisco.
The Walt Disney Family Museum is dedicated to the life, perseverance and imagination of Walt Disney, creator of some of America's and the world's most beloved animations, most notably Mickey Mouse.
The museum has exhibits about his early cartoons and models of Disneyland.
I enjoyed hearing about his failures and determinations to succeed, as well as the park bench that helped plant Disneyland.
While watching his daughters ride the carousel in LA, Walt dreamed of a place where parents and kids could enjoy rides together.
Look at a problem and come up with a solution. I love Disney.
The exhibit dedicated to the mouse that we visited recently opened. You can learn more about Mickey and even try to draw him. I was impressed with the girl's efforts.
The Children's Creativity Museum is a place where children can create and use their imaginations. It is a hands-on space that allows children to imagine and create in a multimedia environment.
Kids of all ages can design their own clay motion animations, pretend to be a rock star in the music studio, or invent a new machine.
We traveled across the Golden Gate Bridge on a big bus, in a luxury car and in our own truck.
Everyone likes crossing one of the world's most famous bridges. The open air bus was the most fun for our kids.
The Big Bus is a great way to get around the city and see the sites, and the ticket is included in our Sightseeing Pass, so it's a no-brainer to use it.
On our private driving tour of the city, I enjoyed seeing it through the front and roof windows of the AUDI.
You can see the views from these places if you cycle across the bridge.
If you have a lot of time and energy, I suggest you ride your bike all the way to Sausalito for lunch and check out the Bay Area Discovery Museum, then catch the ferry back.
The adventurous families could cycle all the way to Tiburon.
Young kids don't like riding on the top of a double decker bus. Especially driving across the Golden Gate Bridge.
Hop-on-hop-off buses give you a nice overview of the city and allow you to see some cool places you may wish to return to.
It can help you save on transportation fees as they typically take you to the most popular points of interest in San Francisco.
They are included in the Sightseeing Pass which is why we jump on these buses and suggest you add this activity to your list of things to do with kids in San Francisco bay area.
Related Post – 12 places to go in San Francisco: Neighborhood Guide
I visited Coit Tower on my solo trip to San Francisco and regretted not doing it with my family.
If the San Francisco fog has risen and the blue sky is visible, the views from Coit Tower are amazing. You will see views that will make you think you have landed on a Greek island.
The Coit Tower is in the Telegraph Hill neighborhood of San Francisco. Pioneer Park was established in 1876 on the site of the former telegraph station.
It costs $10 to get to the top of the tower, but it is worth it. You will get a panoramic view of San Francisco city and the bay area from the Golden Gate Bridge to the Bay Bridge.
The murals on the walls tell the story of life in California during the Depression.
At the bottom of the tower there is a park with nice gardens and seating areas. The gum trees were huge. San Francisco reminded me of Australia.
I was not paying attention to the parrots I was told there are in Pioneer Park, but younger kids will love them.
If you are looking for cool things to do in San Francisco with teens, and they like shopping, the Haight-Ashbury district is a good place to start.
The 1960's counterculture movement was born in this neighborhood and it draws a diverse crowd.
There are many vintage clothing boutiques, record shops, bookstores, and casual, eclectic restaurants on Upper Haight Street.
We convinced our oldest to wait as buying a pair of Doc Martens boots with her own money would be pretty cool.
There are many colorful, well-preserved Victorian homes in this neighborhood and it is a great place to walk around.
The Japanese Tea Garden is in Golden Gate Park, as is Ocean Beach.
The Painted Ladies may be something that everyone in your family will enjoy. Our girls became fans of this show because of it.
They loved seeing the colorful Victorian homes and figuring out which one was the house.
None of them is the truth. These were used to open homes in San Francisco. The house is actually in Pacific Heights.
The amount of people enjoying a picnic and drinks is mind boggling.
It is one of the free things to do in San Francisco.
The cameras are at the ready.
The Museum of 3D Illusions can make your photos pop by giving you multiple backdrops and changing your settings.
The Museum of 3D Illusions will show you how to create a perfect illusion with a circle camera on the floor.
Artists from all over the world will contribute to your set.
There are lots of people behind you waiting for your turn, so sweet and quick please!
The Museum of 3D Illusions is a great place to visit with kids as it fosters their imagination and creativity and is less about creating the perfect shot for likes.
The girls had a lot of fun coming up with ideas on how to fit in with the artistic piece.
It costs $25 for adults and $12 for kids in San Francisco, but the kids will remember it as one of the most fun things to do in the city.
It's much cheaper to buy all those props.
Lombard Street is a must see in San Francisco.
The most dangerous street in the world was too dangerous for cars to drive down because of the 27 degree weather.
It is now filled with tourists walking, driving and biking down to get their shots of the quarter mile downhill stretch lined with gorgeous gardens.
You can see the city from the top of the street.
It's a lot harder to take photos and videos when you drive down it, but it's a cool experience in San Francisco with kids.
There is a hot tip.
There will be long lines waiting to go down. Photos will probably be better if you can walk it.
It is one of the top attractions in San Francisco so expect a lot of people.
The Exploratorium at Pier 15 is one of the best Bay Area attractions for families.
I was worried that it would be like what we have done before, but it was a very unique place with cool experiments that foster exploration and curiosity.
We had to race through it because we went an hour before closing time. You need a few hours at the Exploratorium.
They had an exhibit on Self, Made.
There were amazing experiments that gave you a better idea of yourself and how to fit into a world that may feel different.
There is a hot tip.
If you are short on time and money, I would not include the museums in your San Francisco vacation.
If you can make it work, I think it is one of the fun places to visit in San Francisco with kids. Our girls loved it.
The Randall Museum focuses on science and interaction. There is a Children Creativity Museum.
The Exploratorium is included as an option in the City Pass You can choose either the Exploratorium or the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
The Mission District is an evolving neighborhood with Latino roots and a trendy vibe.
There are hundreds of colorful walls and fences in the neighborhood.
Between 17th and 18th streets and Mission and Valencia streets, we took a stroll. The community and arts activities of the alley often depict themes of social inclusiveness.
Since 1992, more than 700 murals have been created, speaking to community concerns of social, economic, and environmental justice.
Our girls learned some important life messages while posing in front of the murals.
The Mission District has more vibrant street murals.
Related Post – 20 hidden gems in San Francisco the locals love!
There is a park located on a hillside between 18th and 20 streets in the Mission District.
One of San Francisco's most beloved gathering spots is this park, which is a hub for public rallies, marches, and clean park initiatives. It has fantastic city views, open space for the kids to play, and prime people watching.
It is a great place to visit in San Francisco with kids.
There is a hot tip.
In the Mission district, you can get ice cream at Bi-Rite Creamery and pastry at Tartine Bakery.
There is also great coffee at Four Barrel Cafe and plant based Mexican food at Gracias Madre.
Is it possible to get more touristy than Madame Tussauds?
When visiting cities, what is at the top of the family vacation activities list is usually not.
I went to my first one in Los Angeles a few months ago. This was my second one. I liked this one because it told the San Francisco story well and had interactive museums.
We have to jam with some of the greatest musicians of all time. Fight Muhammad Ali and sit next to Al Capone.
If you get the Day Pass, Madame Tussauds is a must-visit attraction.
One of the best things to do in San Francisco with kids is to visit the Chinatown, which is the biggest Chinatown in the world and the oldest in the USA.
Chinatown has markets, restaurants, and small alleyways.
The pagodas and murals depict Chinese customs, culture and beliefs.
The Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory is a must visit for the kids. Since 1962, they have been making fortune cookies.
You can buy a box of cookies or watch the ladies make them.
You should check out more of Ross Alley. The location of the Tong Wars was once a dangerous street. It is also the location for some of the scenes from Karate Kid II and Big Trouble in Little China.
The Tin How Temple is hidden on the 4th floor of an apartment building on Waverly Street.
One of the oldest Taoist temples in the US is in San Francisco's Chinatown.
Chinatown is one of the most family friendly places to visit in San Francisco, and it's a great place to take family photos.
Our girls love walking tours. They enjoy the stories and characters.
City walking tours are a great way to engage kids and help them connect to a destination and a real life learning experience. It's better to learn about it from a book or museum.
Michael Glass is an Australian who owns Boutique Traveler and is on a private walking tour of San Francisco.
He has lived in San Francisco for 8 years and has gotten to know the city very well.
The Gold Rush Era and the Earthquake of 1906 were two huge events that changed the city.
We learned a lot from one of his San Francisco Walking Tours.
The old heart of San Francisco used to be the oldest Chinese restaurant in San Francisco, and some of the buildings were built on old whaling boats.
The walking tour made San Francisco better.
It's also great to have a tour guide with you. We had many good ones on this tour.
Like us, you rarely get a photo with every member of your family. This is a great way to relive your trip.
All you have to do is relax and enjoy it.
Our friend is no longer running these tours, but I found another private walking tour option that gets good reviews. This San Francisco activity is still recommended by us.
Click here to watch our video.
What did you think? Cool walking tour?
If you are traveling with a teen, this is a great thing to do in San Francisco.
Lawrence Ferlinghetti and Peter D. Martin founded City Lights Bookstore in 1953 and it became an instant gathering place for readers, writers, artists, and activists.
The Beatnik bookstore is best known for publishing Howland Other Poems by Allen Ginsberg.
The most comprehensive collection of any bookstore in San Francisco can be found at City of Lights.
You can find new-release books from major publishing houses on the third floor.
There is a children's book section with selections for the children who are activists.
Pop outside and enjoy.
The Jack Kerouac alley is filled with murals and poetic wisdom from the greats starting from the East side of the alley and moving down to Mayou Angelo on the west side.
Younger kids will love the street art, even though it is fantastic for your literature loving teen.
Yes. After seeing all you can do at the park, it became one of my favorite places to go in San Francisco.
It was common for me to say something on our San Francisco trip.
This is also part of The Presidio?
You may not have heard of it. It is a national park in an urban landscape and forms part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.
You can read our full post on the internet.
The kids will love the quiet escape from the madness of the streets of San Francisco and these are the top things to do with them.
The kids can use the backpack to learn more about the park.
There is an adventure map and cards that lead to fun discoveries. There are magnification glasses, compass and binoculars included.
The California Academy of Science is one of the San Francisco family attractions that many people recommend.
We didn't visit California Academy of Science because it was too expensive for us to visit with our family.
Considering we travel full time and are immersed in the world of nature, science and natural history every day, we didn't feel this was worth our money.
The San Francisco children's museum may be completely different for you. If we had more money, I would consider it on a return trip to San Francisco with kids.
It is an aquarium, planetarium, rainforest, and natural history museum in the heart of San Francisco's Golden Gate Park and is known to be a powerful voice for biodiversity research and exploration.
The Academy of Science in California.
The living roof is a 2.5 acre rooftop of rolling hills and fields and plants, offering a home to local wildlife and helping to keep the building sustainable.
You can see the roof from the observatory deck on the 9th floor of the De Young Museum.
You will not be able to walk around it, as the girls experience plenty of living environments. All homes should have this on top.
Are you looking to escape the city? One of my favorite places to visit in San Francisco is the The Lands End Trail.
This area reminded us of Australia with its rugged coastline trail, views of the bay and Golden Gate Bridge, and trees and wildflowers.
You will feel like you are in a small coastal town when you get out in nature.
We walked a short way as we were short on time. The Lands End Labyrinth looks really cool.
More than 150,000 trees were planted to create a city park in the 1870s.
Golden Gate Park is one of the largest urban parks in the United States, stretching from the sea to the Panhandle. It is easy to get lost in the park with its wooded network of trails, gardens, lakes and museums.
There are award winning restaurants in the neighborhoods surrounding Golden Gate Park.
If you like, you can hire bikes and explore the park for a couple of hours up to a whole day.
The main thoroughfare is closed on the weekends so it is a safer and more enjoyable ride. There are many trails off road which are just as good. Don't worry for pedestrians.
There are many places to visit in the Golden Gate Park.
The western end of the Golden Gate PArk has buffalos.
Baker Beach is a good stop if your kids need some beach time. I would recommend a place to hangout for a whole beach day. I don't think that's one of the best things to do in San Francisco.
Too cold, too windy, dangerous water conditions. There was a bit of trash around and the sand was pretty dark.
Our girls picked up a lot of it, they are good Junior Rangers. The picnic tables and grills add to the attraction of the beach.
Baker Beach of the Golden Gate Bridge has a stunning view against the Marin Headlands.
There are houses on the cliffs at Sea Cliff. The big brownish red one at the end is the house of Jack Dorsey, the owner of the micro-messaging service. From the China Beach side, you can see it from the Lands End Trail.
You can see the million-dollar homes lining the cliff face after you drive through the gorgeous Sea Cliff neighborhood.
Several people recommend the Seward Street Slides to us, even though we didn't make them, because they think it's one of the best places to visit in San Francisco.
The main event in this community garden is two long, steep concrete slides.
It says to bring a piece of cardboard and wear sturdy pants. Adults and children must be with each other.
If you're looking for San Francisco kids activities that involve nature, don't forget to visit the redwood forest in the National Monument.
One of the unique attractions in San Francisco is that it's just outside of the city and it's one of the top attractions near San Francisco. You can visit the park in a couple of hours.
The Junior Ranger Program at Muir Woods gave our girls a lot of information about the redwoods.
You may want to hug a few of these trees. The tallest living thing is the rajas, which have shallow roots that are the equivalent of a big toe. It's a fun fact.
The walk is easy.
Start on the right side of the trail beside the creek and then at the end go left and up the hill to get back to the more elevated trail.
This will allow you to see the creek trail from the canopy. You can take advantage of the many seats along the way.
Because of the parking permit situation, the crowds are managed and it is not busy.
You need to book your parking online before you go to Muir Woods. You will not be allowed to enter if you have not done this. You can reserve a parking spot here.
America the Beautiful Annual national parks pass is required for entrance to the park. It's worth it if you want to visit federal lands on your USA trip.
We are going to walk amongst these giants.
Is it possible that they are just incredible trees?
Make time to see them.
There are several places to get ice cream in San Francisco with kids of all ages that adults will love too, but many Bay Area locals agree that you can't beat a cup of Bi-Rite Creamery.
If you see the ice cream truck go by, wave it down.
Michael took us on a private driving tour. You can't beat local tips and being driven straight there.
He likes salted caramel and lavender. I thought my coffee was the best.
If you are looking for a place to check out the Painted Ladies in Alamo Square, you can go to the Bi-Rite location on the other side of the street.
If you want to give your kids a big helping of American breakfast favorites, take them to Dottie's True Blue Cafe, which has both large and small pancakes.
This is a favorite, and there is always a line. We got there early and had a 40 minute wait, but anything that is popular with the locals is busy in this city.
By the time we got to the restaurant, the line had doubled and was outside.
It is located in a part of the Tenderloin District that is not the best area of San Francisco.
We walked from the Kimpton Hotel in Union Square to get an UBER.
There is something for everyone at Ghirardelli Square.
It was my favorite area of the wharf and didn't feel like a tourist trap like Pier 39.
The old Ghirardelli Chocolate Factory is located in Ghirardelli Square. There is an ice cream bar and a Ghirardelli store to satisfy your chocolate cravings.
You can either order a sundae from the ice cream bar or pick your favorite chocolate flavors and fill up a sample box.
There is a Ghirardelli ice cream bar that sells the same thing but has smaller lines.
Walk through the middle of the square and past the fountain to The Cheese School if you have a chocolate box. If you order a platter of cheese and a glass of wine, you can take a seat in the glassed conservatory and see the views over the bay and a glimpse of the bridge.
It was my favorite twenty minutes of our entire San Francisco trip, and there were no other things to do with kids in San Francisco.
You are welcome.
It doesn't stop there.
You can sample craft beer, burgers, and chicken wings at the San Francisco Brewery.
Who cares if the kids get a chocolate treat? You will push your kids out of line for this delicacy.
Arsicault Bakery's chocolate croissants were named the best in the country. Yes, you heard that correctly.
Michael from Boutique Traveler gave us the information so we could share it with you. You won't see it on any other list of best things to do in San Francisco with kids.
We travel like we do. You are welcome.
I'm free of gluten and couldn't resist a bite. It's amazing. I could have demolished the whole thing. You have some competition in Paris.
As the pastries sell out early, get there as close to opening as possible.
Open from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Both Saturday and Sunday.
Oh go on! You can have more ice cream if you are in San Francisco for more than a day.
The kids in San Francisco love ice cream.
A lifelong ice cream freak, Fisher started selling her Smitten Ice Cream out of a Radio Flyer wagon in 2009.
Her homemade ice cream was made to order, flash-frozen at the time of sale with liquid nitrogen in her own ice cream machine that was powered by a battery pack she built out of an old motorcycle battery.
The ice cream wascreamy due to the smaller-sized crystals. She uses ingredients that are real and sustainable.
She used social media to alert her fans to the wagon's location.
She has shops in SF and Oakland.
Yes. Michael came up with another winner.
The second best chocolate croissants in San Francisco can be found at Tartine Bakery.
There is a great all-round bakery with organic ingredients that makes breakfast pastries, hot pressed sandwiches, and coffee.
If you know our kids, they love bakeries, and they approve of this one.
We mapped out your trip to San Francisco and gave you a time frame to enjoy the attractions, as well as a map to help you get around.
Travelers can save 42% or more on admission to San Francisco's top attractions with the City Pass.
The price is $94 for adults and $74 for children. It is valid for nine consecutive days.
The San Francisco Sightseeing Pass has more diversity in their attractions and local tours.
The MUNI was only used from the city pass. We aren't big museum people so it wasn't a win for us. I don't like how the bay area attractions are chosen.
The city has a lot of hills and can get windy.
What are the best Bay Area kids activities? If you still have questions about what to do in San Francisco with kids, leave a comment below.
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