San Francisco is a one of the world’s great cities and a must-do when you visit California. There is enough in SF to occupy kids for a few days to a week.
I reckon you don’t need to spend more than a week maximum. It’s not a big city and to be honest not one that I would consider to be as kid-friendly as other parts of California, especially for children under 5 years.
It is the most expensive city to rent in the world and it’s got the lowest percentage of children of any of the largest 100 cities in America. Many of the major attractions I visit do not have any dedicated family/children’s programming and any that are available are for older primary-aged children.
Here’s my pick of the best 23 things to do with kids in San Francisco. I’ve not included places further out of in the greater Bay Area.
TO SEE/VISIT:
1. Golden Gate Park
This massive city park is bigger than Central Park and inside you can find museums, galleries, playgrounds, gardens….and bison.
On Sundays and holidays, the park is car-free on Kennedy Drive from 19th Avenue to Stanyan so hire a bike or surrey to explore all of the park.
Koret Children’s Quarter and Carousel is the big drawcard for SF families.
From the east end of Golden Gate Park you can walk straight down Haight Street into the hippie-ish vibe of Haight-Ashbury (though that corner is now dominated by a Ben and Jerrys).
Golden Gate Park, San Francisco
2. California Academy of Sciences
The California Academy of Sciences is the most visited museum in San Francisco and is the only museum in the world to house an aquarium, planetarium, and natural history museum. Accordingly admission is very expensive so plan to make a day of it (adults $35.95, children $25.95). Buy discount tickets to the California Academy of Science here.
Inside you can walk through a four-storey rainforest, see a show at the planetarium, visit the penguins and fish at the aquarium, step in the earthquake simulator and climb onto the green living roof.
California Academy of Sciences 55 Concourse Dr., Golden Gate Park 415-379-8000
3. De Young Fine Arts Museum
It’s free to visit the observation deck on the 9th floor of the de Young Fine Arts Museum in Golden Gate Park. If you/your kids like art galleries then the museum is also worth visiting.
I suggest taking one of the free guided tours to learn more about selected works as there aren’t any interactive/family-orientated features in the exhibits.
de Young Museum 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Dr. 415-750-3600
4. Ride a cable car
Cable cars are an icon of San Francisco as well as being a very handy way to get up and over all those hills. There are only three operating cable car lines now and each ride costs a hefty $7, so it’s best to get a MUNI Passport (for 1, 3 or 7 days) if you’re planning to take more than 2 cable car rides. The MUNI Passport also includes unlimited travel on the cable cars, historic streetcars and buses.
If you are taking a pram you’ll need an umbrella pram that folds up. You also need to climb some steps to reach inside the carriage and with a young child on your lap you may have to sit in the enclosed carriage for safety.
You can also visit the free Cable Car Museum which covers the history of the cable cars and watch the cables and wheels in action.
San Francisco Cable Car Barn and Museum 1201 Mason St. 415-474-1887
5. Ride a streetcar
While everyone knows about San Francisco’s cable cars, I didn’t realise that the city also operated street cars.
San Francisco’s historic streetcars are gorgeous and they trundle along Market Street between the Castro District and Fisherman’s Wharf, providing lovely views. There are a few steps to get inside but I notice parents getting on with prams ok.
To learn about the streetcars visit the free San Francisco Railway Museum.
San Francisco Railway Museum 77 Steuart St. 415-974-1948
6. Fisherman’s Wharf and Pier 39
Fisherman’s Wharf is tourist central and not somewhere that locals ever seem to go (or recommend). But if you’re visiting SF for the first time then you must tick off Pier 39 where you’ll find the famous sea lions of San Francisco. You’ll hear and smell them before you see them, and the hundred of sea lions gathered at the pier are quite a sight. You have to walk through a shopping mall of tourist tat before you get there, so just avert your eyes if need be. There is a vintage carousel and free magic and acrobats performing nearby.
Fisherman’s Wharf also has a small and free museum with lots of interesting historical facts outlining the history of San Francisco.
7. Visit Asian Art Museum on the first Sunday
The Asian Art Museum is pretty dry for youngsters but it does hold Target First Free Sunday family programming on the first Sunday of each month with storytelling and yoga sessions. On Target First Free Sundays during special exhibitions, the museum often presents films and performances related to the cultural background of the artworks on view.
Asian Art Museum 200 Larkin St. 415-581-3500
8. Bike the Golden Gate Bridge
Riding across the Golden Gate Bridge is one of my highlight activities in San Francisco but I could not have done it with my children (age 5 and 7). It is strictly for those with older kids who can handle a 2-3 hour bike ride, some of it up hills, and across a very windy bay. The ferry ride back from Sausalito is a nice cheap way to see the bay.
The Golden Gate Bridge also has a free outdoor museum.
9. Stroll through Chinatown
San Francisco boasts the largest Chinatown outside of Asia, as well as the oldest Chinatown in North America. It’s a fun place to wander around aimlessly, looking at all the bright colours and sniffing out interesting smells. Note that footpaths are narrow and streets are steep, so it’s not a great place to push a pram.
10. Children’s Creativity Museum
Across the park from SFMOMA and hidden behind the LeRoy King Carousel is the entrance to the Children’s Creativity Museum. It is all about interactive fun, with each section facilitated by artists and teachers, including a play area just for under 5s. Inside you’ll find an animation studio, tech lab, music studio, innovation, imagination, and community labs.
The Children’s Creativity Museum is found at Yuerba Buena, a green oasis in downtown SF that also has a playground, a bowling alley and an indoor ice skating rink.
Children’s Creativity Museum 221 Fourth St. 415-820-3320
11. Walk down the crookedest street in the world
Lombard Street is a streetscape photo that you must take in San Francisco! There is also another crooked street at Vermont Street which is actually even more crooked (just less famous).
Bring Your Own Bigwheel is a race every Easter Sunday where people race big-wheeled plastic bikes! It started on Lombard Street before moving to Vermont Street now.
12. Discover street art
Stroll around Mission (particularly Balmy Alley and Clarion Alley) and discover colourful, joyful, political and thought-provoking murals. Give the older kids an old phone camera so they can snap street art on buildings, garages, alleys and pavements.
I also love the parklets dotted all along Valencia Street – street art that’s also functional urban design.
13. Play at Mission Dolores Park
I really liked Mission Dolores Park in the Mission District. Large adventure playground, fun people-watching, great eateries nearby (including the famous Bi-rite Ice-creamery) and a spectacular view of the city skyline from the top of the park.
Mission Dolores Park, Dolores St & 19th St, San Francisco
14. Snap the Painted Ladies
The architecture of San Francisco is unique and the most famous example of the Victorian houses of the city are the ‘Painted Ladies’ on Alamo Square. The houses overlook a hilltop park, great for a run around.
Painted Ladies, 710–720 Steiner Street, across from Alamo Square park, Haight-Ashbury
TO SHOP
15. The Pirate Store
826 Valencia is a not-for-profit writing centre for children started by author author Dave Eggers and educator Nínive Calegari. It is also the home of ‘San Francisco’s only independent pirate supply store’. Stock up on hooks and peglegs, open the drawers to discover mystery items inside and check out the Fish Theatre.
The Pirate Store, 826 Valencia, San Francisco
16. SFMOMA Museum Store
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art is a great art museum for adults but it lacks specific family/child-friendly programming (here are its suggestions for visiting with kids).
On the other hand, the gift shop is ah-mazing! They sell a large variety of San Francisco-inspired design goods, books, prints and gift items. I particularly like the children’s collection by Petit Collage, an international children’s toy company based in San Francisco. They’ve designed creative toys exclusively for SFMOMA.
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, 151 Third Street, San Francisco
Reader recommendations:
17. The Aquarium of the Bay
I don’t get that excited by aquariums. To be honest, I find them a bit same-same everywhere. But The Aquarium of the Bay at Pier 39 is a popular option for those visiting San Francisco with kids. You can learn about the marine life of San Francisco Bay with hands-on exhibits and the 3D movie theatre. Buy discount tickets to The Aquarium of the Bay here.
Aquarium of the Bay Pier 39, The Embarcadero 415-623-5300
18. The Exploratorium
The Exploratorium is a hands-on, educational science museum.
Exploratorium Pier 15, (415) 528-4360
19. San Francisco Zoo
See tigers, penguins and gorillas and rare animals such as a snow leopard, a black rhinoceros and two polar bears.
San Francisco Zoo and Gardens One Zoo Road 415-753-7080
20. Musee Mechanique
Musee Mechanique is a free museum of antique toys next to Pier 45 in Fishermans Wharf. Note it does cost money to play.
Musee Mechanique, Pier 41, San Francisco
21. Walt Disney Family Museum
Learn all about Walt Disney, see original drawings and artifacts from Disney classics.
Walt Disney Family Museum, 104 Montgomery St, San Francisco
22. The Randall Museum
The Randall Museum is a free museum with hands-on live animal exhibits, art and ceramics studios, science lab, woodshop, and greenhouse and gardens, theatre and a toddler playroom.
The Randall Museum, 199 Museum Way, San Francisco
23. SF City Guides
SF City Guides offers free walking tours taken by passionate locals. Most of them are an hour long so it will only suit kids who can walk and listen for that long, or children in prams who are happy to sit/snooze for that amount of time.
San Francisco City Guides Main Library, Civic Center 100 Larkin St. Free: Always 415-557-4266
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