So, are you planning a trip to San Francisco with kids? There are some tips and guidelines to make your trip as enjoyable and memorable as possible. San Francisco offers a wide variety of attractions for children such as beaches, cable cars, carousels or penguins. Between the waffle cones, overpriced seafood, and ‘I Escaped Alcatraz’ sweatshirts, some notable attractions include: Fisherman’s Wharf, Pier 39, and Ghirardelli Square. At Pier 39, there is no fee for energetic sea lions. Enjoy watching huge sharks and groupers as you walk through glass tubes, or pet-friendly bat rays and leopard sharks in the touch tanks at Aquarium of the Bay.
From Pier 33, take a ferry to the former Alcatraz prison. This trip is more interesting for older children. Take a cable car at Powell-Mason or Powell-Hyde circles and hit the hill to downtown. Marin or Angel Island offers ferry services. Take a ferry and enjoy the expedition to and from the bay. Ghirardelli Square is popular for its ice cream and chocolates. The play structures and carousel at Golden Gate Park are wonderful. Young children also enjoy boating on Stow Lake and making sandcastles on Ocean Beach, though it’s not great for swimming. The San Francisco Zoo has some wonderful animals like Grizzly Gulch.
Additionally, the Randall Museum, MH de Young Museum, Walter Haas Children’s Park, and street festivals are some of the city’s most popular attractions. The Walter Haas Playground in Diamond Heights presents a wonderful view of the city. Many street festivals, from Memorial Day to Labor Day, are celebrated with music, bouncy houses, balloon animals, and face paint.
There are plenty of hostels, hotels, and restaurants catering to families, but the best places to stay with kids are Fisherman’s Wharf and Marina. The famous bayside areas have many kid-friendly restaurants, like the Rainforest Café. In the Sunset district and right for Golden Gate Park, Q Restaurant has chalkboard walls, magnets, and great food to boot. Keeping in mind the tips and guidelines mentioned above, come and enjoy your trip to San Francisco with your children.