Favorite Kid-Friendly Activities in San Francisco

Our Local Expert Says:

The park is home to the architecturally striking De Young museum, with notable collections of American painters and South American, Oceanic and African indigenous art. Across the Music Concourse is the stunning new LEED Platinum certified home of the California Academy of Sciences, the greenest museum building in the world. Check out its living roof!

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Spanning three miles from the edge of Haight-Ashbury all the way to the Pacific Ocean, Golden Gate Park contains so many mini-universes and attractions you'll want to (literally) stop and smell the roses on several occasions. Die-hard nature lovers can check out the Rose Garden, the Conservatory of Flowers, or the famous Japanese Tea Garden, featuring a classic pagoda, cherry blossoms, and landscaping straight out of the Land of the Rising Sun. Golden Gate Park's natural highlight, however, is the San Francisco Botanical Garden, which features a horticultural trip around the world (don't miss the redwood grove and succulents section).
Don't miss Golden Gate Park's two world-class museums, the California Academy of Sciences and the De Young Museum. Both were completely rebuilt in their original locations in the past decade, and are worth a visit for their architecture alone. The park is also the perfect place to get active. There are tons of walking paths, several public tennis courts, an affordable pitch and put nine-hole golf course, sport fields, and picnic grounds. You can even rent a boat and head out for a delightful row on Stow Lake. Spring, summer, and fall bring a number of events to Golden Gate Park, including bluegrass, rock, and hip-hop concerts and Shakespeare in the Park performances.

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Renovated in 2005, de Young Museum's ultra-modern design stirred up quite the controversy in San Francisco when it was first reopened. However, locals warmed to the sleek, angular exteriors once they experienced the museum's indoor wonders. Perhaps San Francisco's most eclectic art museum, the de Young features permanent collections of American art, indigenous art and artifacts from around the world (including masks from Oceania, basketry from Africa, and pottery from the Americas), crafts and textiles, and graphic arts. And then there are the rotating special exhibits, which have proven to be the not-to-miss art events of the season, featuring the likes of ancient Egyptian relics or 20th century fashion designer retrospectives.

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Located in Golden Gate Park, this garden is a marvel of the landscape architects art. This traditional Japanese garden covers five acres. Several paths take you by an authentic pagoda, a monumental Buddha, a miniature waterfall, and over an acutely arched bridge that no kid can resist. Overlooking the gardens koi-filled pond is a Japanese-style tea house, which in spring is covered with a cascade of wisteria. The gift shop sells souvenirs with a Japanese flair.

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Renovated and reopened in late 2008, the California Academy of Sciences has a lot to boast about. With a four-story tropical rainforest, an aquarium housing over 38,000 species of fish, the deepest coral reef exhibit in the world, an impressive all-digital planetarium, and a host of other exhibits that take visitors on a tour of the natural world, it's no wonder tourists and locals alike are lining up every weekend. The building is an attraction in and of itself. A gem of sustainable architecture, it features a living roof made of solar panels and 1.7 million species of native plants, uses recycled denim for insulation, and has floor-to-ceiling windows that give visitors a seamless view of surrounding Golden Gate Park greenery. Underscoring its hip, green image, the California Academy of Science's café serves up decidedly healthy, yummy dishes that even kids could like (and that's no small feat).

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Built in the late 1870s, the oldest building in the park is the last remaining wood-frame Victorian conservatory in the country. It's also a copy of the conservatory in the Royal Botanical Gardens in Kew, England, with a spectacular, 14-ton glass dome atop its perch. The gardens in front of the conservatory are planted seasonally, with the flowers often fashioned like billboards depicting the Golden Gate Bridge or other city sights. On the east side of the conservatory (to the right as you face the building), cypress, pine, and redwood trees surround the Dahlia Garden, which blooms in summer and fall. To the west several hundred feet on John F. Kennedy Drive is the Rhododendron Dell. The dell contains the most varieties -- 850 in all -- of any garden in the country. It's especially beautiful in March, when many of the flowers bloom, and is a favorite spot of locals for Mother's Day picnics.

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Pacific Catch on 9th Ave. at the entrance to Golden Gate Park is a modern, comfortable, West Coast Fish House where friends and family gather to enjoy fresh seafood dishes inspired by flavors from the Pacific Rim. Daily lunch and dinner specials feature the freshest "catch of the day," served in a variety of styles from around the Pacific. Other menu items include Asian Rice Bowls, Meal-size Salads, Sushi Rolls, Fish and Chips and starters including our popular Hawaiian Poke and famous Cabo Calamari. Our 9th Ave location also offers patio seating and a full bar with lounge. Enjoy a wide selection of wines from the New World, contemporary island cocktails or one of our many beers on tap from around the Pacific. The semi private room offers sit down seating for groups up to 40 and a casual standing reception for 55. Our Executive Chef, can customize a menu to meet the needs of any occasion. Please contact chamin@pacificcatch.com for event information

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A spin-off of Chow on Market Street, this second edition favorite draws in a steady, youthful crowd. It could be due to the prime location just steps away from Golden Gate Park. The weekend brunch on the heated patio is a great answer to those sunny, yet chilly, San Francisco days. The atmosphere throughout is homey yet funky with a fireplace and Hershey's can silverware holders. The menu is filled with all sorts of treats like freshly blended juices and smoothies, standard issue but delicious soups and sandwiches, pasta and pizza and meat and potatoes. The service is quick and friendly.

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The appealing combination of fresh ingredients, hefty portions, and inexpensive prices fill this crepery/coffee house for lunch daily and brunch on Sunday. The wood-paneled walls and heavy wood tables create a dark atmosphere inside. For those who prefer more light, several tables are set up outside on the sidewalk. Names like the Bombay, Santa Fe, and Tuscany make it difficult to choose just one item. Both savory and sweet crepes (including ones with pears and chocolate with ice cream) are served, as well as sandwiches and omelettes. Note: Cash only.

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See more than 250 different species of wildlife from all over the globe here, many of which are endangered. There are a variety of attractions including childrens' petting zoo and an insect zoo, an Australian Walk, Penguin Island, a Primate Discovery Center, and the Otter River. It also features a one of the world's largest gorilla exhibits, a lion house, a feline conservation center, a carousel, and a kiddie train.

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Offering sandy walks along the ocean's fingers, as well as trails on the cliffs above, this old military lookout provides a great view of the San Francisco and San Mateo coastlines. Hang gliders are drawn here for both the strong winds and the thrilling descent over the Pacific. Also, expect to see scores of dogs--it's a haven for dog walkers.

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Housed within The Beach Chalet Brewery & Restaurant, The Park Chalet is a garden restaurant offering open air dining, an inviting stone fireplace, fully retractable glass doors, a glass ceiling and an unmatched indoor/outdoor atmosphere. NEW: Weekend BBQ! Every weekend on the Lawn at the Park Chalet from 12pm-5pm there will be an outdoor BBQ serving up Burgers and Sandwiches! Go to /bbq/ for more details! Every Sunday from 10am-3pm the Park Chalet serves their Recovery Brunch Buffet featuring Prime Rib, Eggs Benedict and Bloody Marys. Go to www.beachchalet.com/recover for details.

Our Local Expert Says:

An absolute must-see for any San Francisco visitor. You were going to go back home and tell your friends you DIDN'T see the Golden Gate Bridge up close?

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Perhaps the most iconic bridge in the country, if not in the world, the rusted-orange expanse of the Golden Gate Bridge is a not-to-miss sight while in San Francisco. Connecting the city and neighboring Marin County to the north, the Golden Gate Bridge also serves as a gateway between the San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean. Although you'll be treated to glimpses of the bridge throughout the city, the best way to experience it is to walk or bike across, starting in the Presidio. You can then spend a serene afternoon strolling around the quaint Marin seaside city of Sausalito. If you prefer a gentler route, you can take a ferry from the San Francisco Ferry Building or from Fisherman's Wharf to Sausalito or Tiburon (another beautiful Marin town full of great restaurants and nearby walking paths), gazing at the majestic Golden Gate Bridge, plus sailboats, kite-surfers, and the gorgeous Bay views along the way.

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"The Rock," as Alcatraz is known locally, has a formidable past. Most people don't know it served as a lighthouse, military outpost, and military prison before becoming the notorious federal prison that held the likes of Al Capone, George "Machine Gun" Kelly, and Robert Stroud, a.k.a. "The Birdman of Alcatraz." The tiny island only miles from the San Francisco shore was considered the perfect detainment spot due to the surrounding shark-infested, frigid waters. Today visitors can safely enjoy guided tours of Alcatraz, including various cells, the mess hall, the exercise yard, and the surprisingly beautiful natural features of the island. Tour guides are extremely knowledgeable and relish regaling visitors with quirky stories of prisoners past. The truly brave can get locked up in a darkened cell for several minutes—all the more exhilarating considering the penitentiary's claim that all 14 escape attempts in the prison's 29 years of operation failed!

Our Local Expert Says:

Don't miss this "new" San Francisco institution. Inside, you'll find fantastic foods and crafts local to the area, and outside on Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays, the Farmers Market brings together local growers to sell their tasty fruits and vegetables.

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While ferries still run from this historic building, it's also been transformed into a veritable shrine to food. The San Francisco Ferry Building Marketplace is chockablock with eateries, specialty culinary stores, and gift shops. Dining highlights include the mouth-watering burgers at Taylor's Refresher, the decadent sandwiches at Lulu Petite (the egg salad with truffle-artichoke pesto on brioche is truly the nectar of the gods), and the Vietnamese-inspired deliciousness of SF's legendary Slanted Door. Shopping for some special culinary treats? Stock up on loads of rare mushrooms and truffle salt at Far West Fungi, the finest fromage at local fave Cowgirl Creamery's Artisan Cheese Shop, and creative chocolate flavor combinations Rechiutti Confections. Want to sample local farmers' bounty? The San Francisco Farmer's Market convenes behind the Ferry Building every Tuesday and Saturday, and features stalls upon stalls of produce, meat, eggs, cheese, baked goods, and prepared foods (we love the tamales and crepes, but everything is tasty). Vendors are friendly and always willing to allow shoppers a sample taste or a detailed explanation of farming practices. After all that munching, take a brisk walk on the Embarcadero past piers and views of the Bay Bridge.

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Sausalito is a quaint, Mediterranean-style waterfront town that serves as the ideal gateway to outdoors adventures galore in Marin County—or as the perfect après-activity haven. From window-shopping at eclectic boutiques to grabbing some scoops at Lappert's Ice Cream and savoring them by a Spanish-style fountain in the sun-splashed plaza, Sausalito certainly has its charms, not to mention its fair share of top-notch dining. And then there are Sausalito's views of San Francisco twinkling across the bay and the surrounding Marin hills dotted with gorgeous homes. Sausalito is also home to a vibrant community of artists, who open their galleries and studios on the second Wednesday of every month during an Artwalk in the Caledonia Street neighborhood. In addition, the renowned Sausalito Art Festival takes place in the center of town every Labor Day weekend.

Our Local Expert Says:

No matter how many others we visit, no science museum comes close to being this much fun for all ages.

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We couldn't think of a better name for a museum that invites visitors of all ages to explore the world and how we perceive it. Yes, science takes center stage at the Exploratorium, but in such innovative, interactive ways that kids of all ages—including us grown-up kids—will hardly notice time go by (how's that for playing with human perception?). Among the Exploratorium's 650 exhibits are a completely darkened tactile dome, a miscroscopic imaging station in which visitors can check out microorganism's embryos and more, an exhibit that explores the mind and how we think, feel, and make decisions, and one that plays with how humans interpret sound. The Exploratorium is housed inside the Palace of Fine Arts, whose scenic grounds are the perfect place for a post-museum breath of fresh air.

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Come for the tasty crepes, omelettes and sandwiches and linger over a cappucino.

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Vintage Coca-Cola ads and posters of Life magazine covers succinctly summon up the 1950s, as do this diner's mini-jukeboxes, red vinyl counter stools and sock-hopping staff. Besides fast food staples like hot dogs, cheeseburgers, tuna melts and onion rings, options like the Streamliner (a grilled veggie patty) acknowledge more modern dietary concerns. Even better for kids, sandwiches come wrapped in paper jackets and nearly everything is served on paper plates. No spills. No breaks. No tears.

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If you're on a perpetual quest for the best burger in America, a mandatory stop is Barney's Gourmet Hamburgers. Once you get past all the framed awards for the Bay Area's best burger, you're bombarded by a mind-boggling menu of beef, chicken, turkey, and vegetarian burgers to choose from, as well as sandwiches and salads. The ultimate combo is a humungous basket of fries (enough for a party of three), one-third-pound burger, and thick shake. Popular versions are the California Burger with jack cheese, bacon, Ortega chiles, and sour cream, or the Popeye Burger made with chicken, sautéed spinach, and feta cheese. Be sure to dine alfresco in the hidden courtyard in back.

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This 100-acre park blends into the surrounding urban landscape. It features a 20-acre tidal marsh, huge meadow, sand beaches and thousands of restored native plants. Bikers can cruise down a designated path, launching from a board-sailing site, or quietly muse about while peering into the depths of the tidal pond.

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The idea behind building this fort to in 1861 was to fend off attacks by the Confederacy. It proved to be a non-issue, though. This place went on to achieve cinema immortality as the spot from which Kim Novak took her plunge into the San Francisco Bay in the Hitchcock classic Vertigo. There are spectacular views of the Marin Headlands from just beneath the soaring south anchorage of the Golden Gate Bridge. Tours are offered and the museum houses a collection of military memorabilia. Take note, it is usually very windy at Fort Point, so dress accordingly. Admission and parking in the adjacent lot is free.