It's no surprise that our 49 square miles are ideal for your next San Francisco family vacation, with 182 playgrounds, 82 leisure centres, 60 soccer fields, and more than 300 coffee shops (that one's for you, mom and dad). Looking for a kid-friendly environment? We've figured it out. Is there a place to play outside? There's plenty of it. Educational activities that are so enjoyable that the children don't even know they're learning? It was essentially created by us.
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Here are ten family-friendly activities to consider on your next trip to San Francisco:
1. The Walt Disney Family Museum
Don't be fooled by the name - this isn't Disneyland (although there is a miniature replica of the park in the museum). Within these confines, though, there is magic. Parents will enjoy perusing the Disney family's artefacts and remembering about Walt Disney's life, films, and Disneyland. While the grown-ups are learning about Mickey's development, the young ones may enjoy storey time and family-friendly activities in the museum's Little Open Studio, which is targeted for children aged seven and under. Also, keep an eye out for special film screenings on the schedule (including those locked away in the infamous Disney vault).
2. Experimentarium
The Exploratorium in its previous incarnation was fantastic. The Exploratorium, which has been completely redesigned and relocated to Pier 15, is nothing short of amazing. The museum, which was named the #1 Spot for Kids in the nation by CNN, invites visitors of all ages to touch, explore, and interact with 600 exhibits.
Investigate the living world, play with your ideas, emotions, and behaviour, explore the local surroundings, and much more. Are you becoming hungry after all this science? Both the café and the waterfront restaurant of the Exploratorium provide fresh and sustainable food produced by local chefs. All ages are welcome, and if you're travelling with little children, just follow the big bubbles. On a first-come, first-served basis, strollers are also available.
3. PIER 39
PIER 39 on Fisherman's Wharf, often known as the "Disneyland of San Francisco," is a must-see for every family visit. Visit the PIER's resident sea lions, who suddenly took over the docks after the 1989 earthquake, witness daily street performer performances including magicians, jugglers, comedians, and more, and run down giant musical steps - all for free! Aquarium of the Bay, Players Sports Grill & Arcade, Museum of 3D Illusions, Magowan's Infinite Mirror Maze, the San Francisco Carousel, a classic Caricature stand, and Frequent Flyers (imagine bungee cords + huge trampoline) are among the other attractions for the young ones (or big ones).
See also: The Best Offbeat Travel Experiences In San Francisco
4. The Museum of Children's Creativity
Exposing children to creativity is one of the most important skills you can give them, as every parent or guardian knows. The Children's Creativity Museum inspires children to explore, create, and share in a multimedia setting that goes beyond traditional play. The museum is jam-packed with seminars and hands-on activities for kids of all ages, including an Animation Studio, Imagination Lab, Music Studio, and even a Cloud Gallery.
5. Water Taxis and Bay Cruises
Exploring San Francisco's bay is a wonderful experience for anybody of any age. While there are numerous ways to get your sea legs, the traditional Bay Cruise is the most popular with families. See the downtown skyline, the Bay Bridge, and Alcatraz Island up up and personal (to get on the Island, take Alcatraz Cruises). You may even see some marine life if you're fortunate. If that doesn't do it for you, a voyage on the Blue & Gold Fleet or the Red and White Fleet beneath the Golden Gate Bridge would.
6. Chinatown
Explore the vibrant colours and intriguing facades of the world's biggest Chinatown outside of Asia, as well as North America's oldest Chinatown. Explore the glittering dragons and emerald rooftops of Grant Avenue and Stockton Street, then follow the smell of fresh fortune cookies to the famous Fortune Cookie Factory on Ross Alley to see how the fortune is turned into a cookie firsthand.
See also: The Best Outdoor Pursuits In San Francisco
7. Golden Gate Park
When it comes to parks, San Francisco sets the standard. Nearly every neighbourhood has one, but Golden Gate Park, which runs from the Haight to the Pacific Ocean, is the largest of them all. The Koret Children's Quarter (a merry-go-round and playground), the de Young Museum, Conservatory of Flowers, California Academy of Sciences (see more information below), Stow Lake, and a resident herd of buffalo are all located on more than 1,000 acres of beautiful vegetation. In an expansive meadow, there's plenty of space to stretch out for a picnic, go on a waterfall search, or practise your soccer skills.
8. The California Academy of Sciences
Do you want to get some brownie points with the kids? In the middle of the aquarium, planetarium, natural history museum, rain forest, and home to 40,000 live creatures — all under one living roof — they're sure to crack a grin. Make time for a penguin feeding, a diving display, or a swamp conversation with Claude, the Academy's famous albino alligator. All of that information is likely to make you hungry, which is why the Academy's informal Academy Cafe is perfect for a mid-afternoon break.
See also: Things To Do In San Francisco
9. Ride in a Historic Streetcar
San Francisco's historic streetcars, known as the F Line, operate aboveground on Market Street between the Castro District and Fisherman's Wharf, and are a cross between a cable car and one of the modern light rail vehicles that run below along Market Street.
Visit the free San Francisco Railway Museum to learn more about these vintage automobiles. There are plenty of picture opportunities, basic didactics explaining the fleet's history, and a gift store selling one-of-a-kind souvenirs and mementos. For tiny train enthusiasts, the whole experience is perfectly on track.
10. Bay Area Discovery Museum
This children's museum in Sausalito provides the most up-to-date early learning activities in a joyful, colourful environment. The Bay Area Discovery Museum, which is located on 7.5 acres of National Park property at the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge, has seven exhibition rooms and over six daily drop-in activities for children aged six months to ten years.
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