Things To Do in San Francisco With Kids
- Immerse yourself in all things science and curiosity, where everything is hands on at the Exploratorium.
- Let children explore and create and play at the Children’s Creativity Museum.
- After visiting the museum, stop by the beautiful carousel and take a ride.
- Yerba Buena Gardens has wide open green spaces and a huge playground in the heart of downtown SF.
- See the sites of the city with a hop on/hop off bus tour. We used and loved City Sightseeing, especially going to Sausalito.
- Get a close up look at marine life, including an impressive 300 foot tunnel, with a visit to Aquarium of the Bay.
- The Wells Fargo Museum is free and gives kids a great history lesson about the stagecoach with hands on exhibits.
- Adults and children will love the indoor and outdoor learning exhibits at Bay Area Discovery Museum.
- Ride the double decker carousel at Pier 39.
- Soak in the 365 degree view on top of Coit Tower.
- Drive, walk or bike across the famous Golden Gate Bridge!
- Find the two windmills at Golden Gate Park.
- On that note, Golden Gate Park is a destination itself! Lots of museums, hikes, playgrounds and more. We enjoyed bike riding during one of our visits.
- San Francisco is home to many beautiful parks and playgrounds; Mission Delores Park and the Helen Dillar Playground was a top favorite with a great view of the city.
- After visiting the Helen Dillar Playground, stop for ice cream at Bi-Rite Creamery down the street!
- Learn about the history of cable cars and how the system works through the city at the Cable Car Museum.
- Wander around the famous Alcatraz Prison on Alcatraz Island.
- Drive or walk (we loved walking!) up or down Lombard Street, one of the city’s crookedest streets.
- No trip to San Francisco is complete without a ride on the landmark cable cars!
- Kids will love playing and experiencing over 300 arcade games at Musee Mecanique, ranging from the early 1900’s to old video games.
- Take a boat tour of the bay and see the city from a unique perspective! There are several to choose from at Fisherman’s Wharf.
- Get free chocolate samples at Ghirardelli Square!
- There are numerous rooftop gardens in the downtown area open to public and are so peaceful!
- Walk around the largest and oldest Chinatownoutside of Asia. We love just wandering the streets and window shopping!
- The Ferry Building Marketplace is like a year round farmer’s market, with dining and ferry options to cross the bay.
- Admire the beauty of the Painted Ladies (Victorian Homes). Also, nearby Alamo Square has a playground!
- Take a ferry to Angel Island and enjoy hiking, history and a tram ride around the island. This is one of our favorite activities to recommend to families when visiting San Francisco.
More things to do around California can be found here!
