Places to go in San Francisco with a Family

Attractions a family should see in San Francisco, California.

San Francisco is a great city to travel to with kids. There are a lot of activities and attractions to see that are fun for both parents and their children. I wrote a hub a few months ago about the top 5 attractions to see in San Francisco with toddlers. While this list is great for toddlers, it may not be perfect for older children (like Jimmy's).

My list included: The Bay Area Discovery Museum in Sausalito; Crissy Field; Golden Gate Park and Carousel; Steinhart Aquarium; and riding a Cable Car. For kids that are a bit older, I would still recommend the Aquarium, Crissy Field, Golden Gate Park, and the Cable Car, plus a few more attractions.

Fisherman's Wharf: Although not a favorite among locals, Fisherman's Wharf is a major tourists stop. The Wax Museum and Ripley's Believe It or Not! are along the strip, as are Ghirardelli Square for a sweet chocolate treat and Boudin's famous Bakery and Museum. A bowl of clam chowder is a must as well.

Alcatraz Island: Ferries to Alcatraz launch from Fisherman's Wharf and would be fun for older children. Alcatraz, also known as The Rock, is the infamous federal penitentiary. Here's a link to the official Alcatraz booking site from the National Park Service. I recommend buying your tickets from the Park Service instead of from an affiliate so you don't get scammed. Advanced bookings are recommended, especially during the summer months.

Cable Car: There are three cable car routes: Powell/Hyde line, Powell/Mason line, and California line. Check them out here. Visiting San Francisco just wouldn't be complete without riding a cable car. If you plan correctly, it can bring you to a destination and replace a cab ride. Unfortunately, if you get off the cable car, you need to repay to get back on. The last time I rode one it was $5 a person one way. If you buy a Muni Passport you can get on and off and see the sites along the way. About.com gives you more great information on fares, history, and all things cable car here.

The Powell-Hyde line will probably show you the most sites: Fisherman's Wharf, Lombard Street (The Crookedest Street in the World), Chinatown, Union Square, and Russian Hill.

Chinatown and Union Square: Chinatown is a great activity for kids and adults. Plus, you can easily walk a few blocks and you're in Union Square, the city center of great shopping.

Crissy Field and Exploratorium: Crissy Field is a beautiful walk along the bay with views of the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz and the City. It is near the Exploratorium, which is a must for elementary+ age children. It's a little too advanced for toddlers but great for older kids. I would go to the Exploratorium (closed on Mondays) and then walk to Crissy Field (north of Exploratorium and the Marina).

Steinhart Aquarium: Unfortunately, the new Aquarium in Golden Gate Park won't open until Fall 2008. The one downtown is not as wonderful as I'd like, but it's close to the MOMA (Museum of Modern Art) and the new Westfield Shopping Center.

Bike the bridge: I haven't done this, but it looks like fun. Bike the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito and return to San Francisco by ferry to the Ferry Building. Blazing Saddles is the name of the company that offers this tour.

Ferry Building: The Ferry Building is now a high-end market in San Francisco. Open stalls offer a wide variety of foods, wine, and novelty items. If you don't want to bike the bridge, from here you can catch a ferry to Sausalito. A beautiful town on the east-side of the Bay known for its art galleries, shopping and waterfront dining. Here are the ferry schedules.

I think renting a GoCar would be really fun with kids, especially older ones. A GoCar is a GPS guided three-wheeled car with a narrated tour. Although expensive, I think this would be a memorable event. I would rent the car and cruise Golden Gate Park; if you plan it for a weekend, less cars will be on the road as the park closes a few streets to autos.

You can also GoCar Golden Gate Bridge, the Presidio and Ocean View, Ocean Beach, Inspiration Point, the Palace of Fine Arts, and Lombard Street. The safest bet is Golden Gate Park. The GoCars are difficult to see and can be dangerous on major SF streets. Here are some reviews from Yelp.