Enjoying a trip to San Francisco with children – Tips and guidelines
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. Among the waffle cones, pricey seafood, and ‘I Escaped Alcatraz’ hoodies, some notable attractions include: Fisherman’s Wharf, Pier 39, and Ghirardelli Square. At Pier 39, there is no fee for the energetic sea lions. Enjoy spotting 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 creams and chocolates. The play structures and the carousel in Golden Gate Park are wonderful. Young children also enjoy boating on Stow Lake and making sand castles on Ocean Beach, though it’s not good for swimming. The San Francisco Zoo has some wonderful animals like Grizzly Gulch.
In addition, the Randall Museum, the MH de Young Museum, the Walter Haas Children’s Park, and street festivals are some of the most popular attractions in the city. 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 painting.
There are many hostels, hotels and restaurants that cater to the needs of families, but the best places to stay with children are Fisherman’s Wharf and the Marina. The famous bayside areas have plenty of kid-friendly restaurants, like the Rainforest Café. In the Sunset District and fitting for Golden Gate Park, Q Restaurant has chalkboard walls, magnets, and great food to boot. Keeping the tips and guidelines mentioned above in mind, come and enjoy your trip to San Francisco with your children.