Sightseeing, Cable Cars and Eats: Exploring San Francisco with Kids
“These hills are huge!” our daughter yelped as we walked through the Nob Hill neighborhood to the San Francisco Cable Car Museum. From parks and museums to eats and scenic views, the city offers plenty for your kids to enjoy. Here’s our guide to the best things to do in San Francisco:
Explore Golden Gate Park
San Francisco’s central park, Golden Gate Park, is the biggest and most welcoming park in the city. We liked the mix of tourists and locals enjoying sunny SF. It’s a large park, so renting a bike right outside of the park makes it more fun. Start at the north end of the park and cruise down to Ocean Beach, about a 7-mile round-trip bike ride. Stop on the way to play ping pong and stroll through the Japanese Tea Garden. Bring a snack for picnicking at Stow Lake or Hellman Hollow.
Don’t be bashful –taking a ride on San Francisco’s famous cable cars is a must-do experience. We enjoyed the open air and scenic views from the cable car, and our kids loved the thrill of hanging on. Consider starting your ride at a less crowded spot such as near the Ferry Building rather than Union Square. Get a bite to eat beforehand at Gott’s Roadside, Acme Bread Company in the Ferry Building or try out Padel for the first time at Embarcadero Plaza.
After your cable car ride, don’t miss the free Cable Car Museum, where you can see the inner workings of the cable car system as well as learn about Friedel Klussmann, the woman who saved the San Francisco cable car. We couldn’t get enough of the retro 1980s promotional video at the museum. For kids who love trains and transportation, there’s more at the San Francisco Railway Museum. Get your Muni gear and learn more about one of the most transit-friendly cities in the United States.
More SF Highlights
We took the N Muni train to the painted ladies for the best views of the city. It’s about a 15-minute walk from the Muni station. Get a snack at the nearby Bi-Rite Market, a local, sustainable grocery store. A short train ride from the painted ladies, chow on pizza and enormous calzones at Tony’s Pizza in North Beach, the traditionally Italian neighborhood. Tony’s Pizza gets busy, so get there early. Playing at the park across from Tony’s was a highlight for our family.
After an easy train trip to the east side of the city, we rooted for the San Francisco Giants as we chomped on more than a couple of orders of garlic fries. If the Giants are out of town, you can take a guided tour of the ballpark. We saw our favorite Rothko, Warhol, and Kahlo paintings at San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. We beat the crowds and visited on a Thursday when the museum is open until 8 p.m. The CityPASS San Francisco includes the SFModa plus many other family friendly attractions worth visiting.
Check out the Pier
Take a Day Trip
There’s plenty to do within an hour of San Francisco. Take the Golden Gate Ferry at the Embarcadero to Sausalito, a picturesque city with amazing views of San Francisco. We enjoyed our sandwiches, ice cream cones, and the small-town vibe at Driver’s Market and Deli in Sausalito. North of San Francisco, reserve a time at Muir Woods National Monument. We chose a time late in the afternoon; it wasn’t crowded and seeing twilight through the trees was special. South of San Francisco, visit Half Moon Bay, Pescadero State Beach for perfect photo ops. The gyros, baba ganoush, and skewers hit the spot at Ciya Mediterranean Cuisine on Main Street in Half Moon Bay.
In Mountain View, about 45 minutes south of San Francisco, sip on boba tea, play a round of free mini golf, and get a mixed berry tart at Paris Baguette in their car-free downtown. Mountain View has quite possibly the coolest local public library ever. A short walk from Mountain View’s car-free zone, you can check out books easily, even if you’re only visiting for a few days. A 10-minute drive away, walk or ride your bike around Stanford University’s stunning 13-square-mile Romanesque and Mission Style campus. You’ll see iconic Rodin sculptures and more at Cantor Arts Center on campus.
Where to Stay
The world-famous St. Francis Hotel is an excellent, centralized place to stay in San Francisco. They offer comfortable family suites and connecting rooms plus a new Westin Club Lounge. The club lounge is worth it for families with breakfast, snacks and more throughout the day. Just taking the elevator at the St. Francis, with views of Union Square, is a highlight. You’ll want to visit the nearby department stores, restaurants and cable car stop as well.