San Francisco is a city of roadways that can test the patience of those who still drive cars with a clutch. One way to avoid this fact of life is to get out and walk in this pedestrian friendly city. Those sharply peaked hills offer some incredible views of the San Francisco Bay Area. Take a stroll through Fisherman's Wharf or bike through Golden Gate Park, it's all good family fun.
Food and Fresh Air
Combine some tasty treats with a good measure of exercise by visiting the Fisherman's Wharf area. Stroll the docks and check out the fishing fleet, a fixture in the city since the days of the Gold Rush. During Dungeness crab season, the street side crab pots will be lit. Munch on sweet crab meat right off the boat. History buffs can climb aboard the SS Jeremiah O'Brien, a Liberty Ship from World War II. Take a ride on a cable car and even help turn it around at the end of the line.
Camping in the Park
Camping out in the middle of San Francisco may seem a bit unusual, but then so is the venue. The San Francisco Zoo offers Family Wild Camp Nights, a program that allows overnight camping on zoo grounds. Depending on the weather, you could be sleeping under starry skies or in front of a fire place in the Lurie Education Great Hall. Kids must be at least six years old to camp. Combine your camping trip with a daytime visit to the zoo.
Exercising the Mind
Spend your day learning about the deep blue sea and then switch gears and explore the depths of outer space. The California Academy of Sciences is a combination natural history museum, planetarium and aquarium located in Golden Gate Park. Climb to the top of the four story rainforest exhibit and take a glass elevator to see the Amazon Flooded Basin exhibits. Touch a sea star or a hermit crab in the Discovery tide pool and then enter the dome of the Morrison Planetarium for a 30 minute trip to the stars.
Musical Picnic
Grab a blanket and a picnic lunch and head over to the children's playground at Golden Gate Park. Work off some energy at the swings and slides at the Koret Children's Quarter or pull out a frisbee and have a game on the large open meadow. In the background, you can hear the music of the Golden Gate Park Carousel. Wander over and jump on one of the brightly painted horses and enjoy a spin or two on one of Golden Gate Park's musical treasures.
Running the Bases
Golden Gate Park has two baseball fields and plenty of open green space for an impromptu game of catch. If you'd like to indulge in a major league match-up, head over to AT&T Park, home of the San Francisco Giants. Kids can run the bases on their own mini-baseball field or slide down the middle of a giant Coke bottle in the Coca Cola Fan Lot. After most Sunday afternoon games, kids 14 and under are also invited to run the bases on the Giant's field. .
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