There is no doubt that San Francisco is brimming with activities for kids and their parents. Year-round mild weather, diverse natural life, a rich culture and a fascinating history entertain and educate visitors of all ages. The cable car public transportation system is a fun and efficient way to get around the city on your way to the next fun event.
Zoos
There is no doubt that kids love animals, big or small. San Francisco is home to several animal and sea life sanctuaries that are open to the public. Check out the the San Francisco Zoo, which houses 250 species of amphibians, reptiles, mammals, birds and sea animals. Additionally, you can take the kids to no less than half a dozen aquariums featuring sea life, including sharks, jellyfish and coral.
Street Performers
Street performers entertain tourists and locals alike all over the city. Hubs of street performing are Pier 39 and Fisherman's Wharf where performers require a permit to work. Expert jugglers, clowns, living statues and musicians will be sure to delight and fascinated children. Tip a street writer to write a spontaneous poem about your kids or watch acrobats perform seemingly impossible feats. Even the sea lions sunning in the harbor there perform for the consistent crowds of admirers.
The Bay
San Francisco Bay offers several kid-friendly activities. Spend some time at a number of sandy beaches--nudist colony Baker Beach excluded--in the city, including centrally-located Aquatic Park where people sit in the sun, surf and take a swim before heading back to the office. You can take the kids for a walk across the iconic Golden Gate Bridge. Be sure to check out Alcatraz, which welcomes children to enjoy a fantastic mix of history and nature.
Parks
There are a number of kid-friendly parks in San Francisco where kids can bike, walk, fly kites or read a book. Kids will love climbing a few hundred steps to the top of Coit Tower on Telegraph Hill for a fantastic view of the bay. Check out the local traditional Japanese Tea Garden inside Golden Gate Park or playgrounds at many of the parks.
Culture for Kids
San Francisco is famous for unique cultural attractions, from historical sites like Fort Point and the Maritime Museum to traditional culinary items like clam chowder in a sourdough bread bowl. Be sure to visit the Children's Museum, ZEUM, which encourages hands-on learning about the digital arts and to the Museum of the City of San Francisco to learn about the great fire of 1906 and other events. A great way to get to all these places is on a traditional cable car, which is a fun and inexpensive way to negotiate the steep hills of San Francisco.
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