San Francisco, known as The City by the Bay, offers a wealth of activities for the entire family to enjoy. Children will find plenty to do in San Francisco, a city that boasts renowned museums, culturally diverse neighborhoods and unrivaled attractions such as the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz and Fisherman's Wharf. Throughout the year, children will be able to enjoy all that the city has to offer, from indoor to outdoor activities.
Museums
At the Ripley's Believe It Or Not! Museum, you can view a collection of unusual exhibits in two floors and 11 galleries. Visit the Wax Museum and see wax figures of famous historic, religious and sports personalities. At the Walt Disney Family Museum, learn about Walt Disney by viewing over 1,000 artifacts. Children of all ages can experience exciting, interactive exhibits in the Exploratorium, where they can learn about science and nature.
Aquariums
Children will be thrilled as they walk through crystal clear tunnels while viewing underwater creatures in Aquarium of the Bay in Fisherman's Wharf. Kids can see marine animals as well as experience daily events such as live animal interaction and shark feedings. At the Steinhart Aquarium in the California Academy of Sciences, kids can see 38,000 live animals from around the world and experience daily programs such as live penguin feeding and reef lagoon feeding. The California Academy of Sciences also has a natural history museum, a planetarium and a four-storey rain forest.
Skating and Biking
San Francisco offers a host of outdoor recreational opportunities for children. Kids can skate or bike through Golden Gate Park, the Presidio or across the Golden Gate Bridge. On a warm and sunny day, take the children to Ocean Beach where they can skate or ride a bike along the esplanade above the beach. During Sunday Streets, streets in different parts of the city such as Golden Gate Park, Bayview or the Embarcadero are closed for biking.
Special Events
In September, attend the International Dragon Boat Festival in Treasure Island, which according to the California Dragon Boat Association (CDBA), is "one of the largest competitive dragon boat festivals in the United States." The two-day event features dragon boat racing and children's activities in Dragon Land as well as a special Family Day where character and mascot appearances are made. Bring kids to the San Francisco Children's Theater Festival in August which is an annual celebration of live theater. The one-day event features over 30 shows for children including world-renowned juggler and clown Unique Derique, award-winning magician Zappo, and juggler/comic Fred Anderson.
Boating/Sailing
Take the kids to Stow Lake Boathouse where you can rent paddle boats and treat the little ones to ice cream, hot dogs and pink popcorn. In Lake Merced, children can go sailing and kayaking and participate in programs. They can learn about small boat safety or attend sailing and kayaking camps where students learn how to operate a small sailboat and maneuver a kayak.
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