San Francisco sits atop the hills of the San Francisco Peninsula where it overlooks the Pacific Ocean to the west and Oakland to the east. A vibrant metropolis that according to the U.S. Census Bureau is home to more than 700,000 residents, San Francisco also offers a wide variety of cultural and sporting opportunities that will engage any active family, toddlers and all.
Parks
Golden Gate Park covers more than 1,000 acres and offers a wide range of activities for children of all ages. Semimonthly stroller tours of the park are a convenient way to get to know the park and its amenities, which include casting ponds for aspiring fishermen, climbing structures and a carousel. Smaller local parks include Ingleside's Balboa Park, which features a number of ball fields, a sand-covered playground, picnic areas and climbing towers. Adjacent to the Tenderloin district on McAlister Street is the Civic Center Plaza. The plaza includes a fenced playground with climbing structures that are appropriate for toddlers and younger children.
Library Programs
Should the weather refuse to cooperate, San Francisco's public libraries also offer rich, entertaining activities for families with little ones. The Portola branch, for instance, features a dedicated children's area in which story times for the 3- to 5-year-old set are organized. The West Portal branch offers music and movement times with musical instruments, and children aged 2 to 5 are invited to enjoy Russian Story Time with Nina. An additional benefit for parents who spend time with their little ones at the library is the free Wi-Fi offered at each of the branches.
Trial Classes
Active toddlers are healthy toddlers, and taking advantage of free classes and tryouts for various sports programs is a positive way to start. One Martial Arts, for instance, is a martial arts facility on the corner of Traval Street and 19th Avenue that offers free introductory sessions of their Little Ninja program. One Martial Arts also runs adult cardio and tai chi programs so moms and dads can keep up with the little ones. Another choice is AcroSports, which is an organization that, in addition to offering gymnastics and circus arts classes, provides preschool programs that focus on movement, coordination and balance. Children from the ages of 18 months to 5 years are eligible, and the best part is that a risk-free trial for kids is encouraged.
Swimming
San Francisco maintains a system of nine public swimming pools that are spread around the city and are convenient to every neighborhood. There are eight facilities with indoor pools located in the Sunset, Richmond, North Beach, Hunters Point, Western Addition, Visitacion Valley and Ingleside districts. The Mission Pool is outdoors, and as such is open during the summer only. The Martin Luther King Jr. Pool in Hunters Point features two indoor pools, one of which is a wading pool that ranges in depth from 6 to 18 inches and is maintained at a comfortable 81 degrees.
Museums
The Exploratorium bills itself as a "museum of science, art and human perception" and offers a number of exhibits and activities that the little ones should enjoy. Tours and after-school activities are available, and exhibits include the Geometry Playground, which encourages climbing and exploring while learning about geometric shapes. Ashbury Heights is home to the Randall Museum, which focuses on wildlife and has a tree-house "exploration zone" designed specifically for toddlers. The museum houses more than 50 species of animals, a Golden Gate Model Railroad Exhibit and a performing arts theater.
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