San Francisco's mild maritime climate makes it a great place to have fun outdoors throughout the year. The city's beautiful hills, historical landmarks and eccentric culture make it one of the world's top travel destinations. Try some of these popular activities for an unforgettable time for the kids in San Francisco.
The Golden Gate Bridge
Take the kids for a walk across the bridge to get views of the San Francisco Bay, the Pacific Ocean and the city that they will never forget. To get to the pedestrian walkway, go to the Golden Gate Visitors Center and follow the signs. Remember to bring an extra layer of clothes since the winds coming off the ocean can be mighty chilly.
The Exploratorium
Located in the Presidio, the Exploratorium is a hands-on science museum designed specifically for young, curious minds. Kids can take part in interactive exhibits on everything from wind to sound to physics and space exploration. Inside the museum is the famous Tactile Dome, an exhibit where kids have to find their way through a geodesic dome using their sense of touch alone. After visiting the museum, take a walk around the Palace of the Fine Arts, a local landmark right next door.
Cable Cars
San Francisco's historic cable cars are a national landmark. In fact, the cable cars are the only national landmark in motion. Take a ride up Nob Hill or Russian Hill for extraordinary views of the city. Cable car conductors are known for their wealth of knowledge on how the cable cars work, how they were built and how they are maintained. Prep the kids with some questions for when they hop on board.
The San Francisco Zoo
The San Francisco Zoo welcomes kids of all ages year-round. In the park, kids can see over 200 species of animals. In the winter months, the zoo sponsors one of the city's ice skating rinks. The zoo is located near Ocean Beach, the city's largest public beach where you can fly kites, play Frisbee or watch ships come off the ocean as they head toward the Golden Gate. The zoo and beach are accessible by public transportation.
Golden Gate Park
One of San Francisco's gifts to residents and visitors alike is Golden Gate Park. The park is one of the largest and most beautiful urban parks in the country. Miles of walking trails wind through the park's 1,000 acres. On Sundays the main roadway closes to traffic and fills with people out for a Sunday stroll, jog, skate or bike ride. In the park you will find the Botanical Gardens, the popular, family-friendly California Academy of Sciences and the DeYoung Art Museum. In particular, kids love the fenced-in grove where bison roam.
Climb Telegraph Hill
Located in North Beach, Telegraph Hill offers a great uphill urban hike. The hill is so steep that portions of the sidewalk going up are replaced with stairs. At the top of the hill is the reward of an incredible panoramic view of the bay. On top of Telegraph Hill is Coit Tower, a monument to fire fighters.
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