San Francisco
Fisherman's Wharf
At Fisherman's Wharf, the smell of salt air and breezes blowing off the ocean makes you want to hop on the first boat and sail across the Pacific, but a cruise around San Francisco Bay with kids is great fun (no sailing experience required). On land, explore historic sailing ships or a World War II submarine. Around Pier 39, you'll find a different sort of marine life - California sea lions. Round out your visit to Fisherman's Wharf with Ghirardelli ice cream and chocolate, or Boudin bakery crabs.
Bay Cruises
- Take a boat cruise around San Francisco Bay. In the hour-long cruise, you'll sail past the San Francisco waterfront, Sausalito, Alcatraz and Angel Islands. The most memorable highlight - sailing under the Golden Gate Bridge.
Boudin Bakery (Jefferson St.)
- The Boudin family has been making sourdough bread in San Francisco since 1849. Pick up bread for your picnic or to eat right now. Bread comes in delightful shapes - crabs, alligators, bears, turtles. Also, in the cafe, sourdough grilled cheese sandwiches, soup or chili in a bread bowl, family meals.
SkyStar Wheel - Take a ride on all-weather ferris wheel (Taylor St.), panoramic views of San Francisco Bay to the Pacific Ocean. Sparkling city lights fun at night.
USS Pampanito Submarine
- Take a tour of this World War II long-range cruising submarine. The "silent service" wasn't so silent - it was noisy and hot in a submarine, and it had very cramped quarters. Inside the submarine, you'll see berths in the torpedo room, tiny galley kitchen, radio and engine rooms, and crew's quarters, with bunks stacked three deep (crew took turns sleeping).
Musee Mechanique (Pier 45)
- The Musee Mechanique is an antique coin-operated arcade, a collection of mechanical toys from the late 19th and 20th century. These charming mechanical toys feature a handmade miniature carnival and farm, gypsy fortunetellers, 3-D steroscopes of the San Francisco earthquake, player pianos, plus old favorites such as Whac a Mole, pinball machines and old video games. Great place to come on a bad weather day.
Ride Powell- Hyde cable car - At the corner of Beach and Hyde Streets is the cable car turnaround for the Powell-Hyde cable car. Take the cable car back to Union Square. Riding up the hill, be sure to look back for views of the wharf and San Francisco Bay.
Tip: In summer, line for the cable car here is typically shorter than Powell and Market St. at Union Square.
Riding the cable car, hop off at Lombard Street. The view from top of the hill of the curving red brick road down the steep hill is spectacular.
Francisco Park – Looking for a playground with grass to run around, climbing structures, restrooms, and picnic tables, perfect for lunch or dinner on good weather days, this is it.
Park is located on Bay St., between Larkin and Hyde St.
Subpar Mini Golf – Indoor mini golf at Ghirardelli Square, perfect for bad weather day. Play 18 holes of mini golf with San Francisco landmarks, Golden Gate Bridge, even the ferry boat.
Fun food
Chocolate lovers (kids and parents) will want to head over to Ghirardelli Square, for gooey ice cream sundaes and chocolates, a San Francisco tradition. At the Chocolate Experience shop every kind of Ghirardelli chocolates, also hot fudge sundaes, and views of the Bay.
