San Francisco
North Beach
Columbus Ave. - Columbus Ave. is the heart of North Beach, the Italian section of San Francisco. From 1850, immigrants from Genoa, Tuscany and Sicily packed North Beach with wonderful restaurants, cafes and pastry shops. Today, North Beach is still chock a block with fun places to eat - any of time of day, you can sit down at a table on the sidewalk for pasta or panini, a pizza or gelato (ice cream).
Washington Square - Washington Square is a lovely oasis, a big chunk of green grass, ringed by large trees.
Children's play area and restrooms in one corner of the park, lots of benches, grass to run around, bring sandwiches for lunch and gelato from nearby shops.
Joe DiMaggio Playground - Large playground with climbing structures, slides, picnic tables, lots of benches, and swimming pool (North Beach Aquatic Center) with family swim times in summer. Playground is located at Columbus Ave. and Lombard St.
Coit Tower - Coit Tower perches on Telegraph Hill. Telegraph Hill, so named because a semaphore on the hill signaled the arrival of ships with mail and supplies. Coit Tower was built in the 1930's - the lobby is decorated with frescoes of California daily life during the Depression. From the top of Coit Tower, San Francisco Bay, downtown and Fisherman's Wharf. If the kids need a little exercise, walk up Telegraph Hill from North Beach.
Fun food
Here's a fun gelato shop:
Lush Gelato (520 Columbus Ave.) – Freshly made, all local, ingredients – gelato flavors such as fresh mint and chocolate chunks, banana & salted caramel, sorbetto (no dairy) fruit flavors, e.g. strawberry and chocolate orange.
