Out and about with kids: Best places to take children in San Francisco
When traveling with children it is important to do three things: lower your expectations for the amount of ground you can cover in one day (one big activity per day is the goal), make the earliest dinner reservations you can (usually right when they open for dinner ie. 5pm) so you can eat at trendy/fun/popular/nice places without feeling like you are crashing the party. This way you never have to wait for a meal or worse yet roam around the streets looking for a place to eat. Lastly, make certain to give your children plenty of time to run around and be free. Once you have realistic expectations for traveling as a family and they have the freedom to be kids your trip will go almost as smoothly as those pre children vacation days.
For the first few days while visiting San Francisco we planned our schedule around Jasper's late afternoon nap, but after a few days of realizing we were going to see the inside of our hotel room more than the city we opted for an "on the go" nap from then on. Each day, when Jasper fell asleep in his stroller it felt like a little date for Cameron and I. We were able to do things like eat ice cream cones without sharing with him or one day we waited in a very long line at Tartine for a box of pastries. The nap "on the go" was overall a successful strategy up until the last day which ended in a melt down and Jasper falling asleep on Cameron's shoulders. We should have known when we took to the streets without our stroller it wasn't the smartest idea, but what is a vacation without a few lessons learned and a good story or two to tell.
This playground alone is reason for me to want to live in San Francisco. This was the first playground I have ever visited which is equally appealing to both children and adults alike. There are the usual things like swings and a sandbox, but there are also unique things like amazingly fast and windy slides, stellar views and thoughtfully laid out and creative spaces for children of all ages.
As a family we easily spent a few hours here one day and enjoyed the sunshine, views and chatting with the locals.
If you have a child who loves the beach this is a great place to go. One of the best parts of Crissy Field is the spectacular view of the Golden Gate Bridge behind you, but Jasper didn't really care about the view, he was perfectly content digging in the sand with a stick. Crissy Field is located close to other attractions like the Presidio and Fisherman's Wharf which makes it the perfect place for a pit stop while doing other things during the day.
De Young Museum Observation Deck and Sculpture Park:
I think it is important to expose children to art and culture, but I also think it is important to have realistic expectations of them. I knew Jasper would not enjoy being a space where he could not touch or discover so instead of spending the day at the De Young museum like I would have liked to instead we visited the free observation tower and then went outside to explore the sculpture park. This way Jasper was exposed to some art without the stress of keeping him off things he was not suppose to touch. The observation deck provides 360 degree views of Golden Gate Park and is a fun space for everyone to enjoy together.
I have visited San Francisco numerous times and I did not even know this beach existed until I discovered it will looking at a map. This beach is more of a destination than a pit stop but it is the type of place where you will forget you are even in the city. On our way there, we stopped at Outerlands to pick up lunch at take it to the beach. Jasper was perfectly content spending hours here running up and down the beach, watching the surfers and playing in the sand.
California Academy of Science:
Where else can you visit a planetarium, rainforest, aquarium and natural history museum all in one space? The California Academy of Science was extremely busy because it was a holiday, but we enjoyed our time there watching the butterflies, checking out the living roof and watching the penguins being fed. If I lived close by a membership to this place would be a must!
There are so many great places to take children to in San Francisco. You might not think taking a child on a city vacation would be fun or relaxing, but if you plan ahead make a game plan of places to eat and pit stops to take you will be able to have an incredible time together as a family.
