50 Fun Things for Families in San Francisco

Where to go in hot summer? From art to outdoor adventures, San Francisco has everything. Follow the following popular family trips, and start your summer vacation in the cool San Francisco!

1. Explore the Exploratorium’s South Gallery, where you can make elaborate and fun devices to learn about the art of casting.

2. Watch (and listen) to the colony of California sea lions that call the K-Dock at PIER 39 home. They have already consider here to be their home.

3. Rent bikes and ride across the Golden Gate Bridge for unbeatable views and some fresh air.

4. Stop and smell the roses, orchids, begonias, hibiscus (and hundreds of other species) at the Conservatory of Flowers in Golden Gate Park.

5. Take a stroll along the sharp, snaking turns of Lombard Street, a.k.a. “The Crookedest Street,” between Hyde and Leavenworth.

6. Enjoy a cruise on the San Francisco Bay for one-of-a-kind views of the city skyline, Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz.

7. Shoot a music video (complete with costumes and green screen) at the Children’s Creativity Museum’s Music Studio.

8. See rare species like the snow leopard during a visit to the San Francisco Zoo.

9. Speaking of animal sightings, drop by Golden Gate Park’s buffalo paddock to see the family of American bison who call the park home.

10. Grab a bucket and tools and head to Ocean Beach to build a sandcastle. This three-and-a-half mile stretch along the western edge of the city isn’t great for swimming because of strong currents, but it’s a cool place to spend a sunny afternoon.

11. Pose for a photo opp with San Francisco celebs like Janis Joplin and Steve Jobs at Madame Tussauds.

12. Hop on the Big Bus for a taste of the city’s major attractions, neighborhoods and history.

13. Book a behind the scenes tour at the Aquarium of the Bay to learn about how they care for 20,000 sea creatures.

14. Drive to the top of Twin Peaks to enjoy panoramic views of the city. If you’re feeling particularly hardy, you can hike to the top instead.

15. Grab a map from the Visitor Information Center and go on the city’s signature 49 Mile Scenic Drive, which passes iconic landmarks, distinctive neighborhoods and some fantastic views.

16. Take them out to a ballgame. Buy them some peanuts and Cracker Jack. They won’t care if they ever go back home, and they’ll always remember seeing the Giants play at AT&T Park.

17. Get a first-hand look at the massive mechanisms that keep the city’s famous cable cars running when you drop by the Cable Car Museum on Nob Hill. Admission is free.

18. On a sunny day, set sail for fun on Stow Lake. You can rent paddleboats there.

19. Before Disney was a household name, he was an upstart animator. Learn about his rise to celebrity and see some interesting ephemera at the Walt Disney Family Museum.

20. Remember the skinny guy with the red-and-white striped shirt. Some pundits on Russian Hill have taken liberty with the street signage on Russian Hill’s Waldo Street.

21. There’s an aquarium, a planetarium, a rain forest and 40,000 live animals all under one living roof at the California Academy of Sciences.

22. Take a spin on a colorful creature at Golden Gate Park’s historic carousel in the Koret’s Children’s Quarter. The merry-go-round was originally built in 1914.

23. Take a walk (or a bike ride) on one of the trails at the Presidio. The Batteries to Bluffs trail is a favorite.

24. Start at the Land’s End Lookout and then hit the trails to see the ruins of the Sutro Baths, a labyrinth, and breathtaking views of the coastline.

25. Across the Golden Gate Bridge in Sausalito is the Bay Area Discovery Museum, where science and creativity blend to create fun for kids and adults alike.

26. See historic fire engines and learn about the city’s tragic fire of 1906 at the San Francisco Fire Department Museum. Admission is free.

27. Follow it up with a tour of the city riding around in a classic fire engine with San Francisco Fire Engine Tours.

28. Ever wonder how they get the fortunes inside fortune cookies? It origins from San Francisco. Find out with a trip to the Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory in Chinatown.

29. Figure out the most fun way to spend some pocket change at the Musée Mecanique, home to an amazing collection of early-20th century arcade games. 

30. Ride down the winding chutes of the Seward Street Slides, a pair of concrete slides tucked away in a neighborhood park. Pro tip: Bring a piece of cardboard to use as a sled.

31. Drop by 3 Fish Studios to check out some locally made artwork. If you’re traveling with a current or future artist, they also offer popular printmaking classes.

32. When your sweet tooth beckons, head to Ghirardelli Square for an incredible ice cream sundae.

33. Get lost (but hopefully not for too long) in Magowan’s Infinite Mirror Maze on PIER 39.

34. Shop for some eclectic items at the 826 Valencia Pirate Supply Store. They offer writing workshops for kids there, too, in case you’re traveling with young literati in tow.

35. There’s a great family photo opportunity waiting at the Palace of Fine Arts in the Marina neighborhood.

36. Find a unique view of the bay and the Golden Gate Bridge at Fort Point, a 19th century fort that Hitchcock fans might recognize from Vertigo.

37. Have a deep thought while staring at a cast of Rodin’s famous sculpture “The Thinker,” which sits at the main entrance to the Legion of Honor’s impressive art collection.

38. Enjoy sweeping views of the city skyline, stroll along nature trails and learn some interesting history on Angel Island, which was known as “Ellis Island of the West.”

39. Stand on the deck of a 19th century square-rigger ship at the Maritime National Historic Park. If you stop at the Pirate Supply Store beforehand, you’ll be ready for a great vacation photo.

40. If you’re a fan of anime (fanime?) take a stroll through the Japantown nieghborhood and visit to Japan Center and Japantown Collectibles.

41. See some of the city’s most colorful murals on a walk down Balmy Alley in the Mission District.

42. Try to spot members of a flock of wild parrots who live on Telegraph Hill. Coit Tower is nearby.

43. Strap on some skates at the Yerba Buena Ice Skating rink year-round or opt for some figure eights at the seasonal Union Square and Embarcadero Center rinks during the holidays.

44. Discovery Street Tours delves into the science of everyday life on strolls along hidden alleyways and scale hills to learn more about the city’s geology.

45. Enjoy some local flavor at the Alemany Farmers’ Market every Saturday. Known as “the people’s market,” this Saturday tradition has been running since the 1940s.

46. Snap a postcard-worthy photo of the famous Painted Ladies, a colorful row of Victorian houses along Alamo Square Park. Take a photo of Painted Ladies and it can be used as a postcard.

47. Head over to Fort Funston to see if there are any hang gliders floating out over the Pacific. Consider bringing a jacket, because it can be pretty windy.

48. Soak up some culture during one of the San Francisco Symphony’s family concert performances, known as “Music for Families.”

49. Experience literary history with a stop at the City Lights Bookstore, where beat poets like Kerouac and Ginsberg used to hang out.

50. See lots of great attractions and save on the price of admission when you get a San Francisco CityPass.