10 San Francisco Family Activities

San Francisco is known for sourdough bread, scenic bay views, and whimsical trolley cars. Our family really enjoyed exploring this culture-rich city. We made some great memories with our young children during our summer visit. We also found plenty of San Francisco family activities to do along the pier! Here are some of our top choices for experiencing San Francisco with kids.

Take a Ferry to the Port of San Francisco

Although you can drive to San Francisco, it’s so much more fun to take a ferry! We took our three kids on the ferry, and they loved the windy ocean views from the deck. For a family of five, the cost of a ferry trip adds up. However, we enjoyed the experience. Of course, our kids wanted to buy a snack from the ferry concession stand.

Interact with Science at the Exploratorium

Our first stop was the Exploratorium, San Francisco’s hands-on science museum. We were delighted to find a diverse collection of exhibits exploring color, sound, electronics, anatomy, social behavior, physics, and more. The most eye-catching was a panoramic display called “Wild Card,” a detailed world of objects, vehicles, and buildings made entirely from cardboard. My little son even discovered a cave-like room filled with cardboard crystals.

Our kids had a blast experimenting at each station. They made circular patterns in the sand on spinning disks. We all peered into a mirror exhibit that reflects a myriad of eyes, all your own, looking back at you. Many of the exhibits are designed for older kids and dig into how things work, so there is plenty to discover. With hundreds of interactive activities, we could easily spend several minutes at each one and would need a few visits to see it all.

Stroll Down Pier 39

After our Exploratorium visit, we took a walk to Pier 39 and window shopped. We enjoyed clam chowder in a bread bowl for lunch, and our girls selected cotton candy as their special treat. Pier 39 is a festive touring destination in San Francisco with shops that sell all kinds of collectibles and gift ideas. Our Joovy double stroller made it very easy to take our little kids down the busy pier boardwalk. This compact stroller is great for family travel!

Stop by Chowders for Lunch

A visit to San Francisco isn’t complete without a bowl of famous sourdough clam chowder. Chowders is a great place for lunch with kids. The delicious clam chowder comes inside fresh sourdough bread bowls which are soft on the inside and crispy on the outside. Chowders on Pier 39 is famous for their homemade clam chowder. They also use sourdough batter to bread the fish and chips.

Explore the Deep at the SF Aquarium of the Bay

San Francisco’s Aquarium of the Bay is home to more than 20,000 marine animals. Each exhibit helps visitors learn about the native species of San Francisco Bay. The highlight is the Under the Bay exhibit, where 300 feet of crystal-clear tunnels let you view sharks, rays, and fish gliding right above your head.

At the Touch the Bay touchpools, kids can reach in to feel the unique textures of sharks, sting rays, and sea stars. Naturalists also lead an ongoing schedule of animal interactions at the Bay Lab Station. Additionally, visitors of all ages can explore sensory activities that range from microscopes to puzzles.

Travel via San Francisco Trolley

If you are looking to travel around the city of San Francisco, you can take one of the many trolleys or cable cars. A trolley ride to view the city would be an exciting adventure especially for families with kids.

Visit Golden Gate Park

Golden Gate Park is another great stop for families, with 1,017 acres of gardens, playgrounds, lakes, trails, and picnic areas. Park highlights include the Conservatory of Flowers, home to 1,700 species of aquatic and tropical plants. The San Francisco Botanical Garden conserves more than 8,000 varieties of plants from around the world across 55 acres. Kids will love exploring the Great Meadow and spotting egrets and ducks at the waterfowl pond. We didn’t make it here on this trip, but it is at the top of our list for next time.

Stop for Ice Cream

You can buy an ice cream cone on practically every corner in San Francisco. After all, who doesn’t love eating ice cream while exploring a city park? Along Pier 39 alone there were at least 3 ice cream shops. The only question is, which ice cream flavor would you choose?

Take a Tour of Alcatraz

Alcatraz tours are another popular San Francisco tourist activity. We will probably visit when our kids are a bit older. Once a military prison, Alcatraz Island is a national park located more than a mile off the San Francisco coast. It is also the site of the oldest operating lighthouse on the West Coast. Visitors can view the island’s unique bay views,  natural rock pools, and seabird colonies.

Don’t Leave without a T-Shirt

Of course a visit to San Francisco must include buying a t-shirt! My girls had no trouble picking out their favorite shirts. We had a lot of fun browsing the local shops on our walk around town. Just like many cities, San Francisco has unique features that make it a memorable destination. From our list, what is your favorite family activity in San Francisco?