San Francisco with Kids: Best Family-Friendly Activities

San Francisco for
Toddlers and Youngsters

Even the tiniest traveler can have fun exploring San Francisco. A number of museums and attractions are tailored to children 10 and under, meaning you won't run out of options.

221 Fourth Street

Children's Creativity Museum

Exposing children to creativity is one of the most valuable things you can do for them. The Children's Creativity Museum goes beyond the conventional environment of play by inspiring kids to imagine, create and share in a multimedia environment. With exhibits including an Animation Studio, Imagination Lab, Music Studio and even a Cloud Gallery, the museum is packed with workshops and hands-on activities.

VISIT THE CHILDREN'S CREATIVITY MUSEUM

Various Locations

Mission Science Workshop

This local, non-profit, educational outlet offers free community days on Saturdays each month, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. They have three locations—in the Mission, Bayview, and Excelsior neighborhoods—making it easy for you to add it to your itinerary. The STEM-heavy activities will get your kids' brains pumping with fun and challenging hands-on activities.

LEARN MORE ABOUT MISSION SCIENCE WORKSHOP

24 Willie Mays Plaza

Oracle Park

Your littlest Giants fan will have plenty to do during a ballgame at Oracle Park. The Fan Lot, located in left field, is an interactive play area for children. They can practice their slugger skills on the Toyota Fan Zone's miniature replica of the field or ride down the iconic Coca-Cola Slide. Perhaps the coolest activity of all: at Sunday day games, kids are invited to run the bases after the final pitch!

GET YOUR GUIDE TO ORACLE PARK

The Outpost Playground at the Presidio Tunnel Tops

Built ingeniously above the busy stretch of Highway 101 that leads to the Golden Gate Bridge, the Presidio Tunnel Tops have quickly become a favorite outdoor destination for local and visitor families. The Outpost Playground, a two-acre playscape, will delight your kids as they stretch their imagination while playing in nature. Parking and restrooms are conveniently located, and permanent food and drink options will soon replace the regular—and delicious—pop-up vendors.

EXPLORE THE TUNNEL TOPS

199 Museum Way

The Randall Museum

The Randall Museum is a natural science museum, history museum and art center that explores the natural features of the Bay Area. This interactive museum offers an array of hands-on exhibits, including an animal habitat room, science lab, a scale model of a caboose, and more. Kids can immerse themselves in the world of natural history or arts and crafts while enjoying incredible views of the city from the museum's location atop Corona Heights Park. Admission is free.

LEARN ABOUT THE RANDALL MUSEUM

1 Zoo Road

San Francisco Zoo & Gardens

The San Francisco Zoo and Gardens is Northern California’s largest zoological park, with more than 225 species of animals in naturalistic settings. The Children’s Zoo gives young folks the thrill of feeding and petting their favorite barnyard animals. If little legs are starting to tire, the Little Puffer Zoo Train ($9 per person; free for children under 3) makes regular circuits of the grounds. Visitors can also ride the historic Dentzel Carousel ($4 per person) which, at more than 100 years old, has never looked better!

MUST-SEES AT THE SAN FRANCISCO ZOO & GARDENS

950 Mason Street

The Tonga Room

Hear us out! You might not think that one of San Francisco's most legendary tiki bars is a place for kids, but all ages are welcome between the hours of 5:00 and 10:00 p.m. The live music starts at 7:00 each night, meaning your little ones can dance themselves silly. Be advised that the Tonga Room is often booked for private events, so it's best to make a reservation for your group ahead of time.

MAKE A RESERVATION FOR THE TONGA ROOM

San Francisco
For Tweens and Teens

The city that invented counterculture is the perfect place for those notoriously hard to please members of your family. Here are some activities they'll enjoy without little siblings cramping their style.

Pier 33

Alcatraz Night Tour

If your older kids are looking for something spooky to do in San Francisco, book the Alcatraz Night Tour. Seeing the infamous former prison after sundown is an entirely different experience. Certain parts of the cell house that are closed by day are often open by night, allowing you to explore parts of "The Rock" that other visitors miss. The Night Tour is limited to only a few hundred visitors per evening, so book your tickets well in advance.

BOOK THE ALCATRAZ NIGHT TOUR

Bike Across the Golden Gate Bridge

For the active tweens and teens in your group, a bike ride across the Golden Gate Bridge is a great way to gain a new perspective of the city and its most indelible icon. A number of bike tour and bike rental companies can help you organize a ride, and electric-assisted options can make the ride less strenuous. Either way, the photo op of a lifetime awaits you on the other side!

BOOK A BIKE TOUR

Explore Asian Culture

Movies, music, and fashion from Asia have never had more influence on American pop culture as they do now. Why not explore these cultures more deeply and authentically by immersing yourself in them? San Francisco's Japantown is one of only three such neighborhoods left in the United States, and it packs a ton of unique shops and great dining into just a few city blocks. San Francisco's Chinatown, on the other hand, is the largest such community of its kind in the country. You could easily spend an entire day exploring every last corner and alleyway here, with plenty of great food to keep your energy up. Lastly, consider a visit to San Francisco's Asian Art Museum. In addition to its unparalleled collection of artifacts that span 6,000 years of history, the museum has put a new focus on bringing the most in-demand contemporary Asian artists' works to San Francisco.

2860 Taylor Street

SkyStar Observation Wheel

If the little tykes are afraid of heights, take the older kids for ride on the SkyStar Observation Wheel at Fisherman's Wharf. Standing 15 stories tall, the state-of-the-art SkyStar Observation Wheel features 36 enclosed, well-ventilated gondolas boasting unparalleled views that span the city. The SkyStar Wheel is wheelchair accessible (aside from the VIP Gondola) and—if your youngest are feeling brave—stroller-friendly.

YOUR GUIDE TO THE SKYSTAR OBSERVATION WHEEL

Thrift Store Shopping

Everything old is new again! As a rising generation discovers the fashion of their forebears, San Francisco's incredible thrift and vintage stores make for a fun outing. Haight-Ashbury should be the first neighborhood on your list, with the Mission a close second; but don't out surprising contenders like North Beach and the Richmond.

AN EXPERT'S GUIDE TO SF THRIFTING

San Francisco
For Kids of All Ages

Everyone in your traveling party, no matter their age, will enjoy spending time at some of these popular and unique San Francisco attractions.

1201 Mason Street

Cable Car Museum

If you want to gain an understanding of how one of San Francisco's most beloved icons actually works, visit the Cable Car Museum in Nob Hill. See the massive machinery that powers the entire cable car system up close—and for free!

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CABLE CARS

Pier 15

The Exploratorium

The Exploratorium encourages guests of all ages to touch, explore, and play with more than 650 interactive exhibits. Investigate the living world; experiment with thoughts, feelings and behavior; explore the local environment; and much more. All this science making you hungry? The Exploratorium houses a cafe and a waterfront restaurant, both serving seasonal and sustainable cuisine prepared by local chefs. All ages are welcome. Strollers are also available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Buy Tickets for The Exploratorium

PIER 39

A family vacation isn't complete without a trip to PIER 39 on Fisherman's Wharf. Visit the resident sea lions who mysteriously took over the docks after the 1989 earthquake. Watch magicians, jugglers, comedians, and more during daily street performer shows. Run down oversized musical stairs — all for free! Other activities for the little kids (or big ones) include Players Sports Grill & Arcade, Museum of 3D Illusions, Magowan's Infinite Mirror Maze, the San Francisco Carousel, a classic caricature stand, and Frequent Flyers (think bungee cords + giant trampoline). For a fun, family-friendly meal, design the dish of your dreams at FiRE + iCE.

EXPLORE PIER 39

Plan A Park Picnic

San Francisco prizes its many open spaces. Every neighborhood has at least one park that locals love. Take advantage of our perpetually lovely weather and plan a picnic. You can stock up on food at unique local markets and then enjoy the outdoors.

Great Highway

Sunset Dunes

This stretch of San Francisco's Great Highway is now a pedestrian paradise, with a number of activities scattered along its two-mile length. Interactive art installations can be found at Sloat Boulevard, Noriega Street, and Lawton Street. The Nature Exploration Area at Rivera Street is a fun spot where kids can get their hands dirty (or, rather, sandy). There's even a skate park at the south end of the Dunes. If nothing else, you're standing at the edge of the continent, with the mighty Pacific Ocean before you.

YOUR GUIDE TO SUNSET DUNES

104 Montgomery Street

The Walt Disney Family Museum

Don't let the title fool you; this isn't Disneyland (although there is a miniature replica of the park in the museum). Parents will love browsing memorabilia collected by the Disney family and reminiscing about the life of Walt Disney, his films, and Disneyland. While the grown-ups are learning about the evolution of Mickey, little ones can participate in the museum's Little Open Studio to enjoy story time and activities geared towards children seven and under. Also, check the calendar for special film screenings (including those locked away in the infamous Disney vault).

Buy Tickets for the Walt Disney Family Museum

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is San Francisco a good destination for kids?

Yes! San Francisco is a great destination for kids of all ages. There's something here for every age group to enjoy, no matter their interests.

Is San Francisco expensive for families?

There are a number of family-friendly attractions that are entirely free! These include the Randall Museum, the Cable Car Museum, all city parks, and many others.

Are there things for teens to do in San Francisco?

Of course there are. From thrift shops and popular eateries to spooky tours and outdoor adventures, your teens will find more than enough to enjoy in San Francisco.

Carol High

Carol is a digital marketer creating media-rich content for global audiences covering travel, San Francisco and the Bay Area, food & drink, outdoor experiences, and cross-cultural storytelling. Her work is found in the San Mateo Daily Journal and The Skyline View (Skyline College). Before travel writing, her professional background included working internationally in business, nonprofits, and government. She lives in San Francisco with her family and regularly explores the parks in her city, especially untamed McLaren Park.