One day in SF With kids

[Anonymous]

We are attending a wedding and are driving to Sonoma, but have one full day in SF with kids 5 and 8. What should we do for a quick sightseeing tour?

[Anonymous]

Hard to choose from all the great options, but here's my list -- the only one you've got to do comes first:

Take a trolley ride -- but go early so the lines won't be long;

go to the Academy of Sciences -- newly renovated and fabulous hands-on science museum;

eat lunch or dinner at the Ferry Building -- let the kids choose what they'd like from the many kiosks;

go to a Giants game;

hike in Muir Woods;

ride the antique carousel in Golden Gate Park and play on the really fabulouse playground nearby;

stop for a pasty in North Beach;


walk through Chinatown and let the kids gawk at the window displays, then have dinner;


rent bikes and bike along the path by the Marina.

[Anonymous]

We were just there with our 5 yo and had a blast doing many of the suggestions above.

Academy of sciences was really expensive (admission and lunch ran us almost $100 for a family of 3), and for a 5yo, not quite worth it. Your 8yo would love it, though. It is in Golden Gate park, and close enough to the very fabulous playground that you can walk to it.

For museums, our DS preferred the Exploratorium. It is 100% hands on and I imagine your 8yo would also love it too.

If you go to Muir Woods, be sure to ask the rangers for a quest!

[Anonymous]

You can also do the ferry to alcatraz although some kids are scared by that.

[Anonymous]

our DD loved the Exploratorium

and hiking on Muir Woods & poking around Muir Beach (more trails over there too)...

[Anonymous]

The Alcatraz tour is fun for a middle-schooler or a kid in upper elementary, but I wouldn't do it with kids who are OP's age -- 5 and 8, I believe. Other options if you want to get out on a ferry would be to go to Angel Island, where you can picnic and/or bike around the island, or to Tiburon, which has a bike trail near the ferry, as well as restaurants and shops. But,, if you've only got one day, I'm not sure you really have the time for either of these options.