San Francisco with a 2 y.o.

[Anonymous]

We think we have the air travel thing mostly figured out - having been on 10 flights since September, of which 4 were long haul!

However, this is the first time we're going to San Francisco with a toddler and I could use some insight on kid friendly stuff to do there. We're been to SF before, but that was before the tyke came along. We'll be staying pretty much at Union Square and will have a whole weekend available for "activities." This will be in early March, so presumably the weather will be good. Any ideas? I'd prefer to stay in the city. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

DD was older - just over 3, but she had great fun at the playground at Golden Gate park, and at the science museum. We also took her to Angel Island on the ferry.

[Anonymous]

SFO is a great city to visit with kids -- DH and I went to school in the Bay Area and have travelled back there often with our kids from the time our oldest was around 15 months. Love all of PP's suggestions, plus the following:

also in GG Park -- ride the carousel and see the bison;

have lunch or dinner at the ferry building -- there are tons of little food stands, everything from Niman Ranch hot dogs for your little one to raw oysters for you and DH, plus on weekends there are musicians, dancers, jugglers, etc;

fly a kite at Fort Funston beach -- not far from the zoo, BTW;

drive across the Golden Gate to visit the Children's Museum in Sausalito and hike the headlands trail (there are also short hikes in Muir Woods, but that's a much longer drive;

and the obvious -- take a ride on a trolleycar!

[Anonymous]

Was just out there with our toddler in July - she was 20 months at the time.

#1 Recommendation is the California Academy of Sciences building. Expect it to be crowded, but it is GREAT for kids. Our toddler especially loved the walk through aquarium parts.

#2 Lots of great neighborhood parks. The Eureka Valley Rec Center in the Castro had a particularly nice playground perfect for toddlers.

[Anonymous]

We took my daughter when she was almost two - she LOVED seeing the seals at Fisherman's Wharf.

[Anonymous]

Bump

[Anonymous]

Definitely go to Farmers market at Ferry building - it is AMAZING. Go for breakfast, they have coffee, etc.

Cute cheap mexican place there too.

[Anonymous]

We just recently came back from our trip to SF with our 23 month old boy. He LOVED the California Academy of Science (make it in time for the penguin feeding) and he also LOVED the Children's Discovery Museum in San Jose. It was a bit cold so we didn't do anything outdoors, but I'm sure the Golden Gate Park would have been nice to walk around and play.

[Anonymous]

Things that were a hit with our DC:

The Exploratorium in San Francisco
If you're going to the East Bay, Tilden Park in Berkeley is fun (among other things, they have a feeding / petting zoo)
Monterrey Bay Aquarium - this is a 2-hour drive, but it is amazing

[Anonymous]

Duck boat tour - it's a ride on a re-commissioned WWII amphibious vehicle- tour the city a bit and then drive right onto the water! It's so fun! You can pick it up in fisherman's warf.

also- the ferry is an inexpensive way to get out on the water. Goes to Marin Co and Alameda Co. Leaves from the ferry bldg, about which PPs spoke so highly of.