Anonymous wrote:I live in SF. Do not bother taking a preschooler to the Ferry Building - it will be wasted on them. Fairyland in Oakland is fun for that age. Agree with the Exploratorium and Tilden Park. You can go hiking through Golden Gate Park - that's fun. Pick up the trolley outside the Embarcadero Bart and take the trolley up to Nob Hill - hop off at Grace Cathedral - there's a great little kiddie playground there. Then go one street South to take the trolley back down (an adult could walk it, but probably not a preschooler). Try the restaurant Straw, on Octavia Blvd - it's a circus themed restaurant. Also, hit up the carousel at Yerba Buena and then duck into their playground - I always sat at the top (the playground is kind of in a bowl and I sat at the lid, if you can visualize that) so I could see the entire area while my kid played.

Dress warmly and have a wind breaker. Was at this playground last June with DS and we were dressed well and we were chilly.

Anonymous wrote:Check Virgin, too. My favorite to SFO.

Muir Woods is awesome. Monterey, too, especially the aquarium, depending on how long you'll be there. SF is a fun city for kids of all ages, but I haven't been since DS was born.

Another for Virgin. We've flown nonstop from Dulles to SFO.

We. Spent a week in San Fran this summer with 9 and 11 year old boys....did the aquarium but spent night in Monterey. LOVED Exploratorium. Good for all ages. Muir Woods would be lost on toddler but if you want to go for a pretty hike it in the woods it is really cool.

QSF used to be a code (15 years ago) for all three cities but it only works with some travel systems not all.

Op here. I'm getting so excited. These all sounds great!!!

I live in SF. Do not bother taking a preschooler to the Ferry Building - it will be wasted on them. Fairyland in Oakland is fun for that age. Agree with the Exploratorium and Tilden Park. You can go hiking through Golden Gate Park - that's fun. Pick up the trolley outside the Embarcadero Bart and take the trolley up to Nob Hill - hop off at Grace Cathedral - there's a great little kiddie playground there. Then go one street South to take the trolley back down (an adult could walk it, but probably not a preschooler). Try the restaurant Straw, on Octavia Blvd - it's a circus themed restaurant. Also, hit up the carousel at Yerba Buena and then duck into their playground - I always sat at the top (the playground is kind of in a bowl and I sat at the lid, if you can visualize that) so I could see the entire area while my kid played.

Ferry Building is great for lunch with kids. Also, Golden Gate Park has the Academy of Sciences, Japanese Tea Garden, Conservatory of Flowers, and a carousel. North Beach is great for dessert.

PP again. If you're going to the East Bay, check out Fairyland in Oakland. I wouldn't make a special trip, because there's plenty to do in San Francisco, but it's fun for kids.

Tilden Park in Berkeley has a kid's farm where you can feed the animals (buy celery or lettuce and take it with you). There's also a playground.

Muir Woods is great but get there really early, by 8:30 or 9 during the week if you can. Parking is limited, and it fills up quickly.

I agree with PP. Virgin to SFO is the best, especially with kids.

There was a recent thread on activities to do with an older kid, but some of the same suggestions apply IMO.

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/495469.page

We were in San Francisco this summer with two kids - one a toddler. If you're not going to spend a night in Monterey, please learn from our experience and save it for when your child is older or you can spend at least one night there. The drive from San Francisco to Monterey is long long long. As great as the aquarium is, the round trip in one day was too much for our toddler. I would not do it again unless we could stay there overnight.

Check out the Bay Area Discovery Museum in Sausalito. It's wonderful for young kids, and the views are incredible.

Check Virgin, too. My favorite to SFO.

Muir Woods is awesome. Monterey, too, especially the aquarium, depending on how long you'll be there. SF is a fun city for kids of all ages, but I haven't been since DS was born.

I don't know if some carriers (Southwest and maybe JetBlue) will show up in Kayak.

Southwest does fly to the SFO area, but I don't think there are any nonstop flights.

I think if you use kayak.com you can check a box that says to check surrounding airports.

Muir Woods, Sausalito has a children's museum that's partly outdoors - along the bay. Beautiful area. Your toddler will love it.

Thanks, those look look great!!!

Anonymous wrote:Usually Google helps me with this, but I'm striking out. Is there a code to search flights to all SF bay area airports, like you can input WAS and get prices for BWI, DCA, and IAD? I want to compare Oakland, SFO, and San Jose across different airlines and dates.

And I'm open to bay area activity ideas for late October. I'm going for a wedding but extending the trip to explore the area a bit. Will have preschooler in tow, renting a car for at least part of the trip.

Go to Half Moon Bay to the pumpkin patch. Drive along Hwy 1 and explore the woods. Go the Exploratorium in San Francisco.

Usually Google helps me with this, but I'm striking out. Is there a code to search flights to all SF bay area airports, like you can input WAS and get prices for BWI, DCA, and IAD? I want to compare Oakland, SFO, and San Jose across different airlines and dates.

And I'm open to bay area activity ideas for late October. I'm going for a wedding but extending the trip to explore the area a bit. Will have preschooler in tow, renting a car for at least part of the trip.