15 Things To Do With Kids in San Francisco

San Francisco is one of the best cities in America for families, and that is not just tourist board marketing. The combination of world-class museums, incredible outdoor spaces, unique neighborhoods and a mild climate (bring layers, always bring layers) creates a city where there is genuinely something for kids of every age. Whether you live here or you are visiting, these are the 15 best things to do with kids in San Francisco.

Why San Francisco Works for Families

• Mild year-round weather - no extreme heat, no snow, just fog and microclimates to keep you guessing
• Walkable neighborhoods - many family attractions are clustered together
• World-class museums - several specifically designed for children
• Outdoor access - beaches, parks and trails within the city limits

Museums and Indoor Attractions

1. Exploratorium - Embarcadero

The Exploratorium is hands-down the best science museum in San Francisco and one of the best in the country. Located on Pier 15 along the Embarcadero, it features over 600 interactive exhibits covering physics, biology, perception, weather and art. Kids can build circuits, create sound waves, walk through a pitch-black tactile dome and experiment with light and color. The exhibits are genuinely engaging for adults too, which makes it a rare family outing where parents do not spend three hours on their phone.

Best for: Ages 4-14 (younger kids enjoy the water exhibits and sensory areas) Facilities: Cafe, restrooms, gift shop, stroller-friendly, paid parking at Pier 15 Tip: Buy timed-entry tickets online. Allow at least three hours. The Tactile Dome requires a separate reservation and is best for ages 7 and up.

2. California Academy of Sciences - Golden Gate Park

Part aquarium, part planetarium, part rainforest, part natural history museum. The California Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park packs an absurd amount into one building. The four-story living rainforest dome is stunning, the aquarium features a 212,000-gallon Philippine coral reef exhibit, and the planetarium shows are genuinely impressive. The living roof is an ecosystem in itself.

Best for: Ages 2-14 Facilities: Full cafe, restrooms, gift shop, stroller parking, accessible via Muni Tip: Thursday evenings are adults-only NightLife events, so stick to daytime for family visits. The penguin feeding at 10:30am draws a crowd - arrive early to get a good viewing spot.

3. Children's Creativity Museum - Yerba Buena Gardens

This hands-on museum in the Yerba Buena Gardens complex focuses on technology, art and creative expression. Kids can create stop-motion animations, design video games, build with recycled materials, record music in a sound studio and ride the historic carousel outside. It is smaller than the big museums but the quality of the hands-on experiences is exceptional.

Best for: Ages 3-12 Facilities: Restrooms, adjacent gardens with playground, carousel, nearby food options Tip: Combine this with the Yerba Buena Gardens playground and ice skating rink (seasonal) for a full downtown outing. The animation studio is the highlight for most kids.

4. Walt Disney Family Museum - The Presidio

Tucked into the Presidio, this museum tells the story of Walt Disney's life through original artwork, early animation technology, models and interactive displays. The highlight is the enormous detailed model of Disneyland as Walt envisioned it. Older kids and Disney fans will be captivated. Younger kids may find it too exhibit-heavy, but the animation displays hold attention well.

Best for: Ages 6-14 (and Disney-loving parents) Facilities: Cafe, restrooms, gift shop, free Presidio parking nearby Tip: This museum rewards slower visits. Do not try to rush through it. The Presidio itself is beautiful for a walk or picnic before or after.

Outdoor Attractions

5. Golden Gate Park - Multiple Areas

Golden Gate Park is San Francisco's answer to Central Park, but arguably better for families. Within its 1,017 acres you will find the California Academy of Sciences, the de Young Museum, the Japanese Tea Garden, the Botanical Garden, Stow Lake with pedal boats, multiple playgrounds, a bison paddock and the Koret Children's Quarter playground (one of the oldest public playgrounds in America). You could visit every weekend for a year and not repeat an experience.

Best for: All ages Facilities: Restrooms at multiple locations, food vendors, playgrounds, free parking on weekdays Tip: The Koret Children's Quarter playground has a concrete slide built into the hillside - bring a piece of cardboard to sit on for maximum speed. The bison paddock is free and visible from the road.

6. Crissy Field - The Presidio

Crissy Field is a restored marshland and beach along the northern waterfront with direct views of the Golden Gate Bridge. The flat paved path along the shore is perfect for strollers, bikes and scooters. Kids can play on the small beach, explore the marsh boardwalk, fly kites on the field and watch windsurfers. On a clear day, the views are among the best in the city.

Best for: All ages Facilities: Restrooms, the Warming Hut cafe at the west end, free parking (fills up on weekends) Tip: Walk the full path from the parking area to the Warming Hut for Golden Gate Bridge views that get progressively more dramatic. Bring layers - the wind off the bay is relentless.

7. Muir Woods National Monument - Mill Valley (30 minutes north)

A 30-minute drive north of the city, Muir Woods puts kids among old-growth coast redwoods that are over 1,000 years old. The main loop trail is flat, paved and stroller-accessible, making this one of the easiest old-growth forest experiences for young families. The cathedral-like atmosphere of walking among trees that are 250 feet tall leaves an impression on kids and adults alike.

Best for: Ages 2 and up (stroller-friendly main loop) Facilities: Restrooms, gift shop, cafe at entrance, paid parking (reservation required) Tip: You must reserve a parking spot or shuttle ticket in advance through Recreation.gov. There is no walk-up availability. Morning visits are quieter and the light filtering through the canopy is magical.

8. Alcatraz Island - San Francisco Bay

A ferry ride to a former federal prison might not sound like a family activity, but Alcatraz is genuinely fascinating for older kids. The audio tour (narrated by former guards and inmates) is gripping, the island has beautiful gardens and wildlife, and the ferry ride itself offers incredible city and bridge views. Kids under 5 will not get much from the prison tour, but the boat ride alone might justify it.

Best for: Ages 7 and up Facilities: Restrooms on the island, gift shop, ferry departs from Pier 33 Tip: Book tickets at least 2-3 weeks in advance - Alcatraz sells out fast, especially in summer. The night tour is more atmospheric but only suitable for kids who will not be frightened by a dark prison.

Unique San Francisco Experiences

9. Cable Cars - Multiple Lines

Riding a San Francisco cable car is touristy, yes, but kids absolutely love it. The Powell-Hyde line offers the most dramatic views, descending Russian Hill toward the bay with Alcatraz in the background. Standing on the running board (the outside step) while the car climbs and descends hills is thrilling for older kids. The Cable Car Museum on Mason Street is free and shows the massive underground cable machinery in action.

Best for: Ages 3 and up Facilities: The Cable Car Museum has restrooms; buy tickets at the turnaround or use a Clipper card Tip: Skip the massive line at the Powell Street turnaround. Walk two or three stops up the line and board at a regular stop instead - same ride, no wait.

10. Fisherman's Wharf and Pier 39 Sea Lions - North Beach

Fisherman's Wharf is aggressively touristy, but the sea lions at Pier 39 are a genuine natural attraction that kids never tire of watching. Dozens of California sea lions haul out on floating docks, barking, shoving each other off and lounging. The Aquarium of the Bay at Pier 39 is also solid, with walk-through tunnels that put kids inches from sharks and rays. Nearby Ghirardelli Square has the chocolate shop with free samples.

Best for: All ages Facilities: Restrooms, abundant food options (clam chowder in sourdough bowls is the move), paid parking Tip: The sea lions are free to watch from the viewing area at Pier 39. Visit in January through May when the colony is largest. Skip the overpriced wharf restaurants and get a crab sandwich from a stand instead.

11. Ferry Building Marketplace - Embarcadero

The Ferry Building is a food hall on the waterfront featuring local artisan vendors, bakeries, cheese shops, ice cream and fresh produce. Saturday mornings bring one of the best farmers markets in California along the outside of the building. Kids enjoy sampling food, watching the ferry boats through the massive arched windows and exploring the outdoor market stalls.

Best for: All ages (especially food-loving families) Facilities: Restrooms, seating areas, accessible via Muni and BART Tip: The Saturday farmers market (8am-2pm) is the main event. Arrive by 9am before the crowds. Blue Bottle Coffee for parents, Humphry Slocombe ice cream for kids.

Neighborhoods Worth Exploring

12. Japantown - Western Addition

San Francisco's Japantown is one of only three remaining Japantowns in the United States. The Japan Center mall has shops selling Japanese toys, stationery, candy and books that kids find fascinating. The Kinokuniya bookstore has an extensive manga and children's section. Grab ramen or udon at one of the restaurants, then let kids explore the Kabuki Springs plaza.

Best for: Ages 4 and up Facilities: Mall restrooms, multiple restaurants, paid parking garage Tip: The Japanese grocery and candy shops are the highlight for most kids. Budget a few dollars for them to pick out unusual snacks - it becomes an adventure in itself.

13. Chinatown - North Beach

San Francisco's Chinatown is the oldest and one of the most vibrant in North America. Walking through the Dragon Gate on Grant Avenue and up through the narrow streets lined with lanterns, herb shops, produce markets and dim sum restaurants is a sensory experience unlike anything else in the city. The Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory lets visitors watch fortune cookies being made by hand.

Best for: Ages 3 and up Facilities: Restaurants everywhere, public restrooms at Portsmouth Square, street parking is nearly impossible (take Muni) Tip: Walk Grant Avenue for the tourist experience, then duck onto Stockton Street for the real Chinatown where locals shop. The fortune cookie factory on Ross Alley is free to visit but tips are appreciated.

Parks and Playgrounds

14. Dolores Park - Mission District

Dolores Park is the Mission District's living room and one of the best urban parks in America. The playground at the north end was renovated and features modern climbing structures, swings, slides and a sandbox with stunning downtown skyline views as a backdrop. On weekends the park fills with families, picnickers and street food vendors. The microclimate here is warmer and sunnier than most of San Francisco.

Best for: All ages Facilities: Restrooms (basic), multiple food vendors on weekends, Muni J-Church stops at the park Tip: The Mission is San Francisco's sunniest neighborhood. When the rest of the city is fogged in, Dolores Park is often in full sun. Grab a burrito from a nearby taqueria and picnic on the hill.

15. Lands End Trail - Outer Richmond

Lands End is a coastal trail on the northwest corner of San Francisco with dramatic cliff views, hidden beaches, the ruins of the Sutro Baths and views of the Golden Gate Bridge. The main trail is about 3.4 miles round trip and is manageable for kids aged 5 and up. The Sutro Baths ruins at the western end are atmospheric and explorable, and the Mile Rock Beach scramble trail leads to a small secluded cove.

Best for: Ages 5 and up (trail has some uneven sections) Facilities: Restrooms and cafe at the Lands End Lookout visitor center, free parking at the trailhead Tip: Start at the Lands End Lookout on Point Lobos Avenue and walk east. The views of the Golden Gate Bridge about halfway along the trail are spectacular. Wear sturdy shoes - the trail is rooted and rocky in places.

Tips for Visiting San Francisco With Kids

• Layers, always layers - San Francisco microclimates mean you can go from sunshine to fog in ten minutes
• Take public transit - Muni buses and the Metro are kid-friendly and parking is expensive everywhere
• Book Alcatraz and Muir Woods early - both require advance reservations and sell out
• Embrace the fog - foggy mornings often clear to beautiful afternoons, especially in summer
• Eat in the neighborhoods - the Mission, Chinatown, Japantown and the Sunset have far better and cheaper food than the tourist areas
• Bring a stroller with good wheels - San Francisco hills are real and some sidewalks are steep

Explore more family activities in our full directory of California things to do with reviews and ratings from local families.