If you are looking for fun things to do in San Francisco with kids, you will never be out of options. The City by the Bay has cram-full of things to do with kids — from amusement parks, cable car rides, charming old Victorian homes in the hilly neighborhoods to a ferry trip across the bay. There are just so many San Francisco kids activities and attractions to enjoy that will round out the family escapade.
You don’t have to go anywhere because all the unique kids attractions are here. Plus, there are a lot more quirky things to discover. These only-in-San Francisco experiences are perfect opportunities for everyone to have the most fantastic family bonding moments.
To save you time, we narrow down our list to 20 fun things to do in San Francisco with kids.
2715 Hyde St., San Francisco, CA 94109
Phone Number: (415) 202-8888
We want to start the list of things to do in San Francisco with the obvious: the Golden Gate Bridge. But we always see the bridge—and it’s remarkable as ever. However, have you tried taking a bike ride or even a walk across the Golden Gate Bridge?
Some companies offer fun things to do on the iconic bridge. Blazing Saddles is one of the best, providing a guided tour across the landmark. You can bring a bike or rent one. Either way, your kids will indeed have fun. For more information, please visit their website.
1201 Mason St., San Francisco, CA 94108
Phone Number: (415) 474-1887
The cable car is always on the list of things to do in San Francisco. It’s an icon of the city in the first place. You probably took a cable car ride several times. But this ride is a good kick start to the San Francisco kids activities you plan to do for the whole day. It’s an excellent way to imbibe the San Francisco spirit in your children.
You can even follow up with a visit to the Cable Car Museum. On display are various mechanical devices such as grips, tracks, cables, brake mechanisms, tools, detailed models, and a large collection of historical photographs. For more information, please visit their website.
602 Kearny St. San Francisco, CA 94108
Phone Number: (415) 294-1718
Take your puzzle-loving kids to EscapeSF for some great game time. Curious clues, mind-boggling puzzles, simple logic, mystery, and intrigue are all big aspects of the escape room experience — a group exercise where visitors step into an alternate reality to accomplish their mission and escape. There will be cryptography, obstacles, and oodles of puzzles that you must crack within the time span of one hour.
Here in San Francisco, a new escape room adventure has recently opened up in the heart of downtown—EscapeSF. The best part of this particular escape room experience is that children ages eight and up will enjoy it as much as you do. For more information, please visit their website.
Pier 45 at the end of Taylor St., San Francisco, CA 94133
Phone Number: (415) 346-2000
Play arcade games just like the good ol’ days. Arcade games have been in the spotlight of fun in the 80s. And they are always on the list of things to do in San Francisco. And although we are in the digital age, it doesn’t mean playing antique games like Pac-Man and Donkey Kong cannot be fun. If you are one of the kids who have hooked up with them before, why not introduce it to your kids?
Musee Mecanique is one of the many museums that offer an interactive tour and let you play with their collections. They have a wide array of antique arcade games, and you will never be out of options. For more information, please visit their website.
926 Mason St., San Francisco, CA 94129
Phone Number: (415) 345-9675
Jumping on a trampoline and playing dodgeball are both fun things to do with kids. But what if you can do both simultaneously and do them most satisfyingly? House of Air is full of San Francisco kids activities, from jumping on over 8,000 square feet of trampoline space to weekly leagues of dodgeball. They also offer classes and training for kids if they want to get serious with the art of trampoline jumping or dodgeball.
House of Air leaves no man, woman, or child behind. For the youngest air addicts, they have activity zones dedicated to mini bouncing serving children ages 3 to 6. For more information, please visit their website.
The Embarcadero, San Francisco, CA 94133
Phone Number: (415) 705-5500
Pier 39 has always been part of the fun things to do in San Francisco. It’s coined the “Disneyland of San Francisco.” The place is complete with kids attractions, museums, performances, and games. The things to do with kids here include bungee jumping and hopping on a giant trampoline in Frequent Flyers, playing arcade games in Player Sports, and going on a puzzling adventure in Magowan’s Infinite Mirror Maze, or riding the classic San Francisco Carousel.
It also hosts some of the most visited attractions in San Francisco, like the Aquarium of the Bay, Marine Mammal Centre, and the San Francisco Maritime National Historic Park. If you have already visited Pier 39, you haven’t exhausted all the fun things to do here yet, especially for your kids when they are having fun. It’s always something new. For more information, please visit their website.
1096 South Van Ness Ave., San Francisco, CA 94110
Phone Number: (415) 341-1080
One of the best things to do in San Francisco is to play sports. Urban Putt is the place to be if your kids love golf but are not old enough to play on a real course. It has an indoor mini-golf facility designed and presented to replicate iconic and legendary San Francisco locations. For parents, the site has a lovely restaurant and bar upstairs. Adults can enjoy some cold beverages and pleasant food. Indeed, it’s a venue for the whole family.
Inside this historic building lies a high-tech 14-hole golf course, conceived by local designers, artists, and engineers to create an experience that is equal parts Jules Verne, Rube Goldberg, Exploratorium, and Maker Faire. For more information, please visit their website.
Pacific Ave. & Spruce St., San Francisco, CA 94118
Phone Number: (415) 292-2004
The Julius Kahn Playground and Clubhouse has always been on the list of things to do in San Francisco. It is one of the oldest kids activities. But it was rebooted in 2003 and transformed into a “Parisian-style” playground. From then on, it never stops developing fun things to do for children, such as interactive wet sand where they can play with sculptures and climbing areas where they can explore and meet new friends.
On the other hand, adults can watch their children for relaxation as they engage with the Golden Gate Bridge and Mount Tamalpais’ beautiful scenic view. For more information, please visit their website.
221 Fourth St., San Francisco, CA 94103
Phone Number: (415) 820-3320
Among San Francisco kids activities, going to museums is one of the fascinating fun things to do because your children will undoubtedly enjoy it. At the same time, they will also learn something new. For instance, going to the Children’s Creativity Museum is one of the important things to do in San Francisco with kids.
It has different hands-on arts and various technology immersion. Kids can create clay creatures, and do a stop-motion animation video. There are also thrilling activities, such as participating in the Mystery Box Challenge. For sure, your kids would love this museum—they learn while having fun. For more information, please visit their website.
104 Montgomery St., San Francisco, CA 94129
Phone Number: (415) 345-6800
If your kids love Mickey Mouse and all the Disney characters, they will enjoy the Walt Disney Family Museum. Housed in a historic building, the museum is full of sensational things to do with kids. Besides the nostalgic galleries and displays about the different Disney characters and their creator’s life, kids can also immerse themselves in interactive exhibits.
They can touch and experience some of the presentations and learn first-hand the early beginnings and progress of Walt Disney and his movies. There are listening stations and over 200 video screens. For more information, please visit their website.
Pier 17, Ste. 100, San Francisco, CA 94111
Phone Number: (415) 528-4444
You’ll never have enough things to do in San Francisco, especially with their various museums and exhibits. One of the most satisfying kids attractions for children is the Exploratorium. It is known as “A Learning Laboratory.” It features over 600 interactive exhibits that include subjects on engineering, psychology, biology, and geography.
Among the best examples of hands-on galleries are the Tactile Dome, where kids go through a pitch-black sphere and rely only on their sense of touch, and the Colored Shadow, where they can play around with colorful lights. For more information, please visit their website.
557 McReynolds Rd., Sausalito, CA 94965
Phone Number: (415) 339-3900
This next museum on the list of things to do in San Francisco with kids is located on the bay near Sausalito. And even though you must cross the Golden Gate Bridge to get there, it will be a worthwhile trip. Especially for your kids who will love fun things to do in this museum, such as indoor interactive galleries and exhilarating outdoor experiences like gravel pits, spider web installations, and tide pools.
There are both permanent exhibits and a rotating series of special programs at the indoor-outdoor facility. All of its programs and exhibitions are research-backed and provide STEM-focused, inquiry-driven experiences that help children develop creativity and conceptual thinking skills. For more information, please visit their website.
1 Letterman Dr., # B, San Francisco, CA 94129
Phone Number: (415) 746-5000
If your kids are Star Wars fans, they will love the Letterman Digital and New Media Arts Center. This center serves as the headquarters of Lucas Film. It houses a spread-out public park space that has different statues commemorating George Lucas and his creations. The most iconic part of it is the fountain with a life-sized statue of Yoda.
There are also fun things to do in Building B’s lobby, where kids can see some of the Lucas Film memorabilia, such as costumes and props from the Star Wars franchise. There are also public grounds within the vicinity where the whole family can have a nice picnic. For more information, please visit their website.
501 Stanyan St., San Francisco, CA 94117
Phone Number: (415) 831-2700
The Golden Gate Park is always on the top of the list of things to do in San Francisco. It houses many attractions for kids, beautiful sights, activity centers, and playgrounds. You can find some of the city’s most famous nature-centered attractions. That includes the colorful Japanese Tea Garden, the magnificent Conservatory of Flowers, the expansive San Francisco Botanical Garden, and the incredible Stow Lake, where you can take a boat ride.
You cannot run out of things to do with kids in this park. It has a spacious facility for learning called the Academy of Science. The Steinhart Aquarium, the Osher Rainforest, the Kimball Natural History Museum, and the Morrison Planetarium can be found here.
It also hosts the classical playground, the Koret’s Children Quarter, which features a vintage carousel built in 1914. The gorgeous merry-go-round has 62 animal figures to ride. But not only that, there are plenty of fun things to do at Koret’s. It has entertaining spaces that your kids will enjoy, like climbing walls, cool slides, and a delightful playground. It also has a vast area of grace for a family picnic. For more information, please visit their website.
Pier 45, San Francisco, CA 94133
Phone Number: (415) 775-1943
If your kids are into ships and submarines, there are real ones docked at Pier 45 in Fisherman’s Wharf, and they are open to the public. One magnificent sample is the USS Pampanito, a historic submarine used in six missions during World War II. They transform it into a museum. Now, you can have a complete tour of the inside of a submarine. It’s one of the most exciting things to do in San Francisco because it will rouse both the parents and the kids — a great family bonding time.
The USS Pampanito made six patrols in the Pacific during World War II, during which she sank six Imperial Japanese ships and damaged four others. Operated by the Maritime Park Association, Pampanito hosts over 100,000 visitors a year and is one of the most popular historic vessels in the country. For more information, please visit their website.
Sloat Blvd. & Great Hwy., San FranciscoCA94132
Phone Number: (415) 753-7080
Visiting a zoo must always be included in the list of San Francisco kids activities. And if you indeed decide to go to one, San Francisco Zoo must be your first visit. It houses over 1,000 exquisite animals, including big cats, birds of prey species, bears, exotic fowls, and primates. Aside from animal sightseeing, there are plenty of other things to do with kids inside. One activity you must not miss is riding the Little Puffer. This transportation is a delightful steam train ride through the expansive zoo.
The Fisher Family Children’s Zoo is one of the most popular areas at the San Francisco Zoo. It has been a source of wonderment and discovery for millions of children, providing them with up-close encounters with animals and a unique place to call their own. For more information, please visit their website.
151 Third St., San Francisco, CA 94103
Phone Number: (415) 357-4000
Among the kids attractions, visiting a modern art museum is the most refined one. One famous place like this is the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. Here, you can appreciate some of the best present-day paintings and other art forms. It also hosts traveling exhibitions from other places. After a day tour of this museum, your kids will appreciate the world of arts more.
The museum’s current collection includes over 33,000 works of painting, sculpture, photography, architecture, design, and media arts. They are displayed in 170,000 square feet (16,000 m2) of exhibition space, making the museum one of the largest in the United States overall and one of the largest in the world for modern and contemporary art. For more information, please visit their website.
56 Ross Alley, San Francisco, CA 94113
Phone Number: (415) 781-3956
Don’t miss the Golden Gate Fortune Cookies in your list of fun things to do. In this vintage store, not only that you can buy and eat the best fortune cookie in the world, but you also get to see how they make it. Their factory is open to all, and you get to witness first-hand how they produce cookies in the most classical way you can imagine.
Celebrities and known personalities have visited this place, which is always part of their list of best things to do in San Francisco. And while you are in Chinatown, you can take the opportunity and have a family food trip. For more information, please visit their website.
1 Muir Woods Rd. Mill Valley , CA 94941
Phone Number: (415) 561-2850
If your kids are into outdoor adventures, going to Muir Woods is one of the best things to do in San Francisco. With this activity, you get to appreciate and wonder the magnificent and gigantic coast redwoods — almost all of them are at least a hundred years old. You can also marvel at the serene Redwood Creek. This place has been federally protected since 1908 and has been recognized as a National Museum since then.
The main attraction of the Muir Woods National Monument are the Sequoia Sempervirens aka the enormous Redwoods. They are the largest living things on earth and they are simply breathtaking. They look like they go on together and you will find yourself looking at the sky the whole walk round. For more information, please visit their website.
1750 Lincoln Blvd., San Francisco, CA 94129
Phone Number: (415) 561-5300
If your kids are into nature, they will love the Presidio. It offers terrific trails through its magnificent outdoors with perfect Bay Area scenery such as the Marin Headlands and the coastal forest. One of the famous tracks here is called “The Batteries to Bluffs Trail.” It highlights elevation changes along the western shoreline, where you will be delighted with the scenic view of the glorious bridge and the Marin Headlands.
Get away from it all on a trail and enjoy the view from a scenic overlook. Or grab a great meal, visit a museum, browse in a store, or rest your head in a historic lodge. There’s always something new to discover. For more information, please visit their website.
San Francisco is home to a little bit of everything with so many kids attractions to discover and kids activities to enjoy. Its rich history, distinctive character, and scenic landscapes will impress every one of every imaginable taste. Kids of all ages love exploring these areas — family-friendly parks, innovative museums, and beaches too!
The list goes on and on, and the bay city always has something to offer to parents looking for things to do with kids. There are just so many things to do in San Francisco with kids. They will never run short of something to wow, teach, and amaze your kids. The cultural, traditional, and quirky live side-by-side around the bay area makes it one of the best places to go.
So, what are you waiting for? Go out with your kids and discover the magnificent San Francisco.
San Francisco offers a wide variety of opportunities for kids to enjoy and have fun all year round! Check out our list of kids resources. Are you looking for more things to do with kids around San Francisco? Browse through our places to go and camps section. If you’re even more curious and seek to learn more about kids’ topics, tips, and guides, check out our blog posts.
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