Easygoing Family Fun in San Francisco, California - 24-Hour Travel Guide

Twin Peaks Blvd

Coit Tower

Bubba Gump's

Aquarium at the Bay, girl touching Bat Ray

Twin Peaks Blvd

Breakfast - For breakfast start the day with a good yet reasonable breakfast from Pork Store Café located at 3122 16th St. located at the intersection of 16th and Valencia Streets. It is known for its Americana Décor which consists of a large US wall map, along with antique kettles, pans, oars, and yellowed flags. They pride themselves on their “down to earth staff” and welcoming environment. It is a place specifically for just a simple, normal breakfast that kids will enjoy.

Morning - Begin your day at the famous Coit Tower so that you can get a nice view of where you will be during the day. See if you can spot pier 39, it should stand out because it is the only pier with that much commercial and tourist activity and is where you wil be headed next! It is located on the top of Telegraph Hill and no reservations are required and the only fee is for the elevator, but it is definitely worth it for the view! Be sure to take notice of the murals in the lobby, which are considered to be the best examples of public art from the depression era. Also keep in mind that there are a few small steps and it is not considered wheelchair accessible, so bringing a stroller may be difficult.

Lunch - For lunch and afternoon activities go to Pier 39. If you did not drive there are plenty of public transportation options, including a famous San Francisco Cable Car. Here you will find a wide variety of places for lunch, pretty much all family friendly. I recommend Bubba Gump’s especially if you have never been to one before. It has a Forrest Gump theme, great authentic decorations, and a view of the water no matter where you are seated. It is located on the second level and you can either take the stairs or elevator.

Afternoon - After lunch, go visit the sea lions. There are designated viewing spots on both the first and second levels. They are seasonal and during mating season, beginning in late June and ending in late August, early September, there are only about 5. During the rest of the year there are about 100. They are packed on their little docks that were specially designed for them, and you can hear them barking from anywhere on the pier, children especially love seeing the sea lions.

In the middle of the pier there is a carousel which kids always seem to find extra special. After visiting the sea lions and taking a carousel ride, go to the Aquarium of the Bay which can be accessed directly from the pier. If you are planning your visit for the summer, you may want to make reservations because sometimes even the aquarium gets sold out. Admission is $14.95 for adults, $8 for seniors (65+) and children (3-11). Children under 3 are free. A Family Pack is only $37.95 for two adults and two children, which saves you about $8. For an extra $6 per ticket you can upgrade a general admission ticket for an exciting Behind the Scenes Tour. There is a special Aqua Tots section for smaller kids and is included in general admission. Visitors can touch bat rays, skates, leopard sharks and a variety of sea stars.
www.aquariumofthebay.com

Dinner - For a dinner experience that the whole family will enjoy, eat at Johnny Rockets. They have very reasonable prices and are a traditional All-American diner. The walls are decorated with vintage Coca-Cola ads and enlarged Life magazine covers. Their menu includes items you would expect from a diner, hot dogs, hamburgers, sandwiches and even more health conscious dishes. No diner would be complete without jukeboxes and red vinyl upholstery. It is especially great for kids because their sandwiches are served in a less-mess paper jacket and just about everything is served on paper plates, so messiness is no problem here!

After Dark - After dinner, check out the sunset views the top of Twin Peaks has to offer. To make it extra special and fun you can rent a SF Limo tour service for just an hour so that everyone can enjoy the night skyline while riding to the top. Tour buses are the only public transportation that takes you to the top, and taking public transit to the bottom and walking up may prove difficult with younger children, especially at night. If you have a car and choose not to do a limo guide, its pretty easy to get to. Go down Market St, which is a major road in the city, and head southwest until Market becomes Portola, from which you take a right onto Twin Peaks Blvd. Follow Twin Peaks up and you will come to a flat parking lot and visitors area where you can get out and enjoy a 360 degree view of the bay.

Sleep - Get a good comfortable night’s sleep at the Best Western Tuscan Inn at Fisherman's Wharf. It is a popular hotel destination so it is important to make reservations in advance. Voted “Best Hotel in Fisherman’s Warf” by Frommer's Travel Guide eight years in a row. It’s prime location offers excellent views and easy access to the city activities. Pets are allowed and kids stay free!

Tags: Family