Registered: May 2000
Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Posts: 163

Family Stuff To Do In San Fran?

Looks like I'll be taking my family to SF for a week at Christmas. We've got a 6-year-old. Can anybody from that part of the world offer suggestions for activities with/for her?
What kind of temperatures should we expect?
Thanks in advance.

Registered: Jan 2001
Location:
Posts: 118

What to do in SF with family....

On the North side of SF proper, near the Golden Gate bridge is a wonderful place called the Exploratorium. My wife and I visited some friends in SF a few years ago, and we loved it. Its a hands on science museum, but it ain't stuffy.

You and your kids will love it.

Otherwise, visit the Wharf, city central - if you can, get a Metro pass from anybody who is a SF local that you know. We drove to SF from Tucson, and rarely needed a car once we got to use the public transit system. Best I have ever seen in the world.

Congrats and hope you enjoy it.

Tucson Sailors

Registered: Jul 2002
Location: Auburn, Calif
Posts: 21

Re: What to do in SF with family....

quote:

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Originally posted by tucson_sailors
On the North side of SF proper, near the Golden Gate bridge is a wonderful place called the Exploratorium. My wife and I visited some friends in SF a few years ago, and we loved it. Its a hands on science museum, but it ain't stuffy.

You and your kids will love it.

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Diddo -- its great
http://www.exploratorium.edu/

also, if your in to tech stuff, tech tv (a network on directTV) records a tv show here each weekday. its called the screen savers. might not be good for young kids though.

http://www.techtv.com/screensavers/index.html/


a walk on the Embarcadero might be fun.
http://www.virtualguidebooks.com/Ce...cadero_TOC.html


dont forget a ride on a cable car http://www.cablecarmuseum.com/

and you have to check out the golden gate park (note, you cant see the golden gate bridge from here)
http://golden-gate-park.visit-san-francisco.com/
(this site seems to be the best, look at the links on the right in blue and orange)

youll love Ghirardelli Square, the best place for chocolate! where they make the chocolate. i think its one of my fave things in s.f.
http://www.ghirardelli.com/

if you like sweets, for about an hour drive out of the city, you can go to the jelly belly factory. Jelly belly

about the temprature- winter is the warmest believe it or not. plan on overcast, foggy, windy, about 68 to 70F. dress in layers. not really t-shirt weather. sweaters are best.

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Last edited by adderx99 on 10-01-2002 at 04:59 AM

Registered: May 2000
Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Posts: 163

Cheers!

Hey thanks, eh? I'll check out all those links, and welcome any other help. I'm especially digging the news about the weather. It's been known to get around -20C and windy at the time we go.

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Sydney Australia
Posts: 1883

Alcatraz is interesting for kids too, I think a 6yr old should be ok there.

Good views: Treasure Island.

in the area (kinda, but closer to San Jose) is Great America, supposed to be a good luna park.. never been there though...

If you have some more time (and a rentalcar) drive down Highway 1 and stop at Hearst castle... allthough It may not be very cool for the kid...

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Registered: Jul 2002
Location: Auburn, Calif
Posts: 21

Re: What to do in SF with family....

quote:

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Originally posted by tucson_sailors
and rarely needed a car once we got to use the public transit system. Best I have ever seen in the world.

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ya, i forgot, lots of people have difficulty driving in S.F. lol
its not too hard, as long as you remember that left turns are never protected lights. (which means watch out/wait for the people comming at you at a signal when your turning left) i think its like $2-4 for one person to get to most places on BART, the public transit system
BART Bay-Area Rapid Transit

alcatraz is like $40 per person to take the farry

and about great america, most people drive to valleo(east) about 45 minutes to six flags marine world. its geared for little kidds and rolarcoster nuts. it has a huge zoo, and obvously, a marine zoo.
keep in mind, now were talking big bucks, about $40 to 70 per person, if you can find discounts, but you wont run out of things to do.

Six Flags Marine World

most all of the things on my last list were free. (except the exploritorum)

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Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Sydney Australia
Posts: 1883

Re: Re: What to do in SF with family....

quote:

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Originally posted by adderx99

alcatraz is like $40 per person to take the farry

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Registered: Jul 2002
Location: Auburn, Calif
Posts: 21

your right, i was thinking of the alcatraz and angel island tour - $35.
Acatraz Blue and Gold Fleet

only $14 for standard tour, $20 for dusk tour.

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Registered: May 2000
Location: Cleveland, Ohio 44067
Posts: 242

I don't know about actually walking the Alcatraz tour with a six year old. If there is a ferry tour, that might be best. My wife and I spent several days in San Fran on our cross country trip earlier this year and I think it is more for adults.

Here is my reasoning :

1) I think for the adults to appreciate the tour and get much out of it, you need to get the headsets and follow the tape because there is very little signage explaining the jail cells and stories. The adults need the tape but a six year old won't appreciate the tape and will get antsy constantly starting and stopping...and neither adult or child will get as much out of it and dad might spend time chasing daughter around.

2) There is plenty of walking and it starts with the walk up the hill to the prison. I bet the six year old might poop out before the end and dad could have to carry her.

As for what we did, the Jelly Belly tour was fun and there is also a candy factory right around the corner you can take a tour of (we did just the Jelly Belly tour).

Ghiradelli Square was neat and the chocolate is yuuuummmmmmmyyyyy Did I mention my wife and I had Ghiradelli ice cream for dinner three times in San Diego's Gas Lamp district?

Right near the square you can take a trolley ride which was fun, don't know how cold San Fran is in December though and our trolley was open (need to ask a local). Also near the square are some older sailing ships you can tour.

I am sure there are tons of other stuff to do, we just ran out of time after three days. Have fun!

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Registered: Nov 1999
Location: Redwood City CA
Posts: 472

San Francisco also has the oddly-named California Academy of Sciences, which is actually a natural history museum, planetarium, and small aquarium. It's in the middle of a magnificent park.

One BART ride and a connecting bus takes you to Oakland's Chabot Space and Science Center, home of an excellent planetarium.

If you're a WWII buff, don't miss the USS Pampanito, a Fleet submarine tied to the same dock as the world's only surviving Liberty Ship.

The Golden Gate Bridge is built over the remains of Fort Point, a Civil War era brick fortress. It's not in very good shape as a museum display, but it's possible to wander about for some time.

However, the Exploratorium has to be your first choice. Go. Go. The Exploratorium Gnomes demand you go.

Registered: Nov 1999
Location: Redwood City CA
Posts: 472

San Jose

if you take the train to San Jose, check out the Tech, a good science and innovation museum. San Jose also has the Egyptian Museum in Rosicrucian Park, the largest privately-owned collection of Egyptian artifacts on display in North America. No cameras there, though.