I’m traveling to Northern California (San Francisco/Marin County) with two young children, any ideas?
They are both boys, 3 & 1 years old. It will be my husband, myself and them. Please tell me where we can still enjoy our vacation and the scenery with our children in tow.
7 Responses
Abby
01 Feb 2010
Hannah =]
01 Feb 2010
Well visiting alcatraz is really fun. Your children might be too young for it but the three year old migt enjoy it. You and your husband will have fun there also. Its a big tour with headphones and it was sooo much fun. Go to the beaches of course. The Fishermans Wharf is really cool. THere is some of the best sea food there The san fransisco zoo is also pretty cool.
steen
01 Feb 2010
I would take them to the SF Zoo and then to the beach right after. Ocean Beach is one block away from the Zoo, so it would be a perfect little stroll. Also, Downtown SF there is The Metreon on 4th/Market St. it has a movie theatre, arcade, and toddler play area in the Yerba Buena Park at the back of the building with a very cute carousal.
Nickelodeon
01 Feb 2010
1. Pt Reyes National Seashore – beautiful landscapes, camping, hiking, oyster farms, beaches
2. Waterworld – Concord, CA or Six Flags Great America in Vallejo, CA
3. Chinatown
4. Aquariums – one in Pier 39 on Fisherman’s wharf and one in Monterrey
5. San Francisco Zoo
6. Oakland Zoo
mtgarcia2k
01 Feb 2010
i recommend pier 39….fun little area for kids and fam
Baccheus
01 Feb 2010
A lot of people with kids that age visit the wine country; that would depend on how active the three-year old is and whether he can be happy if you want to stand and taste for 40 minutes at a time. Muir Woods is beautiful. Put the little guy in a backpack and walk as much as the big guy wants to. I’m sure he’ll be happy to ride on dads shoulders for awhile because you will want to walk further.
I love walking across the GG Bridge but it would scare the crap out of all of you — so just go to the scenic viewpoint on the Sausalito side of the bridge. There’s a big parking lot and lots of viewpoints.
If you walk around fisherman’s wharf and Pier 39, be sure to go to the back side of Pier 39 to watch the sea lions. They (all of you) will love them.
Johanna
01 Feb 2010
If you have a few days, try to go further north up the coast. Fort Bragg has a ton of stuff to do with kids. Everyone knows about the Skunk Train and Glass Beach, but there’s an amazing new indoor swimming pool – the kind with the three story slide, river with a current, and buckets that dump water on the kids while they play, google CV Starr Community Center. Fortbragg.com will tell you about the rest of the stuff. And leave time to stop at Hendy Woods to see the old growth redwoods. They’re the tallest living things on earth – your kids shouldn’t get this close and not see them.
I am sure your kid will love this place. My suggestions are:
1. Pier 39: it has lots of entertainment activities going around. street performaers, 3D theatre, aquarium, ferry, sea lions and lot more you can find the glimpse here http://www.pier39.com/Attractions/
There is also a good ‘jungle theme’ based restaurant ‘Rain Foret Cafe’ next to Pier 39. I am sure your kid would love that.
2. SF Zoo: if they like crazy looking animals around. educate them a little more on this.
3. Ocean Beach: not much for kids though, but its a serene place for your family to just walk by the beach.
4. The Exploratorium: its kind of hands-on science exhibition. your 3 yr old would watch it with interest. its fun for you too!
5. Chinatown: this could be your heaven for shopping. get your kids some nice and cheap toys, kites and gifts.