This cozy shop in San Francisco’s West Portal District is a veritable emporium for the enlightened child. Browse everything from developmental and educational toys and books to organic cotton baby clothes. There are also some equally stylish items for either grandma or grandpa to peruse.
Contact no: (415) 681-7242
Location: 320 West Portal Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94127
Learn more here.
This is one of the largest independent bookstores in the country. Every single square inch, and every centimeter for that matter — if you prefer metric — is packed with tomes. The shop specializes in used and rare books, which might interest you, but their children’s section is the finest in California, full of books you haven’t seen since you were a child, and all at reasonable prices. Whether you and your children are looking for a Harry Potter book, Hansel and Gretel, or Horton Hears a Who, you’ll find it and a lot more at Green Apple.
Contact no: (415) 387-2272
Location: 506 Clement Street, San Francisco, CA 94118
Learn more here.
San Francisco is windier than Chicago, that’s a fact. As proof, we present the Chinatown Kite Shop. This shop is filled from wall to wall with kites and string. It sells every variety of kite, from the Hex Spinner Wind Wheel to the handmade Chinese Bat-Kite. It has sport kites, racing kites, fighting kites, and even standard-issue nondescript kites. After buying your kites, you can make your way to nearby Crissy Field where, weather permitting, you and your child can fly your new kites by the Bay.
Contact no: (415) 989-5182
Location: 717 Grant Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94108
Learn more here.
San Francisco’s historic Chinatown is a legendary tourist attraction and the largest Chinatown outside China. This noisy, sprawling, big, beautiful, crowded neighborhood is perfect for wandering during the day with your children. The stores that sell less-expensive items, like DVDs or small, live turtles, cater to locals; the stores with more expensive goods — a porcelain cat that waves hello or a silk kimono — are for tourists. The ceremonial entrance to Chinatown is the gate at the corner of Grant Avenue and Bush Street.
Contact no:
Location:
Bush Street and Grant Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94108
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Rent pedal-powered boats at Stow Lake in Golden Gate Park. Stow Lake is a beautiful moat filled with ducks and other waterfowl that enjoy popcorn which is on sale at the snack bar. Best of all, the lake is open year-round because of the city’s mild weather. You and your children can pedal under bridges and over reeds in one of San Francisco’s most beautiful places.
Contact no: (415) 752-0347
Location: 50 Stow Lake Drive, San Francisco, CA 94118
Learn more here.
This National Historic Landmark was established by the Spanish during colonial times to guard the bay against invasion and later served as a base for the American military through the Cold War. Since 1994 it’s been a National Park. You can visit the unique (if a bit morbid) pet cemetery, check out the old gun batteries or take a stroll down scenic lovers’ lane. The Presidio golf course (300 Finley Road) offers one of the best views in the city as well.
Contact no: (415) 561-4323
Location: 50 Moraga Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94129″
Learn more here.
Ride a bicycle across the legendary Golden Gate Bridge, then coast downhill to Sausalito for a bite to eat before taking a ferry back to the city. This ride is the best and most memorable way for you and your children to see the bridge. You can set your own pace and explore the Presidio or the Marin Headlands at your leisure. After all, what’s the rush? The helpful staff at Blazing Saddles will equip you with a bike, a helmet, a map, a bottle of water, and a ferry pass to get back and directions. The only thing left for you and your child is actually pushing the pedals.
Contact no: (415) 202-8888
Location: 2715 Hyde Street, San Francisco, CA 94109
Learn more here.
There are dozens of things to do in Golden Gate Park, but some of them stand out. First, no trip would be complete without paying a visit to the buffalo (or bison, if you want to get technical). The bison paddock was established in 1891 and serves as a breeding area. The current population is 5 beautiful, if a little aloof, buffalo. Next you’ll want to visit the Japanese Tea Garden, world famous for being the site that invented the fortune cookie. At the Japanese Tea Garden, you can enjoy a traditional Japanese tea ceremony; cookies come afterward.
Contact no: (415) 831-2700
Location: Fulton Street and Stanyan Street, San Francisco, CA 94121
Learn more here.
The Steinhart Aquarium houses a massive variety of animal life, from penguins to puffer fish. Some of the species here can’t be found at any other aquarium, and some are even extinct in the wild. Your children’s eyes will bug out at the 212,000-gallon coral reef aquarium, one of the biggest in the country.
Contact no: (415) 379-5451
Location: California Academy of Sciences 55 Music Concourse Drive, San Francisco, CA 94118
Learn more here.
Mountain Lake Park has a small enclosure, and it’s always teeming with professional dogwalkers leading (or being led by) a plentitude of pups. It’s a quiet park, with slides and grassy areas for playing, but the waterfowl that live here really make it special. Even though there are more birds in the ponds in Golden Gate Park to the south, the ducks, geese, and loons here are much friendler, probably because they’re used to being barked at by dogs. Little kids bearing breadcrumbs are welcome. Many of the ducks will eat right out of your children’s hand. It sounds like a small thing — feeding the ducks in a park — but to a kid, it’s enormous. The best time to come is during the week, when parking is easier to find.
Contact no:
Location: Lake Street and Park Presidio Boulevard Presidio of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94118
Learn more here.
