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Mother's Day in San Francisco 2024
by Jill Loeffler •
Are you planning on spending Mother's Day in San Francisco this year?
Here you will discover some top places for brunch, SF Giants baseball, cruises, where to take your mom shopping and other ideas to make the day extra special.
I've had the chance to spoil my mom in SF on this important holiday and these are a few of the activities that we both enjoyed!
This year, Mother's Day falls on Sunday, May 12, 2024.
Disclaimer: I receive a small commission from some of the links on this page.
Top Mother's Day Brunch Spots 2024
You will find dozens of great places to take your mom to brunch on Mother's Day in San Francisco. Some of my favorites include Mama's in North Beach, Buena Vista in Fisherman's Wharf, and Brenda's French Soul Food near the Civic Center District.
Find a list of my top recommendations and book your table today!
Fun Mother's Day Events & Activities for 2024
Here are some other fun things to do for Mothers Day in San Francisco.
San Francisco Giants vs. Cincinnati Reds
Is your mom a baseball lover? If so, take her to a game at our gorgeous baseball stadium in SF, Oracle Park. On Mother's Day, the San Francisco Giants host the Cincinnati Reds. The first pitch is at 1:05 pm.
>> Find tickets for the 3-game series
>> Additional information on going to an SF Giants game
SF Bay Cruise
This gives you an idea of what to expect of the views from an SF Bay Cruise. I took this from the back of the boat after we went under the Golden Gate Bridge. As you can see, the fog is coming in under the bridge!Hop aboard a Red & White Fleet ferry for a 60-minute ride around the SF Bay. This cruise offers wonderful view of the San Francisco skyline, Alcatraz Island, and the Palace of Fine Arts.
You also ride under the Golden Gate Bridge, twice!
What I love most about going on this cruise is that it offers an amazing overview of all the attractions along the waterfront.
I also love the narration that offers a look back at the history of SF and the famous attractions you see as you cruise by them.
It's a fun way to spoil your mom this Mother's Day Weekend. Cruises run all day between 10 am and 5 pm.
>> Find tickets for the entire weekend
>> Additional fun cruises on the SF Bay
Free Walking Tours
Every Sunday, the SF Public Library offers a number of free walking tours around the city. They range from a stroll across the Golden Gate Bridge to a look inside the famous Haight Ashbury District.
All last around 2 hours and all are given by local experts.
I take these free walking tours all the time. Even though I lived in SF for a long time, I still learn something new each time I take one of these walks.
I also love when the guides point out hidden gems or offer their advice on other fun things to see and do around SF.
>> Additional details for free walking tours
>> Visit the SF City Guides site for a full list of tours
More Fun Tours for Mother's Day
Hop On Hop Off Bus
Tour Length: 2.5 hours if you stay on the tour for the entire loop, but it can last all day if you decide to hop off and explore some SF attractions
Tickets: Find tickets online in advance, they are often a couple of dollars less online than in person
This is a great bus tour for first time visitors. In my experience on this tour, I love how easy it makes it to get from one top attraction to the next. It includes stops at places such as Golden Gate Park, the Golden Gate Bridge and Chinatown.
You can pick it up in Fisherman's Wharf, Union Square or any of its 12+ stops around SF.
Muir Woods National Monument and Sausalito Half-Day Tour
Tour Length: About 5 hours
Tickets: Book your tickets in advance to save your spot for Mother's Day
Muir Woods is a beautiful redwood forest about an hour north of San Francisco. It's a tranquil and serene environment and a great way to enough the outdoors.
I love taking this tour up to visit this national monument as it's the easiest way to get there. You don't have to hassle with renting a car or booking a parking spot in advance.
It also gives you about 90 minutes to check out the forest on your own.
While 90 minutes may not seem like a long time, when I take this tour, I find it's plenty of time to get a great overview of this wonderful monument and to stroll along its flat, well maintained trails.
The reason I also like to go on and recommend this tour is that it includes a quick tour around Sausalito, but also the chance to hop off and spend sometime in this lovely waterfront town.
It's the perfect pick for Mother's Day! You can grab some lunch, do a little shopping, and then take the Sausalito ferry back over to SF.
Napa & Sonoma Wine Country Day Trip
Length: 8+ Hours
Tickets: Find tickets in advance to secure your spot
If your mom loves wine, then she will love this fun day trip up to Napa and Sonoma wine country. I love going on this tour as you get to sample wines from a few different wineries and I always learn something new about this amazing wine regions.
The tour starts and ends in SF, so you can sit back, relax, and enjoy the day. I also love taking pictures at the Golden Gate Bridge stop right north of the bridge.
I love that this one also includes the wine tasting fees at all three winery stops, so you don't have to think about paying there either.
What about lunch? You will have lunch on your own (not included in the ticket price) in the lovely town of Sonoma along their historic plaza. You will have 90 minutes for lunch and you can choose where you want to eat.
This Napa and Sonoma Wine Country tour is one of my favorites and one that visitors rave about!
More Fun Mother's Day Weekend Events
- Funny Girl at the Orpheum Theatre, Friday, Saturday (2 shows), Sunday
- The Glass Menagerie at the SF Playhouse, Friday, Saturday (2 shows), Sunday
- Ronny Chieng at The Masonic, Saturday (2 shows) and Sunday
- Dr. Orna Guralink at the Sydney Goldstein Theatre, Saturday night at 8 pm
- Marcus King at The Masonic, Friday at 8 pm
- Idles at the Warfield, Saturday at 8 pm
Best Places to Go Shopping
Shopping on Mother's Day is always a hit in my family and the city has several shopping options. You can either head down to Fisherman's Wharf for shopping or find bargains in Chinatown.
The picture below shows the boardwalk on Pier 39 (from above) where you will find dozens of fun places to buy goodies.
Here are some of my favorite places to go shopping in San Francisco with my mom:
Chinatown
I love heading over to Chinatown to go shopping. You can find a number of bargains here from luggage to clothing.
>> Find out more about Chinatown and where to go shopping
Pier 39
This is one of the most popular shopping spots for visitors. The pier is right along the water, making it a beautiful and fun place to hang out.
You can do a little shopping, stop for some wine tasting or even grab some lunch.
>> More about visiting Pier 39
Ghirardelli Square
This is another popular shopping area. It's smaller than Pier 39, but offers at least a dozen specialty shops from gifts to Kara's cupcakes.
>> More about where to shop in Ghirardelli Square
Union Square
The Union Square area has a number of high end shops including Louis Vuitton, Tiffany's and Saks Fifth Avenue.
You will also find other shops including a five story Macy's, Victoria's Secret and Nike.
>> Find some great places to shop for Mother's Day in Union Square
SF Attractions Your Mother Will Enjoy
Mother's Day is a popular day for visitors in San Francisco. Many of the largest attractions, such as the California Academy of Sciences, are busy and crowded.
If you don't want to battle the crowds, here are a few recommendations I think you will enjoy. They are popular, but are more spread out so don't seem to get as crowded as other San Francisco attractions.
Japanese Tea Garden
The Japanese Tea Garden is a gorgeous traditional garden. It's serene and also has a number of beautiful structures.
Botanical Gardens
Spring is my favorite time to visit the Botanical Gardens in Golden Gate Park. You will find thousands of plants from around the world and it's very colorful this time of year.
Mission Murals
Strolling the Mission Murals is another way to spend Mothers Day in San Francisco away from the crowds. All of them are free and you can walk around at your leisure.
You can also grab a sack lunch and hang out in Dolores Park either before or after you visit the murals.
Legion of Honor
The Legion of Honor is one of my favorite SF Museums. It's a little further out, so usually doesn't get as crowded as some of the other museums.
If you walk toward the water, you can also get some amazing views of the SF Bay and the Golden Gate Bridge. Their café is expensive, but has amazing food.
Alamo Square & the Painted Ladies
Another idea for Mothers Day in San Francisco is to grab a picnic lunch and head to Alamo Square. It's a gorgeous park with views of "Postcard Row" and downtown San Francisco.
After lunch, spend some time walking around the neighborhood enjoying the Painted Ladies - the official name for the colorfully painted Victorians throughout the neighborhood.
>> More about our amazing Painted Ladies
Hidden Attractions
If this isn't your first time to San Francisco, you might enjoy exploring some of these fun hidden gems with your mom this Mother's Day in San Francisco.
Discover an old church converted into a Buddhist temple, explore our neoclassical Columbarium, or admire some of our mosaic staircases.
More Fun Attractions to Visit for Mother's Day
Top Places to Stay
Are you looking at spending the weekend in SF with your mom? If so, I recommend staying either in Fisherman's Wharf or the Union Square areas. Both are near the action and the one you select will depend on what you have planned during your stay.
Fisherman's Wharf is perfect for those planning on spending a lot of time down by the water. If you want to shop along Pier 39, visit the great museums in this district or go on an Alcatraz tour, then Fisherman's Wharf is right for you. Click here for details on my favorite hotels in this district.
If your trip is more focused on activities in other parts of the city, the I recommend Union Square. This is perfect for those visiting a variety of districts as it is centrally located and it will take you less time to get from place to place. Click here for my favorite places to stay in Union Square.
Are you looking for the best hotel deals this weekend? If so, then check out all the hotels deals in San Francisco. Specials at hotels this weekend include free parking, free WiFi or even a percent off your room for a specific night or your entire stay. Click here for a current list of deals for Mother's Day.
Comments? Questions? Suggestions?
I would love for you to join me in my private Facebook group!
It's a great place to interact with me and others who know the area well.
You can ask questions, get advice for your upcoming stay, and then share your photos and advice with others when you return home. It's a great community and the fastest way to get answers to those nagging questions about your visit!