Perfect Weekend in San Francisco with Kids: Fun Family-Friendly Itinerary

Are you looking for ideas for a perfect weekend in San Francisco with kids? Do you want to make sure to find the best ideas that your entire family will love?

This two-day San Francisco itinerary with kids offers several fun family-friendly activities. You will check out Fisherman's Wharf, head out on a bay cruise, and spend some time at the California Academy of Sciences.

Read on to learn more about what to see and do during your San Francisco family vacation.

Disclaimer: I receive a small commission from some of the links on this page.

Perfect Weekend in San Francisco with Kids: Day 1

If you had just one day in San Francisco with kids, I would follow this itinerary.

Day 1 of your perfect weekend starts at our most popular museum in Golden Gate Park. You will then visit the must-see Golden Gate Bridge, head over to crooked Lombard Street, and then unwind at Pier 39.

California Academy of Sciences

Start your San Francisco family vacation itinerary with a visit to our treasured California Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park.

This large, popular museum features a four-story rainforest, a planetarium, a natural history museum, and an aquarium.

It's home to several live animals, including a rare white alligator named Claude, some very cute penguins, and plenty of birds and butterflies.

The earthquake simulator is also popular, as you can feel what it would be like to be in a major earthquake.

I recommend getting to the museum when it first opens and heading straight over to the Morrison Planetarium to reserve tickets to a show.

Planetarium tickets are on a first-come, first-served basis, so you will want to pick yours up right away if you want to see a show.

You could spend all day here, but I recommend that you plan to stay for about 3 hours.

>> Book your tickets in advance so you don't have to wait in line when you arrive

Lunch on Day 1

After spending the morning exploring our four-in-one museum in the park, I'm sure you and the kids will be hungry. You can either enjoy lunch at the café inside the museum, or venture into the nearby Sunset District for a bite to eat. 

If trying local cuisine is a priority for your San Francisco family holiday, you're in for a treat. You'll find a range of excellent options right near the park.

Some of my favorite neighborhood spots for grabbing lunch on San Francisco family vacations include:

• The Yellow Submarine for sandwiches
• Pasquale's Pizzeria for Italian food
• Art's Cafe for Korean-American fusion

>> Find more details and recommendations on my Inner Sunset page

Golden Gate Bridge

Another must on your family trip to San Francisco is a stop at the Golden Gate Bridge. Head over here after lunch.

In the mid-afternoon, it will probably be cool and windy. Make sure you have your jackets for this part of the visit.

Once you arrive at the Golden Gate Bridge (a taxi or Uber is the fastest route from the Inner Sunset), first head to the small outdoor museum to learn more about this top San Francisco attraction. You will learn a little about its history and see a model that shows you how the bridge works.

You can then head onto the bridge's eastern walkway. The bridge is 1.7 miles long, but you don't have to walk the full distance over to the Marin Headlands. Most people just walk to the southern tower, which only takes a few minutes.

Looking up at the southern tower will give you a great sense of the height of this amazing bridge (both the tallest and longest suspension bridge in the world at the time it was built!).

You can spend up to 2 hours at this SF icon. This is not only one of the most memorable SF stops, but one of the best free things to do in San Francisco with kids.

>> Find out everything you need to know about walking on the Golden Gate Bridge

Lombard Street

Next, you will head over to one of the crookedest streets in the world, Lombard Street. This is another free attraction.

You can pick up the #28 Muni bus in the Golden Gate Bridge parking lot and get off at Van Ness and Chestnut. From there, you’ll walk one block south and three blocks east, uphill, to the top of Lombard Street.

If you decide to take a taxi or Uber, it is faster. However, they will not be able to drop you off at the top of the hill, so you will probably still need to climb at least one long steep block.

Alternatively, you can ask them to drop you off at the bottom (Lombard and Leavenworth), so you can slowly walk up the scenic street instead of walking down it.

You will find sidewalks and steps on both sides of Lombard Street. Soak in the views and watch the cars make their way down its hairpin turns.

The best photo of it is at the bottom looking back up at this wonderful, brick-lined street. This is a classic photo for every family vacation to San Francisco.

You will probably spend about 1 hour here.

Dinner on Day 1

Once you are done at Lombard Street, make your way over to Pier 39 in Fisherman's Wharf for dinner and some entertainment.

You can either walk or take a taxi or Uber. The walk is downhill most of the way, which makes it easy. It's about a mile, with cool things to see along the way.

I love to recommend the Players Sports Grill and Arcade for families because it has something for everyone.

The kids can play video games as the grownups watch sports and have a drink after a busy day. Their menu is full of everything from tasty salads to impressive burgers. They have a great selection of beers on tap, as well as some fun tropical cocktails.

After you are done here, I'm sure you will be ready to call it a night and get ready for tomorrow's adventures on your two-day itinerary in San Francisco with kids.

>> Find several more ideas to explore the Fisherman's Wharf District with kids

Where to Stay in San Francisco for the Weekend

You might be wondering where you should stay for your perfect weekend in San Francisco with kids. I would recommend staying in the Fisherman's Wharf District.

You will end Day 1 in this district. You will spend most of Day 2 here, too. It's the best option for kids as you can walk to almost everything you need.

Here are just a few of the best family-friendly hotels in Fisherman's Wharf:

Hotel Zephyr: This is always my first pick in Fisherman's Wharf. The hotel is in the heart of the action, about a 5-minute walk from Pier 39. They have a cool outdoor courtyard with some fun areas for you to relax and unwind after a full day of sightseeing. They also have some games for kids and a bar where you can enjoy an adult beverage to close out your day. Find booking and reviews.

The Wharf Inn: This is a popular place for families because the rooms are a decent size and the prices are great for this area of the city. They have a couple of suites that would give your family room to spread out. The downside is that the inn isn't very big, so the rooms go quickly. Find information to book a room here.

Argonaut Hotel: Another fun family-friendly hotel is the Argonaut. It's on the western end of the Fisherman's Wharf district. The hotel features a nautical theme throughout. It's also right across the street from the water and there are a lot of great restaurants nearby. Check out room rates and reviews here.

>> Here are some additional top hotels around Fisherman's Wharf

Perfect Weekend in San Francisco with Kids: Day 2

On Day 2 of your perfect weekend in San Francisco with kids, you will spend the day exploring Fisherman's Wharf. You'll start the day with a morning bay cruise.

Bay Cruise

The 60-minute bay cruise is the most popular option for getting out on the water. It starts and finishes in Fisherman's Wharf.

After leaving the wharf, you will head west along the northern waterfront, where you will see Fort Mason and cruise past Crissy Field.

You will then head under the Golden Gate Bridge. Your cruise will turn around here and head back under the Golden Gate Bridge a second time.

Your cruise then heads east toward Alcatraz. You will circle The Rock and then head back to your starting point in Fisherman's Wharf.

Along the way, you will listen to narration about San Francisco's attractions and history. You will also get some great views of Sausalito and the SF Skyline.

>> Get your tickets early for this popular Golden Gate Bay Cruise

Aquarium of the Bay

After your bay cruise, you will then head back over to Pier 39. This is where you will find the Aquarium of the Bay.

This is a cool aquarium that is home to only plants and animals that live in the SF Bay. I think it's great to do this right after the bay cruise because you'll already have a sense of where these animals live in the wild.

The top level has just a few aquariums. The bottom level is where you will find a large number of animals and fish from the bay.

There are two walk-through aquarium tunnels as well as some touch pools. Here the kids can touch a starfish and other local creatures.

You will spend about 2 hours here.

>> Find tickets to the Aquarium of the Bay

Other Pier 39 Activities

You will then spend the rest of your family vacation in San Francisco checking out Pier 39, which is full of fun kid things to do, whether you're traveling with toddlers or teens.

The younger ones will love hopping on the historic carousel and checking out the barking sea lions.

The older kids will gravitate toward the 7D Experience, an interactive ride-movie in which the audience works together to fight off the bad guys. The Flyer, Laser Maze Challenge, escape rooms, and Mirror Maze are also fun.

Pier 39 is the perfect place to do some souvenir shopping and eat some classic San Francisco treats, including clam chowder in a bread bowl.

Additional Ideas for Your Stay

Your perfect weekend in San Francisco with kids will keep you busy and your entire family happy. If you have more than just a weekend in San Francisco, here are a few additional ideas for you.

Exploratorium

The Exploratorium is a hands-on science and human perception museum. It's a place for kids to explore and learn about the world around them (but adults love it, too!). Learn more.

>> Pick up Exploratorium tickets here

Stairways

You will find dozens of colorful, interesting, and photo-worthy staircases all around SF. You can climb them or run down them as you explore the city on foot. 

>> Check out my list of 8 favorites and where to find them

Whale Watching

The waters of the Pacific Ocean just off the coast of San Francisco are a great place to go whale watching. You can head out for a morning or afternoon tour.

Your entire family will enjoy these trips as you search for whales, dolphins, turtles, and a variety of species of marine birds. 

>>  Read more tips about the whale watching tours and the wildlife you'll see by season

More Great Resources for Your San Francisco Itinerary with Kids

Click on the links below to read more about free kid activities in San Francisco, as well as fun things to do specifically for families with toddlers and families with teenagers.

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