Pay attention, parents! As the west coast mornings slowly grow more crisp and the stream of family activities in San Francisco wind down for the summer, there’s no denying it. Autumn is on its way.
And with it (if they haven’t commenced their routes already) will come the steady hum of school buses. The kiddos will bring backpacks full of announcements and assignments home. And the household calendar will likely get loaded with exciting extracurricular activities for both kids and adults alike… Meetings, practices, homework, carpool duties, and socializing (and surely plenty more where those came from). ..
Among all of this hustle and bustle of these new school year activities in SF, it’s of the utmost importance to keep one thing in mind: each other.
Establishing a healthy balance between the new school year’s vim and vigor, and ensuring your family members also enjoy enough quality time together, is a vital part of sharing this next ‘chapter’ of family life together.
So this fall, keep the good times together going strong through November with these 17 things to do in San Francisco with kids.
1. Rockridge Ice Cream Tour
Indulge in one of the sweetest family activities in San Francisco! This one-hour (0.5-mile) tour in Oakland features three stops where guests can enjoy samples, demonstrations and fun facts about the world’s tastiest frozen treats. Try samples like ice cream sandwiches, gelato, and wild new flavors. This outing is perfect for all ages, and generally runs each Saturday and Sunday until late October.
2. Coastal Clean-Up Day
Being the eclectic city that it is, it comes as no surprise that some SF activities, such as this, exist to promote TLC for our planet. Round up the young’ns and participate in one of Cali’s biggest volunteer clean-up efforts. Help local beaches sparkle again, preventing trash from washing into the ocean waters, thereby keeping wildlife healthy. This is a great way to engage kids in stewardship and environmental responsibility. Do it on your own or join a formal organization to support the cause.
3. International Dragon Boat Festival
For a cultural spin on things to do in SF with kids, head to Lake Merritt! The traditional boat races offer spectator fun for everyone. And ‘Dragon Land’ is not to be missed! Enjoy countless activities for children: hula hoops, music, arts and crafts, free games, obstacle courses, photos, and lots of food!
4. Big Book Festival
Nothing says quality family time quite like curling up together with a good book before bedtime. If any hot spot supports this activity in San Francisco, it’s the Fort Mason Center. Let kids’ inner bookworms run wild with a spread of over 500,000 books at the event. Or let them splurge with a DVD. As adults, you’ll love the ‘vintage’ collection of vinyl that’s available for your listening pleasure and purchase.
5. Grand National Rodeo, Horse & Stock Show
If an event takes place at a venue called “Cow Palace” —especially one that showcases the wild side of livestock— you know it’s got to be good. So get in on some of the best rough ‘n’ tumble family activities in San Francisco! Grab some delightfully greasy food, snag some seats in the stands, and cheer on the event’s bareback riding, steer wrestling, barrel racing, and much more — YEEEHAWWW!
6. Potrero Hill Festival
Jazz up what would otherwise be a normal Saturday afternoon at the homestead. Be a part of one of the most unique community activities in SF, when your family hits up the Potrero Hill Festival instead! Feast your eyes, ears and taste buds on the likes of good grub, cool tunes, art, history, and a plethora of fun for the kids (petting zoo, puppet show, crafts, entertainment, etc.).
7. Halloween Hoopla
Yerba Buena Gardens goes all-out for this fall festival for the little(ish) ones. Perfect for SF’s residents who are 10 years old and under (and their parents/guardians, of course), this interactive event offers games and performances in honor of this spook-tacular time of year. Dress to impress because the Hoopla ends with a costume parade, where all are welcome to show off their most happenin’ Halloween threads!
8. The Great Dickens Christmas Fair
Holy cow, it’s another event at the palace… Cow Palace, that is. So again, you know it’s going to be great! Step through the venue’s doors and marvel at its transformation into an old English Victorian Christmas celebration. Too soon? Nah, it’s the perfect way to fade into winter fun. Enjoy the holliest-jolliest family activities in San Francisco, full of food, drinks, shops (featuring arts, crafts, toys, jewelry, books and more), music, dancing, kids theatre shows, and plenty of period costumes. The Cow Palace halls are usually decked with boughs of holly until mid-December.
9. Turkey Trail Trot with Kids Gobbler Chase
Go for the gold on Thanksgiving Day! In other words, rally your fam for a walk/run through Golden Gate Park! It will help the kids burn off some steam before the excitement of the foodie-festivities commences. And it’s a great way for you to go guilt-free — working off your Thursday feast in advance, woohoo! So starting your Turkey Day in an invigorating way, with one of the healthiest things to do in San Francisco with kids.
“Great on Any Date” Family Activities in San Francisco
Can’t squeeze one of the above ideas into your family’s schedule? Not to worry! Plenty of activities in SF are available year-round, so they flexibly fit into almost any time frame. Check ‘em out below.
- 10. Stroll the Golden Gate Bridge. Bundle up and admire the changing colors of autumn from the breathtaking perspective of the most iconic of SF attractions. (*Psst! Did someone say incredible family photo opp for those upcoming holiday cards?*)
- 11. Putz around Pier 39. Enjoy the vibrant atmosphere of SF’s Fisherman's Wharf, at Beach Street and The Embarcadero. Play games, mow down delicious food, marvel at the water, rent some bikes, hop on a boat ride, and so much more! Parking is right across the street, making it one of the most easily accessible things to do with kids in San Francisco.
- 12. Take a trolley ride. Trolleys (aka streetcars) are a fun way to shake up a normal trip to go get ice cream or hot chocolate, etc. They run on Market Street, along the Embarcadero from Fisherman’s Wharf and Pier 39, over to AT&T Park. So if you prefer to add another adventure to your Pier 39 outing, consider parking by the ball field and ‘trolleying’ out to the pier.
- 13. Play in Golden Gate Park. Outdoor activities in SF abound in this renowned park. Pack a picnic. Bring Frisbees. Lounge on blankets with a book. Rent a pedal boat. Amble through the Botanical Gardens and Conservatory of Flowers. Or swing by the Koret Children’s Quarter, where you can join the young’ns on a swoop down the famous concrete slide or take a spin on the carousel!
- 14. Visit the California Academy of Sciences. Fill any afternoon with the fascinating and fun world of science. Immerse your clan in family activities in San Francisco’s aquarium, planetarium or natural history museum. (Don’t worry, the kids will find them thoroughly rad and riveting.)
- 15. Park yourself at The Presidio. But rest assured you won’t sit still! With so many options at this celebrated national park, it will be tough to stay in one place. Enjoy 24-miles of scenic hiking trails. Try a formal walking tour. Amble down memory lane at the Walt Disney Family Museum. Volunteer. Take an outdoor kids’ class. Or take advantage of rec facilities like a trampoline house, bowling center, and batting cages.
- 16. Explore the San Francisco Zoo and Gardens. Meander through 100 acres of wildlife, adjacent to the marvelous Pacific Ocean. Check out over 1,000 endangered and rescued animals, while also enjoying educational programs, rides, kids’ events, and meet ‘n’ greets with zoo keepers.
- 17. Fly high at the Hiller Aviation Museum. Kiddos’ dreams will get even bigger with family activities in San Francisco like this one. Offering aircraft exhibits and events for flight enthusiasts of all ages, this is the perfect way to escape the hustle and bustle of a city day. Children will love the venue’s experiences like hands-on open cockpit days, bird shows, invention labs, preschool reading, and crafts.
