One of the bonuses of your time in Monterey will be the proximity to San Francisco. With the City by the Bay just 116 miles from Monterey, you’ll most likely be able to visit multiple times during your time here. There are many “must do’s” in SF, but we’ve decided to start with three suggestions for a perfect kid day in the city.
Whatever you decide to do during your visits to the bay area, when you move on to your next duty station, there’s a good chance you, too, will leave your heart in San Francisco.
Presidio Tunnel Tops
The “top” of any list of kid-approved stops in San Francisco has to be Presidio Tunnel Tops. It’s built on top of the Presidio Parkway tunnels, with amazing Golden Gate views. It has everything a family could want: places to be in nature, picnic sites, lawns and gathering spaces, and an incredible nature play space for kids. If you prefer to park your car elsewhere, you can get to Presidio Tunnel Tops on public transportation, including the free Presidio GO Shuttle. You’ll also find paid parking that is readily accessible most days.
Pack your cart or stroller with a blanket to spread out on the expansive lawn and a picnic lunch (or you can visit the food trucks on site every day). There isn’t a lot of shade, so bring sunscreen because even on overcast days, you can get a burn quickly. Pack jackets because the weather can change rapidly.
When you arrive, head to Presidio Visitor Center, where you’ll find The Presidio Tunnel Tops Discovery Guide. The Presidio Explorer Backpack introduces families to self-guided adventures around the park. It includes a map, nature guides, a magnifying glass, binoculars, a sand sifter, colored pencils and paper, and a compass. Activity cards prompt fun ideas. Check it out from Presidio Visitor Center or the Field Station.
The best part of Tunnel Tops for kids will be The Outpost, a two-acre play space inspired by the Presidio’s nature and history. Kids from 2-12 can swing, crawl, and climb on huge play structures built from fallen tree trunks, boulders, and other things inspired by nature.
You’ll also find a discovery area for young children, two art and science spaces with activities, and a place where kids can build with natural materials from the park.
In addition to special events throughout the year, at 4 pm daily from Friday through Sunday, you can join National Park Service rangers for free campfire talks at Presidio Tunnel Tops’ Campfire Circle near the Presidio Visitor Center. Park rangers present histories of the diverse people who have passed through the Presidio over the years – this includes indigenous history, military stories, including the Buffalo Soldiers’ stories, Japanese Americans interned during WWII, and more.
The Presidio is open daily, year-round. Presidio Tunnel Tops is an open outdoor space like the rest of the park. However, some experiences are open during specific hours. Presidio Visitor Center is open every day from 10 am to 5 pm. The Outpost is open from 9:30 am to 6 pm from April to October and 9:30 am to 4:30 pm from November to March. The Field Station is open Wednesdays to Fridays from 11 am to 4 pm and from 10 am to 5 pm on weekends. The Presidio Pop-Up food and beverage vendors are open weekdays from 9 am to 5 pm and weekends from 9 am to 5:30 pm.
- PRESIDIO TUNNEL TOPS
- 210 LINCOLN BOULEVARD,
- SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94129
- PRESIDIOTUNNELTOPS.GOV
Golden Gate Park
This 1,017-acre area, located right in the city’s heart, is full of unique attractions, picturesque places, and kid-friendly activities. Golden Gate Park is larger than Central Park in NYC, stretching from the city’s center, in the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood, all the way out to the western edge at Ocean Beach.
Home to attractions like Japanese Tea Garden, Botanical Garden, de Young Museum, and the Conservatory of Flowers, Golden Gate also offers a ton of fun for younger kids.
Before heading out for your first visit, head over to the park website at sfrecpark.org/1159/Getting-to-Golden-Gate-Park. Everything you’ll need to know about attractions, special events, parking, and reservations is on the website. You can download a copy of the site map (we strongly recommend printing it so you aren’t trying to read the tiny captions on your phone!). Take some time to plan your stops and choose your parking accordingly. Then, it’s off to the park for a full day of family fun.
The easiest way to get around the park is to find a good parking spot close to where you plan on spending the most time and then use the complimentary shuttle, which runs from the eastern end of the park to the middle at Transverse Drive, along JFK Drive. You’ll find shuttle info and routes on the website.
What to see in the park
Playgrounds and carousel: The children’s playground in Golden Gate Park’s southeast corner, called the Sharon Quarters for Children when it opened in 1888, is thought to have been the nation’s first public playground. With support from the Koret Foundation, the playground underwent a major renovation and reopened in 2007 as the Koret Children’s Quarter. Features include a climbing wall and a rope climbing structure; the historic concrete slide was retained.
Since the playground opened, three carousels have been housed near the Koret Children’s Quarter. The current carousel has menagerie animals and painted panels that depict Bay Area landscapes. Carousel hours vary depending on weather, school schedules, and season. Call (415) 231-0077 to hear a message regarding the current status and schedule.
Academy of Science: Your family can visit a rainforest, a coral reef, and the other fascinating exhibits at the California Academy of Sciences, including the four-story rain forest, a show at the Morrison Planetarium, and the Steinhart Aquarium. The living roof is a highlight.
Windmills: When Golden Gate Park was created, two windmills were built on the western edge to pump water for irrigation. These windmills provided water for the plants in the park’s western half until 1935 when electric pumps took over. The northern windmill was built in 1902 and was donated to the city by Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands. A garden has been planted at the windmill’s base, displaying masses of tulips in the early spring and other flowers the rest of the year.
Bison (yes, bison!): Golden Gate Park has its own herd of bison. They can be seen grazing in a large enclosure behind a chain link fence, on the north side of JFK Drive, near the Chain of Lakes. Wrongly named “buffalo paddock,” these animals are North American bison, a different species. Relatives of the current residents contributed to rebuilding the bison population in the US when it was nearing extinction.
- GOLDEN GATE PARK
- SFRECPARK.ORG/770/GOLDEN-GATE-PARK
Exploratorium
The Exploratorium is a hands-on, educational museum with more than 600 interactive exhibits. Located on Pier 15 (Embarcadero at Green St), the Exploratorium is convenient to many tourist attractions making it easy to combine your visit to the Exploratorium with another stop. But unless you’re planning an overnight visit to the city, we advise planning a full day of exploration at this hands-on museum.
Before you head out for a visit, check out the website at exploratorium.edu. You’ll find a wealth of information, including experiments you can do at home, educator materials, relevant links, and a downloadable map of the exhibits.
Getting there:
The Exploratorium doesn’t have a parking lot, but they partner with SP+ to offer a discount at the Pier 15 Parking Lot and the Pier 19½ Parking Lot using the discount code 4302100. You can purchase discounted parking at both lots in one of two ways: give the discount code to the parking attendant or pay at a ticket kiosk in the lot and enter the code.
The fun begins
You’ll quickly notice that while many museums have docents, the Exploratorium has “explainers.” These young, orange-vested students are engaged in both teaching and learning. They are trained and supported by staff scientists and educators. Our advice is to use their services! The gallery of exhibits can be overwhelming, and kids will want to try everything. The explainers have insider knowledge of the displays and can help you narrow the choices to suit your children’s interests and ages.
The exhibits are divided into six categories: Human Phenomena, Tinkering, Seeing & Reflections, Living Systems, Outdoor Exhibits, and Observing Landscapes. Everything is hands-on, so children get to immerse themselves in the experience. We had a difficult time deciding which exhibit was our favorite. Our finalists include the Giant Mirror in Gallery 1, the Fog Bridge in Gallery 6, and the toilet water fountain.
Active, retired, and reservist military personnel may purchase reduced admission tickets on-site. Present your military ID or proof of service (VA card or DD-214) to purchase your tickets.
One last bit of advice, breaking up your day is the best way to take in all that the Exploratorium offers without the kids getting overstimulated. You can have a nice lunch at either of the on site restaurants, Seaglass Restaurant or Seismic Joint Café, walk to a restaurant close by, or use the designated eating area to enjoy a snack you’ve packed.
- PIER 15 EMBARCADERO AT GREEN STREET
- SAN FRANCISCO, 94111
- (415) 528-4444
- EXPLORATORIUM.EDU