If you’re planning a family trip to the City by the Bay, here are our favorite low-cost activities that will keep both kids and parents entertained.
CABLE CAR RIDE
While cable car rides can be a bit pricey, you can opt for a one-way ticket to experience this iconic San Francisco experience without breaking the bank. Choose the Powell-Hyde or Powell-Mason lines for stunning views of the city and the bay. Finish up with a visit to the free Cable Car Museum at 1201 Mason Street. cablecarmuseum.org
GOLDEN GATE PARK
Spend a day exploring the vastness of Golden Gate Park. Visit the free-to-enter California Academy of Sciences on Sundays for engaging exhibits and live shows. Take a stroll through the Botanical Gardens or bring a picnic to enjoy in one of the park’s scenic spots. Don’t miss a visit to the bison paddock or the windmill. If you’re at the park on a Monday, Wednesday, or Friday between 9 am to 10 am, you can enter the Japanese Tea Garden for free. This allows your family to stay as long as you want to admire the beautiful gardens, check out its colorful pagodas, and stroll along its paved paths. sfrecpark.org/770/Golden-Gate-Park
STERN GROVE FREE CONCERTS
During the summer months, Stern Grove hosts free outdoor concerts featuring a variety of musical genres. Pack a picnic, bring a blanket, and enjoy an afternoon of live music in this beautiful park setting. You must have a free general admission ticket for all attendees over the age of 2. The site, along Sloat Boulevard between 19th and 34th Avenues is about two miles south of the Golden Gate Park. Sterngrove.org
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, and a 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.
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. presidiotunneltops.gov/visit/faq
THREE FREE INNINGS OF BASEBALL
There is a viewing area offering standing room only access to a limited number of people on the south side of Oracle Park near McCovey Cove. The viewers switch every three innings with an usher running the transition. Kids will get a kick out of watching and three innings is usually enough for them. mlb.com/giants/ballpark/information/guide
YERBA BUENA GARDENS PLAYGROUND
Located in the heart of the city, Yerba Buena Gardens offers a fantastic playground for children. At the Children’s Garden, thrill-seeking tots can fly down a 25-foot-long tube slide and get lost in a labyrinth. It also includes the Play Circle which incorporates a sand circle, a playground, and a xylophone that kids can play to their hearts content
The nearby waterfall and butterfly garden add to the charm. yerbabuenagardens.com
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