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Our Favorite Low-Cost Fun in San Francisco

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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

Plan a Super Fun Kid’s Day in San Francisco

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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

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

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

Hands-On Science Fun in San Francisco

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My family and I had the opportunity to visit the Exploratorium at Pier 15 in San Francisco with the goal of exploring and then reporting back to the readers of Monterey Bay Parent. After weighing the risks and reading about the museum’s Covid-19 safety protocols, we decided to venture north to check out the museum for the day. My wife and I figured that, with our too-young-to-be-vaccinated daughter, we could leave and find other things to do in San Francisco if the museum was too crowded or not well regulated. Before the pandemic, I had lamented not having bigger city activities like those in San Jose and San Francisco that would give my daughter the cultural and educational experiences that my wife and I experienced growing up. The Exploratorium seemed like a great opportunity.

If you are unfamiliar, the Exploratorium is a world-class science museum in San Francisco, located on Pier 15, near the Ferry Building, with 75,000 square feet of exhibition space. Here’s a tip: Call and ask what days and times are the slowest to avoid crowds. We went on a Sunday, traffic was as expected, and parking was ample. Like many museums and attractions, you submit a time in which you would like to be admitted for crowd regulation. There were touchless admissions and an attendant to help, hand sanitizer stations were everywhere, and all the staff and guests were wearing masks. Also, there were fewer people with the regulated time of admissions, making it easy to maintain social distance from other visitors. We also heard and saw the staff approach any guest who removed their mask, including the little ones. This made visiting during Covid times more enjoyable.

What always strikes me about visiting museums like the Exploratorium is how clever the exhibits are in fusing science with interaction. As soon as we entered, my daughter was off pressing buttons and turning knobs on her own with the variety of exhibits, experimenting with controls to figure out the concepts. The museum has six galleries, including one that is outside. The galleries are Human Phenomena, Tinkering, Seeing & Reflections, Living Systems, Outdoor Exhibits, and Observing Landscapes. Each section immerses you into a new world of science and art. Art, perspective, color, and light are incorporated into each of the galleries. Even the restrooms include images of optical illusions on the tiles.

The Explainers (staff) help to engage the visitors. At one station, my daughter arrived in time to aid in collecting water off the pier outside to show plankton on the projection microscope. Later, we returned to watch the live dissection of a cow’s eye. At another station, the Explainer engaged a small group with an opportunity for each kid to create a lightbulb filament with wire, batteries, and a jar and experiment with what would work to make the light last longer. I was impressed by the Explainer’s good training when she questioned the children into thinking critically about what to change to meet their goals.

At lunchtime, we headed to the cafe that had a range of options of ready-made sandwiches, salads, and made-to-order hamburgers and fries, and beer and wine were available for the adults too. The choices are ample for most families–although very fussy eaters may want to bring food. Prices are museum prices but not outrageous. My daughter was speeding through her lunch to get to the outdoor gallery. She was eager to get on these circular chairs with rounded bottoms like a top. They are designed to spin on the bottom edge and not topple over. In addition, there is also an optical illusion house to walk through where it appears from one side that the inhabitants are growing in size. Clever!

Another gallery looks out onto the bay and invites the visitors to draw what they see while looking through various colored and gridded lenses. My daughter sat down to draw the buildings and trees across the way. She added a cat in a boat because “it was too plain.” At the same time, her drawing showed that she understood how to use the grid lines on the lens to guide the proportions in her picture. A win for teaching that art and perspective principle!

I anticipated that we would be there at most for a couple of hours with my daughter whipping through the exhibits and then getting bored. Instead, we were there for five hours until the museum closed. We probably could have stayed even longer, given the number of exhibits. Notice that I have continued to use “we.” Yes, my wife and I were equally entertained by the exhibits as our daughter, a sign of a quality museum appealing to all ages. I think, in my observation, that the museum is ideal for kids four years old and up. Pre-reading kids have plenty of things to do and touch that do not require reading the instructions. Kids with reading skills can easily engage with all aspects of the exhibits.

For me, the day trip was worth it to give my daughter a new experience and learn about science and art in novel, interactive ways. To have an activity that kept my daughter engaged and learning and in a safer environment is a win.

Robert (Rob) S. Weisskirch, MSW, Ph.D., CFLE is a Professor of Human Development at California State University, Monterey Bay and is a Certified Family Life Educator. He and his wife are parents to a chatty, elementary school-aged daughter and reside in Marina.

Celebrate Your Besties With a Girls’ Getaway

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February is the perfect month to make plans for a girls’ getaway. You may be surprised to hear a girls’ trip will have significant benefits for your mind and body. The purpose of your trip likely depends on your life stage. If you are a young mom, you may be looking for some adventure out of your ordinary routine. Middle-aged women seek breaks from the commitments of work and family life. Even grandmas may be looking for an escape to prove they are still confident and independent. You probably have some girlfriends that were there for your wedding, pregnancy and maybe even there to support you when you sent your adolescent off to college. What better way to thank them for their gift of friendship over the years than to strengthen your bond even further in a brand new and exciting territory? We are fortunate to have three great options close to Monterey, so you do not have to go far to experience the joy a getaway with your girls brings. 

1. Las Vegas. Everything you want will be right before your eyes whether it is eating, drinking, shopping, seeing live shows, going clubbing or testing your lady luck at the casino. The Palazzo, The Venetian, and the action-packed Cosmopolitan are top hotel picks. 

Once you have checked in you will be ready to get glam and hit the town. Drybar at Miracle Mile is a fabulous time where you can sit down with a stylist as you are among a full bar, DJ and even photo booth to capture the memories. 

Vegas offers restaurants galore. Lago at Bellagio has a fountain show and plates big enough to share so you will be able to get a sample of everything your heart desires. If you are looking for a more feminine vibe, check out the Italian eatery Giada at the Cromwell which is run by celebrity chef Giada De Laurentis. 

If you have been bogged down with households tasks and work obligations and want to see what it is like living in the fast lane, stop by SPEEDVegas. It is one of a kind attraction and probably the most thrilling thing you will do on your trip. Get your gals together to race one another around the track in a dream Ferrari or Lamborghini and try to beat one another’s speed.

History buffs can get to know the background of this wild city at Neon Museum where you can see signs from old casinos and other quirky Vegas memorabilia.  

2. Healdsburg. In 3 hours you can find yourself in this charming small town with big offerings. You can take in the breathtaking scenery of Sonoma County while sipping your favorite wine. 

Accommodations range from quaint bed and breakfast Haydon Street Inn to echo-friendly H2 Hotel to Two Thirty-Five Luxury Suites. All are conveniently located near the downtown plaza which is filled with shopping, boutiques, restaurants and art galleries. 

Healdsburg has become a dining mecca over the past few years and there are plenty of great restaurants to choose from. For a big splurge, have one dinner at Valette. You can’t go wrong with any entree choice but be sure to leave room for Bread, Butter and Jam–toasted brioche with homemade jan and salted brown butter ice cream

You do not need to travel to Italy to treat your palette to the finest wines and visit the vineyards. Some favoritenot to be missed wineries are Reeve Wines, Davero Farms, and Bella Vineyards and Wine Caves where tastings are performed in a cave. If you’re going to put together your own winery list, plan on a stop at Dry Creek General Store for lunch. You can eat there or take it to go and have a picnic at one of your winery stops. You can also do a guided wine tour to make life easier–there are plenty of options available. 

The Healdsburg area is a biking paradise so you will want to rent a bike and hit the trails. 

3. San Francisco. Whether you are a first-time or seasoned visitor, the Golden City is sure to have something for every girl in your pack. Shoppers, foodies and art gurus may find themselves busy from morning until night. 

For all the pampering your heart desires the InterContinental, the Four Seasons or the W San Francisco would be great picks for accommodations. 

You can begin by walking or biking across the Golden Gate Bridge and snapping photos of the incredible views. For shopping, dining and street performers, stop by Pier 39 at Fisherman’s Wharf, Union Square and Ghirardelli Square for a chocolate sensation. For the artsy at heart, a walking tour of Mission Streets colorful murals or taking in a movie at the classic Castro Theater should be on your itinerary. 

For the ultimate tourist experience, you can hop on and off a cable car and check out all of the attractions at your own pace. You can even take a ferry to historic Alcatraz. When you are looking to kick back and relax, try afternoon tea at the Palace Hotel, a float spa or Thai massage. 

You’ll find awesome restaurants in every neighborhood ranging from the inexpensive (La Taqueria on Mission Street, the perfect late evening stop) to the decadent (Restaurant Gary Danko).

When you are ready to put your party shoes on there is no shortage of places to go. Some local favorites include Harry Denton Starlight Room and Top of The Mark at the Mark Hopkins Hotel. There is so much to do here that you will likely be planning next winter’s girls trip back once again. 

Jamie Lober, author of Pink Power (www.getpinkpower.com), is dedicated to providing information on women’s and pediatric health topics (and the occasional travel article). She can be reached at jamie@getpinkpower.com.

A “Beat” Tour of San Francisco

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I’ve always fancied myself as a bit of a hippie–a huge fan of the music, writing, and art of the 60’s and early 70’s. As a result of that fascination, I went back a little further, reading Jack Kerouac’s “On the Road” and some of the poems of Allen Ginsburg. That got me started on an interest in the “Beat Generation.” My daughter, who lives in San Francisco, knowing my interest, planned a “Beat” tour of the city as a Mother’s Day gift for me.

A little background: The Beat Generation authors are generally thought to include William S. Burroughs, Lucien Carr, Allen Ginsburg, Herbert Huncke and Jack Kerouac. The men met in NYC in 1944 and later most of the group ended up in San Francisco where they became associated with the San Francisco Renaissance.

Kerouac was the one who introduced the phrase “Beat Generation” to describe the underground youth movement in NYC that quickly spread across the country and was the precursor to the hippie movement of the 60’s. Herb Caen of the San Francisco Chronicle originated the term “beatnik.”

Most of the highlights of a Beat tour of the city are in North Beach. Start your tour at Jack Kerouac Alley which runs along the south side of City Lights Bookstore (your next stop) and connects North Beach with Chinatown. You’ll find plaques, tiles, and signs along the very short street.

Go around the corner to 261 Columbus Avenue and you’ll find the iconic City Lights Bookstore. City Lights was founded in 1953 by poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti. Ferlinghetti is known for defending Ginsburg against obscenity charges after publishing Ginsburg’s controversial book “Howl.” 

City Lights is compact, crammed with books (and patrons), and feels a bit holy. Be sure to go upstairs. It’s now the poetry room and the place where readings and signings are held. 

Next up, The Beat Museum. Located at 540 Broadway, the museum was founded in 2006 by Jerry Cimino, a Beat enthusiast. You’ll find a wide range of Beat-related memorabilia and photographs including an “On the Road” exhibit. The day I was there, my daughter and I were the only ones in the museum for most of our stay. We wandered freely through the exhibits for about two hours before spending some time in the gift shop. The shop has a nice collection of Beat literature, awesome pins that make great souvenirs, and an unexpected and wide-ranging collection of records for sale.

After the museum, it’s time for people watching and a drink at the Vesuvio Cafe. Vesuvio is right across the street from City Lights at 255 Columbus Avenue.  According to the cafe’s website, the iconic bar is a “historical monument to jazz, poetry, art and the good life of the Beat Generation.” Order a “Swinging Beat,” a delicious combination of vodka, fresh lime, pomegranate and Cointreau and then sit back and take in the atmosphere.

A Beat tour of San Francisco is a fun way to spend an afternoon. Make sure you pick up a copy of “On the Road” or another of the Beat writers’ books at either City Lights or the Beat Museum to keep the vibe going after you get home!

For additional information:

City Lights Bookstore

Vesuvio Cafe

Beat Museum

Beat Walking Tours of SF

Parenting OC