Activities for kids in the San Francisco area
 

By popular vote (including the vote of the graduate herself) we have decided to skip the baccalaureate part of our Stanford graduation trip.

So now we are looking for activities on Saturday, June 15, that will be fun for adults and three kids ages 3, 4 and 5.

Alcatraz came up as one idea, but do you have any others? is there a children's museum?

Thanks so much!

How about Coit tower? Top of Telegraph Hill. http://gocalifornia.about.com/od/cas.../coittower.htm
Ride the cable cars, walk along the Embarcadero.

Personally, I don't think I would take children that young to Alcatraz. My 2 cents, but there is a lot of walking and frankly, it is pretty eerie in there and might freak them out.

http://www.exploratorium.edu/

http://www.calacademy.org/

http://www.sfzoo.org/

http://www.yerbabuenagardens.com/features/gardens.html

This isn't specifically for kids, but you might be able to find something here.

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...mendations.cfm

Stu Dudley

I would agree with the exploratorium and would also suggest the Koret Children's quarter in Golden Gate Park. http://www.golden-gate-park.com/chil...layground.html

Coit Tower - for 3, 4 and 5 yo's???

The Exploratorium would probably be #1 - I haven't been to the new location but I'm sure it is even better than before. Plus it is on the Embarcadero w/ great views and restaurants nearby.

# 2 would be the Academy of Science - which is fantabulous and is across the plaza from the DeYoung and the Japanese Tea Garden in the middle of Golden Gate Park and can be combined w/ a trip to the beach and Cliff House.

I strongly suggest that you wait and see what the weather is like that day. Golden Gate Park's Museum of Natural History, Raunforest and Aquarium was loved by my boys when they were that age but if the weather happens to be warm, there is nothing like a ride on the ferry to Sausalito and having an ice cream there by the harbor. That was always the favorite! :)

My kids loved Academy of Science and DeYoung Museum. Also enjoyed the Japanese Tea Garden (but they might have been humoring us, good photo opportunities though). Exploratorium was pretty great but so crowded the day we visited that the kids were overwhelmed pretty quickly. Riding a cable car was a highlight.

Kids loved the Rodin garden at Stanford (Cantor Art Center) and we played in the green space in front of Stanford. That was lots of fun for all. Menlo Park also has several really nice playgrounds if your kids are on the younger side.

I would give Alcatraz a miss for this trip with kids that age. The attraction of Alcatraz is getting a headset and taking the audio tour. That's not going to work with very young children.

I was in San Francisco last summer with my then 14-year-old niece and 12-year-old nephew. I realize they are much older than the children with you but we went to both the Academy of Science and Exploratorium. We stayed all day at each and had a blast. We all loved the Tactile Dome at Exploratorium but again, the kids with you are probably too young for that. If you can choose just one I might go to Exploratorium. It's all hands-on exhibits, always a big hit with the young set. We went to the old location and I can imagine the new location is much better organized and spread out. It was crowded the day we went but not overly so. I think we were there about the third week of June.

My son is 3.5yrs and the Academy of Science is awesome (for all ages), plus there's so much open space in Golden Gate Park that it's great for roaming freely. The Exploratorium just re-opened & is only 10-15 walk from BART and easy to access by MUNI...I might think twice before trying to park there however. Golden Gate Park also has a small herd of Buffalo you can see, lakes where you can take out paddle boats, and a few playgrounds: http://www.golden-gate-park.com/map.html

I would also pass on Alcatraz - it can get very cold & windy, even on the hottest days & I don't think it would hold 3-5yr old interests for as long as you might wish.

I think the kids with you are kind of young for the Exploratorium. It's great with the 8-12 year old set. There is the Bay Area Discovery Museum that would be perfect, it's across the Golden Gate in Sausalito with a great view of the City. http://www.baykidsmuseum.org/

Kids 3,4, and 5? I would head right to the zoo! If by public transport, MUNI line L final stop is close to the entrance.

Academy of Sciences is good for all ages - but would a 3-y.o. get scared in the dark Planetarium? (admission included)

There's the Children's Museum and Zoo on Middlefield in Palo Alto -- great for younger kids, low-key, with hands-on science activities and live critters to look at.

The Children's Discovery Museum in San Jose is also great for little ones -- prepare to get wet. :)