Dec weekend trip to SanFrancisco with 9 yr. old
 

Hi - we'll be spending a long weekend in SF at the end of December. Any recommendations for activities - I'm anticipating cold weather (we are from Phoenix) so indoor would be good... I'm planning on going to the Exploratorium and walking / eating a lot in Chinatown.

I'd appreciate any other ideas on things we could do as family. We'll be staying near Union Square.
Thanks!

We (dh, 18yo, 10yo, and I) enjoyed Alcatraz. Bundle up if you go there!

Lee Ann

A 9-year old would probably like a cable car ride (there is an indoor section). Stopping by Pier 39 to watch the seals play might be fun (but a bit cold).

My grandkids loved the boat ride around the bay. It was cold, but seeing things from the water was exciting for them.
You might like to go to Muir Woods and see the Redwood trees. Its on the other side of the Golden Gate Bridge. You can also get to Ft.Mason which is at the foot of the Golden Gate bridge and see/hear the cars roar by high over your head.

my kids (9 & 12)love to walk around Chinatown and look in all the fish and meat markets. In some of the fish markets you will see people picking the live fish out of tanks, putting them in plastic bags and walking out with them still alive (or at least until dinner time!). Also fun is the quick tour you can take of the Boudin Bakery down by the Wharf. A good restaurant for kids (if you like pizza) is North Beach Pizza, located in the North Beach section of town.

have a good time

Does he like aquariums? There is one on Pier 39, and on the 2nd floor very interesting SF movie with special effects to feel the earthquake.

Maybe he'll enjoy a lunch at the Rainforest cafe? Why do I think "he"? is it a boy or a girl?

A girl may enjoy the Saturday tea at 1 pm at the Garden Court (by Montgomery BART)

There are 3-D movies to watch through special glasses at the Metreon (Mission @ 4th St)

My kids at that age liked: the Exploratorium (you already mentioned it), Golden Gate Park including the Japanese Tea Garden, Chinatown, Union Square, Cable Car rides, the Metreon, Pier 39, Fisherman's Wharf, Ghirardelli Square and the Fort Mason/ Marina Green area.

My family took a trip to SF when I was 9 and this is what I remember enjoying from that trip:
* Riding the cable cars
* Alcatraz
* A boat tour of the bay that went under the Golden Gate Bridge
* Golden Gate Park - specifically the Japanese Tea Garden and the Academy of Sciences (unfortunately the Academy of Sciences is relocated downtown while a new GG Park building is built and the temporary location isn't great)
* Fort Point - didn't care much about the fort itself although it was kind of cool. What I really liked is that it is located under the base of the bridge.
* Chinatown - didn't eat anything there, but thought it was a thoroughly interesting place.
* Lombard Street - the crooked section. Any particularly steep street was facinating to me actually - LOL.

I don't know if they still have it up and running, but our daughter enjoyed the ice rink at Justin Herman(?) plaza, across from the Ferry Bldg. She, of course liked the shopping, China Town, cable cars & Pier 39.

MY

I was going to recommend Ice Skating at Justin Herman Plaza

FYI~We took our niece to the Garden Court for tea when she was about 10..she hated it!(who knew...)

The Exploratorium

Crissy Field with a walk to Fort Point(you will see the Golden Gate above you)

Crab (Check out Swan's Oyster Depot)

You might also consider Dim Sum which is a great way to eat lunch. Check out Yank Sing in Rincon Annex

The Academy of Science

We took our daughter also to the Princess tea at the Garden Court: she hated it too!! I enjoyed it alot more!!


MY

We just came back from SF Thanksgiving weekend.

The Westfield Shopping Center, with Flagship stores Nordstroms and (new) Bloomingdales is indoor and huge and walkable from Union Square. We took the Cable Car back to Union Square as it was uphill and we had shopping bags to carry.

The FoodMall in the bottem near Bloomingdales is one of the best...and resonable. You could spend a whole day..movie theatres too.

If it is still playing we saw a play at tiny Shelton Theater called "Shopping". It was a series of cute sketches...we bought 1/2 off tickets at Tix in Union Square. Pls consider a play or some cultural event. Titanic exhibit at the Metrnome (also walkable from Union Square) may still be on..a huge school kid group went thru..

Inexpensive eats at Cafe Expresso.

Also I highly recommend walking tours of China town that include a Dim Sum..you would be amazed at the things you walk by..
Lastly if you get a car drive over teh Golden Gate bridge and go left to the Rodeo beach area where the ocean meets San Fran Bay. It is an old Army Fort with lots of old army fort structures, great sandy beach, horseback riding andlots of nature..including a Lighthouse to walk out over teh ocean too.....

Thanks so much for all the advice. I have a boy...

I remembered the tour to Muir Woods as a great experience, but will it be really cold? Any recommendations for tour companies? Thanks

bay model in Sausalito
http://www.spn.usace.army.mil/bmvc/

One more thing is the Cable Car museum - it is one of the cable car stops - my 9 year old son really enjoyed it, and it does not take too long.

I agree with PamSF that Yank Sing is great, and the kids have a lot of fun picking items from the food carts as they go by the tables. Don't be afraid to ask what it is before you take it!

Muir Woods is good. If you go over to Sausalito to see the Bay Model, then you could just rent a car for the day and do both. As for weather, Muir Woods probably wont be any colder than SF itself - it may be warmer because it is more sheltered from the wind. It is December so expect chilly temperatures and possibly some rain. Bring layers and you will be fine.