We are going to SF this week. Planning on:
day 1: Wharf/sausolito area (also crooked street and coit towr)
day 2: renting a car and doing Muir woods, jelly belly factory, Beringer 30 min tour and natural geyser (too much?)
day 3: Chinatown and Union Square
day 4: kind of open Palace of Legion/haight ashbury/ not sure what else

Any comments on what to skip or add would be great. Staying at Hyatt Regency (booked by priceline back in Aug. $99) Know there's a strike but what can I do about it now

If these are engineerring-oriented kids, the cablecar museum / operations center.

Get on the water, which perhaps going to Sausalito accomplishes.

BAK

Thanks for the info. I checked with my daughter and she agrees. Get on the water, so I'll see what else besides going to Sausolito would be good.

I grew up in the Bay Area and some of the things I liked to do in the area aside from what you mentioned are go to Alcatraz, California Academy of Science which includes a natural history museum and the Steinhart aquarium, and Golden Gate. On your first day at the wharf I suggest going to both Pier 39,Gherdelli Square and the Cannery. They're all little shopping areas with nice restaurants and often interesting street performers. I think on your second day you might be trying to fit in a bit much. That would include a lot of driving and I don't know if there would be enough time. Maybe taking out either the natural geyser or the beringer tour would help. I suggest you visit Haight Ashbury and you can fit Golden Gate park along with that as Haight bumps up to the edge of the park.

i think day 2 might break you. i would choose 2 of those rather than trying to do all 4.

Good info. Thanks for all the help. Haight and golden gate park sound good for day 4. We'll stick to the piers/shopping listed for day 1 and I think we'll try hitting muir woods and jelly belly factory to start and then we'll see how we do for time on day 2. Any suggestions on where to eat on day 1 and 3? According to my 14yr old son that's what he is going on the trip for

In Yerba Buena park (near Union Square and the Moscone Center) there is a really cool area with both a good court and a Sony and Nintendo store. I am not a kid nor even into technology, but I thought they were totally cool and could see kids really like the area. I think it's called Metreon on something like that.

Just want to "second" the idea of Alcatraz. Young teen son would LOVE it! Also, did you mean Benzinger (or Beringer)? The tram tour at Benzinger family vineyard is fascinating for all ages.