San Francisco with kids
 

We are heading to SF with our 5 and 8 year old next week for four nights over spring break. They have never been. Two big questions: Would love to hear from families who've been recently on where they stayed (most places still have availability so I'm not worried about that) that the kids loved. We like nicer chains including Hyatt, Westin, Fairmont but are open to anything nice. An indoor pool would be great but I don't know how prevalent they are. Would prefer union square but I've read that kids prefer fisherman's wharf.
Separately, would love to hear of some things you did that the kids loved. Thanks!

Hello kendallg, have taken children to SF forever so to speak. As I was taken (lucky me).

Maybe the Grand Hyatt (Union Square) would be a good hotel for you.

It is easy to get to most anywhere from Union Square.

You have the cable cars on Powell St.
The F line trolley's on Market St. (that take you down Market, to the Ferry Bldg. and down the Embarcedero to Fishermens Wharf. I never ride the Muni busses but they are available also.

Walking distant to Chinatown, to North Beach and Buena Vista Park, the Sony Metreon (which I find boring but grandson loves it.

The BART station at Powell and Market

One can walk up to California St and NobHill.

Of course the tour of Alcatraz Island. GoldenGate Park, the zoo, etc.

So many things. SF if filled with tourist with little ones.

You may want to go to www.sfgate.com to get an idea of things you want to do.
Another good website is www.sfvisitor.org.

I am sure you will have a wonderful time.

And welcome to SanFrancisco!

And to that list I would add the Maritime Museum.

Hi,
We visited last year w/ our two daughters and stayed at The Tuscan Inn because it was walking distance to FW.
Ask about the "wow" package.
Going back to SF this Spring again and staying at the Nikko because of the rooftop/indoor pool.
wendy

We stayed with relatives on our trip to SF in December so I can't help with accomodations. But we did have kids and here is what they loved:

Walking tour with "All About Chinatown". The guide really included the kids and was very open to all of their questions.

Bought a day pass for the cable cars because they wanted to ride ALL of the lines. They also insisted on two trips to the cable car museum - which was free. They loved watching the gears turn the cables.

A lot of time was spent watching the sealions at slip K down by the Pier.

They loved looking at Alcatraz through those coin operated view things.

By the way - we bought the entertainment book and found it to be very full of good touristy coupons.

took my grand daughter on a fun trip on the Big Red Fire Truck tour which leaves from the Cannery. A very fun couple own this old fire truck and you actually put on fire gear (hats and jackets) drive thru the city, over the bridge, thru sausalito, dopwn to fort baker and back to the cannery. Very fun thing to do with kids.

Also over in Alameda, there is a great air craft carrier to tour.