katenyc

I'd like to get some advice. My husband and I want to take a trip to San Francisco in March. We live in New York. Baby # 2 will be arriving in the summer and we would really like to have nice vacation with our 22 month old before the big event.

I've been to San Fran many years ago and loved it, my husband's never been and he has badly wanted to go for a very long time.

We love city breaks but since we plan on going for 7 days we really want to see some California countryside too and go somewhere that might be fun for a toddler. (ie we don't want to spend three days in car driving around as she will go demented).

We thought we might rent a car once we arrive and drive to a destination outisde the city for two-three days and then explore San Fran the latter half of the week.

Any advice on possible destinations would be greatly appreciated as well as some suggestions on hotels or vacation rentals.

I'd like to see Yosemite but is the park out of the question in March?

I know Monteray is supposed to beautiful and th aquarium would be fun for our daughter but I've also heard it's ourageously expensive?

Basically, I'm looking for some advice for a good place to go within driving distance of San Fran for two-three days that has some kid friendly activities before exploring the city..

Thanks!

FainaAgain

I don't know whether it's justified or not to go to Monterey, but if you don't want to drive all the way there just for that, or the mountain roads will be dangerous because of rain (who knows!) there are alternatives in San Francisco.

There is an aquarium on Pier 39 - there is a moving floor like in an airport, and the fishes (and sharks!) are on both sides and above you. It's like you are on the bottom of the ocean.

A carousel and sea lions are also on Pier 39.

There is also CA science museum with aquarium, close to Yerba Buena park and childrens museums. And another carousel

We also have a large zoo, accessible by MUNI underground line L. It's by the ocean, can be cold there, bundle up.

christieCA

My daughter is 18 months and we live near San Francisco. I grew up there and my family is still there so we are there often. My daughter has so much fun everytime we go into the city. There is so much to do for toddlers. Even walking around downtown is a blast for her as she loves seeing all the people, running around union square, looking in the store windows, etc.

I think Muir Woods would be a fun place for a hike. My daughter loved going for a walk in the woods. I don't think you will need to drive to Monterrey, but if you have time, I'm sure she would love it.

I haven't taken my daughter to Golden Gate Park yet, but we all loved going there as kids. So much to see and do. And lots of grass to run around. Also, there is a lake there that you can feed the ducks. My daughter loves the ocean as well as the zoo in SF. Another idea is to take the ferry to Sausalito or Alcatraz.

I don't think you will find any lack of activities that your whole family will enjoy!

katenyc

Thanks to both of you for the advice so far. I just wanted to clarify that we would like to take a few days outside the city not just for our daughter's sake but also we would honestly like to have a few non-city days ourselves.

I'm not greatly worried about finding kid-friendly activities in San Fran (and thanks for the tips on the aquarium and Golden Gate Park) but thought if we went outside the city for a few days, it would give all of us a chance to relax for a few days. City breaks are great but I don't find them all that relaxing.

We don't want to drive too far (max 4 hours) and we want to stay in the same location for about 3 nights and we just want to see either a smaller town (ie Monterey) OR nature (ie Yosemite).Anyplace that would have enough to see and do for 2-3 days without tons of driving.

I've been to Napa on a day trip and loved it but since I can't do the wine tastings right now, it's not as appealing and wasn't sure if there was enough to do in Napa for three days without lots of driving.

Sorry for my lengthy messages.

Thanks again.

FainaAgain

Golden Gate park: there is a large children playground with a carousel (are you dizzy already )

Conservatory of flowers displays exotic plants. There is a pad with bisons roaming. Turtles in the small lakes on the west side. A windmill (is the 2nd dismantled?)

Arboretum - a nice place to picnic and to feed the squarrels and ducks.

In summer time, there is a free shuttle.

kcd_ma

Also in the Golden Gate Park are the Japanese Gardens, which my DD loved when she was 26 months old.

FainaAgain

Oh, yeah, KCD, I knew I forgot something Rocks, bridges, and koi ponds!

MonicaRichards

Also the Children's Discovery Museum in Sausalito. It's practically under the GG Bridge on the Sausalito side. You could combing that with a stroll through Sausalito and a short hike in muir woods for a really nice day. Kiddo would have to go in the stroller for the hike, I'm thinking, 'cause they'll be tired after the museum!

don512

I think that the Monterey/Carmel area would be your best bet of anyplace fairly close to San Francisco, especially if you haven't been in that area before. That area and Big Sur which is just south of there, in my opinion, are the most beautiful part of the California coast. There is plenty to do in that area and although I haven't been in three or four years, I don't think that it's much higher there than in most any other touristy area around San Francisco. I would think that you would find more reasonable and more family-friendly lodging options in Montery rather than Carmel. I'm sure that some of the more upscale lodgings can be pretty pricey' but I would think that there are some chain type motels where you might find reasonable prices. When we went to Yosemite it was in April and we ended up leaving a day early because of a snowstorm moving in. We went from there to Big Sur where we had very pleasant weather. And taking the coastal road, Route 1, from Big Sur to San Francisco is a beautiful trip in itself.

trippinkpj

There's a good Children's Discovery Museum in San Jose, if you happen to get down here (45 or 50 miles south of SF). It's on the way to Santa Cruz or Monterey: http://www.cdm.org/index.asp?f=0

christycruz

I'd pass on the Discovery Museum with a 22 month old. We went with our 22 month old and her older cousins. It was fine since we went as a group, but there were very limited activities for her. We spent most of our time upstairs playing on the mats.

Monterey would be a good bet. The Aquarium isn't cheap, but it's the best in the world (take that, Sydney!) If it isn't a budget trip, it would be worth the admission price.

Shanghainese

I suggest you reverse the schedule, stay in SF for 3 days (don't need a car), then rent a car to go to Monterey. Walk around Carmel and stop in Pacific Grove (right behind the aquarium), there's lots to do for both adults and baby.