J Correa, I also agree that it is important for kids to be introduced to culture, but we should not be forcing it on them. Let's just let kids be kids. They would have much more fun at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk or the Monterey Bay Qquarium than in SF. Places such as the aquarium can be fun and educational at the same time.

San Francisco is sleazy by US urban standards.<BR><BR>People are fleeing San Francisco and its suburban counties. The San Francisco counties lost population last year, according to the US Census Bureau.<BR><BR>The figures are:<BR><BR>San Francisco: -6,010 -0.8% LOSS<BR>San Mateo: -5,141 -0.7% LOSS<BR><BR><BR>How wonderful is the SF , if it can't even keep its own people?<BR>

I'm going to spend a week in SF in May, and am really looking forward to it. Unfortunately for them, my children won't be on this trip.<BR><BR>I'm with J Correa on SF as a kid destination. I know mine would love it, not that they wouldn't have fun at Disneyland, too. It all depends on the kids' personalities, and most parents know their kids well enough to decide.

kam - I'm all for letting kids be kids and not forcing stuff on them. I also loved visiting SF when I was a kid as did most of the people I know. My niece - who is 11 - loves going to SF. It may not be a destination specifically geared toward kids, but it's a place that offers a lot of things kids enjoy. <BR><BR>carlton - Yes, the bay area is losing people. It has to do with the high cost of housing combined with the large number of people who are unemployed due to the recession.

carlton - i'm sorry... you're right. you do have the right to share your opinion, and it is a valid opinion. and you are right about numerous names - i am both grubb and gypsy... but i DO live in west texas and have never even been to SF - not until this june... hope you have a good weekend!<BR>d

J Correa, Point well taken. However, all kids have different interests. Maybe when you were young you were more interested in culture/architecture/history, etc than most children. But in gtwreck's original post he aked if SF is a &quot;kid friendly&quot; place, and the answer to that would be no.

grubb- speak for yourself! i just don't want carlton to burst my little bubble of happiness at getting to go to SF!

CARLTON....YOU ARE OUT OF YOUR MIND! I GREW UP IN THE NYC AREA (BORN IN NYC) AND NOW LIVE IN SAN FRANCISCO! NYC IS AN INTERESTING PLACE BUT SAN FRANCISCO IS GORGEOUS! DO NOT COMPARE THE TWO CITIES! THEY ARE MY TWO FAVORITE CITIES FOR VERY DIFFERENT REASONS...THERE ARE LOTS OF GREAT PLACES FOR KIDS IN SF, TOO.

Chuckles, No need to SHOUT. I can't believe why anyone in their right mind would leave NYC (The City) to live in San Francisco. What the heck were you thinking??? NYC has so much more to offer in one neighborhood than in the entire city of SF. NYC is without a doubt the capital of the world. SF is like a tiny suburb compared to NYC.

oh, carlton, i told you in my first post today that i was a FREAK! and i have NEVER admitted to anyone, in all my 49 yrs that i was MATURE!

...and now, since carlton gave us a free psychiatric evaluation, we don't have to go to the dr. this week! yeah!

thanks, carton! THAT'S what i was after from you! something lighthearted and silly. i really do hope you have a good weekend! gotta to pick hubby up at the airport now, so bye!

My meager two cents worth:<BR><BR>In answer to the original question: Is SF specifically kid-friendly? No. Few cities outside of Anaheim or Orlando have such child-centered raisons-d'&ecirc;tre. Is it pretty, with things for kids to do either within the city or not too far away? Sure. Just about every big city does. My feeling is, kids will always be glad to be somewhere new with their parents, around new people. At least for a few days.<BR><BR>This chat thread is beginning to overheat, so let's all agree to disagree and NOT name call. Many people prefer NYC to SF (I like both cities, but I like NYC more). Others prefer SF to NYC. But there's no need to resort to insulting names to refer to people who live in one place or the other and like it. Not everyone in SF is a &quot;freak&quot;, nor is everyone in NYC &quot;rude&quot;. Face it: Every place has its good and bad points. You take the good with the bad, or you pull up stakes and keep looking.<BR><BR>And that's the point of travel, isn't it? To get away and experience something different from your normal existence.

...by the way, i really would like to know what gtrwreck has decided!