We are visiting San Fransisco for a vacation with our 2 children (boy 9 and girl 11) in April for 2 nights. Would it be better to stay in the Fisherman's Wharf or Union Square area? Any recommendation on a mid range hotel, preferably more of a small boutique style hotel?

Our kids when a little older than your loved staying at Fisherman's Wharf. Yes, it is touristy and commercial - but it worked for us - plenty of stuff to walk to. We had trouble finding the right hotel - many in that area have small rooms, no suites/family rooms. Ended up at Tuscan Inn, which we loved in a tiny 2-room "suite" - one room had queen bed that almost touched the walls and the other had a double size sofa bed that when open prevented much movement in the room. But location, service, atmosphere was great - and all we did was sleep in the room.

I'd say Fisherman's Wharf, too. We stayed at the Raddison because we wanted more room. I think it was about $120 per night. We had a view of the bay, and it was pretty nice. There's no restaurant in the hotel, however. But we had fun taking morning walks to find breaksfast.

We stayed at the Radisson at Fisherman's Wharf with our kids. It is well located and moderately priced.

We stayed near the Union Square area last summer(Calif/Powell) and the main problem is getting around. Children will enjoy all the things around FW and those trolleys or taxis will be your only way to get around. They may also enjoy Chinatown.

I spent a night at the Argonaut at Fisherman's Wharf (next to the Cannery) recently and really liked it. Check out their web site. The kids should like the wharf better than Union Square unless they love shopping more than anything. At the wharf they can check out the tall ships at Hyde Street Pier, climb around the Liberty Ship Jeremiah O'Brien, visit the submarine Pampanito, watch the sea lions, see the Musee Mechanique (old fashioned mechanical scenes that adults like too) and check out Pier 39.

I have a different point of view.

We live in the suburbs, so I'd choose the Union Square area for the "city" feel of it. I'm sure you won't be spending all of your time in the wharf area, and it would be fun for the kids to ride the cable cars there when you do. Besides, while the wharf area may be fun for young children, so is the Yerba Buena Gardens area, Metreon, ZEUM, Cable Car Museum...

There are tons of boutique hotels in the Union Square area. I like the Kimpton Group and Joie de Vivre properties. Don't forget to check out Priceline too. I just booked 2 rooms for $75 each, far less than I could have gotten them elsewhere.

Good luck.

P.S. -- Don't miss the Exploratorium near the Palace of fine Arts. One of the best hands on science museums I've ever seen, anywhere!

When we visited S.F. last Spring with our kids (boy 9 and girl 6), we stayed in the Union Square area, primarily because my spouse had a meeting there. We loved the location and the hotel, though - the Hotal Triton, at 342 Grant. For $300/night, we stayed in their "suite," which was a large single room with a pullout sofabed. It was the ocean suite, and had a huge fish tank in the room. The kids loved it! I liked the location right across the street from the main Chinatown entrance; I would go into Chinatown for sesame balls and pork buns for our breakfast each morning. There's also good coffee downstairs in the lobby each morning, and cookies each evening.

There was a bus stop one block away, and the trolley stop was two blocks away. The kids enjoyed the rides, and we found it easy to get wherever we wanted to go. (I also second the Exploratorium - we ended up spending almost an entire day there!)

We're not big shoppers, so that part of Union Square didn't appeal to us. But I love being close to Chinatown, and I much prefer boutique hotels to the big chains. We'll stay there again.

Those of you that went to the exploratorium, I have a question. Did you pay the extra $6 and visit the tactile dome? If you did, please tell me your experience and thoughts. Thanks.

We did not visit the tactile dome; based on the information provided by the Exploratorium, I felt my daughter was too young for the experience. As it was just me and the two kids, I couldn't take my older son in. There was plenty to keep us busy, even without trying out the tactile dome!

owa, I've never heard of the tactile dome, so I guess I'll say I haven't been there. I do remember being on a second floor, with mainly electronic interactive exhibits. Is that it?

Hi ggirl, IMHO I would stay at Union Sq. That way you are more centrally located.

I have taken my daughter to SF when she was growing up and now my grandsons. The last 20 years we usually stay at the Villa Florence (part of the Kimpton Group).

You have received good infomation here on things to do with your children.

I truly think that you would find Union Sq. more centrally located. And the Hotel Triton is an excellent suggestion too.

SF is a great place to visit with children. Have a fun time!

Thanks for all of your help, looks like either location would be great. I like the look of the Argonout, especially as we have some sailors amongst us. If we come back again (although it's a long way from Australia!) we will have to stay in Union Square.

ggirl,
Another vote for FW. We took our daughters (10 & 12) to SF last year and they loved it so much that we are going back again this spring. The nightly entertainers on the FW is what our kids wanted to be near. We stayed in the Tuscan Inn last year and are staying at the Argonout this year. Both are fine.
I'm not really into tours but Alcatraz is incredible. Especially the night tour which allows you to gaze back at San Francisco in all her glittering glory. (Book in advance!!) Also, renting bikes at FW and biking over the Golden Gate Bridge and down into Sausalito for lunch was really cool. You can then take the ferry back to FW. Its a great town---even a bit like Sydney---have fun!
Pete & Wendy (Once lived in Wollongong!)

We have returned and just wanted to say that we loved the Argonaut - had a great room looking over the bridge, cable car and Ghirardelli Park.
We enjoyed looking around the FW area, and the hotel was next to the cable car stop that took us up to Union Square. I would recommend paying the extra for a room with a view, as the other rooms look into a central roof area.
It was very kid friendly and the staff were all so helpful.