San Francisco Family Vacation Ideas - Attractions, Activities & Things to Do for Summer Vacation

By Katie Sagal
Published: July 18, 2024
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Summertime is one of the best times to visit San Francisco. The weather is at its best, nature is thriving, and the best attractions are open and ready for business. If you’re planning a family trip to San Francisco but aren’t sure which attractions are right for you, check out this list of our favorite family-friendly attractions.

Curated by industry experts, they’re the best activities, tours, and museums for family vacations in San Francisco. The top San Francisco summer family vacation ideas include:

  • Big Bus San Francisco Sightseeing Tour
  • California Academy of Sciences
  • SFMOMA
  • Fisherman’s Wharf
  • Madame Tussauds San Francisco
  • Bike Rentals
  • Exploratorium
  • Aquarium of the Bay
  • Six Flags Discovery Kingdom
  • Golden Gate Park
  • Muir Woods

Big Bus San Francisco Hop-on Hop-off Tour

 

One of the best ways to introduce the family to San Francisco is with a guided bus tour of the city. A hop-on hop-off option is both fun and flexible, allowing you to get off when something intrigues you, and get back on when the kids get tired.

See the sights from the top deck and then simply hop off to explore the streets. This tour from Big Bus includes more than 20 different stops in all the city’s hot spots, plus a selection of free, guided walking tours that begin at selected stops.

California Academy of Sciences

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Among the most popular family attractions in San Francisco is the California Academy of Sciences. Both immensely educational and immensely entertaining, this institution really does have it all. It’s part aquarium, part natural history museum, and part planetarium, with a four-story rain forest thrown in.

They have many special events and kid-centric programming that runs during the summer, so be sure to check their operating calendar before you go to see what’s on. Don’t forget to say hi to their colony of playful penguins!

San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA)

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The SFMOMA is the one for arts and culture fans.

Introduce the kids to some of the best modern and contemporary art in the world with a visit to the recently expanded San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. The SFMOMA has expansive collections of art by both iconic figures and up-and-coming artists, so it’s a great place to really get a feel for the artistic movements of the last several decades.

Special summer exhibits are extra fun, too. Be sure to check their events calendar to see if there's anything of interest to you going on during your trip.

Fisherman’s Wharf

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The northern waterfront neighborhood of San Francisco, this popular destination is a haven for visitors who want to explore many of the city’s top attractions. There are a ton of things to do in Fisherman's Wharf.

Buy some delicious chocolate in Ghirardelli Square, wander through the free (and a little bizarre) Musée Mechanique, and visit the USS Pampanito. Then go shopping, have a sumptuous seafood lunch, explore Madame Tussauds, and more. The possibilities are practically endless!

Madame Tussauds San Francisco

 

Speaking of Fisherman’s Wharf... Located in an area of the city we’re sure you’re already exploring, Madame Tussauds is a fun attraction for families. It’s the only place outside of Hollywood where you’ll see so many celebrities.

Take a selfie with your favorite A-list celebs – nobody will know the difference! A visit here is a good opportunity to learn more about the history and culture of San Francisco, too. Their Spirit of San Francisco exhibit highlights famous figures from art, music, and literature.

The San Francisco Dungeon

Learn all about San Francisco's shadier side of history, brought to life in a fun and campy way at this attraction that's part thrill ride, part theatrical experience. You'll see a number of live theatrical performances that re-enact true, local history and take you back in time to the dark days of San Francisco.

This is one of the more creepy things to do at Fisherman’s Wharf. But if your kids are interested in history, it's a fun and entertaining way to learn about it!

Bike Rentals

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While San Francisco may be notorious for its hilly terrain, don’t let that stop you from renting a bike and pedaling your heart out around this incredibly bike-able city. Bike riding is an ideal way to keep the kids entertained and to get out and be active while on vacation!

You can ride around Golden Gate Park, Presidio, the waterfront, or even up those hilly streets -- if you dare. Rent a bike if you weren’t able to bring one, and keep it all day for the ultimate in convenience.

You can use your pass you rent bikes down by the waterfront, or at Golden Gate park.

Exploratorium

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This is one the kids will adore. The Exploratorium is designed to be the most engaging and interactive museum out there, bar none. Play around with and explore more than 600 (yes, that’s right) exhibits.

Your kids will get to learn a little bit about practically everything at this amazing attraction, from science to art and beyond. Be sure to check out their special programming calendar before your visit to see if there is something that especially interests your kids. They offer extended summer hours, too.

Aquarium of the Bay

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Animal lovers of all ages won’t want to miss out on the Aquarium of the Bay. A marine institution dedicated specifically to the flora and fauna of the San Francisco Bay, it’s a distinctive attraction with a lot to teach visitors.

Walk through 300 feet of crystal clear tunnels that wind through a massive tank filled with thousands of critters in all shapes and sizes. The kids will especially love the Touch the Bay exhibit, where they have the chance to interact with sharks, rays, and sea stars.

Six Flags Discovery Kingdom

A theme park is a great summer idea for families, so why not take a quick drive a bit north of the city to reach the delightful Six Flags Discovery Kingdom? This popular park combines all your favorite amusement park rides – like roller coasters, bumper cars, water rides, and much more – with the educational fun of animal exhibits.

Visit the animal inhabitants of Discovery Kingdom all throughout the park, like the playful creatures of Dolphin Harbor, Seal Cove, and the Butterfly Habitat. You also have the opportunity to upgrade to a number of animal encounters to make the day a truly special one.

Golden Gate Park

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Easily among the most famous parks in the country, Golden Gate Park is a must-visit for your family vacation to San Francisco. This massive oasis in the middle of the city is filled with opportunities for picnicking, biking, playing Frisbee, a round of golf, and so much more.

There are also a number of attractions within the park itself, from the serene Japanese Tea Garden to the artistic de Young Museum to the gorgeous Conservatory of Flowers. There’s even a children’s playground that’s definitely worth taking your littler ones to.

Muir Woods

For those families looking to explore the expansive natural world around San Francisco, a trip up to Muir Woods is non-negotiable. Home to the majestic redwood trees, Muir Woods National Park is a wondrous place to explore. You’ll immerse yourself in the peace and quiet of this ancient forest, and get to see an incredible diversity of plant and wildlife all throughout the park. Remember to bring a camera to Muir Woods for pictures – you’ll get no cell reception and this may drain your phone’s battery.

Remember to Save on Family Friendly Admission

There you go. A few suggestions for attractions and activities for your upcoming San Francisco family vacation. Regular admission to a number of these family friendly attractions are available with a pass by Go City. We hope you consider adding some of these fun ideas to your family vacation itinerary. Learn more about our San Francisco passes, attractions and prices.

Katie Sagal
Go City Travel Expert

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Relaxing Things to do in San Francisco
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Relaxing Things to do in San Francisco

Often, vacations can feel like a sprint to see and do everything in your limited time. In a new city or country, you want to immerse yourself in as much local culture as possible. But with only a handful of days there, fitting it all in can be stressful. But it needn't be. After all, vacations should also be about relaxing. So, if you want to take your foot off the gas, check out our picks of the best relaxing things to do in San Francisco and take it easy! Including: Hop-on, hop-off Bus Tour Aquarium of the Bay San Francisco Bay Cruise Exploratorium San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and more! Hop-on, hop-off Bus Tour If you're only in town for a few days, you may want to see all the sights in one afternoon. If you think that sounds stressful, think again. Because on this hop-on, hop-off bus tour of San Francisco's most recognizable landmarks, the pressure's off. The way these tours work is that a fleet of buses run every day, with each passing the same landmarks. That means that if you want to get out and explore any of them, you can! Just hop off, take a look around, and then hop on the next bus that shows up. Your ticket lasts the whole day, so you can really take your time. So, what landmarks will you be checking out? Well, there's the famous Golden Gate Bridge & Golden Gate Park, Chinatown, North Beach, Fisherman's Wharf, Union Square, and plenty more! If you're looking for relaxing things to do in San Francisco, take your camera and hop on this landmark bonanza bus tour! Aquarium of the Bay What could be more serene and relaxing than wandering beneath the waves, wondering about all the exotic species that call it home? Not much, we thinks. So, if you're looking for chill things to do in San Francisco, why not visit the Aquarium of the Bay? Just go on a weekday, lest the crowds of tourists ruin the vibe. More than 20,000 marine animals live, laugh, and love within the Aquarium of the Bay's many tanks and underwater biomes. From otherworldly stingrays to cute, fuzzy otters, you'll struggle to find a more diverse crowd of water-dwelling wonders anywhere else. But perhaps the jewel in the Aquarium of the Bay's crown is its massive underwater walking tunnels. Take a stroll down them, and you'll be surrounded by wonderful flora and fauna. Each is over 300ft long, and they'll let you get up close and personal with myriad exotic species. San Francisco Bay Cruise If seeing the city by bus or underwater doesn't float your boat, why not see it all from atop the very waves themselves? On this cruise across the San Francisco Bay, you'll see the city's skyline from a different perspective - and a few surprises to boot! Get your snappers at the ready because the sea lions that call Pier 39 home are ripe for photography! Then, witness one of the modern wonders of the world as you sail up and under the Golden Gate Bridge. Next, a trip to Alcatraz Island will set you straight. The prison might be long-shut, but seeing the imposing island by boat is enough to send shivers down your spine. And finally, a jaunt past Angel Island will leave you wondering what life was like for immigrants back in the day. This hour-long cruise is a great way to see it all without having to lift a finger. Exploratorium Inquisitive minds apply within. If you're looking for a relaxing way to expand your mind while getting hands-on with some mind-blowing interactive exhibits, stroll cooly and calmly to the Exploratorium. The Exploratorium brings the weird and wonderful to life. Featuring a metric ton of what can only be described as 'scientific art', it aims to inspire and educate in equal measure. Wander its wonderful halls, and you'll discover parabolic mirrors, see microscopic cells blown up to massive proportions, and even touch a tornado, if you can believe that. Perfect, relaxing fun for kids and big kids alike; if you've got the little ones in tow, just let them loose and take a seat. San Francisco Museum of Modern Art Art lovers will get a chill kick out of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. Featuring modern masterpieces from modern maestros, it's one of the most lauded modern art museums in the country. And, after a recent expansion, it's also the biggest. So, set a few hours aside to see it all! Mainstay exhibits are now joined by the Doris and Donald Fisher Collection, as well as a fresh variety of special exhibitions featuring topics like graphic art, contemporary sculpture, modern film, and more. Fans of Roy Lichtenstein, Andy Warhol, and other contemporaries will love it. But, like most museums, you're best bet is to head there on a weekday morning to beat the crowds. That way, you'll ensure your visit is one of the best relaxing things to do in San Francisco! Mission District Food and Culture Tour And finally, after a relaxing journey through things to do in San Francisco, you may have built up a bit of an appetite. Thankfully, this Mission District food and culture tour will hit the spot. If you've never been to San Francisco's Mission District before, you're in for a treat. It's the city's Latin Quarter, featuring walls bedazzled with beautiful murals, plenty of laid-back bars, and a ton of Mexican restaurants and street food vendors selling all manner of delicious treats. So, why not take a tour, learn about the area's culture and history from a knowledgeable guide, and go try some of it for yourself? With four food stops on the tour, you'll have plenty of time to tuck into tacos, flatbreads, guac, salsa, and fajitas. And those were our picks of the best relaxing things to do in San Francisco. Of course, you may want to up the ante at some point during your visit. Thankfully, Go City gives you access to some of the most exhilarating experiences in San Fran! With our All-Inclusive Pass and Explorer Pass, you can see the city's best bits for one low price.
Dom Bewley
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