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San Francisco Spring Break 2019 - Things to Do in February & March During Your Vacation

By Katie Sagal

If you’re looking for a spring break destination that combines the best of culture, nature, food, drink, and all around fun, then San Francisco should be your top choice. The amazing selection of available attractions and activities will more than make up for a little sweater weather. Plus, it's an incredibly family-friendly city, with many attractions that are designed with kids in mind. Check out our suggestions for Spring Break 2019 activities. Our listed ideas include top attractions like:

  • The California Academy of Sciences
  • Exploratorium
  • Golden Gate Park
  • Fisherman’s Wharf
  • Six Flags Discovery Kingdom
  • And more!

Many of the attractions listed here are included on the Go San Francisco pass. Choose as you go from dozens of top San Francisco attractions and save up to 60% off combined admission vs paying at the gate. See all available passes, attractions & prices – Learn more.

Explore the California Academy of Sciences

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Explore the California Academy of Sciences

There are few places as lovely in San Francisco as Golden Gate Park. With sweeping vistas of the Bay and the iconic bridge, this urban park is filled with the perfect combination of nature and culture. If you’re interested in the natural world at all, you should also devote an afternoon to the California Academy of Science. It's part zoo, part aquarium, part rainforest, and part planetarium (yes, seriously). This is one unbeatable attraction when it comes to plants and animals! They even have a really cool green roof, for those of you interested in sustainable design. Getting In: Admission to the California Academy of Sciences is included with the Go San Francisco pass.

Enjoy More Animal Fun

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Enjoy More Animal Fun

If the kids love animals, then a sure bet in addition to the California Academy of Sciences is another Golden Gate Park favorite -- the San Francisco Zoo. Featuring critters from around the world and from A to Z, they are host to more than 2,000 endangered and rescued animals. Popular exhibits include African Savanna, Bear Country, Australian WalkAbout, and more! You'll also want to be sure to check out the 100 acres of gardens featuring native California plants. It's a beautiful opportunity to explore Golden Gate Park more, too. Getting In: Admission to the San Francisco Zoo & Gardens is included with the Go San Francisco pass.

Visit Museums

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Visit Museums

Head to the world-class de Young Museum for an excellent selection of classical and modern art. They have particular strengths in American art and craftwork, plus a well-curated selection of contemporary pieces. In March, the de Young is also hosting fun annual event called Bouquets to Art, which pairs flower painting and artwork with fresh flower displays. Or, if you prefer a more heavy focus on contemporary and modern art, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) is a recently expanded marvel that holds more art than you can possibly see in one afternoon. Their extensive and delightful collections feature all the big name greats and plenty of up-and-coming Bay Area artists. Getting In: Admission to the de Young Museum and admission to the SFMOMA are both included with the Go San Francisco pass.

Play on Fisherman's Wharf

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Play on Fisherman's Wharf

San Francisco’s seaside location is what makes it such a beloved city, and even though you might be a little put off by the chill, you can’t let that stop you from enjoying all the waterfront has to offer. Embark on a leisurely stroll around Fisherman’s Wharf, which is actually one of the best places for people watching in the entire city. There are plenty of attractions here, including the popular Madame Tussauds, which offers fun opportunities for families to explore celebrity and pop culture at their leisure, with the fun of lifelike wax figurines. Getting In: Admission to Madame Tussauds San Francisco is included with the Go San Francisco pass.

Entertain the Kids

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Entertain the Kids

Families with active kids may be looking for something more focused on little visitors. If so, look no further than the Exploratorium, one of the best family-friendly museums in all of California. The Exploratorium hosts hundreds upon hundreds of interactive exhibits, artifacts, and demonstrations for kids to enjoy. They'll play and learn at the same time, and be able to spend hours immersed in the amazing offerings at this museum. Getting In: Admission to the Exploratorium is included with the Go San Francisco pass.

Hop Aboard a Cruise

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Hop Aboard a Cruise

It would be a shame to visit San Francisco without taking advantage of their stunning water views. What better way to see the city skyline, plus its iconic bridges, than on a sightseeing cruise? If you're most interested in local architecture, including the Golden Gate Bridge, then a specialized bridge cruise is a smart choice. For those of you with a strong interest in the eerie Alcatraz, opt for a cruise that escorts you to this intimidating island with a thrilling narrated tour. Getting In: Golden Gate Bay Cruise tickets are included with the Go San Francisco pass. For the Alcatraz tour option, purchase your pass directly from Alcatraz Cruises.

Enjoy Theme Parks

Families on spring break trips will, of course, want to explore the Northern California theme park scene. Kids of all ages love the excitement and delight of an amusement park, and it's a great way for adults to keep them busy while still having fun themselves! California's Great America is a smart choice, with plenty of options for the little travelers like the beloved Planet Snoopy. For the animal lovers, Six Flags Discovery Kingdom has much to offer. This theme park incorporates all your favorite thrill rides with exciting animal encounters and interactive exhibits. See critters from land and sea, and learn more about the natural world. Then, hop aboard exhilarating rides in this 135-acre adventure park. Getting In: Admission to California's Great America and admission to Six Flags Discovery Kingdom are both included with the Go San Francisco pass.

Indulge Your Whole Family's Love of Disney

We're sure you've got at least one Disney song consistently stuck in your head after the kids' latest binge-watch, so why not visit the Walt Disney Family Museum so you can all learn more about the origins of this media empire. Here you'll find expansive gallery space featuring all kinds of footage, photographs, sketches, and more. You can also learn about Walt's personal life, his grand ambitions, and his creation of some of the most endearing characters of all time. Getting In: Admission to the Walt Disney Family Museum is included with the Go San Francisco pass.

Stroll Through Quirky Neighborhoods

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Stroll Through Quirky Neighborhoods

There is so much amazing art and architecture throughout San Francisco that it would be a shame to leave the city without exploring it further. For example, you won’t want to miss the opportunity to see the Painted Ladies Victorian homes in person, located just adjacent to Alamo Square Park (although there are other examples of Victorian and Edwardian homes throughout the city, this is the shot you’ve seen in Full House). This is also a good opportunity to explore the artsy district of Haight-Ashbury. Once much edgier than it is today, it’s now a fun place to stroll around in to see local art installations, comedy clubs, and quirky shops.

Scope out SoMa

Another neighborhood that should be on your must-visit list is South of Market, or "SoMa" in local lingo. It’s filled with top quality attractions like museums and galleries, plus some delicious food for lunch and dinner. Start out with a visit to the Yerba Buena Center for Arts, part museum, part community center, and all inspiration. Then, pop into the California Historical Society for another perspective on the area’s heritage. If you prefer sports to high art, then fortunately for you, Oracle Park (formerly AT&T Park) is right in the neighborhood. Take a tour of the park, or, if your spring break falls in or after mid-April, take in a game! Getting In: Admission to the California Historical Society and Oracle Park Tour tickets are included with the Go San Francisco pass.

Take a Day Trip to Wine Country

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Take a Day Trip to Wine Country

For spring break trips comprised of older college students or adult couples, one of the most popular things to do in California is visit Wine Country. Of course, families are welcome on these tours as well (keeping in mind that guests must be of age to sample the wine). While it is a bit of a hike out of San Fran proper, it’s totally worth the trek to see some of the most beautiful countryside in the entire state. Opt for a comprehensive tour that takes you from a central location like Fisherman’s Wharf to areas like Napa Valley and Sonoma Valley, with their eclectic mix of high tech and boutique wineries. (Guided tours mean you can sample more, too!) Winery visits are also a great opportunity to bring home gifts for friends and family that they’ll actually want – who doesn’t love great wine? Getting In: Admission to the Weekday Nap + Sonoma Wine Country Tour is an option with the Build Your Own Pass.

Save on Admission

We hope you’ve been inspired by this sample itinerary to get out and start planning your perfect San Francisco spring break, whether you want to visit some or many of these popular attractions. While we can’t cover all of your travel expenses, a Go San Francisco pass sure can take a load off when it comes to admission to top attractions. Pick up a three- or five-day pass today and get ready to have the best spring break yet!

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Things to do in San Francisco for a Birthday
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Things to do in San Francisco for a Birthday

If you're looking for the best things to do in San Francisco for a birthday, you've come to the right place. From white-knuckle rides to spooky tours, we've picked the very best birthday entertainment for you and yours. So, without further ado, let's get into it. Including: Six Flags California's Great America GoCar San Francisco Escape from the Rock and more! If you, or the birthday person, are a thrill-seeker, these white-knuckle attractions will surely make it one to remember! Image courtesy of Cassiohabib/Shutterstock Six Flags Discovery Kingdom Six Flags is a national treasure, so it hardly needs an introduction. Arguably the second most popular set of theme parks behind the House of Mouse, Six Flags offers thrill-seekers plenty of bendy, windy, heart-pumping rides to test their mettle. And San Fran's Discovery Kingdom is no different. Visitors will find it full of exciting rides, animal attractions, and live entertainment that's suitable for little ones and us oldies too. But let's be honest; if you're heading to Six Flags, you're going for the rollercoasters. And Discovery Kingdom doesn't disappoint. The park's signature coaster is the Joker, a hybrid coaster with multiple inversions, twists, and turns, which is themed around Batman's arch nemesis - the dastardly maniac. Other popular coasters include the Medusa, a floorless coaster with a 150-foot drop, and the Superman Ultimate Flight, which takes riders on a flying experience through loops and twists alongside the Man of Steel himself. Delightful. Image courtesy of Sundry Photography/Shutterstock California's Great America For a unique theme park experience you won't find anywhere else, head to California's Great America. Sure, it's not in San Fran per se, but it's only an hour's drive away in Santa Clara. And, for a theme park this fantastic, it's worth the miles. Like any park worth its salt, you'll find plenty of thrilling rollercoasters to ride, including Gold Striker, a rollercoaster ranked in the top ten wooden coasters in the world! Not bad. Other popular coasters are Flight Deck, a suspended coaster that takes riders on a high-speed flurry of twists and turns, and Rail Blazer, which throws riders around a rocky course of rocks. It's like a minecart ride but without the fear of death. And for the little ones who won't make the height requirement, there's the Planet Snoopy Construction Zone, a park-within-a-park that's dedicated to everyone's favorite 2D beagle. With kid-friendly rides, interactive play areas, and opportunities to meet and take photos with Snoopy and his friends, it's ideal for little ones who don't need all that coaster stress. Now, for all you seekers of the strange and satisfying, we've collated some unconventional means of seeing San Francisco! Image courtesy of meunierd/Shutterstock GoCar San Francisco Why not see the city in style with GoCar San Francisco. But what is GoCar? Well, it's a compact, three-wheeled, two-seater, GPS-guided car. So, a mini-car, then. The benefits of traveling around in such a small vehicle are plenty. Firstly, it's easy to drive, which is a godsend for anyone unfamiliar with San Fran's peaks and troughs. Secondly, its compact size means it's easy enough to navigate through the city's many smaller streets. And, like Kit from Knightrider, the GoCar even talks to you as you drive. It will tell you where to go while also providing color commentary for each landmark and area you pass. But you aren't just sent off into the great unknown. In fact, you book specific tours before heading off. The most popular tour is the Golden Gate Bridge and Back Tour , which takes visitors on a scenic route across the Golden Gate Bridge and through the Presidio, with stops at popular landmarks like Lombard Street, Fisherman's Wharf, and Coit Tower. If you're in a small group, GoCar could be one of the best things to do in San Francisco for a birthday! Escape from the Rock Ever watched The Rock? Ever wondered if you have the steel to escape from a floating prison? Well, wonder no more, because Escape from the Rock is here to give that very experience. And, if you want to do something entirely unique for a birthday, it's easily one of the best things to do in San Francisco. This tour/prison break starts with a ferry ride from Pier 39 to Alcatraz Island, where you'll be greeted by a park ranger. They'll fill you in on the island's history as America's once-most secure prison. Then, you'll head into the prison itself to take a tour of the facilities. You'll visit cell blocks, the exercise yard, and other areas of the prison that are off-limits to regular visitors. Because you're special; never forget that. You'll learn all about the many famous inmates that once called it home, including Al Capone, as well as Frank Morris and the Anglin brothers, who escaped the prison a year before its closure in 1963. Looking for a birthday fright-fest? Check out these spooky birthday adventures! Ghost Hunt of Chinatown Why not try a spooky exploration of San Fran's Chinatown? There are plenty of paranormal legends to discover and haunted sites to visit, and you get a tour of the area to boot! Your spooky guide will fill you in on all the supposed ghostly goings-on. They'll take you through the oldest parts of the district built during the Gold Rush era, and share stories of every apparition and haunting that is said to remain today. Expect to see and learn about phenomena reported at the old Chinese Phone Exchange building, a former opium den, and the Hang Ah Tea Room, one of the oldest tea houses in the city. They also do some delicious dim sum if you need a bite. A haunted bite? Maybe. Winchester Mystery House The Winchester name is famous in the US for the lever-action repeating rifles popularized during the Wild West. You may also know the story of Sarah Winchester, the inventor's wife. Once widowed, she was overwhelmed with guilt. After all, her husband's rifles had taken untold lives. In response, she started remodeling her house in bizarre ways. Some say it's because she feared the ghosts of those who fell to her husband's weapons were after her. But the truth of the matter has never been revealed. That didn't stop Hollywood from completely embellishing the story a century after Sarah's death. However, you can now make up your own mind by visiting the house! On your tour, you'll find stairs that lead to ceilings, brick walls behind doors, and rooms hidden behind secret panels. Then, when you're done, visit the on-site museum, or sit in the garden and contemplate the bizarre structure you just explored. It's all in a hard birthday's work! And those were our picks of the best things to do in San Francisco for a birthday! If you're not keen on some of the above, or just want some more ideas to fill out your birthday weekend bonanza, check out Go City. With our All-Inclusive Pass and Explorer Pass, you can see all of San Fran's best bits for one low price!
Dom Bewley
Flowers in bloom on a sunny day in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco
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San Francisco in July

July sees San Francisco’s tourist season get into full swing, with schools on vacation planet-wide and the city’s fine weather and funky festivals drawing in the crowds from here, there and everywhere. It’s peak season and therefore the priciest time of year to visit, but a trip to San Francisco in July still has much to recommend it. Visiting San Francisco in July Average Temperature: 54–66°F • Average Rainfall: 0 days/mth • Average Sunshine: 10 hours/day Umbrellaphobes, rejoice! July is one of San Francisco’s driest months with an average of, um, zero days’ rainfall, meaning the chances of being poked in the eye by an unruly golf umbrella or – worse still – looking on helplessly as the cable car pulls away with your precious bumbershoot still on board, are close to non-existent. What you can expect is mild weather with plenty of sunshine, tempered by occasional fresh sea winds and a healthy dose of the Bay area’s famous fogs. It’s why the locals often refer to this time of year as ‘no sky July’. But don’t let that put you off! Sure, San Francisco may not be the place to get that perfect California summer tan, but those all-enveloping mists have their own curious charm, and the city’s great parks and museums, abundance of July festivals and all-round party atmosphere more than make up for any minor weather-related downsides. Top tip: the Golden City is deep into tourist season in July, so make sure to book your hotels and Airbnb accommodation well in advance to secure the best rates possible. Things to do in July No trip to San Francisco at any time of year would be complete without setting foot on the world’s most photographed bridge. It’s worth doing this two ways in July. First: choose a clear day to take a walk the Golden Gate’s entire length, starting in the Presidio and finishing with lunch in downtown Sausalito. As you stroll across this rust-red icon (the bridge’s official color is actually ‘international orange’, fact fans) you’ll enjoy sweeping views of the Bay and the rolling waves of the vast Pacific, meaning ace selfie opportunities galore. For a truly otherworldly experience, keep an eye on local forecasts and pay the bridge a second visit when it's shrouded in dense fog. You won’t be able to see much, but ghostly close-up snaps of the bridge’s soaring towers will make you the envy of all your friends. Pro-tip: you can also simulate this experience in the interactive Fog Bridge exhibit at the Exploratorium, a fantastic museum of arts and sciences on the Embarcadero. The bridge’s big green namesake, Golden Gate Park, lies a few miles south, sprawling west from the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood to the sands of Ocean Beach, itself a lovely spot for sunbathing (when not foggy) and surfing – professionals only though, please; the riptides here are notoriously dangerous. Back in the park, there are plenty of activities to keep you occupied for an entire July day. Visit the Japanese Tea Garden for a gentle stroll along paths that meander past koi ponds, bonsai groves and impressive bronze statues. Look out for the impressive five-tiered pagoda and pause for a refreshing jasmine tea and a moment of zen in the pavilion. Golden Gate Park is also home to two of San Francisco’s finest museums. The vast California Academy of the Sciences is home to a huge natural history museum, an aquarium, a rainforest and a planetarium, while the de Young Museum showcases fine art from the US and beyond, all housed in a striking copper-clad building with a 144-foot observation tower boating 360-degree views of the park, as well as downtown San Francisco, the Bay and the Marin headlands. What’s on in July? Fourth of July Fireworks July is a great time to visit San Francisco if you’re into fireworks, great live music and... running. Sounds like a strange combination, but hear us out. First up, those fireworks. Fourth of July is cause for celebration across the States, and San Francisco is no exception. The city puts on two major displays in Fisherman’s Wharf, with the event at Pier 39 being the biggest and best. There’s live music along the waterfront until, at the appointed hour, the spectacular display commences, with hundreds of colorful fireworks set off from a series of barges in the Bay. This event is free, so don’t miss it! Fillmore Jazz Festival One of the biggest free jazz festivals on the west coast, the Fillmore Jazz Festival showcases local and international talent on two main outdoor stages. There’s great street food too, as well as smaller live music events in and around Fillmore’s legendary clubs and theaters. This part of town is synonymous with great jazz music – in its heyday it attracted acts of near-mythical status including John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Billie Holiday and Charlie Parker – so you just know the acts performing at this festival are going to be outstanding. And, like the best jazz, the shows are completely free. Catch a Baseball Game July is a great time to catch the San Francisco Giants in action at the Oracle Park stadium in SoMa, with the Major League Baseball season in full swing. Catch them against the New York Yankees, Chicago White Sox, Pittsburgh Pirates and, if you’re lucky, their arch rivals the Los Angeles Dodgers. And, if bats and balls don’t float your boat, perhaps a bit of opera will: the stadium also hosts live simulcasts of performances from the famous War Memorial Opera House, throughout summer. The San Francisco Marathon You’ll need to apply well in advance if you want to take part in this one but, if you’re a runner, it’s a great way to see many of the city’s attractions at sunrise while getting some extra miles in. The race starts and ends at the Embarcadero, taking in many of the city’s big attractions, including Fisherman's Wharf, Coit Tower, the Presidio and the mural-filled Mission district. It even crosses the Golden Gate Bridge (hence the early start to allow the bridge to reopen to regular pedestrians by 9AM). You can also take it down a notch by entering the half marathon or 5 and 10k events, while braver souls limber up for the challenging ultra-marathon: double the distance at a thigh-numbing 52.4 miles. Phew! Save on attractions in San Francisco Save on admission to San Francisco attractions with Go City. Check out @GoCity on Instagram and Facebook for the latest top tips and attraction info.
Stuart Bak

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