No matter where San Francisco sits on your road trip itinerary, you’ll want to ensure there is plenty to see and do to keep the whole family entertained. Luckily for you, San Francisco is full of attractions and activities to keep the whole family happy on the road trip. But how do you decide which attractions are worth visiting and which will leave your children bored? Finding the perfect attractions can be challenging, especially when you have multiple children at different ages to entertain. That is where we come in: to remove the stress from your road trip and provide a list of the six best attractions for the whole family for you to choose from. Let’s dive in and finalize your San Francisco road trip today!
1.The Golden Gate Park
First, we have the Golden Gate Park, which is the perfect place to burn off any energy your children have. The park spans 1,017 acres and features numerous attractions, including botanical gardens, museums, and windmills. The windmills are a highlight for most families, but the peace you find here in the city is also a favourite. We recommend packing a picnic and spending most of the day here, allowing you to enjoy the views without incurring a high expense.
If you’d like to pay for lunch or drinks while you are out, the Japanese tea garden is the perfect spot. You can enjoy some tea overlooking the pond, and visit the pagoda, one of the few surviving structures from the 1915 World’s Fair.
2.Golden Gate Bridge
It goes without saying that you can’t visit San Francisco without visiting the Golden Gate Bridge! This attraction can be completed by simply driving over it as you head to your next destination, or you can park up and walk across the bridge. Little ones might find the walk too long for them, so come prepared with a buggy or strong arms to carry them. The views from and around the bridge make this a must-see attraction and one that the family can enjoy without needing to spend too much.
3.Aquarium of the Bay
If you want to keep your children occupied for a few hours, then we recommend a visit to the Aquarium of the Bay. Located at Pier 39, the aquarium features underwater tunnels that every child will enjoy! They can see animals from the San Francisco Bay up close, with plenty of picture opportunities. It typically takes 90 minutes to complete the aquarium, but you can easily extend your stay, especially if your children are very interested.
The aquarium is part of the larger Pier 39, where you can see sea lions and learn more about marine life in San Francisco. You will need to consider admission costs for the aquarium, so keep an eye out for any deals or discounts if you are on a tight budget.
4.Pier 39
Pier 39 sits on a pier in San Francisco and offers something for everyone, from sea lion viewing to shops and restaurants. It can get busy, as there is so much to do, so keep your little ones close by. It is an excellent place to visit after the aquarium (which sits on the pier), where you can refuel before the next part of your trip.
The arcade is popular with children, alongside the traditional-style carousel and 7D ride experience! It can be tricky to fit every activity in during one trip to Pier 39, so larger families might need to divide and conquer to ensure all children enjoy the trip.
5.Ride a cable car
There are plenty of cable car opportunities across San Francisco, allowing you to enjoy spectacular views without needing to climb steep hills! San Francisco can be very hilly for younger children, who might struggle with long days of walking, so we recommend booking a cable car ride to break up the day and ensure you can enjoy all of the views with minimal complaining. You can also visit the Cable Car Museum to learn more about their design, operation, and how they became an integral part of San Francisco.
6.California Academy of Sciences
Another excellent attraction is the California Academy of Sciences, a natural history museum with over 46 million specimens for your family to enjoy. It is one of the largest museums of natural history in the world, and you can easily spend hours here, with a rainforest, aquarium, and living museum all rolled into one! There is something for everyone’s interests, and plenty of educational opportunities; the whole family will learn something here.
Start planning your family road trip to San Francisco today
Now that you know what attractions to see, it’s time to start planning your San Francisco road trip! When making a road trip through San Francisco, we recommend hiring a campervan to provide you with creature comforts on the road, while saving on hotels. Travellers Autobarn are the perfect place to hire a campervan, providing reasonable prices and campervans to suit every family. Check out their campervan hire rates in San Francisco to book your campervan today!