Family activities & fun things to do with kids in San Francisco
If your children are like many of the other kids in California, they must be a little restless and looking for an adventure. Fortunately, there are plenty of fun things to do with kids in San Francisco.
Whether your kid is looking to just have fun with people their age or you want to spend the day making memories with your kids, there are countless San Francisco family activities you can safely do right now.
GoCar’s little yellow GPS-guided cars have been a must-do activity for kids in San Francisco since 2004. Children over the age of 4 can ride with a licensed adult. We have DOT-approved helmets in extra small, and our vehicles are outfitted with adjustable seat belts for kids of all sizes.
And our newly introduced GoRide Scooters are single rider vehicles available to rent to licensed drivers 18 and up. Our scooters are great for older teens who want a sense of independence on tour, as well as the odd adult who doesn’t want to rent an extra GoCar to travel with their family.
Fun things to do with kids in San Francisco:
- Visit the Bay Aquarium
- Go to Koret’s Children’s Quarter in Golden Gate Park
- Take a bite of Teddy Bear Bread at Boudin Bakery
- Visit Urban Putt
- USS Pampanito
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Visit the Bay Aquarium
The Bay Aquarium is a great place filled with fun things to do with kids in San Francisco. Located conveniently in Fishermans’ Wharf, the Bay Aquarium has four large exhibits highlighting different animals that live in the Bay Area’s ecosystems. The “Discover the Bay” section of the aquarium houses several small tanks of aquatic creatures like eels and urchins, and adventurous guests can get up close and personal with aquatic life in “Touch The Bay”. The most playful residents of the aquarium are the North American Otters, who can be viewed frolicking and swimming in their own special section of the Aquarium.
Go to Koret’s Children’s Quarter in Golden Gate Park
The Golden Gate Park is a welcome oasis for residents as well as a great hub for parents looking for fun things to do with kids in San Francisco.
Modeled after New York’s Central Park, Golden Gate Park is full of exciting activities for families of all ages, including the California Academy of Arts and Sciences, the Conservatory of Flowers, and even a small herd of Buffalo! One of the hidden gems of the park is the Koret Children’s Quarter which sits in a small dell off of Martin Luther King Jr Drive.
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Take a bite of Teddy Bear Bread at Boudin Bakery
Boudin Bakery’s Sourdough is synonymous with San Francisco, and their flagship location is in Fisherman’s Wharf, a short ride from GoCar’s Beach Street location. Visitors can view bread being made through the 30-foot observation window in the bakery, and inquisitive minds can talk directly to the bakers through an intercom system. The site houses an impressive museum, featuring stories about the company, which was founded during the Gold Rush in San Francisco, and is recognized as the oldest operating company in the city. Their clam chowder bread bowls, local Dungeness crab sandwiches, and pastries taste great, and they have many fun, instagrammable “critter breads” baked into the shape of turtles, bears, and even cable cars for a delicious and fun treat.
Visit Urban Putt
Adults and kids alike love miniature golf, so it’s a no-brainer that San Francisco’s Urban Putt is one of the most fun things to do with kids in San Francisco. This high-tech 14 hole miniature golf course is located in the heart of the Mission District, not far from 16th and 24th street Bart stations and Dolores Park. The concept for Urban Putt began in 1993 when Steve Fox and Leslie Crawford began hosting “bring your own hole” miniature golf parties in their house. Their guests’ increasingly intricate designs inspired the couple to open Urban Putt in 2014. The location itself is a Victorian building that previously served as a mortuary adding a spooky backstory to this quirky attraction. It’s easy to get lost in the fantasy of a miniature San Francisco as you play, and Urban Putt makes it easy with a kid-friendly menu that includes deep dish pizza, corn dogs, fried chicken, and waffle skewers, as well as more adult-oriented fare like cocktails. Reservations are required for entry, and kids under 21 are welcome daily before 8 pm, and kids under 5 play for free!
Visit the USS Pampanito at the Maritime Museum
Many kids are fascinated by military history and ships, and San Francisco’s Maritime Museum, located next to Fisherman’s Wharf and GoCar’s Beach Street location, is an amazing place to soak up some unique naval history while also looking for fun things to do with kids in San Francisco.
The self-guided audio tour of the ship is a fascinating look at what life might have been like as the submarine traveled below water with 80+ men onboard in enemy waters. The audio tour itself is narrated by crew members of the Pampanito and submariners of the era. While the Pampanito is closed now due to covid, it is due to reopen soon at limited capacity and has an amazing online tour you can listen to now by visiting their website.