If you’re looking for the perfect 3-day itinerary for visiting San Francisco with kids, this is it. San Francisco is one of our favorite cities to visit. The boys have been there three times and each time we have experienced a completely different set of activities – some in the city and others out in nature. Three days in San Francisco is a perfect amount of time to get a real feel for the Bay Area. One of the best things about this itinerary is that you can walk or utilize public transportation for most, if not all, of it, which is especially important in 2021 where there is a severe car rental shortage.
Day 1: Ghiradelli and Fisherman’s Wharf
We love to get the lay of the land on our first day in a new city and our first trip to San Francisco was no different. Our flight got in late morning and we took the BART straight from the airport into downtown. Because this was a short trip and we didn’t want to rent a car for the majority of this trip, we chose a hotel in the downtown area that was easily accessible to everything we wanted to see. The BART was easy to navigate and took us straight to our hotel.
Once we arrived, we checked in and stowed our bags. We ate lunch and then took an Uber to the Ghiradelli Square where we got a sweet treat at the Original Ghiradelli Ice Cream and Chocolate Shop. Be prepared to order on your way in and then choose a table to wait for your ice cream to arrive! The Ghiradelli Shop looks out to Alcatraz Island and is just a block down to the water.
The area here is actually part of the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, one of our nation’s National Parks. We stopped at the Museum and picked up Junior Ranger books, which the boys were able to quickly complete while we looked at the exhibits. This museum, right by Fisherman’s Wharf, is a great way to learn about the sights, sounds, smells and stories of Pacific Coast maritime history. There is a fleet of historic ships that you can visit and tour.
Junior Ranger badges in hand, we continued on to Fisherman’s Wharf an iconic, can’t-miss destination in San Francisco. Fisherman’s Wharf has dozens of restaurants, shops and activities for everyone. There are often street performers and cruises to visit Alcatraz or see the Golden Gate Bridge leave from here. There is a carousel and musical stairs and on Pier 39, you’ll find the Sea Lions. Depending on the time of year you are visiting, there will be only a few or upwards of 900 sea lions basking on the pier’s docks and swimming in the water. They are incredible to watch.
We purchased tickets for a Golden Gate Bay Cruise and watched the sea lions while we waited for our boat to board. While we were lucky to get tickets on arrival, I would recommend purchasing tickets in advance. The cruise is a hour long and takes you around Alcatraz Island and then under the Golden Gate bridge. It was an amazing opportunity to see Alcatraz and the bridge from the water and enjoy some time on the water.
If you have the chance, stop by the Musee Mecanique – a collection of over 300 orchestrions, coin operated pianos, antique slot machines, and animations, down to small bird boxes – that is open to the public free of charge. The boys loved playing some of the old pinball machines and seeing all of the different items. We wandered in by chance, but really loved it.
There are so many great restaurants in Fisherman’s Wharf, making this a great place to end your afternoon. After dinner, we took a cable car down the Embarcadero to head back to our hotel.
Day 2: Golden Gate Bridge, Muir Woods and Angel Island
We really wanted to visit Muir Woods and Angel Island, so we did a one-day car rental from downtown to cut down on the cost of the car and we didn’t have to pay hotel parking charges. We found a place right around the corner from our hotel, so we could walk there first thing and easily return it at the end of the day.
On our way out of the city, we stopped at the south end of the Golden Gate Bridge at Fort Point National Historic Site. This is a great area to walk around and of course there are amazing views of the Golden Gate Bridge.
From here we drove north to Muir Woods National Monument. Located less than an hour north of the city, Muir Woods is a great place to get away from the city and immerse yourself in nature. Read all the details about visiting Muir Woods here.
After Muir Woods, we drove about 30 minutes to the Ferry Landing in Tiburon. This is where you pick up the ferry to Angel Island. We bought our ferry tickets and then grabbed lunch along the docks. The ferry leaves Tiburon every two hours, but returns almost hourly, so it’s easy to navigate. You can also ferry directly from San Francisco.
Angel Island State Park is the largest natural island in the San Francisco Bay. With great hiking trails and some of the best views of the surrounding Bay area it is an area that should not be overlooked. The Island is primarily in its natural state, with paved roads to make hiking and biking more accessible. Get all of the details about visiting Angel Island here.
When the ferry returned us to Tiburon, we drove about 40 minutes back to San Francisco to return our car and head back to the hotel.
Day 3: Walking Tour of Coit Tower, Lombard Street, Chinatown and the TransAmerica Pyramid
We started the day at the Ferry Building, which is filed with a variety of restaurant stalls offering coffees, teas, pastries and more. From there we walked down the Embarcadero and headed to the Coit Tower. The Coit Tower is a 210- foot tower in the Telegraph Hill neighborhood. It is free to climb up and offers panoramic views over the city and bay.
From there, we continued walking to Lombard Street, the famous, steep, one-block section that has eight hairpin turns. The boys loved watching the cars navigate this famous street.
We continued walking to Chinatown. We entered through the Dragon Gate and you immediately feel like you’ve been transported somewhere else. San Francisco’s Chinatown is one of the oldest Chinatowns in the US and is the largest Chinatown outside of China. There were so many interesting things to see just walking the streets here. There are many authentic Chinese restaurants and stores with their doors open to the sidewalk, so you can see all of their wares. The boys loved seeing the traditional hats worn by workers in the rice plantations and searched for trinkets to take home.
We made our way through Chinatown and then down a small alley, called Ross Alley, in search of the Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory. Since 1962 they have been making custom fortune cookies here and it is well worth tracking down. No reservations are necessary, just wander in and see the men and women heating the cookie dough into large rounds and then forming them into fortune cookies. It was amazing to see how quickly they make dozens of these sweet treats. The woman who greeted us, told us about their process, the history of these famous cookies and the fortunes that are inside. They make fortune cookies in various sizes and flavors, some with chocolate or vanilla coatings or other toppings. Fortunately, they also sell them here, so be sure to grab a bag before you head out!
It was just a few more blocks to see the TransAmerica Pyramid. Located in the Financial District, this 48-story building is futurist looking and an important part of the San Francisco Skyline.
What are your favorite things to do in San Francisco? Tell us in the comments so we can plan them for our next trip!
There are so many great things to see in San Francisco. Here are a few other ideas for your trip.
- Visit Alcatraz. It was under construction when we were there, but we’ve heard great things about the tours here.
- Watch the San Francisco Giants play if they’re in town. Their stadium is convenient to downtown and a great park to watch a game, while overlooking the bay.
- Rent bikes and ride over the Golden Gate Bridge. Not for the faint of heart, but a really amazing way to see the city and make you appreciate the bridge. While we haven’t done this with the boys, Tim and I did this on an adults trip to San Francisco and loved it.
- Eat pizza at Bar Bocce in Sausalito. The pizza is outstanding and you can relax here, play Bocce and view the city skyline.
- If you’re flying to and from the Bay Area, remember that there are several airports. San Francisco International Airport, Oakland International Airport, and the Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport all serve this region.
