there are many great things to do in san francisco, especially with children. some of our favorites follow...

things to do with children of all ages
the exploratorium: located in san francisco's beautiful palace of fine arts, the exploratorium's more than 600 interactive science, art and "human perception" exhibits will keep everyone from toddlers to adults engaged for hours. make your own tornado, wander through a house built to distort perceptions, blow giant bubbles, perform "digital surgery," or take a class in something as topical as the physics of toys. Contact (415) 561-0399 or www.exploratorium.edu to learn more

golden gate park: 1,017 acres of gorgeous parkland, smack dab in the middle of one of the densest cities in the world. where else in san francisco can you enjoy boating, horseback riding or biking all in walking distance of each other? Contact (415) 750-7145 and www.calacademy.org for more information.

alcatraz: once the most feared penitentiary in the federal penal system, alcatraz is now one of the most fun tourist traps in, we mean, exploration points in san francisco. advanced tickets are recommened, as the ferrys to and from alcatraz sell out weeks in advance. contact the blue and gold fleet for more information: (415) 705-5555 or www.blueandgoldfleet.com/abcsc.htm

pier 39: over 110 stores, 11 full-service restaurants, and one fantastic arcade make this the most popular destination in san francisco. which also means its crowded. but if you're going to alcatraz, you might as well swing by pier 39 before or after your alcatraz tour: the ferrys to alcatraz leave from pier 41, a hop, skip and jump away from 39.
http://pier39.com/

fisherman's wharf and ghirardelli square: fresh clam chowder in a san francisco sourdough bread-bowl. need we say more? ok, chocolate. some of the world's best chocolate. and fishing boats. and ripley's believe it or not museum. and much, much more. if you need to take gifts back to family members at home, and you want to get them san francisco memorabilia, this is the place to do it.
http://www.ghirardellisq.com/

the golden gate bridge: few man-made structures are as inspiring as bridges, and the golden gate bridge is one of the most stunning (and disctinctly utilitarian) bridges in the world. it is hard to think of san francisco without conjuring an image of the golden gate, and if you've never walked across it, or gazed up at it from fort point, we highly recommend it. smaller children will have difficulty walking the full distance across and back (it's a 3.4 mile round-trip), and it will be cold and windy in the center of the span, but take your cameras: the view of and from the golden gate bridge is unforgettable (but still worth sharing).
http://www.goldengate.org/

shopping!
union square: his and her's macy's, nordstrom, fcuk, niketown, cartier, borders, the disney store, cafes galore, the cheesecake factory, and great big square to plop down smack dab in the middle of and take stock.

for union square and other great shopping areas, check out:
http://www.sfgate.com/traveler/guide/sf/neighborhoods/

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