Activities for a one year old tourist in San Francisco
August 2, 2010 10:12 AM Subscribe
San Francisco with a toddler?
TheGirl and I will be in San Francisco for about 3 days this week.
We will be staying near Market and Third.
Looking for interesting things to do for a one year old.
Any cool toddler parks? Aquariums? I see there's a zoo, is it a good one?
Could also be things that are fun to do with a one year old.
City strolls, scenic vistas, interesting places/food. MetaParent Meetup?
We will have a car, so are able to get out in the greater Bay Area.
Not opposed to Bart, though buses can be a hassle with the stroller.
TheGirl and I will be in San Francisco for about 3 days this week.
We will be staying near Market and Third.
Looking for interesting things to do for a one year old.
Any cool toddler parks? Aquariums? I see there's a zoo, is it a good one?
Could also be things that are fun to do with a one year old.
City strolls, scenic vistas, interesting places/food. MetaParent Meetup?
We will have a car, so are able to get out in the greater Bay Area.
Not opposed to Bart, though buses can be a hassle with the stroller.
Crissy Field is a great beach/park/waterfront walk that (if it isn't crazy windy) is great. There is a large parking area, great views of the Golden Gate, dogs romping in the surf, kids splashing in the lagoon channel, boats and windsurfers offshore to watch. You can walk from there out to Fort Point underneath the Bridge - very strollerable unless the wheels are tiny - it's a packed dirt path most of the way.
posted by gyusan at 10:24 AM on August 2, 2010
posted by gyusan at 10:24 AM on August 2, 2010
otherwordlyglow covered lots of the hits.
There's also another children's discovery center in San Jose. The California Academy of Sciences itself is probably a bit too old for a one year old, but they do have a kids' play room off to the side that's perfect for toddlers. Ours will regularly visit both that space and the Koret's Children's Quarter in the same afternoon.
Lots of farms with petting zoos/train rides out towards Half Moon Bay, too.
The city is riddled with well maintained playgrounds. You could easily find one near every major tourist attraction in the city.
posted by NoRelationToLea at 10:50 AM on August 2, 2010
There's also another children's discovery center in San Jose. The California Academy of Sciences itself is probably a bit too old for a one year old, but they do have a kids' play room off to the side that's perfect for toddlers. Ours will regularly visit both that space and the Koret's Children's Quarter in the same afternoon.
Lots of farms with petting zoos/train rides out towards Half Moon Bay, too.
The city is riddled with well maintained playgrounds. You could easily find one near every major tourist attraction in the city.
posted by NoRelationToLea at 10:50 AM on August 2, 2010
There's a whole area for kids near the Moscone Center - a children's museum, bowling alley, ice skating rink.
posted by kat518 at 11:23 AM on August 2, 2010
posted by kat518 at 11:23 AM on August 2, 2010
Previously. Mostly older kids, but there's some good stuff in there.
posted by gingerbeer at 11:23 AM on August 2, 2010
posted by gingerbeer at 11:23 AM on August 2, 2010
We will have a car, so are able to get out in the greater Bay Area.
Children's Fairlyland in Oakland.
posted by oneirodynia at 11:26 AM on August 2, 2010
Children's Fairlyland in Oakland.
posted by oneirodynia at 11:26 AM on August 2, 2010
Children's Fairlyland in Oakland.
Just as a note, we were there yesterday and our 2-year old was NOT happy. She liked some of the animals but the puppet show made her scream with terror and she was still freaked out at night when going to bed. There were quite a few things there that she found scary and overwhelming. I think my daughter might be an edge case and that lots of toddlers like the place but it was definitely not a hit for us.
posted by otherwordlyglow at 11:44 AM on August 2, 2010
Just as a note, we were there yesterday and our 2-year old was NOT happy. She liked some of the animals but the puppet show made her scream with terror and she was still freaked out at night when going to bed. There were quite a few things there that she found scary and overwhelming. I think my daughter might be an edge case and that lots of toddlers like the place but it was definitely not a hit for us.
posted by otherwordlyglow at 11:44 AM on August 2, 2010
Response by poster: Bring warm clothes. It will be cold and damp but it's a fun zoo and you can visit the beach afterward.
The weather doesn't look too horrible, but thanks for the reminder. I've put some long pants in the luggage.
That Golden Gate Mothers website is very cool (if a bit sexist). Wish we had something like that up here.
The California Academy of Sciences
We did this about 6 months ago. The fishtank was a big hit, but the rest was a bit older, definitely.
Children's Fairlyland in Oakland.
Puppets might be a little too much "sit still" time, but for $7 it might be worth it just for the experience.
posted by madajb at 1:22 PM on August 2, 2010
The weather doesn't look too horrible, but thanks for the reminder. I've put some long pants in the luggage.
That Golden Gate Mothers website is very cool (if a bit sexist). Wish we had something like that up here.
The California Academy of Sciences
We did this about 6 months ago. The fishtank was a big hit, but the rest was a bit older, definitely.
Children's Fairlyland in Oakland.
Puppets might be a little too much "sit still" time, but for $7 it might be worth it just for the experience.
posted by madajb at 1:22 PM on August 2, 2010
It's true that the California Academy of Sciences may be too old for a one-year old, but they also have huge, gorgeous aquariums.
In fact, the Koret Children's Center, California Academy of Sciences, and Strybing Arboretum (lovely textured plants and big, calm lawns) are all in Golden Gate Park, and could easily make for a full day of activities. You can walk out of the park to the 9th and Irving neighborhood for lunch (at the intersection of 9th and Irving streets, lots of good food in that area, Arizmendi Bakery is particularly kid-friendly), then return for more activities. I highly recommend!
You could drive out there and park in the park easily enough, or you could take the N streetcar (Muni railway, not bus) to 9th and Irving and enter the park from there.
I also second Crissy Field - it's an incredible park in a beautiful location.
posted by marlys at 1:24 PM on August 2, 2010
In fact, the Koret Children's Center, California Academy of Sciences, and Strybing Arboretum (lovely textured plants and big, calm lawns) are all in Golden Gate Park, and could easily make for a full day of activities. You can walk out of the park to the 9th and Irving neighborhood for lunch (at the intersection of 9th and Irving streets, lots of good food in that area, Arizmendi Bakery is particularly kid-friendly), then return for more activities. I highly recommend!
You could drive out there and park in the park easily enough, or you could take the N streetcar (Muni railway, not bus) to 9th and Irving and enter the park from there.
I also second Crissy Field - it's an incredible park in a beautiful location.
posted by marlys at 1:24 PM on August 2, 2010
Out by the ocean (the zoo) it WILL be cold and damp. Weather forecast is for the upper 50s/lower 60s all week and that's an average for the city as a whole. The west side of the city is COLD in the summer. Pants and jacket, for sure.
To be clear on the Fairyland thing, the puppet show is only a very small aspect of the place. There's lots to run around in and up so if your child is into that, it might be fine.
posted by otherwordlyglow at 1:27 PM on August 2, 2010
To be clear on the Fairyland thing, the puppet show is only a very small aspect of the place. There's lots to run around in and up so if your child is into that, it might be fine.
posted by otherwordlyglow at 1:27 PM on August 2, 2010
Check out Randall Museum up in Corona Heights! Up the hills near Castro neighborhood. There are good views, hands on exhibits and a youngkid's play room.
posted by Swisstine at 2:45 PM on August 2, 2010
posted by Swisstine at 2:45 PM on August 2, 2010
I had a daddy day with my one year-old girl yesterday at the SF Zoo--she needed a sweater, for sure. The Academy of Sciences is always overflowing with little ones--especially the aquarium. It has lots of pretty sea stuff to look at, and is nice and dark when its time for a nap.
If you are driving, a trip down Highway 1 with frequent stops at the beaches and little towns would be nice.
posted by Kafkaesque at 3:52 PM on August 2, 2010
If you are driving, a trip down Highway 1 with frequent stops at the beaches and little towns would be nice.
posted by Kafkaesque at 3:52 PM on August 2, 2010
I should also note that the Academy of Sciences gets very very very crowded on the weekends--midweek is much better. And every third Wednesday of the month is free--don't go near it.
posted by Kafkaesque at 3:54 PM on August 2, 2010
posted by Kafkaesque at 3:54 PM on August 2, 2010
Zeum is the children's museum that kat518 was referring to. It's right downtown. There's a children's playground adjacent. If the kidlet prefers grass, Yerba Buena Gardens is across the street.
posted by nakedcodemonkey at 12:20 AM on August 3, 2010
posted by nakedcodemonkey at 12:20 AM on August 3, 2010
Out by the ocean (the zoo) it WILL be cold and damp. Weather forecast is for the upper 50s/lower 60s all week and that's an average for the city as a whole. The west side of the city is COLD in the summer. Pants and jacket, for sure.
Seconding this. It's been extra cold and damp this summer, and the forecast for the end of this week calls for patchy drizzle in the City. I sat at the Oakland Estuary yesterday and watched the fog roll over San Francisco at 5 o'clock.
posted by oneirodynia at 7:01 PM on August 3, 2010
Seconding this. It's been extra cold and damp this summer, and the forecast for the end of this week calls for patchy drizzle in the City. I sat at the Oakland Estuary yesterday and watched the fog roll over San Francisco at 5 o'clock.
posted by oneirodynia at 7:01 PM on August 3, 2010
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There are good parks, the Koret Children's Quarter in Golden Gate Park is awesome and has a toddler area. There's a good listing of local parks at the Golden Gate Mothers website.
If you go across the Golden gate Bridge into Marin, you might check out the Bay Area Discovery Museum.
posted by otherwordlyglow at 10:18 AM on August 2, 2010