Marin County,
CALIFORNIA
Just across the Golden Gate Bridge, natural splendor.
Goes on for a long time
Explore these areas
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Sausalito & The Headlands
It's so pretty! You can take the ferry there, you can stroll and get ice cream and look at the water, yay.
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Stinson Beach & Bolinas
Do you like beautiful open spaces, views of an iconic bridge, and amazing kids’ playing structures? Then this northern spot may be just right for you!
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Point Reyes Station & Tomales Bay
Burritos and murals and energy, oh my! The commercial corridor on Valencia Street collides with delicious food and a nearby hillside gem of a playground at Dolores Park.
BAY AREA DISCOVERY MUSEUM
Whenever a local is asked about what to do with young kids in the Bay Area, the Bay Area Discovery Museum is one of the first suggestions.
This incredible space has indoor and outdoor interactive play spaces that encourage your kid’s creativity and curiosity. The 7.5 acres of the museum are tucked between the hills and the bay, just north of the Golden Gate Bridge. There's a large parking lot right next door, a kid-friendly cafe on-site, and …
Activities with Kids
PLAYGROUNDS
FRANCISCO PARK / Russian Hill
Beautiful, recently constructed park & playground with sweeping views of the bay to the north. Close to Ghiradelli Square, Fort Mason and Fisherman’s Wharf.
HELEN DILLER PLAYGROUND / Mission Dolores
Large, adventurous play space at the top of popular, often-sunny Dolores Hill.
KORET CHILDREN’S QUARTER / Golden Gate Park
Huge play gem in the Southeast corner of the park. Highlights include unique mosaic creatures to climb on and a nearby carousel.
LAFAYETTE PARK / Pacific Heights
Hilltop neighborhood park with green space and a fun playground, a couple blocks east of a bustling commercial strip of Fillmore Street.
MISSION BAY KIDS’ PARK / Mission Bay
Multi-age-friendly playground nestled between the new buildings of Mission Bay.
Close to the SF Giants ballpark and nearby Spark SF Social, an outdoor, kid-friendly food court.
OUTPOST PLAYGROUND at PRESIDIO TUNNEL TOPS / The Presidio
This innovative, multi-faceted, gorgeous play area is our favorite play space in SF. The activities are inspired by nature and there’s a Field Station curiosity lab. It connects to lawns and The Presidio on one side and Chrissy Field on the other.
OUTDOOR DESTINATIONS
CABLE CARS / Downtown – Fisherman’s Wharf
A scenic, historic, unforgettable way to get around SF. There are 3 different lines and you can hop on at the turnarounds or at street stops.
BLACKIE’S PASTURE &
GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE / fdsfsd
You may have heard of it? Even with all of the hype, it’s pretty striking. There’s a walking side and a biking side – don’t feel like you have to walk the whole thing, it’s 1.7 miles long. And it’s often in fog – bring layers!
LANDS END & SUTRO BATHS / Outer Richmond
ORACLE PARK (baseball park of SF GIANTS)
SALESFORCE PARK / Financial District
SAN FRANCISCO BOTANICAL GARDENS / Golden Gate Park
Fifty-five acre nature sanctuary nestled within the notable park. Showcases landscaped gardens, open spaces, and over 8,000 different kinds of plants.
SAN FRANCISCO ZOO / Outer Sunset
DOWNTOWN SAUSALITO
MUIR WOODS
TENNESSEE VALLEY TRAIL
TIBURON near chapel
COMMERCIAL CORRIDORS
CABLE CAR MUSUEM / Union Square
Free admission to the non-profit museum honoring the mechanics
behind the beloved and unique SF cable cars.
CAL ACADEMY of SCIENCES / Golden Gate Park
Celebrating science through their aquarium, planetarium, natural history museum and indoor rainforest. Don’t miss Claude, the albino alligator, a local icon.
CHILDREN’S CREATIVITY MUSEUM / SoMa
Interactive museum dedicated to giving kids hands-on multimedia experiences.
Nearby carousel open Fri-Sun.
EXPLORATORIUM / Embarcadero
Huge “learning laboratory” located in a pier right on the bay. Its six galleries give kids a chance for
hands-on learning about subjects like tinkering and light, mirrors, and bubbles.
MUSEE MECANIQUE / Fisherman’s Wharf
Wharf institution packed with old-school games including penny arcades and pinball.
Don’t overlook the photo booth and penny presses tucked in between the 300+ machines.
RANDALL MUSEUM
Corona Heights
SF MOMA / SoMa
Multi-level modern and contemporary art marvel, with a lovely cafe next to an outdoor sculpture garden. Kids 18 & under are free!
DOWNTOWN SAN RAFAEL
THE WALT DISNEY MUSEUM / The Presidio
Picture Books
Celebrating Marin
Favorite Spots
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KIDS & LIFESTYLE
MAPAMUNDI / Noe Valley
Beautiful shop with design-minded curation of beautiful clothes, toys, books for kidsMUDPIE / Fillmore
RARE DEVICE / Hayes Valley
TANTRUM / Inner Richmond
THE KIRA SHOP / Inner Sunset
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BOOK LOVE
BLACKBIRD BOOKS/ Outer Sunset
Beautiful curation and store,
wonderful backyard spaceCITY LIGHTS / North Beach
Iconic historic bookstore that’s also wonderfully cosySAUSALITO BOOKS BY THE BAY / SAUSALITO
MILL VALLEY LIBRARY
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KID-FRIENDLY EATING
MARIN COUNTRY MART / Larkspur
Outdoor shopping and dining center, close to the highway, with a variety of food options. Also has a koi pond and small play area with repurposed logs for climbing.FOX & KIT / San Rafael
Beautifully designed indoor kids play space and coffee shop. Breathe a sigh of relief as you relax for a moment to watch your kid run around in a contained space.THE JUNCTION / Mill Valley
Independent jewelry brand focusing on beautiful beadwork. Each piece is crafted in-house, at their production studio and showroom.
ART + DESIGN
ASIAN ART MUSEUM / Civic Center
CONTEMPORARY JEWISH MUSEUM / SoMA
de YOUNG MUSEUM / Golden Gate Park
LEGION OF HONOR / Outer Richmond
MINNESOTA STREET PROJECT / Dogpatch
MUSEUM of the AFRICAN DIASPORA / SoMa
MUSEUM of CRAFT & DESIGN / Dogpatch
SFMOMA / SoMa
MUSIC & PERFORMANCE
WAR MEMORIAL OPERA HOUSE
SAN FRANCISCO BALLET / Civic Center
SF JAZZ / Hayes Valley
SF SYMPHONY / Civic Center
GAY MENS CHORUS
CASTRO THEATER
THE FILLMORE
ART in BUILDINGS
CITY HALL / Civic Center
COIT TOWER
FERRY BUILDING
GRACE CATHEDRAL / Nob Hill
PALACE OF FINE ARTS
ARCHITECTURE
OUTDOOR CREATIONS
THE LINE by ANDY GOLDSWORTHY / The Presidio
BOY & ARROW at Rincon Park / Embarcadero
SEA CHANGE by Mark diSuvero / Embarcadero
