East Bay
CALIFORNIA
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Explore some neighborhoods
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The Embarcadero
The Ferry Building, Bay Bridge, Exploratorium, Coit Tower, F trains… there’s so much to see along this eastern edge of the city.
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Chrissy Field + The Presidio
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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The Mission
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.
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Pacific Heights + Japantown
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Golden Gate Park
deYoung Musuem, huge Ferris wheel, beloved Academy of Sciences, Gardens, Lake, and if you make it all the way west, the beach!
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Outer Sunset + Ocean Beach
Right beside the epic Ocean Beach are a collection of wonderful spots, where they keep a thoughtful eye on how things are made and sourced.
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 SPACES & ACTIVITES
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.
GLEN PARK & CANYON
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
INSIDE FUN
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!
THE WALT DISNEY MUSEUM / The Presidio
Picture books
about
San Francisco
Favorite spots for souvenirs
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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 Richmond
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BOOKSTORES
BLACKBIRD BOOKS / Outer Sunset
Beautiful curation and store,
wonderful backyard spaceCITY LIGHTS / North Beach
Iconic historic bookstore that’s also wonderfully cosy -
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MADE IN SF
ABACUS ROW Nob Hill
Independent jewelry brand focusing on beautiful beadwork. Each piece is crafted in-house, at their production studio and showroom.BRYR CLOGS / Dogpatch
Handmade clogs sold from their gorgeous, light-filled boutique and manufacturing space.DANDYLION CHOCOLATE / The Mission
Single origin bean-to-bar chocolate maker.FOUR BARREL COFFEE / The Mission
JOSHUVELA / Potrero Hill
Timeless canvas, leather & cloth bags designed and produced in their SF workshop.
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
Books for grown-ups about San Francisco
San Francisco guide created in 2023
All images © Kara Brodgesell
Lombard Street
Fisherman’s Wharf
Alamo Square & the Painted Ladies
Palace of Fine Arts
Chinatown
Cable Cars