Manhattan, NYC
NEW YORK

If you can make it here, you can make it anywhere.
The subways are expansive, the streets are busy, the city never sleeps, but you will probably need to get your kid to at some point.

It is busy, the weather trades in extremes. It’s

Explore some neighborhoods

  • 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!

    Make It

  • 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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  • 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.

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Activities with Kids

Playgrounds

KORET CHILDREN’S QUARTER
Golden Gate Park
Great playground, carousel nearby

LAFAYETTE PARK
Pacific Heights
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MISSION BAY KIDS PARK
Mission Bay
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MISSION DOLORES - HELEN MILLER PLAYGROUND
Mission Dolores
Amazing park, sweeping views of the city

TUNNEL TOPS
The Presidio

YERBA BUENA
Downtown
Great playground, right next to a carousel, bowling center, skating rink & creativity museum

Outdoor Spaces & Activities

GLEN PARK & CANYON

GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE
Walk across it. Epically long. Bring layers

JAPANESE TEA GARDENS / Golden Gate Park

LANDS END & SUTRO BATHS / Outer Sunset

ORACLE PARK (baseball park of SF GIANTS)

SALESFORCE PARK / Financial District

SAN FRANCISCO BOTANICAL GARDENS / Golden Gate Park

SAN FRANCISCO ZOO / Outer Sunset

STERN GROVE / Golden Gate Park?

Inside Fun

CABLE CAR MUSUEM

CAL ACADEMY of SCIENCES / Golden Gate Park

CHILDREN’S CREATIVITY MUSEUM / Yerba Buena

EXPLORATORIUM / Embarcadero

MUSEE MECANIQUE / Fisherman’s Wharf

SF MOMA / SoMA

SAN FRANCISCO BOTANICAL GARDENS / Golden Gate Park

WALT DISNEY MUSEUM / The Presidio

  • "San Francisco was a waking dream, a place that was as much about people’s self invention as it was about the misty, movie-set scenery.”

    from Tales of the City

  • "If you're alive, you can't be bored in San Francisco. If you're not alive, San Francisco will bring you to life."

    William Saroyan

  • "There is no logic to San Francisco generally, a city built with putty and pipe cleaners, rubber cement and colored construction paper. It's the work of fairies, elves, happy children with new crayons."

    Dave Eggers, A Heartbeaking Work of Staggering Genius

Picture books about &
set in New York City

Favorite spots for souvenirs

  • Kids + Lifestyle

    MAPAMUNDI / Noe Valley
    Beautiful shop with design-minded curation of beautiful clothes, toys, books for kids

    MUDPIE / Fillmore

    RARE DEVICE / Hayes Valley

    TANTRUM / Inner Richmond

    THE KIRA SHOP / Inner Richmond

  • Bookstores

    BLACKBIRD BOOKS / Outer Sunset
    Beautiful curation and store,
    wonderful backyard space

    CITY LIGHTS / North Beach
    Iconic historic bookstore that’s also wonderfully cosy



  • 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
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

Grown-up books 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