San Francisco Bay Adventure: Islands, Bridges & Redwoods
See it in NavoyA six-day family trip based near Fisherman's Wharf. It covers Alcatraz, the Golden Gate Bridge, a ferry to Sausalito, the Muir Woods redwoods and a full day in Golden Gate Park. The pace is balanced, with a mix of hands-on fun, outdoor time and local culture. Book Alcatraz and Muir Woods well ahead.
1Wharf Wonders & Sea Lion Serenade
$245Settle in with the historic waterfront. You'll start at the old ships, move to the vintage arcade, then finish with the barking sea lions and the aquarium at Pier 39. Everything is within a short, flat walk of the Wharf.
Wharf Wonders & Sea Lion Serenade
Hyde Street Pier Historic Ships
Climb aboard restored 19th-century vessels, including the sailing ship Balclutha and a steam ferry. The kids can explore the decks and see how sailors lived. It's a gentle, hands-on start with bay views.
Musée Mécanique
Play on more than 200 antique arcade machines and mechanical music boxes, with games from old-fashioned to vintage pinball. Bring a pocket of quarters. Admission is free and you pay per game.
Lunch at Boudin Bakery & Bread Museum
Have a sourdough bread bowl of clam chowder or a sandwich at the famous San Francisco bakery. Watch the bakers shape loaves through the glass, then visit the small museum on sourdough history.
Pier 39 Sea Lions & Aquarium of the Bay
Watch the sea lions lounging on the K-Dock floats, then walk through the underwater tunnels at Aquarium of the Bay. You'll see local sharks, rays and jellyfish up close.
2Rock, Cable Cars & Chinatown Lanterns
$300Take the morning ferry to Alcatraz and tour the infamous prison. In the afternoon, ride a cable car to the crooked part of Lombard Street, climb Telegraph Hill and finish in Chinatown.
Rock, Cable Cars & Chinatown Lanterns
Alcatraz Island Tour
Take the ferry from Pier 33 for the audio tour of the cellhouse, narrated by former guards and inmates. It's engaging for both kids. Book the earliest slot you can, and wear layers because the island is windy.
Powell-Hyde Cable Car & Lombard Street
After lunch, ride the Powell-Hyde cable car from the turnaround near Aquatic Park up to the top of Lombard Street. Then walk down the famously crooked block with its flower beds and hairpin turns.
Coit Tower & Filbert Steps
Walk over to Telegraph Hill, see the Depression-era murals in Coit Tower and ride the elevator up for 360° views. Walk down the Filbert Steps, where the wild parrots of Telegraph Hill often show up.
Chinatown Stroll & Fortune Cookies
Enter through the Dragon's Gate on Grant Avenue and wander the lantern-lit lanes. Watch fortune cookies being made in an alley bakery and pick up snacks and dim sum bites.
3Golden Gate Icons on Foot
$100Spend the day at the Presidio, which has the best views of the bridge. You'll go from a Civil War-era fort to the bridge walk, then along the bay shore to a grand Roman-style rotunda.
Golden Gate Icons on Foot
Fort Point National Historic Site
Explore the brick Civil War fort directly under the south end of the Golden Gate Bridge. The kids can climb the spiral stairs and cannons on the roof. The setting is dramatic. The rideshare from the Wharf is included in the budget.
Walk the Golden Gate Bridge
Walk up from Fort Point to the bridge and stroll out toward the first tower and back. Look at the Art Deco details and the view of the bay and Alcatraz. Watch for cyclists on the path.
Crissy Field & Warming Hut Lunch
Walk the flat shoreline path along Crissy Field with the bridge behind you. Grab sandwiches and snacks at the Warming Hut or the Presidio's food trucks and let the kids play on the beach.
Palace of Fine Arts
Finish at the 1915 rotunda and lagoon, one of the city's most photogenic spots. It's a good place to find swans and ducks and to take family photos before heading back to the Wharf.
4Among the Giants: Muir Woods
$340Spend the morning among the ancient coastal redwoods north of the bridge. Then come back for relaxed bay-side time and a chocolate treat.
Among the Giants: Muir Woods
Muir Woods National Monument Tour
Take a small-group half-day tour from Fisherman's Wharf across the Golden Gate Bridge to Muir Woods. Walk the boardwalk trails among redwoods up to 250 feet tall and look for the Junior Ranger activities. Entry and transport are included in the budget.
Aquatic Park Cove Stroll
Stretch your legs along the Municipal Pier curve and the small beach. You'll see swimmers from the local swim clubs and have good views of the sailboats and the bay.
Ghirardelli Square Sundaes
End the day with hot fudge sundaes at the historic chocolate factory square. You can sample squares of chocolate and look at the old factory buildings.
5Ferry Across the Bay to Sausalito
$320Cross the bay by ferry to the artsy, hilly waterfront town of Sausalito. Visit a hands-on model of the whole bay delta, then return for crab at the Wharf.
Ferry Across the Bay to Sausalito
Ferry to Sausalito & Waterfront Wander
Board the ferry from Pier 41 for a 30-minute crossing, with views of Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge from the water. In Sausalito, browse the galleries and shops on Bridgeway, then have lunch at a waterfront cafe. The budget covers the round-trip ferry for four and lunch.
Bay Model Visitor Center
See a huge working hydraulic model of the San Francisco Bay and Delta, with exhibits on the tides and the bay's history. It's free, interesting and quick, and the kids can follow the flows.
Return Ferry to Fisherman's Wharf
Walk back to the Sausalito ferry landing and ride back to the Wharf in the afternoon light. It's already paid for in the round-trip tickets. Sit on the upper deck for views of the skyline.
Dungeness Crab Dinner at the Wharf
Have an early seafood dinner at a casual spot on Fisherman's Wharf. Try the Dungeness crab, which is in season in autumn, or fish and chips and clam chowder for the kids.
6Golden Gate Park & Haight Groove
$310On your last day, explore San Francisco's huge green park, with its science museum, Japanese garden and boating lake. Then walk to the colorful Haight-Ashbury neighborhood.
Golden Gate Park & Haight Groove
California Academy of Sciences
Visit an aquarium, planetarium, rainforest dome and living roof under one roof. The kids can touch tidepool animals and see the albino alligator and penguins. Reserve timed tickets in advance and eat at the cafe.
Japanese Tea Garden
Walk across the arched drum bridge, past the koi ponds and pagodas in the oldest public Japanese garden in the U.S. Have tea and rice crackers in the tea house.
Stow Lake Pedal Boats
Rent a pedal boat at the boathouse and paddle around Strawberry Hill island. Look for turtles and herons. It's a fun, active break for the whole family.
Haight-Ashbury Stroll
Finish in the Summer of Love neighborhood. Walk Haight Street past the murals, vintage and record shops, and the Victorian houses. There's a lot here for the teen to look at, and it ends with a casual snack.