TravelPangs's Passport
 | Been to 317 Attractions |
 | 193 Reviews |
 | 121 First to Review |
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Send a ComplimentHometown:
SF, California, United States
About Me & My Family
I'm a mother
3 Kids 0-8 years old boys and girls
3 Kids 0-8 years old boys and girls
When we travel, good food and adventure always abound. Our family loves to push the limit of what we can do with children. Our mantra has always been - have kids, will travel. However, this doesn't mean I'm unlike most frantic moms before a trip. Wanting adventure and being a control freak can sometimes be a lethal combination.
Our Family's Travel Personality
adventurous, independent, spontaneous
We Just Got Back From
Northern California and Oregon
Our Favorite Vacation Spot
Hawaii
A Place We'd Love To Visit
New Zealand, Argetina, Brazil, Eastern Europe, Cambodia
Favorite Vacation Memory
Climbing Machu Picchu with a 4 month old infant in a slight and having all the locals stop us to ask what happened to his feet which were all bundled up. They just couldn't believe it wouldn't be bow legged.
Worst Travel Moment With My Kids:
Getting to the airport on our way to Scotland with my 15 month old and discovering that my husband's passport had expired. Instead of rebooking all of our flights, we decided that I would do the first leg of our journey on my own with baby. Unfortunately, we had not packed for me to be flying by myself. I could bearly walk to the runway with all my bags and a 15 month old who would get distracted by everything along the way. He then proceeded to sleep only 1 hour of the entire 11 hour journey (red-eye). It was pretty miserable.
Websites I Like:
10 Must See Attractions With Preschoolers in San Francisco
Preschoolers are such a bundle of curiosity and discovering with them in San Francisco is lots of fun because San Francisco is a city that offers lots to do with a preschool kid bursting with questions. If you are visiting San Francisco for the first time, here are some must see attractions and activities that a preschooler will enjoy.
1201 Mason Street
San Francisco, California
Comment:
Take a cable car ride and stop to visit the cable car museum where kids can see the machinery that pulls all these cable cars throughout the city. It's fascinating and a small enough museum to keep a preschooler's attention span. It also feeds their natural curiosity at this age about how things work.
reviewed on: November 26 2008
"Interesting for young engineers"
Young engineers will be fascinated with the fantastic huge engines that pull cables all across the city of San Francisco. Take a cable car ride from union square and stop off to see the muscle engine that has kept the cable cars running across San Francisco's hilly streets for hundreds of years.
750 Kearney Street
San Francisco, California
Comment:
San Francisco Chinatown is a feast for the senses. For preschoolers who haven't experienced many different cultures yet, the San Francisco Chinatown will be a good first taste of a cross cultural experience. Walk into the stores to discover all the interesting food items being sold. Then stop in for some egg tarts at Golden Gate Bakery, or visit the Kite Shop or Fortune Cookie Factory. Chinatown is very hilly, so remind junior not to run and to stay close by at all times as the streets are very crowded.
reviewed on: January 18 2009
"Oldest Chinatown is a feast for the senses"
Soak in the smells, the sounds, the colors, the architecture and more. San Francisco Chinatown's Chinatown really transports you to Asia. We usually head to the specific restaurant that we're heading to and don't take the time to enjoy the sights and sounds. But today, we decided to soak in some of the Chinese New Year atmosphere with our 2 and 5 year old boys. It made me feel nostalgic for Singapore where I grew up. We got to hear people everywhere speaking in Cantonese and Mandarin, check out all the interesting food items in the various stores. We stopped at the famous Golden Gate Bakery at 1029 Grant St. We'd heard that they were famous for their egg custartd tarts (Dan Tat) and they were totally out of this world especially when they are still warm from the oven. It was a little hard walking down the busy street with two young ones, so if you visit with some little ones, be sure to have a 1:1 adult to child ratio. If you're from a town where you don't have access to many cross cultural experiences, I highly recommend visiting China town. There are so many great restaurants to explore and so many interesting nick nacks to look at and touch. So many interesting people to observe. On the weekends, Portsmouth Square is a big gathering spot for the men in the neighborhood. They gather to chit chat, play chinese chess and other card games. This is a scene right out of China. There is also a playground at Portsmouth Square if your kids need a little break. The streets of Chinatown are very steep, so be sure not to let your kids run. It's for young legs to trip and go rolling down the dirty street. It might be helpful to bring along a child carrier for younger kids because they might get tired walking up the streets. Strollers are okay, but difficult to maneuver down the crowded streets.
Parking is horrible. But Portsmouth Square is a public garage and some of the restaurants do validate. If you can, take public transportation.
55 Music Concourse Drive
San Francisco, California
Comment:
The California Academy of Sciences offers many fascinating exhibits for young kids like the huge rainforest in the museum. Preschoolers who have recently gotten into planets and space will also enjoy the planetarium. This is one of the most cutting edge green buildings in the country and preschool age kids are just about ready to learn the value of taking care of our earth.
Golden Gate Bridge
San Francisco, California
Comment:
On a day that isn't too windy, a walk across or just part way across the bridge is simply gorgeous. A preschooler might not make it the whole way across, but even going part of the way is fun. If your little one gets cold, pick up some hot cocoa at the little shop at the foot of the bridge.
Pier 45 at Taylor Street
San Francisco, California
Comment:
This one of a kind museum houses hundreds of old world curiosities and amusement park machines. Most of them still work, so if you put a quarter in their slot, you can watch string puppets dance, or a big woman laughing (Laughing Sal). Entertainment for kids has gotten so over the top these days that it is very nice to see that even simple amusements can delight your young child.
Palace of Fine Arts
3601 Lyon Street San Francisco, California
Comment:
The Exploratorium is a place where physics chemistry, and biology come alive for kids. They can see it, touch it, and smell it. While a preschooler might not fully understand all the scientific concepts being illustrated and explained, he can become immersed in it and experience it more intuitively. Some favorites for a preschooler are the giant bubbles and the ball that floats on a jet of air. The tactile dome is really cool, but may be scary for a preschooler who is afraid of the dark.
reviewed on: August 13 2008
"Perfect for School-age Children"
Wow! The Exploratorium is an absolutely must visit if you are bringing school age kids to San Francisco. My kids who are starting to reach the age when they would rather listen to their ipod than enjoy a beautiful hike were enthralled from the moment we walked through the door. There is an electricity about the place. Even adults find the exhibits fun. My kids who are budding sport fantatics loved the exhibit on the science of sports. This museum makes science comes alive. For the rest of our vacation, the kids were asking questions about how various things work. Uh oh, now I need to go brush up on all that physics, chemistry and biology that I've not touched in years.
Hyde Street on Jefferson Street
San Francisco, California
Comment:
Being able to clamber on antique shipping vessels is sure to be lots of fun for a young child. Stoke their imagination by pretending you are pirates aboard these ships or arriving on ships for the gold rush.
reviewed on: January 31 2010
"First Sundays are Free!"
On a whim one Sunday, we decided to visit the Hyde Street Pier and Maritime National Historical Park. We had read about it here on Trekaroo. (Thanks you guys!) To our delight, we happened to be there on a first Sunday and all the ships were free to board. The highlight on board the Eureka was visiting the model ship building room. The person working there was so welcoming and took the time to share about the ship he was building with our two boys (3 and 6). My two Lego fans were totally captivated by what he was doing. The engine attached to the big turning wheel was pretty amazing as well. The sure size of it stunned the kids.
What we enjoyed most was the trading vessel - Balclutha. The ship has quite a history as a trading vessel. Below deck, multimedia exhibits tells the story of Balclutha's history transporting good and grain between San Francisco and Europe and Asia, transporting timber to Australia, and transporting Salmon from Alaska. The exhibits were so well done that our 6 year old and myself were spellbound by the stories. Guided tours are offered most days where kids will be fascinated by the raising of the sail and learning first hand some skills sailors needed at sea or at port. We missed this.
I also found out from the park ranger that school groups and scout troops can actually organize overnight visits on board Balclutha. The kids are invited on to be sailors for a night. They have to learn a few skills and then are asked to perform certain tasks as teams. Their initiative is tested through these tasks. Kids also get to sleep on board like real sailors. It sounds like a ton of fun! Can't wait till my boys are old enough so i can organize a trip.
320 Bowling Green Drive
San Francisco, California
Comment:
This one of a kind playground has many custom built playground structures that preschoolers will love. They won't be able to get enough of the concrete slide. The sand and water play area is also very popular, so if your child can't get enough of sand, be sure to bring a change of clothes. Right next to the playground is the historic carousel your preschooler will beg to ride on. Fortunately, it's just $.50 for kids and $1.50 for adults.
reviewed on: July 29 2008
"Must visit for any family with young kids"
The Koret Children's Quarter is truly one of the most wonderful free playgrounds. Our 5 and 2.5 year old simply love this playground. Many of the playground structures were custom designed. This is no ordinary playground. A large wave creates a climbing wall. A tall concrete slide is a delight for kids and parents who are young at heart (like myself). The rope pyramid is challenging, but perfect for a 5 year old who loves to climb. Young children will enjoy the fantastic climbing structures and the little water play area in the sand "box"Although this playground is almost always crowded, that adds to the energy of the playground. Parking is often very difficult on Saturday and Sunday from 10:30am onwards.
The plentiful but old school bathrooms are clean, but no changing tables were available. Nearby is a large meadow for running and the famous carousel for children is such a steal at $.50 for kids and $1.50 for adults.
Bring a picnic and enjoy the large trees that surround the playground.
Lombard Street, between Hyde and Leavenworth
San Francisco, California
Comment:
One of icons of San Francisco. The Powell and Hyde cable car line can drop you off right here. Preschoolers always like a laugh at this wacky crooked street with many hairpin turns across just one city block. This stop provides an opportunity to introduce the relationship between sharp inclines and rate of fall.
557 McReynolds Road
Sausalito, California
Comment:
Located in Sausalito, The Bay Area Discovery Museum is filled with endless fun for preschool aged kids. They will love the large outdoor pirates cove with an old boat they can climb in and a sandbox made to look like a ship wreck. The gravel pit with Tonka Trucks is always a big hit too. It is hard to get your child to leave the massive brio train track and the art room always has a fun messy project the kids can participate in. The Bay Area Discovery museum also has beautiful views that mom and dad will enjoy.
