Playgrounds and things to do with kids in San Francisco (346)
A tree-shaded playground right across from the Painted Ladies, with separate structures for older and younger kids plus a sandbox.
A Golden Gate Park playground with climbing structures and concrete slides, plus a nearby carousel with variable hours.
Two age zones make this easier with siblings, including a toddler area and a bigger climber with a long tunnel slide.
Picnic tables by the dozen and ducks to watch on McNab Lake, with a playground, courts, a soccer pitch and two ball fields; dogs welcome.
Separate play areas for tots and older kids sit beside fields, courts and a library, so siblings have plenty of options.
A refurbished playground on the Panhandle, shaded by eucalyptus and elm trees, good for people-watching while kids play.
Two decks of shops and food built out over the water, with a carousel at the end and the sea lions barking off the far side. Loud, flat and easy to push a stroller round.
A playground near Presidio Heights with more open space than its enclosed neighbor.
A playground with separate zones for different ages, including a big-kid area that's less intimidating than most.
A fenced playground with varied play structures, picnic tables, and a nearby field and basketball court for older kids.
A small SOMA playground that's handy when you're already in the neighborhood.
Bright modern play equipment, a huge sandbox, a merry-go-round and a fountain, with a wide lawn for a picnic and Tiny Tots at the clubhouse.
A playground beside a ball field, basketball court and community garden, so there is room for a group with mixed ages.
A park near the Ferry Building that's part of a family day out before heading to the Exploratorium.
A really tall climbing structure with a slide, a couple of swings and wooden climbers, with a bathroom close by, a huge lawn and reservable picnic tables.
Structures spanning toddler to school age, with bathrooms right there and the pool and tennis courts a short walk off; parking takes a little patience.
A busy, well-kept playground that shares its block with the city's only outdoor pool, plus tennis, basketball and a blacktop soccer pitch.
A sweet little playground with swings right beside the library, perfect when the kids need to move after story time.
A park with open lawn, a playground, and views over the city.
There is room to spread out here, with a little kids structure, tennis, a baseball diamond and a huge open play area.
Bright modern play structures work for both little kids and bigger ones, with tennis, basketball and picnic tables nearby.
An easy energy burn between museum stops, with blue play structures right near the big cultural attractions in the park.
A simple neighborhood playground in the Richmond for a low-key outing.
A small playground ringed by dozens of sculptures and flower arrangements along little trails.
A playground with a 16-foot super slide and climbing structures, good for adventurous kids.
Colorful slides, swings and climbing ropes sit on top of a hill with picnic areas and one of the better views around.
Richmond indoor playhouse with crayons and play structures sized for babies through preschoolers.
A playground with metal slides, a water feature, and shaded areas good for a picnic.
A cozy neighborhood park along Euclid Avenue with a playground, tennis court, ball diamond, basketball court and, unusually, plenty of parking.
Ocean Avenue indoor playground for toddlers through school age; parents get a bench and a coffee.
There are play structures for both little kids and bigger ones, plus a hillside slide and picnic tables close by.
A playground handy to have in mind when you're near a Warriors game or nearby performance.
A busy neighborhood playground beside the city's outdoor public pool, with basketball, tennis and lots of room for active kids.
A large grassy meadow next to a playground, good for family picnics and play dates.
A toddler-friendly playground with a big sand area and a bench where parents can sip coffee.
Usually a strong all ages option with separate play zones and a water feature, but the playground is closed for work through late November 2026.
A rec center playground with ball fields, tennis, basketball and picnic tables, so older siblings have plenty to do too.
A two-level playground that suits small tots and older kids at once, with colorful climbers, a big sandpit and a hardtop game area beside a renovated rec center.
Getting up there is half the draw: a free gondola runs from 6 am to 8 pm to the rooftop park, where the play area sits three levels above the street.
Small and best for younger kids, with basic climbing and slides right by the waterfront. There are no swings.
A playground tucked into a wooded canyon with tall eucalyptus trees for a peaceful outdoor visit.
The play garden is part of a six block greenway with fruit trees, public art and gardens, so wandering is half the fun.
A playground with a climbable water dragon sculpture and separate play zones for toddlers and older kids.
A neighborhood playground with a slide and open lawn, renamed to honor a beloved grandmother and community advocate.
A playground that pairs well with a short walk into the nearby canyon.
A big Visitacion Valley park with a playground and picnic areas, and Coffman Pool next door for Tiny Tots swim lessons and open swim.
A museum paired with an outdoor play space, useful when you want an indoor backup for the outing.
Built around a ship you climb aboard and steer, so there's a game to play rather than just equipment; works for toddlers up through the early school years.
The play area sits at an arts center with ceramics and dance studios, so it is an easy add on before or after a class.
A playground, softball field and big lawn beside an indoor pool with a separate wading pool for little ones and swim classes; named for basketball's K.C. Jones.
Come here when the kids mostly want to run. Four big sports fields sit near the windmills and ocean.
A fenced playground with a sandbox beside a wide practice area where generations of neighborhood kids have learned to ride bikes.
A Diamond Heights park with trails into Glen Canyon, a playground, a softball field and tennis and basketball courts.
A waterfront stop where play can spill into a bigger outing with open lawn, water views and room to roam.
More sports complex than playground: five lighted soccer fields, ball fields, tennis, basketball and bocce, with a day camp in summer.
Separate play areas for little kids and bigger ones, with a labyrinth nearby and lots of dog watching around the edges.
A nature-themed playground rather than the usual bright plastic, and it works for toddlers through school age; there's a restroom on site.
A neighborhood rec center playground with ball fields and an indoor kids activity space when the weather turns.
A gated playground for small tots next to structures for older kids, with a sandbox, courts and picnic tables; clubhouse programs in several languages.
A simple play stop beside an athletic field, outdoor fitness equipment and picnic space.
A sheltered sand playground, courts and picnic tables, with a clubhouse that runs tiny tots, after-school and teen nights.
A playground attached to a bigger rec complex with basketball, a ball field, picnic tables and outdoor fitness equipment.
A railing fence right around it, so a bolter stays put, and a tall spiderweb net that keeps the school-age ones busy while a toddler pokes about.
Built around a big spiderweb climbing net, so it holds school-age kids longest while toddlers stay low on the ropes.
Unusual play features and a raised boardwalk that gives kids a bird's-eye view of the grounds, with sports courts and a clubhouse.
Instead of standard equipment, kids climb logs, stumps and boulders, then you can walk the shoreline or pop into the EcoCenter.
Presidio trampoline park with a café and kids' menu; loud, bouncy, and built for school-age kids.
Popular Potrero Hill playground whose surrounding wall is set with mosaics made by neighborhood children and a local artist.
A small enclosed tot lot with two slides and benches. Reviews are mixed on cleanliness, so I would give it a quick look first.
A play structure with a full basketball court and a tennis court; blacktop soccer and baseball are the games here, and the clubhouse runs classes.
A neighborhood park with a newer playground and a clubhouse whose outside walls carry two Islamic tile murals worth a look.
A small gated play space just off a busy corridor, with picnic tables around a central fountain.
A renovated little tot playground beside a community garden, especially nice for younger kids who do not need a huge structure.
A playground split into two age zones, with a big tunnel slide for older kids near the Legion of Honor.
Roomy playground with a modern structure and a sandbox under trees, a clubhouse that runs Tiny Tots, and a grass field that was once Adolph Sutro's pasture.
A small public square off 24th Street with a slide set into a low mound, room to run and seating all around the edge. The neighborhood farmers market takes it over on Saturday mornings, often with live music.
Skip this for now. The whole park closed for a major rebuild in June 2026 and is expected to stay closed until 2028.
A playground beside one of the city's few skate parks, with big lawns and a community garden when kids need a change of pace.
Swings, a slide, a sandbox and climbing structures, with a full-length basketball court that is the star of the park.
Freshly redone with a giant bear tower, climbing rock, slides and separate areas for toddlers and bigger kids.
Modern play structures sit beside a clubhouse, baseball field and both basketball and tennis courts.
A big fenced playground with towers, climbing routes and a long tube slide. The rec center and bathrooms are up the hill.
A fully remodeled playground with bright modern equipment beside a turf field; the clubhouse runs popular after-school and sports programs.
A remodeled hilltop playground beside a community garden and courts, with a surprisingly good view from the top.
A full rec center stop with a children's play area, tennis, basketball, a baseball field and bathrooms close by.
A fenced playground designed for little kids, with a sand pit, bathrooms close by and an indoor play room in the rec center.
This one has a tunnel, nest swing, monkey bars and a red parrot sculpture, all tucked into a nicely contained play area.
A full rec complex with a playground, basketball, tennis, ball fields, picnic tables and bathrooms close by.
A compact Chinatown play space with a clubhouse and restrooms, especially useful in a neighborhood with very little open space.
A compact play area with a clubhouse and bathrooms, handy when you need a real playground break in a dense part of town.
A downtown play stop that is easy to combine with the nearby carousel, bowling, skating or children's museum.
A neighborhood playground inside a much bigger park, so you can tack on trails, fields or a longer wander if everyone still has energy.
This is the one with the big serpent climber, plus a little picnic area when you need a snack break.
A neighborhood spot with a playground, basketball court and community garden, plus wide views out toward the bay.
The tall climbing tower is the main event, with slides, nets, a sandbox and a spinner for younger kids nearby.
A small play stop with a grassy area, gazebo and community garden. The play equipment was replaced in 2026.
A quiet gated playground with picnic tables and bridge views. Kids seem to love the unusual sliding monkey bars.
More garden than playground, with community plots tucked beside an early education school.
A tucked away community garden beside an early education school, better for a quiet wander than a full playground outing.
Wide, quiet galleries near Civic Center. Doable as one floor and out again, and there is room to push a stroller through every room.
Really more of a tiny picnic pocket than a playground, with benches and tables tucked between rows of old houses.
A small playground beside the library, with basketball and an outdoor StoryWalk that turns a walk into a picture book.
A compact play area with swings and a slide, plus a basketball court and clubhouse that runs year round programs.
Tiny hilltop stop with a modest play area, community garden and the kind of sunset view that makes the climb worth it.
More nature walk than playground outing, with winding trails, old oak trees and steep climbs to surprisingly big views.
Studios in Yerba Buena Gardens where kids make claymation, music and art with their hands. Built for ages 2 to 12, and the old carousel is right outside.
A tiny patch of green with a simple play area, good for a quick stop when you are already nearby.
A postage-stamp playground for tots and young school-age kids under trees, a block from the Union Street shops; a quiet stop.
Better for sporty kids than playground seekers, with soccer fields, ball fields, basketball and plenty of room to run.
Two parks in one: a lower terrace with the playground, courts and picnic spots, and an upper terrace with a downtown view where the dog can run.
A hillside park with two long slides built into the natural incline, plus a sandbox.
You get an outdoor playground plus an indoor kids activity space and gym, which makes this an easy bad weather backup.
A small formal garden with terraces, hedges and a quiet little play area, better for mellow kids than full speed climbers.
The schoolyard opens to the community on weekends, so this is a useful extra play option when school is out.
The playground sits partway up a terraced park with a nature play area and big views across the water.
A simple neighborhood playground with a basketball court right beside it, good when one kid wants to climb and another wants to shoot hoops.
A neighborhood play stop where the library regularly brings toddler storytime right into the park.
A full neighborhood rec setup with a playground, basketball, ball field, picnic tables and outdoor fitness equipment.
A wooden play structure and swings for the little ones, with a renovated soccer field, two tennis courts and a basketball court for everyone else; picnic tables too.
A rec center outing with a playground plus a pool and sports facilities, useful when siblings want completely different things.
A quarter-acre city playground with a clubhouse that runs programs for neighborhood kids, and basketball and tennis courts alongside.
A little playground with one slide and a full basketball court, plus benches and trees around the edges.
A Bayview playground with big concrete slides for older kids and a tree-shaped merry-go-round for younger ones.
A compact play stop with a community garden, picnic space and outdoor fitness equipment all packed into the same block.
A North Beach playground that pairs easily with a stop at Washington Square or a meal nearby.
A newer play area with a nature exploration zone and a path that nods to the old railroad line that once ran through here.
A freshly redone little park with a play area, basketball court and picnic space, easy for a short neighborhood outing.
Split into more than one play area, with one part signed for ages 6 to 12, so bigger kids get their own thing while the little ones stay clear.
The climbing structure is built as an airplane, and it's pitched at the five to twelve crowd, so younger siblings may find the climbs a stretch.
Small and relaxed, with a playground, basketball court, lawn, benches and barbecue grills.
A compact playground beside a lawn, picnic area and trellis, good for a quick break in the middle of a bigger outing.
A hilltop playground with multiple slides and little ride on cars, plus big views and the famously twisty street next door.
Just over an acre, with a playground, basketball courts and room to run.
A playground and sand pit for the little ones, a renovated ball field and courts for the rest, and Tiny Tots and after-school programs at the rec center.
A waterfront playground that works well as a quick stop on a stroller walk, with paths and open space continuing along the creek.
A tiny neighborhood park with two slides, swings, a climbing wall and a fenced basketball court. Best for younger kids.
Two fenced play areas sit on either side of the rec center, with bathrooms close by and plenty for toddlers and bigger kids.
Slides, swings and a climbing structure sit right by the lake, with a covered picnic pavilion that works well for birthdays.
A free room at the wharf packed with working penny arcade machines, from a hand-cranked carnival to old strength testers. Bring quarters and expect to stay.
One of those useful everything parks, with a playground, gym, basketball, tennis, soccer, ping pong and a community garden.
Two play structures, a half basketball court and a little lawn make this much more useful than its tiny size suggests.
Shady and easy to drop into, with a refurbished play area tucked under big trees along the long green strip.
A single little play structure in the middle of a lively plaza, best for a quick wiggle break while you grab food nearby.
Richmond indoor playground with crafts for toddlers and preschoolers.
A play area and tennis courts on the north hillside of Corona Heights, a short walk from the Randall Museum.
A small play break in the middle of the busy waterfront, easy to pair with the carousel and a stop to watch the sea lions.
A colorful gated playground beside a butterfly garden, with benches around the edge that make supervising pleasantly easy.
An enclosed playground in Presidio Heights that keeps little ones contained.
Free parkland over the tunnels with the Outpost, a two-acre natural playground of slides, tunnels and a giant birds' nest built for two to twelve. There are water features, so bring a change of clothes even when you were not planning on it.
A quiet three-acre green space near Stonestown ringed by big eucalyptus trees.
Seven floors of modern and contemporary art, far more than a kid will finish; pick two floors and go. Tickets required, and strollers roll through fine.
A hundred acres at the ocean end of the city, with a children's zoo, a carousel and a little steam train. Dress for fog even in August.
A compact nature themed playground with custom climbing structures and plenty of seating around the edges.
The slide is the whole attraction here, so plan on a short burst rather than a full afternoon; wheelchair-accessible toilets on site.
A small downtown playground with restrooms, handy when you need a quick play break rather than a destination park.
Freshly rebuilt in 2026, with a nature play area, scooter track, soccer pitch and shaded spots when everyone needs a breather.
A nature-themed Presidio playground with climbing nests, balance logs, hill slides, and water tables, plus Golden Gate Bridge views.
A children's garden located near a carousel and the Children's Creativity Museum.
Come for the views as much as the equipment. It is an easy add on to a bike ride, picnic or little beach stop.
Made for preschoolers, with small bright play structures and a little train with two cars to climb into.
The domed climbing structure is the main kid draw in this small plaza, with benches and neighborhood history photos around it.
Mission mini-golf with a kids' menu; lively fun for preschool and school-age kids.
A hilltop playground with a basketball court, picnic area and dog run, good for a simple neighborhood outing with a view.
This is a formal lawn and memorial garden, not really a playground, so I would skip it if the kids need equipment.
A neighborhood playground attached to fields, tennis, picnic space and a rec clubhouse, easy to turn into a longer outing.
A small playground attached to a much bigger rec complex with fields, tennis, bathrooms and plenty of room to keep going.
A compact modern playground built for open ended climbing and creative play, with seating and public art around it.
Polk Street indoor playground with rope mazes and slides for toddlers through school age.
A busy Bayview sports park with fields and courts lit at night, a play area where little ones run around, and a clubhouse with programs.
A canyon-style park with rock outcrops, trails, and a rec center that has a playground.
Leafy and low key, with a playground, basketball court, picnic area and a community garden tucked together.
The Painted Ladies hill: a wide lawn to run down, benches with the postcard view, and a playground at the top end.
This is really a short, steep nature walk rather than a playground, with big city views from the top.
A little playground with one slide and a full basketball court, with enough benches and trees to make a quick stop easy.
This one is small but useful, with a play structure, full basketball court and benches under the trees.
One of several play pockets along a long neighborhood greenway that is being rebuilt with new play areas and gathering spaces.
A five block greenway with play areas, gardens and gathering spaces, currently in the middle of a major rebuild.
Part of a long neighborhood greenway being remade with new play spaces, gardens, lawns and places to sit together.
Free and genuinely fun for machine obsessed kids because you can watch the giant wheels pulling the real cables under the streets.
Original comic strip and animation art in one small gallery near the wharf. Quick to walk, and a fair trade for a kid who draws.
A contemporary art space inside the art college, with shows that change and talks for grown-ups; strollers get in, but nothing here is built for kids.
One-floor Chinatown museum in a Julia Morgan building. Small enough for a rainy half hour, and better with school-age kids than toddlers.
A tucked away playground with a sand area, working water tap and little digger. There is a community garden right next door.
A small museum about Beats, hippies, protest movements and music, right where that history actually happened.
This appears to be on a private youth services campus rather than a public park, so I would not count on drop in access.
The rec center has drop in tot play, youth programs and open gym time, so there is more going on here than just the outdoor play area.
A rec center stop with tot play, youth programs and open gym time, useful when you want more than a basic playground visit.
A pier full of things to pull, spin and stand inside. Nothing is behind glass, nobody minds the noise, and a five-year-old can lead the whole visit.
Best for climbers, with a tall rope structure, rock wall and play bridges rather than a ton of little kid equipment.
A small city playground with a clubhouse and basketball and tennis courts, easy to combine with a neighborhood wander.
A small playground on a pretty lawn, with the turtle fountain nearby and plenty of places to sit.
There is no permanent museum building now. Exhibitions pop up in changing spaces around the Bay Area, so check the current show first.
Modern play structures next to a clubhouse kids like, with a baseball field and basketball and tennis courts for older siblings.
Small arcade of Japanese claw machines and rhythm games. Cheap, indoors, and a reliable twenty minutes when the weather turns.
The play area shares space with a field marked for baseball and soccer, so an older sibling can kick a ball around while a toddler climbs. Bring your own ball.
Bowling alley off Union Square with bumpers and light lane food. Daytime is the family window.
A small park tucked between North Beach and Russian Hill, with a playground, a basketball court and a patch of grass for a picnic.
Three floors of art and history off Yerba Buena Gardens. Compact, calm, and stronger with school-age kids than with little ones.
Cute for toddlers, with a little train, animal details, swings and slides. There are no bathrooms, and parking can be annoying.
Built for the under-six crowd, so bigger kids run out of things to do fast; it isn't set up for wheelchairs.
Presidio bowling alley; loud, fun, and built for preschool and school-age kids.
This little park is slated for a nature focused makeover with logs, stumps, a slide, more shade and flexible play space.
Oddities and optical tricks along the wharf. Pricey for what it is, but it holds a school-age kid for an hour on a wet afternoon.
Half the fun is getting up there on the free gondola, then letting kids run around the rooftop park three stories above the street.
Fifty-five acres of gardens inside Golden Gate Park with a children's garden and lawns to eat lunch on. Wide flat paths the whole way.
A market hall of food stalls with the ferries going out the back. Good for grazing lunch with kids, and the Saturday farmers' market spills onto the plaza.
A free single room opposite the Ferry Building with a streetcar cab kids can sit in and work the controls. Ten minutes, no ticket, right on the F line.
Team virtual reality in a booked room with full body tracking. Minimum age applies, so this is a big-kid outing rather than a family one.
The standout is a skywalk linking a climbing net to a 25 foot slide, plus a lawn and picnic area for the cooldown afterward.
A small contemporary gallery with rotating shows and a real youth arts program, best for older kids who already like art.
A restored natural dune landscape by Ocean Beach, good for walking in the sand and fog, though it has no playground yet.
A tiny tot playground with a slide, swings and seven benches, good when you want something mellow and easy to supervise.
A quiet play area with a big lawn, basketball and tennis, but it is private for neighborhood residents and their guests.
A Castro arcade bar that welcomes kids of all ages on Saturday afternoons.
The story of how the films got made, in a Presidio barracks: early drawings, the multiplane camera, and a model of Disneyland as first imagined. Long for under-fives.
The pointed tower on the skyline. The redwood grove and fountain in the park beside it are the part worth stopping at with kids.
Play structures share the yard with basketball hoops and room for a soccer game, so an older sibling has something to do while the toddler climbs.
A tiny enclosed playground designed like a colorful little city, especially cute for toddlers and preschoolers.
The indoor room at the West Portal playground: drop-in play, a gym, and somewhere to go when the fog wins.
Small aquarium at the foot of Pier 39 where glass tunnels put sharks and rays overhead. About an hour, which is the right length for little kids, and the sea lions are outside afterwards.
A free covered stretch of photos and drawings showing the old piers being rebuilt; a two-minute stop on a walk, not a destination.
Outdoor mini golf at Mission Rock built around the city's gold-rush history. Eighteen holes holds a school-age kid; a toddler will want to leave at nine.
The end of the line, where two operators push the cable car around by hand. Free to stand and watch, and reliably good for ten minutes.
Rainforest dome, planetarium, aquarium and a penguin colony under one Golden Gate Park roof. The one to spend a whole wet day in.
This one permanently closed in 2025, and its huge history collection was transferred to Stanford.
The North Beach bookshop with creaky stairs and a children's shelf upstairs. Narrow aisles, so easier in a carrier than a stroller.
Golden Gate Park art museum with a free observation tower at the top: ride the lift up for the view even if the galleries are a hard sell.
A free curiosity lab packed with real nature specimens, maps and artifacts, right beside a huge nature playground.
The tourist stretch of the waterfront: street performers, crab pots, and the sea lions a short walk along. Crowded, flat, and easy with a stroller.
Chocolate shop and sundae counter in the old factory square. Free sample at the door, and a fountain outside to sit by while the ice cream goes down.
A compact museum built from a deep queer history archive. Kids 12 and under are free, but it lands best with older kids and teens.
The walk out onto the east sidewalk. Loud, windy and exposed, so hats and a firm grip; the vista point at either end works if you would rather just look.
A Chinatown alley the width of a hallway where two women fold cookies off a hot press by hand. Two minutes, a sample, and worth the detour.
Indoor mini golf with silly themed holes and a bar attached. Fine with kids in the daytime; the crowd gets adult in the evening.
Free to enter, with an indoor grotto, waterfall, tiny fairytale hut and rooms that feel more fantastical than a normal art museum.
The oldest public Japanese garden in the country: a steep arched drum bridge kids insist on climbing, koi ponds, and tea and mochi at the house.
A playground with rubber flooring, sand play structures, and nearby water access, good before or after a Presidio hike.
A coastal trail in San Francisco with dramatic views, near Tunnel Tops and the Presidio.
Colonnaded art museum on the cliffs at Lands End. The courtyard, the view and the Rodin outside are half the visit and cost nothing.
One gallery of lettering and posters you can walk into during open hours; the rest of the collection is appointment only, so it's a short, quiet stop.
A mirrored maze on Pier 39 that takes about fifteen minutes to get lost in. Dim and disorienting, so it suits school-age kids more than toddlers.
Book ahead to see a tiny home, edible garden, chicken coop and goats, plus hands on exhibits about sustainable living.
A small, quirky museum built around artificial intelligence and its risks. More thought provoking than hands on for younger kids.
A sunny playground with a big hill slide and swings overlooking the city.
Admission is free for anyone under 18, and free for everyone on Thursdays, so a short visit costs nothing if the kids lose interest.
Painted rooms built for photographs where you look like you are falling or shrinking. Silly, quick, and made for a phone camera.
Small Dogpatch design museum with a hands-on making room off the main gallery. One hour, and the making room is the point for kids.
Small and old school, with immigrant archives, costumes, military items and even a vintage typewriter kids can inspect.
Public steps wired to play notes as you climb them. Free, outdoors, and kids will do the same eight stairs twenty times.
A free art-deco building shaped like a ship at the end of Aquatic Park, with WPA murals inside and sand right outside the door.
This one is no longer an option. The photography museum permanently closed to the public in February 2025.
Dozens of sea lions hauled out on the floating docks, barking and shoving each other off. Free, visible from the walkway, and most reliable in winter.
A park good for picnicking, with old military batteries and camping spots to explore.
A 14-acre park at the Presidio with plenty of open space to play.
A mall floor of arcade games, bowling and karaoke. Buy time rather than tokens, and go on a weekday if you can.
A small history museum with a current pinball exhibit, including a one of a kind machine made for the 1939 world’s fair.
Free exhibition hall by the cannery with a huge Fresnel lighthouse lens and ship models. Twenty minutes, and warm when the fog is in.
A small playground known for its slides.
San Francisco art museum that's stroller-friendly throughout, with free admission for kids under 18.
A small walled garden in Golden Gate Park planted with everything Shakespeare mentioned. Quiet, benches, and a good pause between the museums.
An observation wheel by the wharf with enclosed gondolas. Twelve minutes up top with the bay laid out, and no scary bits.
The aquarium inside the Academy of Sciences: a coral reef tank, a swamp with an alligator, and a touch tide pool. Included with Academy entry.
A newly renovated playground with treehouse-style climbing structures near Stonestown Galleria.
Indoor mini golf where every hole is a San Francisco landmark. Two short courses, air conditioned, and quick enough for a preschooler.
An enclosed playground with a ship-shaped structure, good for toddlers to play safely.
Free outdoor artwork with no cover and no lighting, so it's a daylight, fair-weather stop rather than a plan for the whole afternoon.
A one-room neighbourhood history museum. Adult subject matter for the most part, and the walk in is the tricky bit with young kids.
Working presses and binding machines in a small SoMa workshop, demonstrated by volunteers. Better with kids who like to see how things are made.
Two floors of Beat-era manuscripts and photographs above a North Beach shop. Reading-heavy, so it suits teenagers rather than small children.
An outdoor alley gallery covered in street art, started by local artists to turn a neglected block into something worth exploring.
An island with biking, food, giant Jenga, a small beach, and a playground with great views.
An alley of murals under a canopy of hanging umbrellas, near the wharf. Ten minutes and a good photograph.
A small volunteer-run history hall in Japantown. Reading-heavy, and better with older children.
Bowling downstairs from the ice rink at Yerba Buena Gardens. Bumpers, light lanes, and a good pairing with skating in one afternoon.
Rotating contemporary art with performance and film in the mix, and the gardens right outside for when attention runs out.
Indoor rink in the middle of downtown with public sessions most days. Skate aids for small children, and the bowling alley is downstairs.
A bike park with tracks for all skill levels, great for kids learning BMX or mountain biking.
A historic former island prison reachable by ferry, so popular that weekend tickets often sell out.
A recently renovated playground centered on a tall tower with a slide, climbing wall, and nets, plus a sandbox and spinner nearby.
Take the ferry over and explore family-friendly walking paths on the island.
This listing is outdated. The collection moved to a new home, where the research library is now open by appointment.
A dark room behind the old Cliff House where a rotating lens throws the ocean outside onto a big white dish. Five minutes, and kids remember it for years.
A park with whimsical sculptures that's a lesser-known local favorite.
Book a slot and sit in the pen with the goats that clear the city's brush. Muddy, close-up, and exactly what a four-year-old wants.
North Beach theatre where the acrobats of Dear San Francisco perform a few feet from the tables. Ninety minutes, no interval, and the tumbling holds a seven-year-old as well as a grandparent. Evening shows; check the age guidance before booking.
White glass Victorian greenhouse in Golden Gate Park. Warm, humid rooms of jungle plants and a pond of lily pads, and a flat loop throughout.
A brick fort tucked directly under the Golden Gate Bridge. Free, echoing spiral staircases, cannons to climb near, and the bridge roaring overhead.
A San Francisco museum dedicated to the history of cable cars.
Pair the playground with a short walk into a real urban canyon, where you can find a creek, rock formations and spring wildflowers.
A climbing-focused playground with a tall rope structure, rock wall, and play bridges.
The city's largest park, spanning over 1,000 acres.
Free one-room visitor centre by the beach with tide-pool tanks and whale bones. Ten minutes, and a good excuse to be indoors for a moment.
Book the kids tour for a fairy garden, treasure hunt and secret passage. It is made for ages three and up and lasts about 90 minutes.
A Victorian house kept as it was, shown by guided tour. Stairs throughout and nothing to touch, so this one is for older kids.
A historic playground with an original concrete slide plus newer rope climbing and a wave-shaped climbing wall.
The switchback block with the hedges. Walk down the stairs at the side rather than driving it; steep in both directions, and no good with a stroller.
A small weekend museum in a former Army school, with a reconstructed classroom and personal stories from Japanese American soldiers.
A working Dutch windmill at the ocean end of Golden Gate Park with beds of tulips in front of it. Short stop, flat paths, best in February and March.
Free room of hand-drawn engines, brass helmets and 1906 photographs, kept by volunteers. Short hours, so check before making the trip.
A SoMa skate park that Tony Hawk helped design.
A working WWII Liberty ship you can walk through, engine room included. Steep ladders and high sills, so a carrier beats a stroller.
A boat-themed play structure and a climbing frame modeled on the Bay's shipping cranes, with a lawn and two picnic tables, in the Hunters Point Shipyard.
A hotel famous for its holiday gingerbread house display.
A small island museum about the 1939 world's fair and the naval base. Quick, and the drive over is half the trip.
A nature-based Presidio playground with stone-and-log climbing structures, a unique swing, and water features for sensory play.
The high lookout over the whole city. Windy and cold most days, no shelter, but the view is the view; go at dusk.
A WWII submarine tied up at the wharf that you walk through end to end, torpedo room included. Tight, loud on the audio tour, and thrilling for school-age kids.
A library across from Raymond Kimbell playground, useful for a music class or picking up new books during an outing.