San Francisco Maritime Visitor Center

Fisherman's Wharf hotel with games to borrow and bikes to rent, a good base for school-age kids.

An alley of murals under a canopy of hanging umbrellas, near the wharf. Ten minutes and a good photograph.

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.

Wharf hotel with an in-room fridge and two-queen rooms for families with little ones.

Wharf hotel with a heated pool, a games room, and outdoor space for kids to burn energy.