Ten hours in San Francisco

[Lucycantdance]

On a Thursday night. Layover. Have two boys aged 5 and 8. What can we do? Fly out again at 10pm.

Cable car trip

Pier 39 to see the sea lions😍

The Japanese tea garden in Golden Gate Park was lovely when we visited and I regret not allowing enough time to take tea in the traditional tea house. It has been 18 years since we visited, mind. I hear SF has got a lot rougher in the last few years with more addicts and homeless people on the streets, so do your research before visiting. Even 18 years ago we found it got uncomfortably edgy even a street or two away from Downtown into the Tenderloin district where our hire car office was located.

Cable car museum - far more interesting than it sounds! It's the actual working engine room of the underground winding cable that pulls the cars..

You will smell them before you see them.

If you have time for Alcatraz I'd do that. My kids loved it, only slightly older than yours.

Alcatraz

Ghiradelli chocolate factory

Sea lions at Pier 39

Pier 39 in general

Lombard Street

If I had two kids of that age I would make a beeline for the Exploratorium at pier 15.
My two are older now but last time we went they were 11 and 13 they loved it!
You can take a Trolley bus there, MUNI is very easy in SF to navigate around.
Alcatraz also a good option.

Enjoy your day.

Agree with Lombard Street - so iconic

Which airport are you flying into?
alcatraz might be a bit boring for the kids - and will need to be booked well in advance.

Lombard Street makes no sense with a 5 yo and 8 yo (I have a 5yo). Pier 39 would be fun.

I'm sure the OP can decide for themselves if it makes sense for her children.

Also Alcatraz isn't as busy as it used to be, tickets can be bought the day before or on the day if it came to it.

Thanks all- flying into the main international airport (sorry that’s not very specific?!) from nz.

I'd just do Pier 39, let them see the Sealions and spend some cash in the tourist shops. I wouldn't do Alcatraz with those aged children.
Be aware though... the homeless problem along the piers/seafront is awful... truly shocking, drugged and desperate people everywhere.

Loved the cable car museum! You can hop off the cable car there on the way back from Pier 39 (they’ll love the Sea Lions, although the sea lions disappear for a couple of weeks in July/Aug, so we’re AWOL when I took my stepson!). If you don’t think they’ll like Alcatraz, just hop on one of the boat trips around the bay/bridge. There is a costal path along to the bridge with lovely beaches and views.

They’ll probably like The Cheesecake Factory on the 8th floor of Macy’s (try to get an outside table on the balcony). It can get very busy, but early afternoon is usually ok.

Just realised how little time you have- definitely just jump on the cable car to pier 39, look at the seals, do a one hour boat trip. Cable car back. Macy’s if time.

Awesome tips, thank you!

We felt a small tremor the last time I was in SF. I think spent the next few days absolutely terrified of the 'big one' hitting. Though if you're from NZ, you're probably used to earthquakes!

What about a walk over the golden gate bridge if its a nice day?

Though having just read the age of your children, they may be a bit too young for that suggestion..

The Musee Mechanique! Pier 45. Slot machines and games going back many years that take small coins. They'd be just the right age for that surely (I enjoyed a wet afternoon here on two occasions with my two adult daughters. Fish and Chips afterwards at the Crab Shack opposite.)

Would not bother with the sealions but I see that is a minority view.

I agree, though not sure about Macy's....... it's just a big department store which the kids probably won't appreciate.

You'll need to eat though. Theres are many seafood restaurants by the piers, or go to House of Nanking for great Chinese food, or North Beach for pizza.

I remember stopping over for 2 nights many years ago on the way to Honolulu and we did China Town and the Golden Gate Bridge .
I always wanted to see Alcatraz as in a visit to it as you could do it back then but we never had time.

Is it still there and can you still tour it?

Apologies for going off thread, I hope you don’t mind as you brought back some happy memories.

Have a safe and happy onward flight.
x

@avamiah not all, lovely to read :)

Exploratorium - the most wonderful place, especially for kids that age