23 Things To Do in the Bay Area With Kids

Gina I.:  Raging Waters San Jose offers 23 acres of water park fun including slides, rides, and a 350,000 gallon wave pool!

Gina I.:  Sillman Family Aquatic Center is your source for indoor waterpark fun all year-round! The activity pool features zero depth entry and a water play structure, which includes 6 platforms, over 30 different water jets, 2 water guns, 2 slides and 3 overhead rope pulls. They Aquatic Center also offers a lap pool and lazy river.

Gina I.:  If your kids love berries, they'll loving Webb Ranch! In business since 1922, this certified organic farm has a huge variety of u-pick fields, including: olallieberries, raspberries, golden raspberries, blackberries, loganberries, boysenberries, and marionberries. They also have a jumpy house where kids can bounce and burn off some energy.

Sue Krawitz Tandoc:  Children's Fairyland is an outdoor wonderland for kids with a storybook theme featuring interactive and hands-on play and exploration. They boast many popular and well-loved storybook themed play areas including Jack and Jill, Alice in Wonderland, Peter Rabbit, Jolly Roger Pirate Ship and many more. Kids can also enjoy delightful rides, farm animals such as donkeys, bunnies, goats, ponies, sheep, ducks and more, plus a garden and greenhouse. For the entertainment of all, they offer events and performances, puppet shows, children's theater and more.

Erynn:  With rotating exhibits that change with the seasons, there's always something new to experience at this kids' museum. Ongoing exhibits include water play, a toddler garden, pretend play areas, a wind tunnel, and face painting. A continuously available Art Studio spot lets kids get messy with a variety of projects that rotate every day.

Members can also take advantage of the Toy Lending Library for continued fun at home!

Cost: Admission is $12; under 12 months are free

Kristy Pepping:  If you don't know, San Francisco started sourdough bread. Boudin is San Francisco's oldest operating business and has been making this type of bread since the 1800s. Today they own and operate several bakeries around the San Francisco area. Grab breakfast, lunch or a snack at the most convenient location when in town. I highly recommend the location in Fisherman's Wharf. They not only offer tours, but you can watch the bread being made just from a window if you prefer not taking the tour. Plus, they make some crazy things out of their bread like teddy bears!

Sue Krawitz Tandoc:  The Children's Creativity Museum is the perfect place for children to explore and use their imagination and creativity to their full potential. The Museum features exhibits in art, music, inventing, building, sketching and drawing, stop-motion animation, robot coding, AR Sandbox with kinetic sand, and more. They keep a full calendar of fun events, their theater features special performances and they also boast the historic LeRoy King Carousel for fun rides! A trip to this Museum will entertain the kids for hours!

Cost: $12.95/age 2 and over and free/under age 2

Kristy Pepping:  If you've ever ordered Chinese food as a family then you know you often get Fortune Cookies as a dessert. Kids love opening these little cookies to read their fortunes. Well if you wondered how these little cookies are made, take a trip to Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory. They offer tours of their factory and cookies to buy.

Sue Krawitz Tandoc:  Explore and discover over 20,000 marine animals and their ecosystem from life in the San Francisco Bay. The Aquarium of the Bay also offers hands-on Touchpools for families to touch tidepool animals, leopard sharks, skates, sea stars, bat rays and along with a Bay Lab Station for interactive learning and play. Families will also enjoy seeing river otters, sea lions and more sea life. The Aquarium features daily programming, events, animal feedings, educational talks, movies and more family fun!

Cost: $26.95/adults, $16.95/ages 4-12 and free/ages 3 and under.

Kristy Pepping:  Tonga Room offers a fun tiki atmosphere sure to please the entire family. Plus, they make some great cocktails for the adults and non-alcoholic cocktails for the kids. They are located inside the Fairmont San Francisco, have live music and even realistic rain sounds complete with thunder and lightning. Tonga Room serves dinner and also has a dedicated kid's menu.

Sue Krawitz Tandoc:  The San Francisco Cable Car Museum takes you back in time to see three antique cable cars from the 1870s along with detailed models, devices such as cable, tracks, brake mechanisms and historic photos. Guests can also see the big engines and winding wheels that pull the cables. It's the perfect place for curious kids who like transportation, engineering and machinery! Learn additional history here and after a trip to the Museum, take a ride on the cable cars!

Cost: Museum is Free. Cable car rides are $7/per person. Day passes are available.

Sue Krawitz Tandoc:  Fishermans's Wharf is a destination for unlimited family fun without leaving the City! Experience a number of attractions including the Aquarium of the Bay, Sea Lion Center, Piers 39 and 45, Ripley's Believe It or Not and more. You can also enjoy a meal, bite or sweet treat at any one of their many restaurants or attend one of their themed events. Your family can also rent bikes, go fishing or check out a museum such as the Maritime Museum or Cartoon Art Museum. Not sure what to do? Follow the Curious Kiddo's itinerary for a guaranteed awesome experience!

Cost: Admission varies per attraction

Tim Ponisciak:  No trip to San Fran is complete without a ride on one of the Cable Cars! Hop on and feel the wind in your face as you go down the hills of SF. The most popular route is the Powell/Hyde line. Make sure to follow the directions of the crew and have your kids hold on tight!

Katie G.:  At the original shop you can see fresh chocolates being made, enjoy a delicious treat from the sweet menu and marvel at the breathtaking views of the San Francisco Bay.

Sue Krawitz Tandoc:  Lombard Street is the iconic crooked street in the hills of San Francisco that you need to see to believe. Your family can drive down the one way street if you dare or walk the steps along each side as you admire the famous homes that line the street. Lombard has eight hairpin turns along this steep street making it a one-of-a-kind view. You can access the street by cable car, city or tour bus or car. Your kids may love it enough to go back a second time!

Cost: Free