Beautiful Hiking Trails with the Family - Lishumsha Trail in Pacifica

 

The Lishumsha Trail in Pacifica is easily one of my favorite trails in the Bay Area for its spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean.  We brought our binoculars in the hopes of finding whales, but sadly we didn't see any that day.   The hike to the top is about a mile.  

I highly recommend coming here early at around 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. since you have a combo of hikers and beachgoers looking for parking.  We parked in a residential area and it was about a five to ten minute walk to the trail.    

Easy Hiking Trails for Kids - Water Dog Lake Park and Open Space in Belmont

Water Dog Lake Park is located in 2400 Lyall Way in Belmont and when you walk this trail you'll see a lot of homes nearby.  In fact, you'll see trails leading to private backyards that are fenced from the public.  We didn't do the loop since since there's only so much walking our youngest can handle, but it was nice to escape to Belmont for warmer weather.  

 

Hiking Trails with Kids - Cascade Falls in Mill Valley

 

Cascade Falls is located in Mill Valley, California.  To get to the trail we parked in a residential area on Cascade Drive, although you can also start from downtown.  Parking is very limited - there was about a handful of parking spots.  We ended up parking in a small turnout down the road that could fit two cars.  

Some parts of the trail are slippery and steep but the kids made it out okay with some assistance from my husband and I.  The hike to the falls is about a quarter of a mile from the entrance.   

Fun Places for Families - Fisherman's Wharf / Pier 39

There's so much to see at Pier 39 but the main draw for my kids are the sea lions and getting ice cream.  My daughter even brought her binoculars that she made from the free children's workshop at Home Depot (sadly, I don't think they currently have them due to the pandemic).  Whenever we come here, we usually just find street parking and walk about two or three blocks onto the pier.  

The scene here is so fun and vibrant and reminds me of my childhood in Virginia Beach where we would hang out at the pier during the summer.        

My son loved this miniature robot at one of the shops

 

Easy hiking trails for kids in San Francisco - Mount Davidson

I find that the trails at Mount Davidson are easy for kids, except in rare occassions after a major rain shower where the ground is very wet and muddy.  The hike is less than a mile and there are steps near the entrance of the trail on Myra Way.  You'll see a 36 Muni Bus Stop just outside the heavily wooded area.  The cross represents a memorial to the Armenian Genocide from 1915 - 1923.  Whenever we approach the cross, there's a hushed silence among the children that can't be explained, they know it represents something significant and profound.     

 

Family Fun in San Francisco - Crissy Field

 

I took my kids to Crissy Field early on a weekday morning and I usually find parking to be easy.  There aren't many people other than a few dog walkers and fishermen on the pier.  This is one of the few parks where you get an up close and personal view of the Golden Gate Bridge - it's such an idyllic spot with the sailboats floating in the distance and you've also got the City in the backdrop.

Fun Places for Families in San Francisco - Ocean Beach

 

Ocean Beach is such a nice reprieve when there's a heat wave.  I feel like it's never too unbearably hot compared to Santa Cruz, although the sand can be scorching hot on the feet.  We don't come here too often, but when we do, it's usually as a last resort like when we can't think of any places to take the kids and they're bored.  

I don't know any child who dislikes the beach.  All it takes are a wagon full of sand toys to keep the kids busy and I can sneak in a quick nap in our tent.  

Parking is easy.  If the lot is full we've always been successful in finding parking in the residential neighbors, but if it's a holiday we end up circling around the neighborhood a little while longer.  

A word of warning, this beach is typically cold and windy.  If you're not familiar with San Francisco weather, our "summer" months are September and October.  It could be 75 degrees in the South Bay, but in Ocean Beach it could easily be 15 degrees cooler.  

Parks in San Francisco That Your Child Will Love - Sunset Reservoir Park

Sunset Reservoir Park is located on 1900 - 1998 28th Avenue.  What I love about this park is how it's not very crowded and you get wonderful views of Ocean Beach.  It's a bit of a climb heading to the top of the park, but it's nothing that most kids can't handle.  I've seen kids younger than my 2 1/2 year old son wobbling along the pavement.   Although I would keep a watchful eye on the much younger kids since it's very easy to tumble down the steep hillside.   

 

Unique Places in San Francisco to Take your Kids to - Crane Cove Park

I have to admit, Crane Cove Park is a very unique part of San Francisco and is unlike any park I've taken my kids to.  A friend lives nearby and takes her daughter here often and recommended that we check the place out.  I don't really know how to describe the area.  There are modern luxury condos across the street and yet it has a very industrial/ship yard and beach vibe going on all at the same time.  The sand is great and not at all rocky and lots of families picknicked on the beach while their kids played in the water.  

Don't let the industrial part of the park scare you off - it's very clean, except for maybe some rocks scattered, but otherwise my kids rode their bikes/Lil' Rider car at the park with no problems.  If you're not into the pavement or the beach, there's also a grassy area where we saw people playing frisbee and kids were running wild.   

 

Fun Places to Take Your Kids to in San Francisco - Dolores Park

I took my kids to Dolores Park in the Mission District on a weekday morning and it was easy to find parking nearby.  It's funny, this is my second time coming here and I've lived in San Francisco for over 10 years.  It happened to be my day off and I wanted to take my kids to a part of town that we rarely visit.  What we love about Dolores Park are the amazing views of downtown San Francisco, the open space, and of course the playground.   

My kids loved it so much that we came back on a Sunday afternoon.  It was a lot busier at the park and playground, but we were still lucky enough to find parking across the street.  Another great thing about this park is that Tartine Bakery is nearby on 600 Guerro Street, if you happen to be craving sweets.  

I hope the Dolores Park Movie Night comes back and show a film my kids would love.  I can already envision my daughter sitting next to me on a picnic blanket, under a sky full of stars with the City lights twinkling in the distance, enjoying a dessert charcuterie board and claiming,  this is the best day ever!

 

Easy hiking trails for kids in San Francisco - Ecology Trail in Presdio

 

It's no surprise my kids love playing hide-in-seek among the giant trees on the Ecology Trail in Presidio.  The hike is about 1.4 miles and my kids, who are under the age of six, like to take their time and look at everything.  Of course we dictate the amount of time we hike based on their needs/temperament, if anyone is tired or hungry (usually both) it signals quitting time and we turn around and head back to the car.   

Parking before noon has been easy.  If the lot is full, we usually park in the residential areas.

Fun Places in San Francisco to See with Kids - California Academy of Sciences

My family and I visited the California Academy of Sciences on a Saturday and I was dreading the crowds after a friend mentioned that it was busy on a Monday, which was the beginning of spring break in San Francisco.  But to my surprise, I didn't find much crowding except in some parts of the aquarium, particularly through the tunnel, and the venom exhibit where everyone wanted to see snakes.  When we visited the Tusher African Hall, there was only one other family at the exhibit.  

They loved every minute of their visit here; it's their first visit inside of a public building other than a grocery store since the pandemic began.  The downside is that we were unable to reserve tickets to the Osher Rainforest and I would recommend reserving it before you arrive for your scheduled date and time.  

 

Easy hike for kids - Presidio Coastal Trail

The Presidio Coastal Trail is one of many trails that has amazing views of the Golden Gate Bridge and it's a very easy hike for kids.   The trail is 2.7 miles but of course we only hike at the pace that the kids can handle.  My kids usually just like to hang around in one spot and jump off of some tree trunks they find like in the picture above.  We didn't find parking to be difficult before noon, but I would recommend for the younger kids to take caution when they're crossing the road since there are plenty of cyclists who can come out of nowhere.  

Hiking with kids: Milagra Trail in Pacifica

 

I wouldn't recommend the Milagra Summit Trail in Pacifica for a two-year-old, mine made it a quarter of the way but granted he just woke up from his nap and was still groggy.  But my five-year-old daughter hiked to the top with no problem.  The length is about a 1.5 mile loop and I was pleasantly surprised she made it up the set of long steep stairs leading to the summit; she just happily climbed with no complaints.  She actually wanted to keep going to reach the highest peak and was disappointed and upset that she didn't get to because her brother woke from his nap in the car and it was time to head back.  

My daughter loved the circle of rocks and we took a long water break when we reached this area.  The views of the ocean are also spectacular.

The trail is in a residential area and there is a small parking lot but if it's full you can park in the neighborhood.  

We came here on a cloudy day so the hike was manageable.   I wouldn't recommend coming here on a sunny day around noon as it can get very hot and there is no shade as you climb to the top.  

Unique parks in San Francisco: AIDs Memorial Grove at Golden Gate Park

My kids love this part of Golden Gate Park which is at the AIDs Memorial Grove.  It is located on Nancy Pelosi Drive and Bowling Green Drive.  The kids will run around and play hide and seek or check out the rocks.  

I like this area because I find that it's relatively quiet and not crowded with visitors.  I love breathing in the smell of the trees whenever we visit; one can totally forest bathe here.  Learning about the history of why the the AIDS Memorial Grove started, I hope it provides a sense of calm, peace, and healing for others as it has for me.  

 

Visiting Napa Valley with kids

We visited Napa Valley on a weekday and it was perfect for us because there were no crowds.  The drive is about an hour and twenty minutes without traffic.  With my kids usually we hit three spots before their crankiness sets in.  During our trip here we visited Cornerstone Sonoma first so that they can run around and see the lovely gardens, art sculptures, and the pond.  

I never leave Napa without a visit to Bouchon Bakery in Yountville.   My husband usually grabs an almond croisant  and lemon tart while I get the pain au chocolat and macarons for the kids and I.  I love the boxes that the six piece macarons come in; I still use our old one for keeping my daughter's hair ties and ribbon clips organized.   

Our final stop was at Addendum - I got the Lobster Roll and it's what you'd expect, of course it was delicious.  We got there around 5:00 p.m. and ate at the picnic area.  There is limited seating and the picnic area fills up fast.