Ok so i've been back and forth from the bay area in the past year and i've visited a couple of cool spots here and there but now my brother and his family are planning a trip to take all of us and have me as some what of a guide. The places I've visited were mainly for young couples (sushi lounges, japanese gardens, clubs etc.) but this time i'm gonna need a list of things to do for a family. Here's some more details

Family of 7 (not including me)
Includes: Parents, 3 boys (14, 17 and 18), 1 daughter (8) and possibly my nephew (3)

Would like some amusement park ideas, family restaurants, zoo's, go-karting stuff, sites (SF bridge, pier 34 etc.) or anything you might think would be interesting. The trip will be for their spring break, some time in april. I'd like to have a decent list of things to do that can fill a week's worth of events.

If you're from the Bay Area. I'd really like your input...Thanks!

 

If you do the golden gate bridge thing, make sure to spend some time up in the Marin headlands. Not only does it have AMAZING overlooks of the bridge and the city, there are all kinds of old military bunkers up there to check out, and even a fully restored, operational Nike missile base (though the Missiles themselves are just for show these days, and don't carry nukes anymore). Personally, I think it's the nicest view in all the bay.

Schafenberger chocolate is in Berkeley, and has guided tours of their factory where you learn all about the chocolate making process, and will be nearly overpowered by the smell of cacao. It's on the corner of heinz st and i think 5th. A very sweet trip, but make reservations, the tours fill up.

 

^awesome! thanks for the input socket

 

Muir woods, montery bay aquarium, SF Zoo, Great America in Santa Clara, Alcatraz.

 

^^ i second Great America.

 

The Winchester mystery house is a pretty cool place to visit too.

The insane widow of Mr Winchester spent a huge amount of money building additions to her home with all kinds of secret passages to confuse the ghosts of Indians killed by Winchester rifles. Another very good tour that's fun for children and adults. I'd say it could be a little bit scary for very small children with an active imagination, but it seems that the ghosts there are all friendly, so i doubt you'll have any problems.

 

Thanks guys! Definately gonna add this to the list

 

Thats what I was going to say was muir woods then hit highway one back down. (careful of beaches took my mother/sister/g/f to a nudey beach by accident.)

 

wait....did you say nudey beach???

i might break away from family for that... lol

 

Bring the boys over here and I'll show them how to dorifto in a open diff Miata.


Seriously though, second Marin Headlands, Montery Bay Aquarium, etc etc. You should check out Crissy Field area in the Presidio.


Maybe the Haight/Ashbury for some interesting shops.

 

My gf used to volunteer at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, but she quit...anyhoo, it's worth the price of admission. It's an all day event though, can't really make it out of there in under 3 or 4 hours.

Santa Cruz has some nice scenes/shopping on Pacific Ave (the site of the Great Santa Cruz Mazda Meetup in April!). Carmel and Carmel beach is nice for the upscale shopping.

Best drive period is HWY 1 south from Monterey past Big Sur. Absolutely amazing nature shots and highway scenery. But this is 2-4 hrs south of SF.

Marin is nice too, but harder to find the nice roads unlike HWY 1 south @ Big Sur.

Take the ferry from Marin/Larkspur to San Francisco - great way to get on the water. I don't think the Giants start playing until April 7th - right now they're in Scottsdale for spring training.

The Fillmore in San Fran often has good bands...
http://www.livenation.com/venue/the-fillmore-tickets

Pier 39, Ghirardelli square, Lombard St. (drive down that in your 8!) and Coit tower are popular attractions in the city.

Personally, I love the Exploratorium - I'm a science geek, so it's fun for me at any age. Great America is fun too. Pretty much anything you want is within 2rs from the city.

 

oh mann!

I've been wanting to take the drive down to carmel and visit that area because my girl says she wants to give me a change of scenery - so that'll definately be on the list -

it looks like i should check out this Monterey Bay Aquarium - sounds interesting

thanks for the advice guys - i'm gonna throw up a quick intinerary a little later - any other tips would be greatly appreaciated

 

Monterey Bay, 17 mile drive, Alcatraz (more of a grown up thing) and definitely Mystery Spot. Younger ones will appreciate Oakland Zoo, and definitely Great America. Check out Mt. Diablo also. On a clear day the views from the top are unparallel.

 

mt diablo.... im sick of that mountain.

 

Nice drive and destination is Alices restaurant. Drive down skyline from SF is a nice drive, with lots of good views and photo ops! Its at Skyline ad Hwy 84. I used to do this ride on my motorcycle almost every weekend.

Stenson Beach is another nice drive and destination (if its warm enough...)

A nice day trip for the adults would be to go up to Napa and go on winery tour and tasting. A good thing for them to do if the kids want to go to Great America and the adults do not.

Of course Lombard st and coit tower. those are a must for any tourist.
Alcatraz tour is kinda fun for out of towners.

Best drive if you ask me is on way up to bay area from socal. Hwy 25! Very fun road. between King City and Hollister. Can get there from 101 or by taking 198 over from the 5.

 

If you're driving from SoCal to SF, there is only one "best road" and that's Hwy1 thru Big Sur. 90+ miles of perfectly banked corners through some of the best scenery on Earth.

If the weather's nice, maybe you can take them to Gilroy Gardens or the Santa Cruz beach Boardwalk. Both pretty cheap and tourist/kid friendly.

 

If you take Hwy 1 up/down hit me up, There's some great restaurants here

 

Bakers beach!! its been a while and i am not sure if they are still doing it.... LOL

 

The new Ferry Building in SF is kinda neat. Lots of restaurants and shops, all with a SF tilt.
Don't forget Golden Gate Park and especially the newly opened and totally cool California Academy of Sciences and the nearby DeYoung Museum. You could spend a whole day there.
It's always a blast to get the whole family on one of the trolley's in SF.
Ghirardelli square is another nice chocolate dessert place.
There's mostly hiking on Angel Island but I think there are more exhibits and museums now.
If you plan on wine tasting in Napa, try to drop by the visitors center in downtown Napa. Very helpful, they'll often provide you discount passes to certain wineries or let you know which ones are having events.
Most kids enjoy seeing the sea lions at Pier 39.
Finally, I also second/third/fourth the Monterey Bay Aquarium. One of a kind!