Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in San Francisco, CA

For some people, to live, work, and raise a family in San Francisco is a dream they like would like see come to fruition. For others, due to changing times and conditions, harsh realities can settle in and they have to re-adjust their goals and priorities. For those of you permanently settled in this great city, please ignore the following list. However, if you see your days numbered living in the city by the bay—and you’re about to find yourself living in the city across the bay, over the hills, and far away—then this list is for you.

Things my family should do before we leave San Francisco (and live 20 minutes away in the East Bay):

1. Go to Alcatraz. That’s right folks, I’ve lived in San Francisco for more years than I can think of and I’ve never been to Alcatraz. That’s a crime right there if you ask me.
2. Go to Muir Woods. The last time I went to Muir Woods, I think I was about 10-years old, and on vacation with my family, who lived in Minnesota at the time. Haven’t been back since. You know what keeps us away? Every time we drive across the bridge we see huge signs along the highway that read, “Muir Woods Parking Full.” Then, a few miles further down, we see where the shuttle parking is located. We just keep on moseying on down the road to the Costco or the Target. The redwoods have been there for hundreds of years, they willl be there for another few weeks.
3. Go to Boulevard one last time. Of course, this item will be checked off sans kids, but Boulevard holds a special place in our hearts. It’s one of the first fine dining experiences I had with my wife; we love the service and we love the food even more.
4. Take a sailboat ride around the bay. This one probably won’t happen, because my wife gets sea sick and it is too cold and windy for the toddlers. But, like I said, we’re not moving that far away and we can always make a day trip out of it when the kids get older.
5. Walk the Golden Gate Bridge. Again, this one ranks up there with the sailboat ride. As soon as the kids can walk more than 10 feet without stopping to examine a crack in the sidewalk, we are so there!
6. Go to Mitchell’s. Excellent ice cream. ‘Nuff said.
7. One last picnic at Crissy Field. This is a fan favorite for all of us. The kids love running around the big fields, the people watching can’t be beat, and picnic food is the best. If you ask my kids, what do you eat on a picnic, the answer is invariably, “Cook, Chips!” That’s right, we eat cookies and chips on a picnic. The sandwiches and fruit are very quickly tossed aside.
8. Ride a Cable Car. Yes, we have ridden many a cable car in our time, but not with the kids. We think they’ll love it.
9. Visit Alamo Square Park. This is my wife’s pick. She likes the views and wants to show the kids the painted ladies.
10. I wrote about this last week, but I forgot about my father-in-law visiting, so we still have to get down to the Farmers’ Market at the Ferry building and eat chilaquiles. Of course, seeing my father-in-law did provide an opportunity to knock a couple of other restaurants off our list before we leave: we had a great breakfast at Ella’s and we dined at Garibaldi’s the night before. So, all-in-all, it was a win-win situation. And there’s always another Saturday around the bend…at least…for a little while longer.