The Travelling Kid: Destinations!

“I left my heart in San Francisco high on a hill it calls to me…

To be where little cable cars climb halfway to the stars

The morning fog may chill the air, I don't care.”*

*“I Left my Heart in San Francisco”

Words by Douglass Cross and Music by George Cory

These lyrics could easily have been written by my three year old on his first visit to SAN FRANCISCO! My son sleeps with his little green plastic cable car and still reminisces about ‘Rico’ the cable car gripman letting him ring the bell at the end of our ride on a foggy morning in August. Clearly, San Francisco left its impression upon my toddler and perhaps we actually did leave a bit of our hearts in this foggy city by the bay.

Consistently listed as one of ‘the best’ cities in the world for travelers, San Francisco is a charming, exciting, walk-able and kid-friendly destination. Even though I lived in San Francisco after college, I think that I have never enjoyed this special city as much as this recent trip with my Travelling Kid. As I child, I traveled there often and it still is magical and memorable.

We only had one day to wonder and wander and can’t wait to go back for more. Since I sincerely hope that your Travelling Family will have more time in this hilly, fun town - I will not only share our adventures, but I will also mention some of the other GREAT things to do with your travelling kids.

CABLE CARS!

I suggest starting with a cable car ride FOR SURE!! It’s fun for everyone and is a great way to get your bearings on the city. We made a B-line to the cable cars, planning to travel from downtown to Fisherman’s Wharf (which should DEFINITELY be on your agenda) and discovered a LINE – a big one- at the Powell/Market turntable. No worries. You can avoid this aggravation.

Here’s what you should know: There are three cable car routes. Do yourself a favor and check out the cable car site where you can familiarize yourself with the routes, tickets, etc. www.sfcablecar.com The line was JUST for the turntable. You can skip the line. You can catch the cars en route (although you risk them being full-up, especially in summer). Older kids may want to wait in line just to help turn the big ‘ol cable car around and if yours do…prepare to wait up to 1 hour. We didn’t want to wait and jumped on the Powell-Mason line a couple of blocks from the turntable and ended up at Fisherman’s Wharf. Other lines will take you other places. Simple. If you don’t care about planning…just jump on any cable car and see where it takes you. You can even buy transportation passes that enable you to hop one form of transport to another as you navigate the city. http://www.sfmuni.com/cms/mms/fares/fareinfo.htm

I HAVE to HAVE to tell you about our ride! We lucked into riding a cable car operated by a gripman named RICO. Rico made our day – he paved the way for us to jump aboard the cable car ahead of the crowd and helped us with our stroller and then made a big ‘to-do’ about Jacob on board and at the end of the line…he let Jacob ring the bell. Clang-Clang!

Elated from our ride, we tumbled out onto...

Fisherman’s Wharf...

perhaps the city’s most popular

destination. Oddly unchanged from my childhood memories, this iconic place on San Francisco Bay may have more things, more people, but the sites and the smells were fun and familiar. A cacophony of people and food and shops, this historic waterfront is a bustling, family-friendly destination. From here you can view the iconic GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE

(http://www.goldengatebridge.org), visit the famous

ALCATRAZ ISLAND (http://www.nps.gov/alcatraz), take a pedicab, visit the aquarium and/or take a ferryboat or a cruise on the bay.

Or you can do what we did and just meander.

Passing the many souvenir stands, we noticed a plethora of sweatshirts. They sell a lot. Why? San Francisco is shockingly chilly at times. When the fog rolls in the hoodies come out and many a tourist is caught unprepared for cold temps in summer in California. Mark Twain supposedly said: “The coldest winter I ever spent was in summer in San Francisco.” Some say he never said this…but you can be wearing a tank top one minute and be wishing you had some long johns with you the next. So, you can make a choice. Be prepared or be prepared to buy a souvenir sweatshirt. Warm or cold, the Wharf is fun for families. Check out the Wharf’s official web site – as it can give you more info than I would ever be able to. (www.fishermanswharf.org)

This town is a seafood-lovers paradise and since my husband loves seafood and we had to pee, our very next stop was an historic restaurant at

Pier 43 1/2 called THE FRANCISCAN (www.franciscanrestaurant.com). It is not about the food here. It’s about the view and, I must mention that the wait staff was lovely. This second floor restaurant overlooks the hubbub of the pier and provides a perfect place to watch the boats coming and going. Cries of: “Look at that boat!” “Wow…that’s a big one!” “Mommy, mommy…that’s a submarine!” “Can we go on that!?” , filled the air as we ate our crab chowder. It was the perfect choice.

We could have stayed at the Wharf a LOT longer, but we wanted to see Chinatown and time was a tickin’. Chinatown was a lovely walk from the Wharf…some of it STRICTLY uphill. Walking the neighborhoods of this city enables you to touch the charm of its streets, uphill or no. You really shouldn’t miss North Beach (basically Italy on the Pacific /http://www.sfnorthbeach.org) and Chinatown (http://www.sanfranciscochinatown.com).

Chinatown is a LIVING Chinatown. Yes, you’ll find tons of tourists and tourist shops lining the famous Grant Street, but step one block over to Stockton and join the residents as they go about their daily shopping and lives. You can go on sensory overload in this city within a city…check out the ducks hanging in butchers windows, smell the strange looking herbs, listen to street musicians playing traditional instruments, ogle the Chinese architecture, where even the Bank of America, covered in golden dragons is photo-worthy. Kids can play at the Portsmouth Square playground (located at Kearny Street, above the parking garage) or the Willie Wong Playground (Sacramento Street, one block from Grant).

Shops are filled with great, cheap little toys and things that kids will love. Hungry? Do I even have to mention the possibilities? We WISHED that we were hungry as we passed fabulous restaurant after the other. Maybe next time.

Lack of hunger also really made us cranky when we passed through North Beach and spied cannolli and gelato and smelled the garlic wafting from plates piled with pasta. Our commitment to attend a surprise party in nearby Palo Alto nipped any future meal plans in the bud. Without anytime left in our day for even a cappuccino we marched on.

As we got in our car to drive to the Palo Alto party we vowed to return…hearts in hand…tummies empty…eyes and spirit open. For as the lyric says, “I left my heart in San Francisco...high on a hill, it calls to me.”

GOT TIME? DON’T MISS:

THE EXPLORATORIUM: www.exploratorium.edu This amazing and unique museum housed in the Palace of Fine Arts is a mélange of hands on science and art exhibits. Even the web site is cool. Plan on a day here.

LOMBARD STREET: The crookedest street in America. I LOVED this brick paved crazy street when I was a kid. One of my best friends lives on the street now. Wave to her as you go by. http://www.sftravel.com/lomabardcrookedstreet.html

THE GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE: Depending on your kid’s age (s) you can walk across the bridge. It’s a fun thing to do. Not for acrophobic types. (http://www.goldengatebridge.org)

BOATS, BOATS, BOATS: There are ferries to towns across the Bay. SAUSALITO is a lovely little town to walk around and go have lunch in. There are also tons of tour boats with various themes. (http://www.sanfrancisco.worldweb.com/ToursActivitiesAdventures/BoatTours)

MUIR WOODS: An ancient Redwoods forest less than 1 hour from the city. Run, jump, play and picnic! http://www.sanfranciscovisitor.com/muirwoodssanfrancisco.html

FAO SCHWARTZ TOY STORE: FUN to play in. Located on Stockton and O’ Farrell Streets

See Google map below for San Francisco Live!

The Travelling Kid: SAN FRANCISCO!

Climbing half way to the stars on a little cable car....