Its where land ends and the massive Pacific Ocean begins. A place where the city becomes less urban and more wild. The views are sweeping and the trails are perfect for a family friendly adventure . Its San Francisco‘s Lands End, a portion of a larger treasure known as the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.
Land’s End is full of hiking adventures, opportunities to see the remains of ships that
met their fate on the rocks near the bay, and even cannons that were once built to
defend the city which are still facing the ocean as though awaiting a call to action. Amongst all that
nature and history, there is even a world-class art museum, the Palace of the Legion of Honor, which is
home to works of art by some of the greats including Picasso and Rembrandt.
There are many ways to enter the recreation area, but the main trail head starts on El Camino
Del Mar at the base of the park. The beginning of the trail is also the first viewing area. The
vista point unfolds into a view of the entire bay with the Golden Gate Bridge slightly east, Marin
Headlands to the north, and the vast Pacific Ocean to the west as far as the eye can see. On
clear days (there aren’t that many of them in foggy San Francisco) there are numerous
sail boats all over the bay and under the Golden Gate Bridge, adding to the picturesque
view. Sometimes large freighter ships pass through the bay on their way to Oakland and San
Francisco, and on rare occasion a military ship can be spotted.
The main trail starts right from the initial vista point. The trail is rather easy, so even small
children wouldn’t find it too challenging. Most of the trail is surrounded
by bushes and small trees for hiker safety. Sometimes there are intervals without much
surrounding vegetation and views of the ocean open up all over again to remind the hikers
that they really are walking along a huge cliff with jagged rocks right underneath. Parents are
advised to keep a close eye on their children because as enchanting and magical as the hike
can be, it can also be dangerous.
The main trail isn’t very long, but there are plenty of fun things for kids to do. Since the beaches of
San Francisco are largely covered with jagged rocky cliffs, over time there have been a number
of ships that have crashed into the rocks and run aground. Some of the remains of the ships are over 50 years old
and still present today.
People interested in joining such a hike can do so by visiting this Group Hike Through Land’s End.
Another great destination is Fort Miley which was built to protect San
Francisco from potentially invading ships. Old 19th century style cannons can still be found
facing the ocean at various spots that are now overgrown with thick vegetation. Kids to get a great kick out of seeing or
climbing on an old cannon if they find one.
After a few hours of hiking on trails with arguably some of the best views in all of California, make time to visit the Palace of the Legion of Honor, a
museum which is right inside the park. Not only does it have a place to buy snacks and take
a little break, but it is also home to some of the greatest artists in history like Picasso, Monet,
Rembrandt.
Parents who manage to get their kids interested in the museum tend to be most satisfied with
the day because after all, it is a rare parent-dream-come-true when the kids are active and
learning at the same time.
As mentioned earlier, the museum houses works from some of history’s greatest artists and
sculptors. While Picasso’s works are understandably not the most comprehensible to children,
the museum has a section with ancient art that might be more fun for kids.
Whatever part of the park you have time to explore, the day is sure to be fun, educational, awesomely exhausting, and
unforgettable.
Alex Genadinik is a big fan of the California outdoors and is currently working on a site to
unite residents of the Bay Area into a great San
Francisco and Bay Area Hiking Community.
Welcome to 
Last Thursday we highlighted parks in the Seattle area that are some of the regions best. This week, we are traveling down the coast and visiting some of the best that San Francisco Bay area has to offer. These are the kind of places residents hold dear and are willing to hop and in the car and brave bay area traffic for. These are also the parks that parents should bookmark for their future Bay Area vacations because there is no better way to end a day of sightseeing than letting the kids run off their excess energy on at an amazing playground. Here a few of my favorites from the list:
Photo Courtesy City of Santa Rosa
Pony rides, the train, and paddle boats are all part of the fun at Howarth Park in Santa Rosa. The playground is both unique and fun with its Land of Imagination theme. The large playground is broken up into prehistoric, Native Americans, Rancho Santa Rosa, Old West settlers, and modern times sections. The dinosaur dig and water play areas are especially popular. Read reviews on Howarth Park Playground here.
Photo Courtesy Trekaroo Member yangthemen
I could write an entire post touting the many great sections of Golden Gate Park (and probably will some day!) but we couldn’t have a list of destination worthy playgrounds without including one of America’s first. Built in 1887, families have been visiting Koret’s Children’s Quarter (formerly known as Children’s Playground) for generations. There are play structures, swings, and sand boxes, but our favorite will always be the long cement slides. Read reviews of Koret’s Children Quarter here.
Photo Courtesy Trekaroo User cheeriofamily
This amazing Berkeley playground is both fun and eco-friendly. This playground will be permanently under construction and the visitors couldn’t be more pleased. Here kids and volunteers can build the playground using scrap wood, old nets, and lost of imagination. Work tools and safety gear are donned as kids hammer, sand and paint away. In order to earn a tool to use, kids must pick up five pieces of trash. Forts, tunnels, bridges, pirate coves, and towers all brought to you by the power of imagination- this is many kids’ idea of what heaven must be like. Read reviews on Adventure Playground here.
I hope these three playgrounds perked your interest and that you will check out the other seven on the list. If you know of some Bay Area playgrounds that you think the rest of us should be aware of, add a review! Without your knowledge and insight, Trekaroo wouldn’t exist.
Do you have an outing that you would like to spotlight this week?
Perhaps its a post about a vacation you just took or a day trip that you think our readers should know about. Or maybe its a post about the vacation you are currently planning and going to book through Trekaroo! Link up something fresh from your blog using the Mr Linky below.
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Sharlene Earnshaw (aka doubleadventure) is Blogger-in-chief for Trekaroo and the blogger behind Double the Adventure.
Travel with kids to: CA | CO | DC | FL | HI | IL | MA | NC | NY | PA | TN | TX | VA | WA
A few weeks ago, we visited the California Academy of Sciences specifically to check out the new Extreme Mammal Exhibit. Our 7 year old is an “animal expert”, so a visit to the Academy of Sciences is always huge treat. When we first entered the Academy, we were greeted by the teaser section of the Extreme Mammal exhibit. It was really neat. In addition to a HUGE sculpture of the largest mammal, there is also a scale where people can compare their weight to that of other mammals. That part was fun. The kids delighted in the hands-on aspect of this portion of the exhibit.
Pangolin at Extreme Mammal Exhibit Photo Credit: AMNH/D. Finnin
Once through the ticket queue, you enter another queue with informational posters. After a moment, the doors to the exhibit were opened for us by a young man. He explained we were entering a temperature controlled environment and to not take any pictures. He also said to make sure we did not touch any of the exhibits unless a sign specifically said so. No worries – there is plenty here to see and touch.
Kinkajou Skeleton at Extreme Mammal Exhibit - Photo by: Woolly Monkey Fossil in the Extreme Mammal Exhibit - Photo credit: AMNH/R. Mickens
While the exhibits were arranged in an old-school museum style, the flow of the rooms was great. One topic naturally lead to another. The information in each section was short and informative. While my kids rushed through somewhat, there was enough to interest them and get them talking. My son, Josh, was particularly moved by the section on endangered species and has been studying the causes of extinction since we came home.
Giant Ground Sloth at Extreme Mammal Exhibit - Photo credit: AMNH/D. Finnin
My only complaint with the exhibit – and it’s a minor one – is that, even though it was a new exhibit, it already had a worn appearance. Some signage was damaged, ripped, or falling apart, and some interactive materials weren’t working properly. The condition of the exhibit made me feel as if the exhibit was being neglected. It did not impact my ability to learn and enjoy the exhibit, just my ability to view the exhibit in a completely positive light.
Ellesmere Island Diorama at the Extreme Mammal Exhibit - Photo credit: AMNH/D. Finnin
All in all, my 7 year old son who’s a huge animal fan was very moved by the extreme mammal exhibit. My 5 year old daughter was just slight of bored during our 45 minute tour of exhibit. Definitely visit with your kids 6 and up who can read and digest all the wonderful information, However, you might want to skip over this special exhibit and head straight for the wonderful aquarium with younger kids.
Related:
- Reviews of the California Academy of Sciences
- Activities for Kids in San Francisco
- Kid-friendly Hotels in San Francisco
Disclosure: This review is based on a complimentary visit to Academy of Sciences. I received no other compensation and the business owner did not state any requirements that I express a particular point of view.
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Heather Tanner is a 2010 Trekaroo Superoo who visited the California Academy of Sciences on assignment to check out the Extreme Mammal Exhibit.
Travel with kids to: CA | CO | DC | FL | HI | IL | MA | NC | NY | PA | TN | TX | VA | WA
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If you’ve ever been to San Francisco in the summer, you’ll know summer time temperatures never get very hot in the city, but drive a few minutes north, south, or east and you’ll find hot days in the 80s and the 90s. Fortunately, for families who are looking for ways to cool off this summer, there are some world class water parks within an hour driving distance and there are many places where you can cool off for free or close to free.
Here are some of the places that Trekaroo families have voted as their favorite places to cool off around the San Francisco Bay Area. So grab those swim suits and head on out.
Best Water Park - Aqua Adventure (Fremont, CA)
Photo by: Brennan Pang
Surprisingly the new Aqua Adventure Water Park wins over the popular Raging Waters Water Park in San Jose. This one year old facility that’s run by the city of Fremont isn’t the largest water park, but it’s in almost brand new condition, it’s clean, and best of all, the price is right. Resident adults pay $15.99, while non-residents pay $16.99. Under 48″ tall? You only pay $11.99. 3 and under get in for just $2. For little ones, you’ll be hearing squeals of delight for hours at the Lil’ Squirts area for wee ones who aren’t quite ready to be fully immersed in water. Bucket Bay is basically a play structure that has water spraying in every which direction that even a 6 year can be quite happy in. The big slides are fun, but nothing too over the top. Reviews of Aqua Adventure Water Park with Kids
More Water Parks in the San Francisco Bay Area
Best Theme Park with Water Play Features: California’s Great America (and Boomerang Bay Water Park)
Photo by: Flickr/bryce_edwards
California’s Great America is a great hit with Trekaroo families with an impressive 4 star rating. Families with older kids and teenagers in particular enjoy the thrilling roller coaster rides. But what’s even better is that the admission also gets you into Boomerang Bay. At Boomerang Bay, you’ll find 30 foot slides as well as rafting slides. Younger kids will drop their jaws at the not so kiddie kiddie area complete with tri-level fortress with 8 family slides connected by bridges and passageways and rope ladders. Best of all, there is water water water everywhere. Thrilling? -Yes! Cool Off? – Yes! Only draw back is that admission is pricey. So, for a summer treat, California’s Great America gets rave reviews on Trekaroo and will most definitely bring smiles to everyone’s face.
For young kids under 12, Gilroy Bonfante Gardens is a favorite theme park with a water feature too that isn’t quite as pricey, but lots of fun nonetheless.
Best Free Splash Pad Area: Mitchell Park (Palo Alto, CA)
Photo by: Brennan Pang
Mitchell Park is a small playground with a fantastic splash pad. The splash pad is attached to the playground which is small, but adequate in supplying a couple of hours of active play. The splash pad is delightful for little ones with water squirting out at unpredictable intervals catching kids by surprise. Benches around the water play area allow parents to sit and soak in the heartwarming scene of happy children. Best of all, it’s absolutely FREE! Reviews of Mitchell Park Playground
Other Splash Parks along the Peninsula and South Bay (San Francisco Bay Area)
Other Splash Parks on the Easy Bay (San Francisco Bay Area)
Best Swimming Lake – Shadow Cliffs (Pleasanton, CA)
Photo by: Flickr/fromkmr
In the 266 -acre park of Shadow Cliffs Recreation Area is no ordinary 80 acre lake. You can swim at the beach complete with a bathhouse and refreshment stand, but the big attraction is the 4 -flume Rapids Water Slide located at Shadow Cliffs. It’s privately owned and operated and open on weekends in the spring and fall, and daily during the summer. For those not interested in the water slides, you can also go boating and fishing in the lake.
Best Beach - San Gregorio State Beach
Photo by: Picassa/ Jean Tessier
San Gregorio state beach is a big favorite of families on Trekaroo with a glowing 5 star rating. This beach is unique not because of the wonderful sandy beach, but because it has two other features that are a hit with kids. Most of the year, the top end of the beach is strewn with drift wood that teases a child’s (and adult’s) imagination. You’ll see the remnants of last week’s fort that Johnny built as your child is busily adding on to a tee pee from a previous visitor. In addition, San Gregorio river pours into the ocean at San Gregorio beach. The slow flowing river is a much safer place for kids to splash around than in the ocean where the waves tend to be rather big. Bring a tube and float down a short section of the river on a hot summer day. Reviews of San Gregorio State Beach with Kids
For beaches closer to the city, you might also consider:
- Crissy Field Beach, San Francisco,CA
- Schoonmaker Beach, Sausalito, CA
- Crown Memorial State Beach, Alameda, CA
Best Place to Splash around in a River: Russian River
Photo by: Flickr/ ((brian))
To the north of San Francisco, in Sonoma County is beautiful Russian River. You can rent kayaks or just find you way down to the banks of the river and get comfortable on a sandy river bank. You can pick up a canoe at Johnson’s Beach and Resort, Burke’s Canoe Trips and Kayaks, or Soar Russian River Adventures. However, if you don’t want to hang out at Johnson’s, there are several river access points along the Russian River you can just hike down to. Some popular ones are Healdsburg Memorial beach, and Monte Rio Beach.
To the south, you might try San Lorenzo River near Henry Cowell Redwood State Park
Related:
- Keeping Kids Safe at Water Parks and Pools
- Public Pools in San Francisco
- Public Pools in the East Bay (San Francisco)
- Public Pools on the Peninsula (San Francisco)
- Water Parks in Florida
- Water Parks in Washington State
- Indoor Water Parks in Denver
- Great Places to Cool Off with Kids in Texas
- Great Places to Cool Off with Kids in the Chicago Area (Chi-town)
Do you have an outing that you would like to spotlight this week? Perhaps its a post about a vacation you just took or a day trip that you think our readers should know about. Or maybe its a post about the vacation you are currently planning and going to book through Trekaroo! Spotlight your posts here by following the instructions for Spotlight Thursdays and filling out the Mr. Linky Form below.
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LiLing Pang is a contributing author and co-founder of Trekaroo.
Travel with kids to: CA | CO | DC | FL | HI | IL | MA | NC | NY | PA | TN | TX | VA | WA
Museums across America are getting more and more kid-friendly. Many have special exhibits geared to the interests of kids with interactive hands on learning stations. If you’re looking for a special outing or some exceptional educational experiences, you’ve got to put these on your list of activities to hit up before the year ends.
Kid friendly Museum Exhibits in: San Francisco | Los Angeles | Seattle | Chicago | Dallas | New York City | Boston
In particular, these 10 kid-friendly museum exhibits really got us excited. If you can, try to get to some of these with your kids! These exhibits promise big fun, educational experiences, and a plethora of interactive exhibits.
Exploring Trees Inside and Out
This 2,500-square-foot exhibit is designed for kids ages 2 to 7 to better understand the significant role trees play in the environment and how they can be involved in preserving them. This exhibit engages all of your child’s senses. They’ll be happy as an cockatoo crawling, smelling, listening, and pretending. website
Catch this exhibit at:
California Science Center, Los Angeles, California – May 28th to September 6th,2010.
Reviews of California Science Center with Kids | Kid-friendly Activities and Hotel in Los Angeles
Chicago Children’s Museum from October 2nd to January 9th, 2011.
Reviews of the Chicago Children’s Museum with Kids | Kid-friendly Activities and Hotels in Chicago
Photo by: Arbor Day Foundation
Chomp 2! Return of the Carnivorous Plants
What kid can resist the excitement of coming face to face with meat-eating plants like the statuesque white trumpets of the American Southeast, the sinister pitcher plants of Borneo and the glistening sundews of South Africa. This swampy paradise is sure to delight your child. Do not get your fingers too close to these plants, little ones…. they bite! website
Catch this exhibit at:
Conservatory of Flowers, San Francisco, CA – now till October 31, 2010
Reviews of the Conservatory of Flowers with Kids | Kid-friendly Activities and Hotels in San Francisco
Photo by: Conservatory of Flowers
Living in Space, about the International Space Station
This traveling exhibit provides an interactive experience where kids eat, sleep, work, and play in space. If you have a young child who loves anything to do with space, don’t miss this wonderful exhibit. website
Catch this Exhibit at:
Bay Area Discovery Museum, Sausalito, CA – May 29th to August 15th,2010
Reviews of the Bay Area Discovery Museum with Kids | Kid-friendly Activities and Hotels in San Francisco
Minnesota Children’s Museum, St. Paul, MN – Sept 4, 2010 through Jan 2, 2011
Reviews of the Minnesota Children’s Museum with Kids | Kid-friendly Activities and Hotels in the Twin Cities
Photo by: Bay Area Discovery Museum
Mammoths and Mastodons: Titans of the Ice Age
This brand new traveling exhibit will allow kids to explore the world of mammoths and mastodons through fossils, artifacts, engaging interactives, immersive media, and the story of the most complete and best-preserved mammoth ever found, the baby Lyuba. website
Catch this exhibit at:
The Field Museum, Chicago, IL – now till September 6th,2010
Reviews of Field Museum with Kids | Kid-friendly Activities and Hotels in Chicago
Liberty Science Center, Jersey City, NJ – October 16, 2010 to January 9, 2011
Reviews of Liberty Science Center with Kids
Photo by: Flickr/taygete05
Curious George saves the Day: The Art of Margret and H.A. Rey
Kids and adults all have fond feelings towards Curious George. In this wonderful exhibit, you’ll see original drawings and learn about how George actually saved his ‘parents’ from Nazi occupied Europe. Website
Catch this exhibit at:
Jewish Museum, New York City – now till till August 1st, 2010
Reviews of Jewish Museum with Kids | Kid-friendly Activities and Hotels in New York City
Photo by: The Jewish Museum
Bodies
The ‘Bodies’ exhibit provides a rare look into real human specimens, showing how amazing our human bodies are. For young children, it may be too much, but for your tween and teens, this exhibit is a must see. website
Check their website for where you can catch this exhibit. They are showing in many cities across America including Atlanta, Dallas, Cleveland, Grand Rapids, Las Vegas, Tuscon, New York
Kid-friendly Activities and Hotels in Atlanta | Kid-friendly Activities and Hotels in New York City | Kid-friendly Activities and Hotels in Dallas
Toys: the Inside Story
This fun exhibition literally breaks open the world of toys so that your child can discover the simple mechanisms commonly found in toys. Your budding toy designer can also create their own toy-like combination of gears, pulleys, linkages, cams, and circuits. Enjoy some free-form and open-ended toy design. Caution: get ready for massive toys dissection when you come back home! website
Children’s Museum of Manhattan, New York City – from May 29th till September 18th, 2010
Reviews of the Children’s Museum of Manhattan | Kid-friendly Activities and Hotels in New York City
Photo by: John Douglas
Peter Rabbits Flower Village
Enjoy the flower houses at the Dallas Arboretum that bring alive the world of Beatrix Potter. This is the cutest little exhibition. Fans of Beatrix Potter should not miss this. website
Catch this exhibit at:
Arboretum and Botanical Gardens, Dallas, TX – now till July 31st, 2010
Reviews of the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens with Kids | Kid-friendly Activities and Hotels in Dallas
Photo by: Dallas Arboretum
Lizards and Snakes: Alive
Hate them or love thme, your kids will fascinated by the 60+ live lizards and snakes in re-created habitats. This exhibit introduces visitors to a diversity of legged and legless creatures and their remarkable adaptations. website
Catch this Exhibit at:
American Museum of Natural, New York City – now till September 2nd,2010
Reviews of the American Museum of Natural History | Kid-friendly Activities and Hotels in New York City
Photo by: Michael & Patricia Fogden
Headgear: the Natural History of Horn and Antlers
This multimedia exhibition provides an unusual in-depth look at horn and antler headgear dawned by some animals, providing a look at the evolutionary process of such animals. 3-D diorama and video presentations illustrate the use of horns and antlers in combat. website
Catch this exhibit at:
Harvard Museum of Natural History, Cambridge, MA – May 22nd, 2010 till January 2nd, 2011
Reviews of the Harvard Museum of Natural History with Kids | Kid-friendly activities and hotels in Boston
Full List of Kid-friendly Museum Exhibits:
- Kid-friendly Museum Exhibits in San Francisco, California
- Kid-friendly Museum Exhibits in Los Angeles, California
- Kid-friendly Museum Exhibits in Seattle, Washington
- Kid-friendly Museum Exhibits in Chicago, Illinois
- Kid-friendly Museum Exhibits in Dallas, Texas
- Kid-friendly Museum Exhibits in New York City
- Kid-friendly Museum Exhibits in Boston, Massachusetts
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LiLing Pang is a contributing author on Trekaroo – a reviews site dedicated to exploring and traveling with kids.
Travel with kids to: CA | CO | DC | FL | HI | IL | MA | NC | NY | PA | TN | TX | VA | WA
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