By the time we walked onto this beach at the Crissy Field picnic area (shown above), with the Golden Gate Bridge looming to our left, the lovely view of San Francisco with the Palace of Fine Arts dome and Marina District to our right, and stream of sailboats racing before us, I realized this is one place I simply have to bring everyone who comes to visit–including those of you reading this blog.

Crissy Field is near the Palace of Fine Arts, the Exploratorium (until it’s relocated later next year), the San Francisco overlook of the Golden Gate Bridge, and is bordered by the historic Presidio. There is a great walking and biking trail along the area, and you can stroll out onto that “Dock of the Bay” shown in the background if you like. Parking is free here but very competitive on the weekends, so visit on a weekday if possible during your vacation, or arrive early.

Also nearby is another of my favorite San Francisco beaches: Baker Beach, which is located just on the Pacific side of the Golden Gate Bridge (opposite of here). Both beaches can be windy and cold (note: this is not San Diego!), so be sure to bring jackets and hats unless you find yourself here on an unusually warm and gorgeous day such as we had.

Related posts and pages:
Exploring San Francisco’s Exploratorium with kids
To the Lighthouse: A visit to Point Bonita
Picnic at the Palace of Fine Arts
Go Dutch in Golden Gate Park at the Queen Wilhelmina Windmill
See all San Francisco tips and posts

Safe journeys,

Shelly Rivoli Author of Travels with Baby and the new Take-Along Travels with Baby https://travelswithbaby.com/   Travels with Baby on Facebook

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When I recently discovered www.bayareaonthecheap.com, I knew this site could have as much value to those of you planning family travel to San Francisco and the Bay Area as it could for those of us calling it home.

This comprehensive site is a great first stop to find coupons and special deals on everything from your tickets and sightseeing passes (including California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco Zoo, or Red and White Fleet cruises on the SF Bay) to where to buy the cheapest gas for your rental car and find FREE WiFi spots throughout San Francisco and the greater Bay Area — which can be especially helpful when you want to check in online for that return flight or share some of your travel photos with friends on the fly.

Bay Area restaurant coupons, farmers markets, and flea markets can be found at the site as well, plus listings of upcoming cheap and free festivals and fairs.

For more budget travel tips for your family’s visit to San Francisco, see my “Cheap and Free San Francisco” recommendations in the related posts and pages below.

Related posts and pages:

Safe journeys,
 
Shelly Rivoli
Author of Travels with Baby and the new Take-Along Travels with Baby
https://travelswithbaby.com/   Travels with Baby on Facebook
 
All content of this blog (c) Shelly Rivoli

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Just between the dazzling Romantic Revival homes of San Francisco’s Marina District and the entrance to the Golden Gate Bridge lies what I consider to be one of the wonders of the modern world: The San Francisco Palace of Fine Arts. It is also one of my favorite admission-free places I recommend to anyone visiting San Francisco.

The sheer scale of its columns and landmark rotunda feel completely other-worldly given the compact architecture that characterizes most of the city around it, but that the Palace of Fine Arts still stands at all is a wonder—and an interesting story in itself. Originally built as part of San Francisco’s 1915 Pan-Pacific Exposition, the Palace of Fine Arts was, like all of the spectacular structures created for the event, not built to last.

Burning Man is one thing (which coincidentally got its start within a mile of this site), but when you take a look at these stereoscope images of the fountains and structures created to stand only 1 to 2 years, it nearly breaks the heart. Granted, San Francisco has its charms, but who among us wouldn’t love to linger in this West Coast Paris that was?

Ironically, the Palace’s architect had originally planned this stunning entrance to the Impressionist art exhibit to mimic an ancient ruin, complete with semi-obscuring vines and shrubs that were never added. And because residents fought hard to keep the structure after the event (during which time the building housed tennis courts, army jeeps…), the Palace eventually fell into inevitable disrepair. By the early 1960s, it was literally falling apart, in ruin.

As you might expect, a movement was already underway to help save the Palace of Fine Arts. Though it cost ten times more than the original construction, the Palace of Fine Arts was demolished—and rebuilt in concrete. Strolling the grounds today, and watching my children chasing each other through the colonnade before stalking swans in its lagoon, the Palace grounds feel as ancient and grand as some spectacles I’ve visited in Europe.

Suffice to say, this is one heck of a place to picnic. It’s also a favorite with San Franciscan joggers, dog walkers, and wedding photographers. Though the main building at the back is home to the Exploratorium science museum (admission required), the Palace of Fine Arts grounds themselves are open and free to the public.

Getting there:

By public transportation, you can arrive with Muni buses #28, #30, and #43. From Montgomery BART downtown (at 3rd St. / Stockton) or Fisherman’s Wharf, you can take the #30 Stockton bus to the Palace of Fine Arts. You can plan your trip online at the Transit 511 site.

By car, you can follow the directions here. The Palace of Fine Arts is part of the San Francisco Scenic 49-mile Drive, so you can get some help from the signs along the way. Arrive early if you hope to get good street parking, or use the Exploratorium’s free parking lot if you’ll also be visiting the science museum.

This post is part of the Photo Friday fun over at DeliciousBaby.com, where Debbie explains what bowling shoes have to do with Golden Gate Park.

And don’t forget – there’s still time to enter to win the Britax car seat giveaway! Ends 2/23/10.

Safe journey,

Shelly Rivoli, author of the award-winning guide Travels with Baby
The Ultimate Guide for Planning Trips with Babies, Toddlers, and Preschool-Age Children
https://travelswithbaby.com/   twitter   facebook

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Few visitors make it to the west-most edge of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park, but those who do are often startled by the sight of this enormous windmill facing onto the Pacific. Queen Wilhelmina’s Windmill is one of two enormous windmills that were built in 1902 to help bring water into Golden Gate Park and nearby areas. This recently restored treasure is surrounded by a lovely small garden, which explodes with tulips each early spring and dazzles with other blossoms most of the year.

It’s the perfect place to bring a picnic or plan your lunch outing while exploring San Francisco’s west side. Even on sunny days when the afternoon winds pick up along the coast, this garden treasure is still fairly well sheltered from the coastal breeze by surrounding trees and its slightly sunken location. The windmill itself inspires photos of all sorts, and you may happen upon an artist at work capturing its likeness in paint. Small children love to race around the garden paths and explore the nooks around the base of the structure.

While you’re there:
Ocean Beach is right across the street, so stroll on over to make a sand castle. Also, the Beach Chalet restaurant is just a short stroll away, with its “Park Chalet” outdoor service that is very popular for families with tots on sunny, warm afternoons as we are so lucky to have spring and fall (not so in July). They often have live music as well, adding to the festive ambience. Here is a shot of the approach from the park-side footpath; you can also enter from the front side on Great Highway. The windmill is also an easy stop on your way to or from Fort Funston–another great FREE attraction in San Francisco.

Getting there:
I’m very sorry to say the SF Culture Bus has been discontinued due to insufficient ridership, which now makes reaching most destinations in Golden Gate Park by public transportation—especially the west end—a very slow undertaking for visitors staying downtown. The Fulton 5 line will take you along the northern edge of the entire park, but slowly (more public transit help here). For most visitors with small children traveling out from Fisherman’s Wharf or the financial district, a car would certainly simplify things–and will make it easier to explore other nearby attractions in the Outer Richmond district and along the coast.

This post is part of my “Cheap and Free San Francisco” series.

Safe journeys,

Curious about this content? See my editorial content disclosure.

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South of San Francisco’s Ocean Beach, where the sandy bluffs are macraméed with blooming succulent, you’ll find one of the West Coast’s best venues for hang gliding—say nothing of dog watching. Welcome to Fort Funston.

It’s hard to imagine a more suitable name for this former military outpost, where hang gliders dazzle hikers, dog walkers, and families who watch from the wheelchair- and stroller-accessible viewing platform and trails overlooking the Pacific.

Ready to hit the beach? It’s a good hike down to the sandy beach here, so be sure your crew hits the chemical toilets at the parking lot before venturing down to the shore. We love this beach for its festive atmosphere of colorful man-kites passing above and constant parade of dogs below. Take a look at some of the Funston fun to be had here in my video clip:

There is also some great beach combing here during the low tide, but as with most beaches in the Bay Area, be wary of sneaker waves and sudden surges that catch plenty of grown ups off guard each year. As you might expect, winds can get a bit strong here, and fog is… well… always a possibility. So be sure to dress in layers, and if you have a chance, check out the Fort Funston webcam to see the current conditions.




View Fort Funston, San Francisco in a larger map

It’s easiest to reach Fort Funston by car, and it makes a great road stop as you venture out of the city toward Monterey or Santa Cruz, or while driving up the coast on your road trip to San Francisco. Just pull in to the parking area, pop out and take a look at what’s happening—and it won’t cost you a dime.



For another free, fun activity while visiting San Francisco with your family, see my post on Point Bonita Lighthouse.

Safe journey,

Shelly Rivoli, author of the award-winning guide Travels with Baby
https://travelswithbaby.com/

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