Things to Do in San Francisco
As a premier travel destination, San Francisco is jam-packed with attractions and activities for everyone! If your family is looking for things to do in San Francisco, get started with some of the best family-friendly sights and entertainment including:
Located on Pier 15, the Exploratorium has hundreds of exhibits that encourage visitors to explore science, art, and human perception. You and your kids can spend hours learning about scientific principles—and have fun while you’re doing it. Stand in a tornado, feel your way through a dark maze, or see a sculpture of San Francisco made of 100,000 toothpicks. The museum has over 600 exhibits for your family to enjoy.
If you’re a family of Disney fans, you’ll want to make a stop at the Walt Disney Family Museum. Situated inside the Presidio, this museum houses exhibits of artwork and memorabilia from the life of Walt himself. Stroll the galleries to see original sketches of your favorite animated characters. The museum even hosts showings of classic Disney films. This attraction will delight both the young and the young at heart.
Also known as the Lillian Coit Memorial Tower, this 210-foot lookout tower looms large over San Francisco’s Telegraph Hill neighborhood. Take an elevator ride up the tower for a scenic 360-degree view of the city, the bridges, and the bay. While you’re there, explore Pioneer Park, which surrounds the tower. If you keep your eyes and ears peeled, you may catch the neighborhood’s famous flock of wild parrots.
San Francisco History
The infamous Alcatraz Island has a good deal of interesting history attached to it. It was the home of the first lighthouse on the West Coast. Later, it was a military garrison and prison. After that, it became the maximum-security federal penitentiary that most people know it for. Most recently, it was occupied by protesting Native Americans. Learn about all of this history and more as you explore the island or take a guided tour.
The Presidio is where San Francisco began. Founded in 1776, it was originally a fort for the Spanish military. It later belonged to Mexico, and finally in 1848, the United States. Today, you can tour a Civil War Era military base, see an old marine cemetery, or visit Battery Chamberlain, an artillery post used during WWI and WWII. The Presidio is also home to plenty of non-historical attractions, like nature trails, San Francisco art, and the Lucasfilm offices.
Within the Presidio, you’ll find Fort Point, a military base built to protect San Francisco Bay in the 1850s. As you tour the fort, on your own or with a guide, you’ll learn about the fort’s Gold Rush, Civil War, and 20th-century history. Sometimes, volunteers dress in colorful Civil War uniforms to reenact marches that took place at the fort.
Rent a car from Budget for your San Francisco trip, and all you’ll have to worry about is which fun activities to enjoy. For your convenience, we have several car rental locations in San Francisco including SFO car rentals and Union Square. Visit our website to learn more about our products and services and to reserve your car today.
Things to Do in San Francisco
As a premier travel destination, San Francisco is jam-packed with attractions and activities for everyone! If your family is looking for things to do in San Francisco, get started with some of the best family-friendly sights and entertainment including:
Located on Pier 15, the Exploratorium has hundreds of exhibits that encourage visitors to explore science, art, and human perception. You and your kids can spend hours learning about scientific principles—and have fun while you’re doing it. Stand in a tornado, feel your way through a dark maze, or see a sculpture of San Francisco made of 100,000 toothpicks. The museum has over 600 exhibits for your family to enjoy.
If you’re a family of Disney fans, you’ll want to make a stop at the Walt Disney Family Museum. Situated inside the Presidio, this museum houses exhibits of artwork and memorabilia from the life of Walt himself. Stroll the galleries to see original sketches of your favorite animated characters. The museum even hosts showings of classic Disney films. This attraction will delight both the young and the young at heart.
Also known as the Lillian Coit Memorial Tower, this 210-foot lookout tower looms large over San Francisco’s Telegraph Hill neighborhood. Take an elevator ride up the tower for a scenic 360-degree view of the city, the bridges, and the bay. While you’re there, explore Pioneer Park, which surrounds the tower. If you keep your eyes and ears peeled, you may catch the neighborhood’s famous flock of wild parrots.
San Francisco History
The infamous Alcatraz Island has a good deal of interesting history attached to it. It was the home of the first lighthouse on the West Coast. Later, it was a military garrison and prison. After that, it became the maximum-security federal penitentiary that most people know it for. Most recently, it was occupied by protesting Native Americans. Learn about all of this history and more as you explore the island or take a guided tour.
The Presidio is where San Francisco began. Founded in 1776, it was originally a fort for the Spanish military. It later belonged to Mexico, and finally in 1848, the United States. Today, you can tour a Civil War Era military base, see an old marine cemetery, or visit Battery Chamberlain, an artillery post used during WWI and WWII. The Presidio is also home to plenty of non-historical attractions, like nature trails, San Francisco art, and the Lucasfilm offices.
Within the Presidio, you’ll find Fort Point, a military base built to protect San Francisco Bay in the 1850s. As you tour the fort, on your own or with a guide, you’ll learn about the fort’s Gold Rush, Civil War, and 20th-century history. Sometimes, volunteers dress in colorful Civil War uniforms to reenact marches that took place at the fort.
Rent a car from Budget for your San Francisco trip, and all you’ll have to worry about is which fun activities to enjoy. For your convenience, we have several car rental locations in San Francisco including SFO car rentals and Union Square. Visit our website to learn more about our products and services and to reserve your car today.
