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See photos & get ideas for a fun family San Francisco Road Trip! Updated June 3, 2007. Related info---HOME :: Latest News :: USA Road Trip Ideas :: California Coast Road Trip section :: San Francisco road trip ideas and attractions :: San Francisco Area Outlet Malls :: Monterey Bay Area Outlets :: Northern California Outlet Mall Index :: Central California Coast Road Trip :: Big Sur Camping San Francisco Road Trip IdeasCrossing the landmark Golden Gate Bridge!
If you've been driving southward towards San Francisco, just before crossing the bay into the metro area, you'll pass by the interesting little town of Sausalito, California. If you choose to make a stop at Sausalito, you'll have several attractions to explore. You may view California redwood trees in the groves of Muir Woods National Monument. At Muir Woods, you may also find interpretive exhibits in the visitor's center, attend informative ranger talks, hike, eat in the cafe, buy souvenirs in the gift shop, and get the kids involved in the Junior Ranger program. Picnicking is not allowed within Muir Woods National Monument itself, but is available nearby. Sorry to say, but there's no camping within the park itself, either. The Muir Woods National Monument phone number is 415/388-2595. For more detailed info about Muir Woods, use the following link to view the
Muir Woods National Monument official website.
While you're in Sausalito, CA, you might want to view the "San Francisco Bay Model" visitors center...where you can learn about the tides and intricacies of the San Francisco Bay's water flow, and its affect on humans, plants and animals. The San Francisco Bay Model Visitor Center address is 2100 Bridgeway, Sausalito, CA 94965. The Bay Model visitor's center phone number is (415) 332-3871. For further info about paying a visit to the San Francisco Bay Model...which is of particular interest to nature-lovers and home-schooling families...you may use the following link to view the
http://www.spn.usace.army.mil/bmvc/index.html
Part of Superdad was filmed by the houseboat community in Sausalito. We went to check out the houseboats lined up along the waterfront docks...and seeing these houseboats ended up being our "Sausalito family favorite." (Even if we'd never seen "Superdad," the houseboats themselves were charming...and looking at them gave us the wonderment of thinking..."Hey, what if WE lived on a houseboat?") For further information about fun family attractions in the Sausalito area, you may use the following link to view the
Sausalito, CA Chamber of Commerce official website.
San Francisco Road Trip -- Fabulous Golden Gate Bridge, and Historic San Francisco PresidioAfter passing Sausalito, California, you'll soon cross the Golden Gate Bridge into San Francisco. And, what an exciting moment it is! The first time I crossed the Golden Gate, I had to keep pinching myself in order to believe I was really there. The Golden Gate Bridge is one big, beautiful work of metallic art---so delicate looking, so graceful. No wonder it's one of the most-photographed sights in San Francisco, and is recognizable at a glance to many folks around the world! (If you need info about the Golden Gate Bridge, there's actually a phone number you can call. The Golden Gate Bridge phone number is 415/921-5858.) The photo above was taken from the San Francisco side of the bridge. In the lefthand corner of the picture, you can see still another famous Bay Area attraction---the historic Presidio of San Francisco. The Presidio was originally founded as a Spanish installation in the Eighteenth Century. These days, it's a museum for visitors. You can find educational exhibits inside to explain the Spanish and Mexican periods of San Francisco's history. The Presidio of San Francisco is also one of the filming sites for Alfred Hitchcock's thriller, "Vertigo." Jimmy Stewart's character had to rescue the mysterious and haunted "Carlotta" on the bay side of the Presidio. Carlotta jumped into the bay...supposedly in a trance; Jimmy Stewart's character jumped in to save her...and fell in love. Viewing "Vertigo" with your family would make a great pre-vacation activity. This Hitchcock thriller was shot in spots all over San Francisco and along the beautiful road towards scenic Mission San Juan Bautista, not far south of the city. For more detailed information about planning a visit to the Presidio, use the following link to view the
San Francisco Presidio official website.
Or, you may simply telephone the Presidio for more information. The Presidio of San Francisco phone number is 415/561-4323. San Francisco Road Trip -- Fun on the waterfront!
In the photo at left, you see San Francisco's Pier 39 area as seen from the ferry boat, which is coming in for a landing. Both riding the ferry boats and exploring tourist-oriented Pier 39 are great family attractions to consider if you're passing through San Franciscon on a California coast road trip. So, I'll tell you about them!Going out on the bay is a real treat--it's not just anywhere that families have the chance to take a boat trip!. There are NARRATED bay tours by private boat companies---which are great if you'd like to learn more about the area while you cruise. There's also a less expensive alternative---the ferry boats, which are actually a method of public transportation to the locals (instead of "tourist fun" as the ferrys seem to the out-of-towners!) Not only are the San Francisco Bay ferries cheaper than tour company cruises, but their sailing times run both earlier in the morning and later in the evening than private touring times...which gives you great flexibility in planning your day. For information about the Bay Link Ferries (to and from Vallejo, CA), use the following link to visit the Baylink Ferry official website. Or, you may call the Baylink Ferry phone number, 877/64-ferry. To see information about the ferry from Sausalito, CA, use the following link to visit the Golden Gate Bridge official website's ferry information page, which is
http://goldengateferry.org/schedules/
Or, you may call the Golden Gate Ferry (phone 415/455-2000) instead. San Francisco Road Trip -- Fun on Pier 39
In the image to your right, you can view the San Francisco waterfront as seen from Pier 39. Visiting Pier 39 is another of my favorite San Francisco activities (along with riding the ferry boats!) At Pier 39, there are cute shops which are fun for browsing, restaurants, a beautiful double-decker carousel (see its photo below), a game arcade, a theater showing live productions, street performers, kayak rentals, a bungee trampoline, and (out in the bay beside the pier) an adorable colony of seals. Best of all, there's no charge to stroll along Pier 39. Unless you buy something, enjoying the festive atmosphere and beautiful bay scenery is free!When you're hungry at Pier 39, you'll find a variety of both snack shops and restaurants to fill you up. One low-budget option is heading to the pizza parlour, North Beach Pizza, where one delicious large pizza can feed the family! North Beach Pizza has an all-you-can-eat pizza bar, salads, and a nice selection of Italian pasta dishes. The North Beach Pizza phone number is 415/433-0400. The Pier 39 phone number is 415/705-5500. For a complete list of shops, attractions...and basically any detail you might want to know about Pier 39...you may use the following link to view the Pier 39 official website, www.pier39.com. 
A very special attraction at Pier 39 in San Francisco is the Aquarium of the Bay. This fun and educational attraction will be a "hit" with the whole family. The Aquarium of the Bay has not only one, but TWO clear walk-through tunnels! (Each one showcases different marine species.) Add to that the touch tanks, viewing tanks, educational exhibits, and special programs, and you'll spend your morning or afternoon surrounded by beauty and wonder.Aquarium of the Bay tickets are $13.95 for adults; $11.95 online. Aquarium tickets for kids ages 3-11 and Seniors 65+ cost $7; $6 online. Several Aquarium of the Bay discount coupons and promotions are available. You may purchase combination tickets (Aquarium plus San Francisco 1-hour bay tour on the Blue and Gold fleet) for $29/adults; $22/seniors; and $18/children. San Francisco's Aquarium of the Bay is also a member of the San Francisco CityPass program. For $54 adults/$39 youth 5--17, you can enjoy a number of San Francisco attractions at more than 30% discount off individually purchased tickets. You may use the following link to obtain more info about San Francisco's CityPass special deal:
www.citypass.com
San Francisco Road Trip -- Take a Bay Cruise!
After exploring Pier 39, you'll want to keep strolling westward along the bayside path leading to other attractions. Next to Pier 39 (at Pier 41), you'll find the departure-dock for San Francisco Bay and Alcatraz Prison tours. Several different tours of the San Francisco Bay are available, beginning with a one-hour narrated cruise around the various islands in the bay. Once very popular trip is the bay cruise combined with a tour of the now-empty Alcatraz Prison. Once one of the top "maximum security" penetentiaries in the USA, nowadays, Alcatraz cells lie empty...with tourists traffic replacing inmates on this once "inescapable" isle. There are a limited amount of spaces available for Alcatraz Prison tours. Since visiting "The Rock" is always mega-popular, try to make reservations in advance! Tours to Alcatraz Island are only conducted by the "Blue & Gold Fleet" company, which holds the national park's concession for the tours. For further information about planning a San Francisco bay tour, you may use the following link to study the
Blue and Gold Fleet official website.
San Francisco's Blue and Gold Fleet phone number is 415/705-5555.If you would like a tour of San Francisco Bay, but aren't necessarily interested in taking the Alcatraz Prison tour, there's another company offering Bay tours...San Francisco's Red and White Fleet. You may board Red and White fleet boats in the same general Pier 39 area...just down the waterfront a short ways at Pier 43 1/2. The Red and White Fleet phone number is 415/673-2900. You may view descriptions of the fleet's various tours and their schedules at the Red and White Fleet official website. San Francisco Road Trip -- World-famous San Francisco Cable Cars!
Don't stop here---keep on strolling! You'll reach Fisherman's Wharf, where you may buy fresh seafood or dine in a specialty restaurant. There's an exhibit of US Navy boats...the only drab gray you'll see in this colorful area! Just a bit further, and you'll reach the famous Ghirardelli Square---once a chocolate factory, and now home to a collection of boutiques and restaurants. And, not far past Ghirardelli Sqhare, you'll find a place to board the renowned San Francisco cable cars, as well!Quickly add this page to your Social Bookmarks:
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Other restaurants at Pier 39 include---
