Take the Family holiday rating 
| Flying Time | 11.00 hours  |
|---|---|
| Carbon Footprint | 9.76 tonnes CO2 |
| Timezone | GMT -8 |
| Local Currency | US Dollar |
San Francisco and New York are Take the Family's favourite American cities. The city of San Francisco itself is compact and can be easily explored by your family without a car. Note, though, that San Francisco sits on 43 hills and too much walking can tax small legs. Ever since the discovery of gold in 1848 visitors have flocked here, formerly to make money and more recently in droves to spend money as tourists. There are enough famous landmarks, like the Golden Gate Bridge, and other attractions to occupy most families for several days. Most of the city has been built since 1906 when most existing buildings were destroyed by an earthquake and subsequent fires.
It's worth extending your family's holiday in Northern California beyond a simple ‘city-break’, partly because it's that much farther away and also because there are so many amazing places to visit within driving distance for a fantastic two week family holiday. You can either rent a car for the whole stay or pick one up after spending a few days exploring San Francisco.
Northern California is warm all year round (though beware that the Pacific Ocean is much colder compared to Southern California), and never really becomes overbearingly hot. Two exceptions are the mountain regions, which enjoy enough snow to allow great family skiing past Easter and San Francisco itself, which cools considerably when covered by its famous fog. Even so, a warm jumper or coat is more than sufficient.
take the plane
Take a Virgin or BA flight – although numerous airlines fly between the UK and the United States, Virgin Atlantic scores best for family friendliness, in our opinion. Return flights generally cost between £400 and £600 per person depending on time of year. Click here for great deals on flights through our partners at lastminute.com, and check some great flight deals from Expedia. You can also get to San Francisco easily by air from most U.S. cities or drive up the amazing Californian coastline from Los Angeles.
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is located 15 miles south of the city and you can rent a car, take a bus, hotel shuttle buses or a taxi into the city.
There are a large selection of modern international chain hotels and some finer boutique properties to suit every requirement and budget.
Golden Gate Bridge
Synonymous with San Francisco, this is one of the World’s longest and most beautiful bridges. It opened in 1937 and is so long that it’s two towers are not in alignment due to the curvature of the earth. If your children are good walkers then consider taking in the bridge on foot, otherwise the drive across to Marin county is also breathtaking.
Golden Gate Park
Over a fifty year period from 1870 onwards, Golden Gate Park was transformed into a beautiful park that gently descends for three miles from the Haight District to the Pacific Ocean. Your family can jog, rent roller blades, cycle, rent boats and even ride in the park. Or simply watch. And once you have had your fill of fresh air there are numerous museums, including the M H de Young Museum, with a large and diverse range of painting and sculpture and the California Academy of Sciences. This is a group of museums which include a natural history museum, the Steinhart Aquarium, and the Morrison Planetarium
Alcatraz
A rocky outcrop in San Francisco bay, Alcatraz became a military fortress and then an infamous high security prison in 1934. Al Capone and Machine Gun Kelly are two former inhabitants. Although nine men left the island there is no evidence that any of them survived the strong currents or the Bay’s very cold waters.
Bay Area Discovery Museum
This museum features hands-on exhibits for children. Kids can climb on a fishing boat, learn to ride a unicycle and create clay animation movies
Fisherman’s Wharf and Pier 39
These areas on the bay bustle with visitors and are packed with shops, restaurants and even barking sea lions. So much so that the Wharf is one of the most visited U.S. attractions. Your family may love it but you might also decide on the day to skip the crowds and head from here on a cruise to Alcatraz or round the Bay.
Ride a Cable Car
These offer splendid rides and breathtaking views on three different lines. They first came into service in 1873 and their cables have hummed under the streets ever since. For avid transportation lovers the Cable Car Museum is also a worthwhile visit.
Chinatown
Chinatown covers 24 blocks, including San Francisco’s oldest and lively Grant Avenue. Enjoy dim sum lunch here and the making of Fortune Cookies. If you are able to visit in February the Chinese New Year parade is the highlight of a week of celebration activity.
North Beach
North Beach is the vibrant Italian sector, home since 1850 to immigrants from Genoa, Tuscany and Sicily, who settled in North Beach and have since opened wonderful restaurants, cafes and pastry shops.
further afield
Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe straddles the border between California and Nevada and is one of the highest, deepest and largest lakes in the world. Surrounded by mountains, it draws visitors for skiing (up until late April / early May) in the winter and summer activities that include lazing on the Lakeside beaches, boating, fishing hiking and cycling. Your family can easily rent all required equipment from any number of resorts along the shore.
Yosemite National Park
Yosemite is a four hour drive from San Francisco and highly worthy of the many superlatives that have been used to describe the valley and its breathtaking near vertical mile-high cliffs. Although the valley itself can get very crowded during holiday periods, and it is advisable to book hotel and even campground accommodation months in advance, the Park itself is large enough to full absorb crowds even at the busiest of times.
There are numerous hiking options to suit children of all ages, many offering stunning views of El Captain, Half Dome and Yosemite Falls. Although your family could, hypothetically, spend a couple of days (and a night!?!) climbing vertically up the cliff face there are also easy ways to get to the top… and you can even drive if your children are younger and less mobile. And once you've had your fill of hiking, cool off with a rafting trip (children must weigh over 50 pounds) down the Merced River. Or rent bikes or horses (children must be seven).
There are over four thousand restaurants in San Francisco to suit even the fussiest of palates. Given that over half of the population was born outside the U.S., it’s little wonder that the restaurants are so cosmopolitan. Try dim sum in Chinatown, pizzas, pasta and delicious pastry in North Beach, Mexican fare in the Mission and get a clam chowder at Fisherman’s wharf. Of course, there are also any number of fast food outlets as you would expect from an American city.
A two week family holiday for four will cost between £3,000 and £6,000 depending on time of year and standard of accommodation.
by Fodor's
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Suggestions given by age range to numerous attractions in and around San Francisco.
A smart property. Great views, location and pool. More
* per adult per 3nts, including flights and car hire. Children from £299
Opodo
A great location and outdoor pool. More
* per adult per week, including flights and transfers
Spectacular location. This resort boasts 44 acre tropical gardens and a mile long beach. More
* from £684 per adult, based on two adults sharing, for five nights including flights and car hire.
