Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
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Getting around the city with y our children should be hassle-fr ee, for the most par t.
The one exception is if it 's necessary to cart around baby paraphernalia such as str ollers
and diaper bags, because it 's difficult to get on and off buses when y our hands ar e full
and the bus is cr owded. In this case, y ou'll want to plan y our itinerary to decrease your
dependence on public transportation and walk as much as possible, or take advantage of
the wider entrances and exits on Muni streetcars. Again, for families with kids of any age,
always factor in extra time to get ar ound—even if y ou are driving, since ther e's a good
chance you'll either get lost or spend 20 minutes looking for parking. San Francisco buses
are slow; in addition to the scheduled stops, there's traffic to deal with and the occasional
breakdown. The streetcars are a little better time-wise, but can be cr owded. Remember,
in a ne w destination, par t of the pleasur e really is in the journey itself . That's certainly
the case in San Francisco.
TOP NEIGHBORHOODS FOR FAMILY OUTINGS
Union Square
Although few obvious children's attractions exist in what is first and foremost a shopping
paradise, Union Square is the psychological heart of the city and may be used as a launch-
ing pad for other ex cursions. Kids may find the cr owds, clanging cable cars, and big
buildings exciting. Moreover, Union Square itself now hosts entertainment, both ad hoc
and planned. I n the winter months, the plaza 's enormous Christmas tr ee and M acy's
holiday decorations are especially festive. Specifically, kid-friendly activities here include
riding the glass elevator at the Westin St. Francis Hotel, greeting the beefeater-clad door-
man at the S ir Francis Drake, and visiting the D isney Store. Teens may enjoy checking
out the Levi's and Diesel stores, among other shops.
When Nature Calls:
The ladies lounge at N eiman Marcus has one of the better bath-
rooms in to wn and is the best indoor place to nurse y our baby. Macy's also has sev eral
restrooms. The big hotels are also great for bathroom breaks.
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South of Market (SoMa)
The walk from Union Square east to the SoMa neighborhood takes maybe 5 minutes and
brings you into an amazing cultural zone. The Yerba Buena Gardens, Metreon, the Car-
toon Ar t Museum, SFMOMA (the S an Francisco Museum of M odern Ar t), and the
California Academy of Sciences can all be r eached on foot and can cer tainly make up a
full day's program. Families with determined teens may want to tour the Westfield San
Francisco Centre mall at 5th and M arket streets as well.
When Nature Calls:
The Westfield mall has a childr en's area tailor-made for changing
diapers and nursing. The children's section do wnstairs in B loomingdale's has spacious
restrooms and an area for nursing moms; the ladies' room at Nordstrom also has an area
for nursing moms. Metreon is also well equipped with toilets.
Chinatown
North of Union Square, a short walk up Grant Street, is the entrance to Chinatown. The
draw here for you and yours is the sights and sounds of a community that is steeped in
local histor y but which pr eserves its unique for eign culture. Possible stops include the
playgrounds at St. Mary's Square or Portsmouth Square, the Chinese Cultural Center, the
Canton Bazaar, the Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Company, and lunch.
When Nature Calls:
Local merchants probably will not let y ou to use their bathr ooms
(few shopkeepers will in any neighborhood), so in an emergency make y our way to the
