The Spanish Speaking Side of 24th Street

La Victoria Mexican Bakery, 2937 24th Street @ Alabama, San Francisco
415.642.7120, Map it here.

Mini Park: 24th and York, Map it here.

Parking:  Metered parking on 24th St. and street parking in the vicinity.

Neighborhood: La Misión

Many of you know well the child friendly 24th Street of Noe Valley – the one with a playground, many eateries, little stores and sweet shops… Now translate that list into Spanish and on the East of Mission side of this street you will find all of these same diversions, but with a whole lot of Hispanic flair!   The streets may have a bit more grit and gum on them, but they are tree lined, full of energy and make for a pleasant stroll as you admire murals and window shop while exposing your child to one of the most interesting, oldest and richest neighborhoods in our diverse town.

Who Me?!

We recommend starting a 24th Street excursion with the famous La Victoria Bakery, a family owned and operated establishment since 1951.  They specialize in pan dulce, an authentic Mexican sweet bread treat, not quite as buttery as pastries and much more colorful.   The shop is full of character, as is the sidewalk right outside, and may suddenly feel transported to Mexico upon entry.  Their extensive menu includes licquados, Mexican milk shakes – a great choice for children as they are made by blending fresh milk with fruit.  The sign outside boasts they that serve tamales – a quick and easy lunch to go with some pan dulce – ask for the daily tamale selection when you come in.  La Victoria also hosts classroom field trips, where owner Jaime Maldonado, previously a main figure on a local Spanish speaking television show, demonstrates how the ingredients combine to make pan dulce and lets each child decorate his or her own treat to take home.  (Call for more information if you are interested in planning a field trip.  Usually field trips are geared towards Dia de los Muertos, around Halloween time).

Nice Dragon . . . nice Dragon . . .

After you wipe off your crumbs, get walking and about two and a half blocks east you will find the another colorful sight – the Mini Park (on 24th St. between Bryant and York St.).  Detailed artwork makes this gem pop out like a speckled rainbow of glittery sunshine.  Recently remodeled, this park is the only place in town we know that allows children full permission to play on gorgeous tiled mosaic artwork!!  Yes, the park still has the normal plastic structures, benches and all the fixings, but this playground is a unique setting – the walls surrounding the park are filled with brightly colored murals and the tiled mosaic structures seem to tell you a story.   Children can even hit a button in the middle the design, sending spurts of water into the air to thrill them and cool them off in this warmer side of town.  For a mini park, you sure get a generous amount of fun!

The East side of 24th Street, with its panaderias, taquerias, coffee and ice cream shops, produce markets and miscellaneous tiendas (selling anything from clothing to discos) do a good job of taking you on a Latin American getaway without ever leaving our town.  Play at the park, run some errands, take home a sack of pan dulce or just observe with your child, this Spanish speaking side of 24th Street.

Kids in Cow Hollow!

Sprout Children’s Store
1828 Union Street, San Francisco 94123, 415.359.9205, www.sproutsanfrancisco.com

Allyne Park
Gough and Green Streets, San Francisco

Parking: Metered on Union Street and 2 hour street parking in the vicinity.

Mom Sofia and Hannah

Ever think Union Street is only geared for young adults with its many bars, nail salons and trendy (and expensive) clothing stores?  Well, it appears that the new organic children’s store Sprout has sprouted up to convince us otherwise …

When my friend Kory told us she had a great place to take our mommy’s group to on Union Street, I racked my brain to visualize it: an all natural organic food, clothing and toy store with a beautiful playroom?  Too good to be true . . . but true it was . . . . a short while later we were sitting in their beautifully painted playroom, listening to an enthralling story being read to our children by a staff member and watching our children delight in playing with their wooden toys — all with no purchase necessary!

Not that you have to leave empty handed.  Sprout has everything you need to meet basic needs for babes and tots such as diaper pail liners, Earth’s Best Organic foods all the way to toys and baby gift possibilities.  The staff actually lets your children touch and play in the store, which is the best part of all because how many times have you been to a children’s store and had to run after your child asking them not to touch anything?  (The cruel irony!!).  And you can feel good about patronizing this establishment because its focus is environmentally friendly children’s products; even their books tout keeping the world green.

Do call ahead if you want to bring your mom’s group, though, as they do want to have enough room in their playroom to accommodate you.  They also feature children’s yoga classes for a fee, free story times and host children’s birthday parties and baby showers – so visit the Sprout website for schedules and more info.

Kory then suggested we head up the street to have some outdoor time in a little secret local garden.  A block and a half down the street we took a right to get to the lovely Allyne Park (located on Gough between Green and Union).  And what a treat!  A sweet garden with benches, a good-sized lawn and gates surrounding make you feel like you have entered a special place.  My daughter watched dogs run around with their doggie friends (it was early evening so dog owners were letting their dogs run about without a leash, but they were very careful) and was so thrilled by this spectacle she began exclaiming “a dog party!” quoting one of her favorite books, Go, Dog. Go! I literally had to pull her away from this fun as it was dinner time… but promised we’d return soon to do this little loop on Union Street again… Thanks Kory for planning this afternoon outing in Kid Friendly Cow Hollow!

Kory, our guide, exploring another children's boutique, Jean et Marie, at 1775 Union St.

(Note: Allyne Park is also next to the Octagon House and garden which is open only at certain days of the month, so if you want to visit check out their schedule online.)

Better than Disneyland… and in Your Own Bay Area Backyard!!

Children’s Fairyland

699 Bellevue Avenue, Oakland
510.238.6876
www.fairyland.org

Cost: 7 dollars entrance fee for ages 1-100 (Adults are not admitted without a child and vice versa).

Parking:  2 hours free around Lake Merritt and weekend parking is available for a small fee.

Calling all princesses, princes, wizards, dreamers and fairytale believers … you have found your home! The whimsical children and tot amusement park situated on the beautiful Lake Merritt in Oakland is a must see, must visit, must frequent.

Fairy Coco rides a dragon

Want to cross Disneyland off of your family vacation to do list this year?  Just cross the Bay Bridge and enjoy this local treasure!  Opened in 1950, Fairyland is said to be the original inspiration for Disneyland (which opened five years later) and was introduced to Kid Friendly by my friend Jessica, an East Bay Native who went often as a child.

Each enchanting bit of this park is child sized and based on a fairytale or children story that we all know and love.  At the entrance you will be greeted by the Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe, and before you know it, you will find roosters and donkeys, gardens and fountains, Miss Muffet and her Spider, puppet shows (check out their site for times), train rides, carousels, Alice in Wonderland card mazes, tunnels with instruments attached to their walls, parks structures shaped as pirate ships and a miniature chapel.  If you have never been, already been or only have been when you yourself were a child, go and check it out and plan to stay all day or at least until your child’s bewitching hour (a.k.a. naptime).

If you must leave Fairyland and still have some steam left in you, you can walk around Lake Merritt, picnic amongst the local birds, visit a wonderful park play structure situated on the lake, or go to the Botanical Gardens (all this you will see on your way out on Bellevue Avenue.)

Kid Friendly fairydust has been sprinkled all over Children’s Fairyland… and you will leave with some sprinkled on you too!

A giraffe encounter