Airplane Watching

Burlingame Promenade on the San Francisco Bay

Millbrae Avenue exit off of Highway 101, Map it here
(Directions and Parking info below)

Cost: FREE

Coco and Daddy

Airplanes go up, airplanes go down.  Every minute.  Airplane watching is as exciting to little kids as whale (or American Idol) watching may be to adults.

Moms, dads, caretakers, grandparents, I encourage you to take advantage of the incredible resource that our oh-so-close SFO airport is and go airplane watching with your child.  My friend Julie, an experienced San Francisco mom of two, recommended this site to me many times.  One day after I had  dropped a friend off at the airport, I finally saw what she was talking about. And boy was she right – this is a fabulously kid-friendly location and free activity in the Bay Area!

At the City of Burlingame Shorebird Sanctuary you will find a beautifully paved concrete promenade with benches and garden landscaping.  If you walk a bit in either direction you can cross one of the nifty looking bridges and explore the surrounding wetlands.  The airplanes appear (and really are!) so close that you will be be mesmerized along with your child as you talk about their details, size, color and shape.  We snacked, walked, played in the sea grass, breathed in the fresh air, counted planes, remarked on the different colors and sizes and visited with others that were taking the same stroll.  (Be careful, our two year old demanded airplane PJ’s after the visit!).  It’s just a great place to enjoy the sun, take in some of the natural bay wetlands and see the City from an often overlooked perspective.

To get indoors to refuel and relax, there is beautifully landscaped Benihana Restaurant right on the water and within walking distance over the bridge (1496 Bayshore Hwy Burlingame, (650) 342-5202) and an Elephant Bar (1600 Bayshore Highway, Burlingame, (650) 259 9585) also nearby, both  kid friendly chain restaurants for hungry airplane watching children and weary parents.  We chose the Elephant Bar for some real kid/parent pampering TLC.  Our daughter watched the planes and trees blowing in the wind through the floor to ceiling windows while we ate peacefully… they even gave served her a kid’s sundae on the house.

Airplane watching is one of those Kid-Friendly, free and fun activities that you will want to revisit from time to time,  so let us know if you see anything else down there that other Kid-Friendly parents should know about.  No seatbelt required!

Also, the weather is not what you may be thinking… sooo foggy. We noticed as we left, that although fog was encroaching from the northwestern area, we were still enjoying the clear day, sunny and windy and gorgeous!

Parking:  We recommend parking in the lot of the Bay Landing Hotel as a number of stall have been dedicated to the public for coastal access to the promenade and the Shorebird Sanctuary.  Keep a look out for the blue public parking signs.  However there are also other hotels and restaurants in the vicinity you can park at, so you can pick when you get arrive.

Directions:  (To Bay Landing Hotel)
Traveling South from San Francisco on highway 101, take the Millbrae Avenue exit, turn left onto Millbrae Avenue and right onto Bayshore Highway. Proceed approximately one mile to the hotel, which is on the left-hand side of the street at 1550 Bayshore Highway.

If you are traveling North on 101, take the Broadway/Burlingame exit. Take the Airport Boulevard ramp toward Bayshore Highway. Turn left onto Bayshore Highway, and proceed to 1550 Bayshore Highway.

Our Little Secret at South Beach . . . Shhh.

South Beach Harbor Pier 40A & Java House

38 The Embarcadero, San Francisco, Map it here
415-495-4911
www.southbeachharbor.com

Neighborhood: South Beach

Cost: Playground is FREE and some cheap eats nearby.

Parking: Metered street parking or don’t park- take muni as it stops in front as one reader reminded us!

Mom Maria and Baby Julia party at the Harbor

The time has come to share with you our best kept secret and one of San Francisco’s little local treasures – South Beach Harbor Park and Marina.  When your side of the city (North, West and South) is consumed in fog and that Eastern sun drenched sliver is looking pretty, here is a fantastic alternative to visiting the Ferry Building . . . again.

This local getaway is an area to come to and stay and play for the day.  You might begin by brunching at the Java House, where the local owner, Philip Papadopoulos, loves kids so much he will come out of the wordworks if he spots yours to tell you how “lucky you are to have such a treasure”- and so true it is!  Many of the Java House’s dishes are inexpensive and kid consumable, such as pancakes, eggs and sandwiches.  Sit outside on the patio furniture and enjoy your food as your child contently (hopefully!) stares at the sailboats berthed in the Marina.

Then mosey or trike down the Marina promenade to the wonderful toddler park for some climbing and exploring on its small climbing net and its sandbox anchored boat structure.  The circular park welcomes you with sand, soft, multi-colored artificial turf, spiral concrete structures and a small merry-go-round.

You can also wander into the Harbor Services building, a beautiful modern, glass paneled structure that was completed in 2006 by the San Francisco Redevelopment Agency – South Beach Harbor is a full service marina, with boat slips with concrete docks.  Kid Friendly loves it for its clean restrooms upstairs which any visitor can use, multitude of picnic tables and its community room.

And get this! – you can rent their bay-windowed community room, which opens right up onto the toddler park and a beautiful grassy area, for a children’s birthday party for around $135 (clean up and liquor license is additional).  Where else can that price be had for a bang up birthday party in The City?!?! (This price does not include set up, clean up or the permission to bring liquor, but you can pay more to get more.)  Contact Benjamin Ibarra for information on the community room rental: Benjamin.Ibarra@sfgov.org.

South Beach Harbor Pier 40A is located right where King Street turns into the Embarcadero, between 2nd and Townsend.  There you will find a waterfront grass park used by dogs and their owners and a playground next to the big red anchor statue and the Java House, right behind the left field bleachers of AT&T Park.  Parking is available on the street next to housing or on the Embarcadero, but beware, they still enforce meters on Sundays in some parts of the Embarcadero – Read parking restriction signs carefully.  And if possible, have someone drop you off with the kids if you are visiting with two adults.  Also, it can get crowded on Giants game days.

Thank you to our reader that reminded us try public transportation to this location!  The SFMTA website gives these directions: “The Muni Metro T line (or specially marked Metro trains on game days) directly to the AT&T ballpark—the Second and King Muni Metro station is right next to the Harbor. Muni buses 15, 30, and 45 also stop within one block of the Harbor.”

South Beach Harbor is one of Kid Friendly SF’s favorite getaway destinations.

Take Back our Town!

Rainforest Cafe

145 Jefferson St # 400, San Francisco, Map it here
(415) 440-5610
www.rainforestcafe.com

Neighborhood: Fisherman’s Wharf

Parking: Street Metered and Various Fisherman’s Wharf parking lots

Mom Melany, Dad Ronie, Anna, Aaron and Grandmother Clarita from Vacaville

Why oh why do tourists have all the fun?  My advice to locals young and old:  Take back our town! Begin by taking your children to the Rainforest Cafe!

This SF chain treasure is a local must see.  We took our little one here to celebrate her birthday based on my recollection of a visit to a Rainforest Cafe in Las Vegas years prior.  If your children do not get scared by animated elephants, gorillas and twice hourly tropical rainstorm simulations, you must take them to go wild . . .  while they eat!

And parents, prepare yourselves, because your children may actually be totally stimulated enough for you to get through your meal, drink and dessert.  And if you do need to take them for a little walk, you don’t even have to step outside – there are waterfalls, tropical fish in aquariums-a-plenty!  This makes the meal at around $15 for an adult and $7 for a child totally worth it in our humble opinion.

Located in the wax museum building on Fisherman’s Wharf, this meal stop would make a fun part of your day amidst tourist heaven.  Also, if you ever make it to Peekadoodle Kid’s Club in Ghirardelli Square, this restaurant would be a perfect ending to a day of fun at the club.

This location is comparable to a little rainforest amusement park.   (The facility also has a bar and a huge souvenir shop to distract you and your children further.  But watch out, you might have to buy them a slimy rubber snake or stuffed dolphin for home!).  We recommend making a reservation if you have a big party, but if you have to wait, your child will not mind.

A Day in the Marina

Marina Branch Public Library
George R Moscone Recreation Center

1800 & 1890 Chestnut Street (near Webster), San Francisco, Map it here
Library (415) 355-2823, Moscone Rec. Center (415) 292-2045
Library Website

Hours: Remember each library has its own set of hours.  The Marina hours are:  Monday 1-5, Tuesday  10-6, Wednesday 10-6, Thursday 1-9, Friday 1-9, Saturday 1-6

Dad and Son Enjoy the Playground

Hooray for a library and playground/park in the same location, conveniently situated near an exciting shopping district!

We keep coming back to this setting for a fun afternoon where you can lazily walk back and forth between a super big park (with enough to entertain little and big kids) and a beautiful, recently remodeled library.

The playground has sand, a merry-go-round, pirate ship inspired structures for big kids and toddlers, plenty of swings and a menagerie of left-behind baby cars and toys.  (There is also a large swath of grass and baseball diamonds and basketball courts for the older ones).

When the park gets too cold, too hot or simply when it has run its course, go and rest and check out the kid’s section of the library, with its fully equipped nice colorful rugs, activity blocks for babies and little wood chairs and tables for kids to read to themselves or with you.

When it’s time for a bite, you can’t go wrong crossing Fillmore and beginning a journey to kid and adult culinary heaven on Chestnut street.  (We like Pacific Catch at 2027 Chestnut between Fillmore & Steiner because it is closest to the park and its kid friendly staff offers a kid’s menu and booster seats upon arrival.)

Bottom line:  There are many great chidren’s parks and public libraries to visit in the city, but this one stands out as a very kid friendly location combination. Come out to this side of town and enjoy the day with with your favorite little one!

Nature . . . Indoors

Conservatory of Flowers Golden Gate Park

JFK Drive, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, Map it here
415-666-7001
www.conservatoryofflowers.org
(Hours and admission info below)

Samson and Coco Mesmerized by the Exhibit

Has another foggy, cold or rainy day in San Francisco got you and your kids stuck indoors?!  Do you long to get out and be in some form of nature with your kids?  Look no more, friends, you have found your stop.  The Conservatory of Flowers in Golden Gate Park offers rest, calm, and the warmth of the rainforest . . . and all indoors and for only $5 an adult!

This gorgeous historic building was reopened only in 2003 after being closed since 1995.  The white structure has a Hansel and Gretel, magical appeal from the outside enticing little children to come see what’s happening inside.  The temperature inside resembles a warm rainforest, so it makes a great outing on a foggy city day or for newborns that you are afraid will catch a chill.

It’s an adventure inside!  You and your kids can journey through almost two thousand plant species and get a real taste of botanical and conservation education.  You are surrounded by plants and greenery, from the lowland tropics to insect eating aquatic plants to rows of fruit bearing flora.  Your kids will love pressing their faces against the glass sided ponds full of lily pads and pretending they are fish underwater.  The conservatory also has a special exhibit room for young visitors of any age, displaying everything from real, live, fluttering butterflies to mechanical trains moving through a miniaturized San Francisco landscape.  Check out their website or call to find out about their current exhibits or to schedule a school field trip.

And, to get down to brass tacks, we also rate The Conservatory of Flowers a kid friendly location because of the fact that they have friendly staff, let you park your strollers in the entrance foyer, and have nearby restrooms.

In front of the building, is an explorable garden of rows and patterns of colorful flowers.  And to continue the fun, several local park musicians often set up an informal drum circle jam session starting anytime between 12 and 2 on the benches in front of the landscaped clock on the front lawn.  They pass out instruments to surrounding children – click here and scroll about 2/3 down the page for more info and video.  One afternoon we sat mesmerized, dancing and listening to music for over an hour!.

Outdoors- The Conservatory Garden on a Sunny Day

Golden Gate Park is full of many wonders and attracts lots of crowds, but this location is usually never crowded on weekdays and welcomes little children to come and learn about and enjoy plants.

Experience nature in any weather and have some Kid Friendly SF fun!

Conservatory Hours:
Tuesday – Sunday, 9am – 4:30pm, Closed Mondays

Admission:
$5.00 for Adults
$3.00 for Youth 12-17, Seniors 65 & over, and Students with ID
$1.50 for Children 5 – 11
FREE for Children 4 and under
The Conservatory is free to all visitors on the first Tuesday of every month.

Parking is free and usually plentiful on the streets surrounding the Conservatory on  weekdays.  Weekends might require more time to find a space- and remember that some roads in the park are closed off to cars on Sundays.

Grocery Heaven

Whole Foods Market

450 Rhode Island Street (between 17th St & Mariposa St), San Francisco, Map it here
(415) 552-1155
www.wholefoodsmarket.com

Neighborhood: Potrero Hill

Parking: Free and plentiful in their covered lot.

This local family shops regularly at the Pot Hill Whole Foods.

Buying groceries for the family is a weekly task that should be fun for you and your child.  But sometimes we dread to go with kid in tow…

But now, you can feed your family and entertain your child at the Pot Hill Whole Foods.

This Whole Foods location is the first market my child ever enjoyed in her little life.  In the beginning I was scared to regularly shop at Whole Foods because of the “Whole Paycheck” stigma.  But if it means not leaving my child with a sitter while I shop, I believe it is money well spent and has better quality food than most everyday stores. (Also, the house brand 365 Organics has been cited by my nutritionist sister-in-law Jae Berman – more on her in a future post – to be better priced than even Safeway’s organic house brand.)  So shop wisely, healthily and enjoy this environmentally conscious market’s treasures.

Upon entering, before you dive into the tasks at hand, mollify your little one:  pass the check stands and you will find a kid’s corner that is stocked with lovely treats for your bub, organic cookies, juice or milk boxes, fresh or dried fruit or bars.  Pick one and if you are as lucky as I have been, this goody could get you through a good portion of the store as your child munches away happily on his or her new treat.

The store is well organized, clean, nicely decorated, well staffed and over all a sweet shopping experience. There is always a staff member available to go the extra distance for you – for example, on one visit, my little one lost her straw to the bottom of her chocolate milk box and while she stiffened her lower lip and threatened tears, a sweet staff member quickly appeared with a replacement straw, thus saving the day.

And if the buffet of samples stands spread out around the store haven’t satisfied your hunger,  just take the elevator down to the beautiful cafe on the ground floor serving quick and hot pizzas.  Drinking fountains and restrooms equipped with changing tables and lovely smelling soap are also located on the lower level.

This Whole Foods location is a true gem because it is not nearly as crowded as its California Street sister and has the space and tolerance for children.  It earns our stamp of approval – a totally Kid Friendly San Francisco location.  Bon Appetit!

P.S. Don’t forget that Jackson Playground is located nearby at Arkansas and 17th St. for a little play time outside before heading inside for groceries.

Service for Your Car . . . and your Kids!

City Toyota

255 San Pedro Road, Daly City, Map it here
650-755-5500
www.citytoyota.com

Cost: Call and visit for estimates.

Parking: Free and plentiful.  Bart also stops here.

Mom Ciara with Zianna in the Playroom

Do those small, cramped, “Quicky 10 minute” oil change waiting rooms leaving you saying “Oh gross!”?  Do you dread or even postpone taking your Prius green machine, regular Toyota or Lexus in for a tune-up because you don’t want to get a baby sitter or a rental car for the day?   If your answer is yes…then City Toyota is your new place to go for a stress free, kid friendly Toyota/Lexus car servicing (or oil changes for all other makes of cars.)

This spotless, modern building has it all to entertain you and your little ones: a café with sofas to watch TV, a game/play room for kids, a car showcase and clean bathrooms with changing tables.  These folks even give you a coffee or tea or discount on a food item at their cafe located in the center of the building while you wait.  (They had many kid friendly selections: we had a tuna sandwich, tea and chocolate milk made by the cafe while we shared books and played with other kids also waiting for their wheels.)

They also supply a game/play room fully equipped with little car video games, fun tables, comfy chair cubes, puzzle like-structures for babies, and the movie Cars playing on a T.V.  And in the adjacent showroom, our car-loving child was allowed to sit in one of their new shiny Camrys much to her delight – for over an hour!

If you are itching to leave the premises, City Toyota offers a free shuttle ride to anywhere within a 5 mile radius – can you say Babies R Us, Target or Westlake Center for a little errand running?  And within walking distance, (about a couple of blocks away), you will find the super-fun Daly City Playhouse on Hill Street for massive indoor child and baby fun for only five dollars an hour.

City Toyota also boasts the most competitive prices around and the best hours, all in the kid friendliest environment possible.

Our servicing did take longer than they quoted me, but in such a kid friendly location, who could complain?  They accept drop-ins, but I would call for an appointment and ask for Mike Weaver for extra attention in the Service Department.  They also service other makes of vehicles and do oil changes in one hour for any vehicle – call ahead for specifics.

This is a certified Kid-Friendly City Service.  Vroom Vroom!