Alcatraz

There’s something about this rocky island that inspires the imagination. It got its name because it was a nesting place for pelicans, and in the 19th century it was a military base. In 1934, the federal government opened the maximum-security prison that made Alcatraz a household word (early inmates included Al Capone). While the jailbird population was moved when the prison shut down in 1963, the island attracts a growing population of seabirds. The tour departs from Fisherman’s Wharf (see below) and takes about two-and-a-half hours.

Details: 415-773-1188 or www.nps.gov/alcatraz. Admission $16 adults, $11 children 5-11. Open daily 9:30am-4:15pm (shorter hours in winter).

Cable Cars

True, this isn’t the most efficient way to get around town, but riding an old-fashioned wooden cable car is a don’t-miss family experience. They are such a part of San Francisco’s history (they’ve been running since 1873, moving people up and down the city’s very steep hills) that the National Park Service granted them status as historic landmarks in 1964. Today, the three cable car lines you’ll find here are the only ones that exist in the world. (By the way, if your kids are particularly interested, there’s a Cable Car Museum at 1201 Mason Street; 415-474-1887 or http://www.cablecarmuseum.com/ admission is free.)

Details: No phone number. You can catch cable cars at the base of Powell Street and at the base of Market Street. Admission $3. Daily 6:30am-midnight.

Chinatown

San Francisco isn’t a large city as far as miles go, but its Chinatown is one of the biggest Chinese communities in the United States, with a population of more than 800,000. This is one of the city’s historic neighborhoods, and it’s marked by the lacquered red gateway at Grant Avenue and Bush Street. Kids will be fascinated by the sights and sounds of the busy streetlife here (though there can be tranquil moments, such as watching people practice tai chi in the park). One big draw for the whole family is the Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory, where you can see for yourself how they are made; the factory bakes roughly 20,000 of the sweet treats daily (56 Ross Alley, 415-781-3956, admission free, open daily 7am-8:30pm).

Details: There’s no welcome center for Chinatown, and you can visit at any time of day or night. If your children are interested in learning more about Chinese culture, visit the Chinese Culture Center, 750 Kearny Street (415-986-1822; http://www.c-c-c.org/), which offers special exhibits, seminars, and performances. It’s open Tues-Sat 10am-4pm and is supported by donations.

The Exploratorium

Imagine mixing a scientist’s laboratory with a circus, and you’d have something similar to the delightful Exploratorium. This is serious, hands-on fun, and the 650 permanent exhibits – and many temporary ones – let kids explore how things grow, how different animals’ eyes see, and how weather systems affect the earth. Just don’t be surprised when older kids come away discussing Einstein’s Theory of Relativity.

Details: 415-561-0363 or http://www.exploratorium.org/. Inside the Palace of Fine Arts, 3601 Lyon Street. Admission $13 adult, $10 youths 13-17, $8 children 4-12, free for children 3 and under. Open Tues-Sun 10am-5pm.

Fisherman’s Wharf

This was once the heart of San Francisco’s fishing industry, but today it’s mainly a popular family attraction. And there are plenty of reasons why: for starters, in the past several years, a colony of some 600 sea lions has taken up residence on Pier 39’s K Dock. No-one really knows why they started gathering here, but they’ve really taken over the neighborhood (you can hear them barking a mile away). Fisherman’s Wharf also includes Ghiradelli Square, home of the famous chocolate manufacturer (you can step into the shop for a hot fudge sundae, among other treats). There’s also a carousel and a mall on the site.

Details: There’s no central number for information about Fisherman’s Wharf, but you can contact the California Welcome Center that is located on the site for details at 415-956-3493. There is a website at http://www.fishermanswharf.org/.

Golden Gate Park

This is San Francisco’s playground, a natural wonder that is just over 1,000 acres. With all of the attractions it contains, you could easily spend a day here with the family without anyone complaining of boredom. One of its highlights is a enormous, fun-filled playground; another is Stow Lake, where you can rent a paddleboat or rowboat and then enjoy a picnic as you watch the ducks. Younger children probably won’t appreciate the Conservatory of Flowers (famous for its Dahlia Garden) or the Japanese Tea Garden, but they are popular spots for those 12 and over.

Details: 415-831-2700. The visitor welcome center is at McLaren Lodge and Park Headquarters at Stanyan and Fell streets. Admission to the park is free but there are fees for individual attractions.

San Francisco Zoo

Zoos are always popular with families, and San Francisco’s is no exception. It’s not one of the largest animal parks in the country, but its 125 acres are filled with an exciting assortment of creatures. Some of the biggest draws are the Lemur Forest, the Australian Walkabout (complete with koalas, kangaroos, and wallabies), and the Lion House. There’s also a separate Children’s Zoo, which allows kids to touch ponies, small mammals, and amphibians.

Details: 415-753-7080 or http://www.sfzoo.org/. Sloat Blvd. at the Great Highway. Admission $11 adults, $8 youths 12-17, $5 children 3-11, free for children 2 and under. Open daily 10am-5pm; Children’s Zoo open daily 11am-4pm.

Metreon

It’s hard to describe the magnitude of this entertainment complex that is owned and operated by Sony. The third floor houses San Francisco’s largest movie theater complex, with fifteen screens. Elsewhere in the building is Portal 1, a video games arcade that is most famous for HyperBowl, a program that lets kids “bowl” down the streets of San Francisco; and the Action Theater, which features live performances as well as animated films (it specializes in Japanese anime).

Details: 800-METREON or http://www.metreon.com/. 101 Fourth Street. Admission paid for individual attractions, games, and performances. Open daily 10am-10pm.

Zeum

Part of the Yerba Buena Gardens, an ambitious project that redeveloped a city block as a destination for urban kids, Zeum is devoted to helping children explore their creative potential. In addition to hand-on programs and workshops, it offers special exhibits such as MetaField Maze, a life-sized video labyrinth, and Sound Walk, a motion-sensor-controlled “soundscape” that lets kids make music by dancing.

Details: 415-777-2800 or http://www.zeum.org/. 221 Fourth Street. Admission $7 adults, $5 youths 4-18, free for children 3 and under. Open Tues-Sun 11am-5pm.