Things To Do In San Francisco With Kids In 48 Hours: Your Time Starts Now! 

Nov 29, 2024

Last Updated on: Jul 8, 2025

Travel Blog

When it comes to family vacations in the USA, San Francisco will, of course, be among the toppers. The museums, cultural hotspots, and a lot of green space make it ideal for tourists of all ages. 

So, naturally, the San Francisco Travel Association is expecting a decent growth in the number of visitors and tourism revenue in 2024. The association expects a footfall of 23.22 million in 2024, which will record a revenue of $9.24 billion.

Further, San Francisco is a cool place if you want to go on a family vacation or spend holidays with your little ones. San Francisco is also great as a weekend getaway from other parts of the country. 

However, chalking out the perfect travel plan for kids is always difficult. So, I thought of sharing a 48-hour itinerary of things to do in San Francisco with kids. 

Things To Do In San Francisco With Kids In 48 Hours 

Things To Do In San Francisco With Kids

You need a proper plan in place to maximize your 48 hours in San Francisco with kids. Here are the places you can cover during your two days of stay in the city.

Day 1: Things To Do In San Francisco With Kids 

Take an early flight to San Francisco irrespective of the corner you are traveling from. Union Square has many hotels, and you can take a cab from the airport to reach the place you will be staying. 

However, don’t waste much of your time checking in or the formalities. Ideally, you should check in, grab a quick bite, keep your luggage in the hotel room, and get yourselves and the backpack ready for the city exploration.

There are a lot of things to see, and these are the things to do in San Francisco on day 1 of your visit. 

1. Visit The Union Square

Visit The Union Square

Union Square in San Francisco bears a rich history associated with the American Civil War. It is the place where pro-Union rallies used to grace the roads. 

The bright lights and big shops have a vibe similar to Times Square in New York. However, it is much more low-key with less crowd. So it is manageable for kids. 

Here, you can explore shops like Bloomingdale, Macy’s, and Sak’s Fifth Avenue. Moreover, Union Square gives you easy access to the cable lines of San Francisco. 

The Union Square Gets Ready For Christmas

Macy’s 35th Annual Christmas tree lighting at Union Square has announced the arrival of Christmas in San Francisco. The  85-foot-tall artificial Christmas tree has been a big draw to Macy’s signature store and Union Square. 

“It attracts people to come to San Francisco. The mayor was here and this starts the holiday season, the shopping, it brings families here. It’s a good time where everyone can feel, ‘Hey, Christmas is coming!”

Lt. Mariano Elias, Public Information Officer, San Francisco Fire Department

2. Enjoy Cable Car Rides

Enjoy Cable Car Rides

Trying cable car rides is one of the best things to do in San Francisco with kids. Along with the fun, the cable car ride is also a great way to avoid expensive car rentals while exploring the city. 

The cable cars move up and down steep hills. So, the ride is thrilling, and the route covers many major attractions in San Francisco. 

You can choose from three lines to enjoy a cable car ride in San Francisco.

Cable LinePickup From
California LineMarket Streets or California
Powell MasonPowell Street Cable Car turnaround off, Market Street, Union Square
Powell HydePowell Street Cable Car turnaround

All these lines also cover major attractions in the city like Union Square, Fisherman’s Wharf, Nob Hill, Chinatown, etc. 

3. Visit Boudin Museum

Your little one and you will need some quick bites after the cable car ride. Boudin Museum and Bakery will be your go-to place. 

The sandwiches and soups here are excellent. However, exploring the bakery and the small museum is more fun here. You will watch expert chefs making bread and the crafting of sourdough in the shape of bears and other animals. 

5. Visit Fisherman’s Wharf 

Visit Boudin Museum

You can conclude your day 1 in San Francisco with a visit to the Fisherman’s Wharf. It is a fun neighborhood with street performers and activities for your kids. 

Some hotspots for children at Fisherman’s Wharf are:

  • Umbrella Alley 
  • Musée Mécanique
  • Ripley’s Believe It Or Not
  • Sea Lion “Sealebrities”
  • PIER 39

Fisherman’s Wharf also has the Madame Tussauds’ Wax Museum. But it has closed its operations since 3rd August, 2024.

Further, once your kids are done exploring Fisherman’s Wharf, you can take them to Ben & Jerry’s at the Argonaut to have the best ice cream. It remains open every day from 10 AM to 11 PM, and it will cost you around $5 per serving. 

If your kid is more up for something savory, take them to The Codmother Fish & Chips on 496 Beach Street. It welcomes guests from 11:30 AM to 7 PM, except Wednesdays. Here, the pocket-pinch will be around $10-20 per meal. 

Day 2: Things To Do In San Francisco With Kids In 48 Hours 

You really need to make an early start to your day to make the most of your day 2 in San Francisco. On day 2, our focus is on the Palace of Fine Arts, Presidio, and Alcatraz.

5. A Visit To Alcatraz

A Visit To Alcatraz

Your day 2 will begin with an “Early Bird Tour of Alcatraz.” You will start at 8:45 AM from Pier 33. 

Alcatraz is the Spanish translation of the word “Pelican,” the first dwellers of the Rocky Island. However, Alcatraz is more famous (notorious) for housing Alcatraz Prison, one of the most notorious in the history of America.

So, today, Alcatraz is a popular spot for dark tourism. George “Machine Gun” Kelly and Al Capone are the two most renowned captives of the Alcatraz Prison. 

6. A Visit To The Palace of Fine Arts – Presidio

A Visit To The Palace of Fine Arts Presidio

The Palace of Fine Arts is one of the most beautiful historical monuments of San Francisco. The Greco-Roman rotunda is a striking feature of the Palace of Fine Arts.

You will also love the arches, gigantic columns, and sculptures here. 

If you still have time left for your flight and you want to try more things to do in San Francisco with kids, visit the Aquarium of the Bay, the Sea Lions at K-Dock, and the USS Pampanito.

Also read

Share on Social Media

Meet Sibashree Bhattacharya, a travel enthusiast who has a decade-long experience in transcending virtual barriers with her words! Her deep love for travel is apparent from her travel escapades to the mountain, often taking her readers on a journey, her words acting as Portkey! Fun fact: Sibashree loves to dive deep into the history of the places she is about to visit, making her travels even more wholesome. If you were wondering how her articles are not short of time travel, this answers it!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

title-img Related

READ MORE family vacation planning

The Overthinker’s Guide To Getting Ready For A Family Vacation

BY  Sibashree Sep 18, 2025

Why does prepping for a family vacation feel like bracing for a storm? One moment you're picturing peaceful views, the next you're buried in packing spreadsheets and panic over airport snacks.  For overthinkers, trip planning can feel more like a stress test than a getaway. With school calendars, rising travel costs, and lingering travel anxiety from recent years, even a simple trip starts to feel complicated.  Still, with screen fatigue on the rise and more families choosing road trips over flights, places like Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, are becoming top picks for affordable, family-friendly escapes.  In this blog, we will share practical tips, small insights, and brutally honest truths to help overthinkers prepare for a family vacation without losing their minds. The Ultimate Family Vacation Planning Guide For An Overthinker  Do you need to see all the attractions of a place you are traveling to? NO. Do you have to care about everyone’s travel styles and choices? YES, but not at the cost of ruining the trip and making it all about doing this and that! So, while you need proper planning, you also need to leave some room for spontaneity.  1. Build The Itinerary, Then Burn Half Of It There’s nothing wrong with having a schedule. It helps manage expectations. But no itinerary has ever survived contact with a toddler meltdown or unexpected road construction. Make peace with flexibility. If you're heading somewhere with a mix of outdoor and indoor activities, like the Smoky Mountains region, you’ll want options.  Maybe the kids want to explore a nature trail, but get bored five minutes in. Or the weather flips, and your plans for a waterfall hike turn into a game of “how fast can we Google indoor fun.” This is where having a Smoky Mountains attraction like TopJump Trampoline & Extreme Arena on your list makes all the difference.  Located near all the main action, it gives kids a chance to bounce, climb, and burn energy while you sit, breathe, and wonder why you packed so many granola bars. It’s one of those rare spots that keeps the whole crew happy without anyone whining, “I’m bored.” 2. Stop Trying To Pack For Every Possible Future You are not a psychic. You cannot predict if your child will suddenly become allergic to sunscreen in Utah or develop a deep emotional need for a specific stuffed dinosaur you didn’t bring. Accept it. The sooner you do, the easier packing becomes. Overthinkers love to prepare for worst-case scenarios. This is why your suitcase has three backup chargers, two first-aid kits, and six pairs of socks per person.  But there’s a difference between being prepared and being controlled by the fear of inconvenience. Ask yourself this: Is this an actual need, or just a fear-based “what if”? If it's the latter, skip it. Focus on the basics. Clothes for the climate. Toiletries. Important medications. A few snacks that won’t melt into sticky crime scenes in your car seats.  That’s it. Stores exist in other places. You don’t have to bring your entire medicine cabinet just to feel okay about leaving the house. 3. Plan For Togetherness, But Not Constantly This is a family vacation, not a hostage situation. You do not need to spend every single second together. In fact, you shouldn’t. Overthinking parents often want the trip to “make up” for lost time. We pile in together for every meal, every outing, every moment.  But this is a fast track to tension. Let kids pick one activity without adult input. Let one parent sleep in while the other takes the early risers to breakfast. Your vacation doesn’t become less meaningful just because you took 90 minutes apart. Sometimes, the best memories come from those unstructured moments, like your partner getting too competitive in mini golf. Or your teen discovering they actually don’t hate breakfast food. The magic is in the mess, not the perfect plan. 4. Let Go Of Social Media Expectations You know what doesn't help overthinking? Trying to make everything look “Instagram-worthy.” Planning your family vacation like it’s a content shoot for a lifestyle brand only adds pressure. Spoiler alert: real life doesn’t come with a filter. Your photos might include crooked smiles, messy hair, or a popsicle that dripped on someone’s shirt five seconds in. That’s fine. You’re not building a brand. You’re building memories. Social media is fun, but it shouldn’t be the measuring stick for how well your trip is going. Also, if you’re filming every moment, you’re not in the moment. Take a few pictures, then put the phone down. Let your brain take the pictures for once. 5. The Food Doesn’t Need To Be Perfect Unless you’re traveling with a chef, the meals will be... fine. You will probably eat one amazing dinner, one very average lunch, and one breakfast that everyone talks about for the wrong reasons. Stop aiming for gourmet. Aim for edible and easy. Grocery stores are your friend. So are diners who don’t mind crayons on the floor. Lowering your food standards might be the most freeing thing you do. If your kid only eats fries and bread for three days, they’ll live. If the restaurant takes too long and you end up microwaving mac and cheese at the hotel, that’s okay. Travel is about shared experience, not Michelin stars. Overthinking Is Just Caring In Disguise: So, It’s Okay During Family Vacation Planning Let’s be honest. The reason you overthink is that you care. You want this to be good. You want your kids to remember this trip fondly. Moreover, you want your partner to be relaxed, and for the family to feel connected. There’s nothing wrong with that. But the caring doesn’t need to translate into anxiety. Trust that you’ve done enough. The plan will adapt. That the memories will come, not because everything went “perfectly,” but because you were all there together, trying. So pack the extra underwear, sure. But also pack some grace. For your family. For the weather. And, for the unexpected. And most of all, for yourself. Family vacations aren’t about escaping your real life. They’re about making space for the parts of life that get squeezed out in the daily rush. Laughter. Quiet. Curiosity. That weird energy kids get when they sleep in unfamiliar beds. The chance to look around and think, this is different, and that’s good. And if it all goes sideways? If the weather turns, or the reservations get canceled, or someone barfs in the rental car? It’s still a story. One that your family will retell, probably at Thanksgiving, and probably with exaggerated sound effects. Overthinkers, take heart. You don’t need to control the vacation to enjoy it. Just show up, pack a sense of humor, and leave room for the unexpected. That’s where the real adventure is. Read Also: Family Things To Do In Logansport Indiana: Everything You Must Know Thanksgiving Road Trips With Kids: Tips For A Fun And Safe Journey A Guide To Planning Your First Family Ski Trip

READ MORE Working Remotely While Traveling

Your How-To Guide On Working Remotely While Traveling

BY  Ankita May 15, 2024

Hectic office work schedules boar you and you want a life where you can travel and work as per your own wish. If this is the case, then you must be well aware of some of the crucial tips that can help you working remotely while traveling.  Working for long hours in the office with long hours of stress can make your life difficult. You should follow the best process that can make things easier for you while meeting your dream work and lifestyle with complete ease.  Tips To Work Remotely While Travelling There are several tips you can follow while working remotely while traveling. You should not make your choices on the wrong end when you want to fulfill your requirements with ease. Some of the key factors that you should take care of here are as follows:-  1. Assessing Your Job's Remote Viability Before you pack your laptop travel bag, evaluating if your current job can be performed remotely is crucial. Begin by reviewing your daily tasks and responsibilities. Are they location-dependent, or can they be completed online?  Next, consider the need for physical collaboration with your team. Is it possible to substitute in-person meetings with video calls?  Discuss your remote work aspirations with your employer to understand their stance on remote work and to negotiate terms that benefit both parties. Assessing these factors is the first step to ensuring a smooth transition to working remotely while indulging in your travel desires. 2. Setting Up Your Mobile Office Choose a lightweight and durable laptop, as it will be your primary tool for creating an effective mobile office. Invest in a reliable VPN to ensure secure connections and protect your data, especially when using public Wi-Fi.  Portable power banks and universal adapters are essential for keeping your devices charged, regardless of location. Lastly, noise-canceling headphones should be considered for focused work sessions in noisy environments. These essentials will enable you to transform any space into a productive workspace, allowing for seamless work while exploring new destinations. 3. Managing Time Zones And Work Hours Managing different time zones and setting consistent work hours is vital when working remotely and traveling. Start by understanding the time zone differences between your location, your company's base, or your clients'.  Use online tools and apps that help track multiple time zones to schedule your work and meetings accurately. Establish a routine that aligns with your most productive periods while accommodating the essential overlap with your team's or clients' working hours.  Clear communication about your availability and setting boundaries will help prevent burnout, ensuring you enjoy your work and travel experiences. 4. Staying Connected And Productive To maintain connectivity and productivity, prioritize reliable internet service; consider portable Wi-Fi devices for consistent access. Embrace cloud storage for easy document retrieval and collaboration. Establish daily goals and use productivity apps to track progress and stay organized. Regular breaks, ideally exploring your surroundings, can refresh your mind and enhance creativity. Engage with digital nomad communities online for support, networking, and recommendations on shared coworking spaces. By incorporating these strategies, you can ensure high efficiency in your work while enjoying the freedom and inspiration that travel brings. 5. Choosing The Right Destinations When selecting destinations for your remote work and travel lifestyle, consider factors such as internet reliability, cost of living, and safety. Look for places with a strong digital nomad community, as they will likely have the infrastructure you need for productive work.  Climate and personal interests should also influence your choice, ensuring you enjoy your environment. Research visa requirements and stay durations to avoid legal issues. Destinations that balance your work needs with exciting exploration opportunities will make your remote work journey enjoyable and sustainable. 6. Balancing Work And Travel Finding the right balance between work and travel requires discipline and flexibility. Set clear work goals and allocate specific times for sightseeing and relaxation to avoid overworking or underworking. Make the most of your travel days by planning work around your travel itinerary, focusing on lighter tasks during travel periods. Remember, the beauty of working remotely while traveling lies in the freedom it offers, so allow yourself some spontaneity to enjoy unexpected adventures. You can achieve a fulfilling blend of productivity and exploration by managing your time and responsibilities effectively.    7. Decide Weather You Will Be Check In Or Check Out  You must review the policies of your company for your remote work so that it can meet your time off expectations. Additionally, you must discuss this with your managers and team members regarding your workload management during your travel.     Ensure that you match the time of your work with your fellow team members while traveling. This will make the process of work smoother and you can finish off all your tasks and work within the deadline. Thus, within the comfort of your home things can become easier for you.  8. Plan Your Workload Around Your Travel Itinerary  You should prioritize all your tasks before leaving. This thing requires proper evaluation of your task before you leave for your work. Try to track the work time and evaluate the fact how long it will take to complete your task.  Try to schedule all your work tasks around the given time. This will help you to finish of your task within an estimated time frame. In order to maximize the level of your productivity you should utilize the complete travel time for your work. 9. Find Out The Potential Workspace That Plays Around Your Productivity Style  You should find out the potential workspace that plays a vital role in increasing your productivity.  which means the workspace must be comfortable for your focused work. Ensure that you have selected the ergonomics and tried to reduce the distractions as much as possible. To enhance the level of productivity and comfort, you can make an investment in tools that are essential for external monitors and ergonomic accessories. Here, you have to focus on things that can make things easier and perfect for you.  10. Be Strategic With Your PTO  You should maximize the level of flexibility in remote work. There, you have to strategically plan the time off that can make things easier for you. The more you can make your choices perfectly, the better you can reach your goals.  The best strategy here is to split up your PTO days to balance your work and leisure activities while traveling. You have to seek out the best options that can help you to meet your objectives.  11. Create Easy To Pack Work Station You should create an easy-to-pack workstation that can boost the chances of your brand development in perfect order. Ensure that you follow the best process that can help you to balance work and time in perfect order. This will help you to attain your goals with complete ease.  Investing your money in a Laptop backpack can be a great option for you. As it can help you to meet your requirements with ease. Figure out which workstations you will require during your traveling. This mind mapping will also help you to ease your load during the travel.  Final Take Away Hence, if you want to maintain your work-life balance then you can follow the mentioned points. Here, you need to identify the best solution that can boost the scope of your work requirements with complete ease.   As you navigate this exciting path, stay adaptable, continuously seeking ways to optimize your work and travel experiences. Let each destination inspire you, fueling your creativity and passion for your job. Here's to your adventures across the globe, where your office is wherever you choose. Learn More Also: 9 Tips For Authentic Travel Experiences Thailand Travel Guide: This Is The Best Time To Visit 5 Tips To Improve Holiday Experience For Next Vacation

READ MORE Travel Videography

How To Use Travel Videography To Promote Your Travel Blog Better

BY  Abdul Aziz Aug 24, 2023

Marketing is a staple in the business world. Whether it takes on a digital, traditional, or hybrid form is decided by the nature of the company. Even the people running it are responsible. However, regardless of the choice, marketing is a business fixture that cannot be ignored. For a travel business, in particular, building attraction among potential customers using a mix of visuals. Furthermore, creative text is of the essence. One of the best content forms to utilize these elements is travel videography. Not only does travel videography provide interested clients with a snapshot of the experience that they’ll be getting. However it’s also great at creating brand hype and awareness. Confused about how you can use travel videography to promote your travel business better? Here are four simple ways how:   1) Put A Video On Your Instagram   Social media marketing is a must-do in today’s corporate environment! From following the latest #hashtag trends to creating viral reels to building exciting collaborations, it is a lot! With fellow companies and creators, there’s a lot that social media can do for your travel business. Additionally, the best way to utilize this online tool. They inculcate video in your SMM strategy, taking your content a step ahead! Worried about getting started? PosterMyWall’s Instagram reel video templates are a great guiding path. Not only do they allow you to push out reels with both quality and time efficiency due to the pre-made templates, but they also facilitate extensive editing and customization, helping each brand achieve its own unique look. And the best part? You can take advantage of all this - and more - without having to pay a single dime. Once your reels are made, you can post them on your Instagram feed, reshare them on your story, or even invite other profiles to join as collaborators, automatically expanding your reach. Of course, be sure to pair your video content with SEO-optimized captions and trending #hashtags to maximize your traction.   2) Enlist Paid Travelers   Ever heard of the concept of a paid traveler? These are people who are either content creators or travel videographers who often undertake vacations where they produce content for a brand in exchange for free services such as tickets, accommodation, food, and the like.   In order to promote your travel business, you can enlist the services of these paid travelers, sending them to capture content around areas that you’re operating in or areas towards which you want to generate tourist traffic. Once their content is made, the videos can be posted on their social media accounts such as Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, as well as be used by your travel company in their own marketing material.   3) Get the Locals Involved   There’s nothing to get you in the mood for a vacation like the place itself speaking to you. And what better way to experience this than by connecting with the local people of the area themselves? It’s simple - hire a local videographer, get a couple of short videos made that highlight why the specific country or area is your ideal vacation destination, and then link it back to how your travel company can make this dream vacation a reality. Since it’ll be local people highlighting the area your content will seem more authentic, drawing in more people to acquire about your services. As for the channels, social media as well as traditional television and paid Google advertisements are the route to go down!   4) Deck Out The Posters   While video content is great, it can sometimes need a helping hand to get across to the right audience. And what better-helping material than a poster? Not only are poster posts apt for generating hype about your business, but they’re also a great mix of visuals and text, making them easily digestible. And if you’re worried about nailing the design, then just head to PosterMyWall and browse their range of travel poster templates. Fully customizable and with dozens to choose from, you’ll soon have your perfect design! With your posters ready, now it’s time to put them up. You can do everything from marketing your travel company’s video content by linking it to your poster to spreading general information about your services. In either case, the more traction you get, the more the audience will be redirected to your travel videos. So, if you’re looking to use travel videography to market your travel business, then these tips are your go-to. Just remember to customize according to your brand and you’ll be good to go! Read Also: Top 10 Business Travel Booking Platforms Of 2023 Tips For Earning Frequent Flyer Points In Business Travelling Want The Best Travel Tips: Go Through Velvet Escape Travel Blog