SFO & Napa with a six year old..

Seem to be a posting binge for me today... |:)

All you SFO experts, toying with a spring time trip dependant on VS being able to work out how to receive bookings or if not, BA with the family.

We've been before although without mini; the things we've already identified:

Trams, likely lots of fun..
Pier 39 and associated stuff..
Zoo - is it any good?
Alcatraz - maybe a 1 way trip for mini, dependant on behaviour... ):
a few days in Napa - thinking the Westin...any suggestions for mini type stuff? Wine train etc

Any other obvious ones I've missed ?


NH

There is the California Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park and across from that is the De Younge museum - you don't have to visit the museum but you can go up the tower (think it is free just to visit the tower) and get some fantastic views of the city.

She might enjoy a boat trip round the harbour (the one that goes under the bridge) - might get to see some seals swimming too.

Maybe a bike trip across the bridge in one of those trycycle things with you and Mrs NH doing all the hard work and Mini in the back waving to the adoring crowds?

I'd avoid the aquarium at FW though - my whelm was less than undered - but walking in the glass archs surounded by water may appeal to mini.

Not sure about a child (I have it in my head mini is 6 for some reason) and Alcatraz though. The prison building itself can be a bit oppressive and I've seen a few miserable children when I've visited though.

I'm with Tonty on the Alcatraz experience. There's an age when it transmutes from being a boring grey lump of decaying concrete to being a repository of stories and human interest. Experience suggests the tipping point may be around 11 years old.

Is Mini NH au fait with Snoopy et al? If so, the Charles M Schultz museum in Santa Rosa may be appealing....

Paul

mmm, fair comments about the Alcatraz trip, a boat under the bridge does sound better, plus we've not done this one before... I will, if we go ahead, keep the "island" trip as a bargaining tool..

D'oh just realised you said mini was 6 in the thread title !

[Darren Wheeler]

Disney Museum - http://disney.go.com/disneyatoz/familymuseum/

Show her the local street-life.
Rent a car and head down Highway 1 to Monterey/Carmel.
Picnic in Yerba Gardens- depending on weather..
Ferry trip to Sausilito. I can recommend Horizons for lunch, but book ahead on Opentable.

Not so sure about Napa, but then I've only done it as an 'adult' day indulging in a few local tipples. Just delegate the driving to young NH Seriously though, look at self-driving if you can as the tours are over-priced and only visit the wineries they have a cosy deal with. Check out Peju and the Cabernet Franc!!

Which Westin are you looking at? The one on 3rd is OK but avoid the St Francis. IMHO it's an old-money hotel that trades on location rather than quality. The old rooms are cramped and not to my taste.

I can recommend the Nikko but shop around as you can get Nikko Club rooms on offer. Other recommend the W on 3rd and the Vitale near the Ferry Terminal.

We took our children a few years ago aged 8, 6 and 5.

They enjoyed the zoo, the Exploratorium, cable cars and Pier 39. Alcatraz was fun in the cells etc. but they did get bored after a while. They also enjoyed Zeum, now called the Children's Creativity Museum at Yerba Buena Gardens.

I loved Muir Woods National Park. The giant redwoods / sequoia's are just stunning. I seem to remember it only being about 30 mins north of SF.

MrsB

I vote for the academy of sciences and the exploratorium for a child. I don't like pier 39 and all that, but that's just me.
The Bardessono in Yountville is a great hotel, with some nice restaurants about.

Not so sure about Napa, but then I've only done it as an 'adult' day indulging in a few local tipples. Just delegate the driving to young NH Seriously though, look at self-driving if you can as the tours are over-priced and only visit the wineries they have a cosy deal with. Check out Peju and the Cabernet Franc!!

Which Westin are you looking at? The one on 3rd is OK but avoid the St Francis. IMHO it's an old-money hotel that trades on location rather than quality. The old rooms are cramped and not to my taste.

Looking at the Westin in Napa and the Palace on Union Sq in SF, mainly through SPG offers

If you are looking at hotels have a look at the Joie de Vivre chain of boutique hotels.

If you join their loyalty scheme you will get free wifi as well - otherwise they charge.

If you're renting cars and want a little drive to Fairfield, methinks a 6 year old would love this (I do!):
http://www.jellybelly.com/visit_jelly_b ... tours.aspx

Cheers
Michael

Definitely agree on academy of sciences and exploratorium as great child destinations. We've taken children of that age to both, and it's been a great day out.

Napa will def be more of a challenge; there's no place like Yountville for putting on 10 pounds in three days, but for a child it's a bit more difficult. Napa town itself might be a better bet, but it's still not a prime child destination. You will be pretty close there to Vallejo, and the Six Flags water park. Monterey will work better, although there is some measure of redundancy between the academy of sciences and the aquarium in Monterey.

Cable cars are always popular, and while I haven't actually set foot in the Pier 39 area in years, if you ride there on the car you might as well walk around. Even without spending too much time in the area itself, the walk from the wharf back down to the ferry building on a sunny day is always worthwhile.

Couple more outdoorsy things to do are hiring a pedal boat at Stow Lake in the park/spend some time exploring the western end of the park, or head to the Presidio and fly a kite in Crissy Field.

Having met this six year old ( ) I don't think she would enjoy Six Flags in Vallejo as I know the rides would be too much for her.

I think a trip down to Monterey and Carmel would be great! 8D

Having met this six year old ( ) I don't think she would enjoy Six Flags in Vallejo as I know the rides would be too much for her.

Lucky dad - and def not the kind of six year old I am used to dealing with!

[Darren Wheeler]

When in spring are you looking at as the weather will be the biggest driver of what to do.

[Darren Wheeler]

Oh, and another vote for Bike the Bridge... On a clear day its a great trip.

And to save little legs
http://www.blazingsaddles.com/store/pro ... 6,7&pid=15

Having met this six year old ( ) I don't think she would enjoy Six Flags in Vallejo as I know the rides would be too much for her.

) You still got the grip marks on your hand then... )

The Exploratorium is great for kids (and adults too). The Disney museum is great but might be geared towards a bit older crowd, as there is a lot to read and see for adults which might not hold a 6 year olds attention for as long.
Depending on when you are going, the Golden Gate Bridge is celebrating its 75th anniversary and there are events scheduled to celebrate http://goldengatebridge75.org/
If you are going to Monterey, the Monterey Bay Aquarium is amazing.

If you are up for driving south a bit, the Winchester Mystery House is a fun and interesting tour. http://winchestermysteryhouse.com/

Then there is the Bay Area Discovery Museum in Sausalito http://www.baykidsmuseum.org/ you can add to the adventure on this one by taking the ferry across the bay from SF and then its a short cab ride (like 2 miles) to the museum. Then you can explore the shops and restaurants in Sausalito, lots of cute/fun stores to look in.