MoyCoy Posted April 20, 2017 #1 Share Posted April 20, 2017 We will be in San Fran the first week of May. We are sailing on NCL Jewel 5 day Pacific coastal. San Fran is a port stop. I would love to hear suggestions for possible walkable things we could do right off the pier. We thought about doing the Hop off Hop off bus, but we are not sure there will be enough on the route to keep our 6 year olds busy. Any suggestions Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wheezedr Posted April 21, 2017 #2 Share Posted April 21, 2017 Most likely you will dock at Pier 27. My best suggestion would be to spend time at the Exploratorium which is less than a mile from where you dock at pier 13. It is an easy walk along the Embarcadero. This is the new and improved iteration of one of America's first hands on science museums. It is a blast for kids of all ages and should occupy a good part of the day. Other options include my usual number one for adults, Alcatraz. Just not sure how the 6 year olds might do. There are always the old touristy standbys of Pier 39, which has an aquarium and fishermans wharf. Lastly they might enjoy a cable car ride but beware that lines can get long. Going further afield would add Golden Gate park as well as the bridge but would entail more issues with transportation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruiserBruce Posted April 21, 2017 #3 Share Posted April 21, 2017 Totally agree with the Exploratorium. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SadieN Posted April 21, 2017 #4 Share Posted April 21, 2017 We like the touristy thing in SF. There's a small Aquarium a short walk away. Also the Mechanical Museum (name's in French, it's the one in the Princess Diaries), $5 goes a long way in there. Check out Boudin's Sourdough flying overhead in their shop. Ghirardelli Square is very close byThere are now two ice cream shops, the sit down one upper level, and the lower take-out one facing the bay. For something Californian, there's always In n Out. Check out their 'secret' menu online. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MoyCoy Posted April 21, 2017 Author #5 Share Posted April 21, 2017 We like the touristy thing in SF. There's a small Aquarium a short walk away. Also the Mechanical Museum (name's in French, it's the one in the Princess Diaries), $5 goes a long way in there. Check out Boudin's Sourdough flying overhead in their shop. Ghirardelli Square is very close byThere are now two ice cream shops, the sit down one upper level, and the lower take-out one facing the bay. For something Californian, there's always In n Out. Check out their 'secret' menu online. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Oh man, we love In and Out. So there is a in and out within walking distance! We live in Seattle, this would be such a treat since we don't have this burger chain in WA Sent from my SM-G930T using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
notentirelynormal Posted April 21, 2017 #6 Share Posted April 21, 2017 I don't know if the times work but we are spending the weekend before our Sunday cruise and will be taking a catamaran that goes around Alcatraz. I figured the young ones wouldn't be that thrilled with looking at a prison. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MoyCoy Posted April 21, 2017 Author #7 Share Posted April 21, 2017 Thank you every one for your awesome replies Sent from my SM-G930T using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
klmb318 Posted April 25, 2017 #8 Share Posted April 25, 2017 The cruise ship pier is about a five minute walk to Pier 39. There they have lots to do: an aquarium, a beautiful carrousel, street performers with fun shows and music, an arcade, and a ton of shops. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cornishpastyman1 Posted April 26, 2017 #9 Share Posted April 26, 2017 We will be in San Fran the first week of May. We are sailing on NCL Jewel 5 day Pacific coastal. San Fran is a port stop. I would love to hear suggestions for possible walkable things we could do right off the pier. We thought about doing the Hop off Hop off bus, but we are not sure there will be enough on the route to keep our 6 year olds busy. Any suggestions Would they be old enough to appreciate looking round a submarine ? Good luck whatever you decide, Tony FNYKDZeIRPs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blondilu Posted May 24, 2017 #10 Share Posted May 24, 2017 (edited) I'm not sure what is considered walkable for a 6 year old, but just a little over a mile is a really neat Maritime Museum. There are several old ships including one of the old time ferries that used to cross the bay. Coming back from there are the Jeremiah O'Brien (a World War II era ship), Ghiradelli Square, the old Fisherman's Wharf and Pier 39. There is a wax museum, a Ripley's Believe it or Not and the Musee Mecanique, which is the French name of the museum someone mentioned earlier. A lot of this is pretty touristy, but a lot of fun, if you don't mind the crowds. Lot's of restaurants, lots of activities. Lots of street performers. If you have time you can take a ferry over to Alcatraz Island, an old military installation-turned-prison. Now abandoned. I've taken a few kids there and they always seem to love it. You would probably need to buy those tickets on-line in advance as it can sell out. I had a man who works on the island tell me that he as never seen any of the ferries be less than full, regardless of the weather. I just realized this is an older thread and I'm too late to be helpful to this cruiser. When planning my cruises I often read old threads to get ideas. So, I hope this proves useful to someone. Edited May 24, 2017 by Blondilu Update Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grant2000 Posted May 26, 2017 #11 Share Posted May 26, 2017 The San Francisco cruise terminal is located in a great location. If your child is able to walk as far as Fisherman's Wharf, he'll enjoy watching the sea lions. There are so many of them and they are quite entertaining! http://sanfranciscousa.ca/district/fishermans-wharf.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MoyCoy Posted June 4, 2017 Author #12 Share Posted June 4, 2017 I visited San Fran with the twins 3 weeks ago. We took a free shuttle to Fisherman's Wharf. We purchased speed boat rides from the shuttle , ate fish and chips, enjoyed the mirrored indoor play area for 5 bucks. We headed back to the ship (NCL ) before 3. We used the free shuttle. Easy Peasy. Thank you all for your advice!!@ Sent from my SM-G930T using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MoyCoy Posted June 4, 2017 Author #13 Share Posted June 4, 2017 We will be parked closer to the pier on our next cruise on Royal. No need for a shuttle. I would do the Wharf again. Sent from my SM-G930T using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MoyCoy Posted September 19, 2017 Author #14 Share Posted September 19, 2017 I'm not sure what is considered walkable for a 6 year old, but just a little over a mile is a really neat Maritime Museum. There are several old ships including one of the old time ferries that used to cross the bay. Coming back from there are the Jeremiah O'Brien (a World War II era ship), Ghiradelli Square, the old Fisherman's Wharf and Pier 39. There is a wax museum, a Ripley's Believe it or Not and the Musee Mecanique, which is the French name of the museum someone mentioned earlier. A lot of this is pretty touristy, but a lot of fun, if you don't mind the crowds. Lot's of restaurants, lots of activities. Lots of street performers. If you have time you can take a ferry over to Alcatraz Island, an old military installation-turned-prison. Now abandoned. I've taken a few kids there and they always seem to love it. You would probably need to buy those tickets on-line in advance as it can sell out. I had a man who works on the island tell me that he as never seen any of the ferries be less than full, regardless of the weather. I just realized this is an older thread and I'm too late to be helpful to this cruiser. When planning my cruises I often read old threads to get ideas. So, I hope this proves useful to someone. I am going to San Fran again next week for a overnight, so this is indeed helpful. I went back to the thread to be reminded of what I I could do with my kids, again Sent from my SM-G930T using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruiserBruce Posted September 20, 2017 #15 Share Posted September 20, 2017 I am going to San Fran again next week for a overnight, so this is indeed helpful. I went back to the thread to be reminded of what I I could do with my kids, again Sent from my SM-G930T using Forums mobile app If you are going next week, unless you get incredibly lucky, you aren't going to get on Alcatraz. That books months in advance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MoyCoy Posted September 20, 2017 Author #16 Share Posted September 20, 2017 If you are going next week, unless you get incredibly lucky, you aren't going to get on Alcatraz. That books months in advance. Yeah, we did not even try Sent from my SM-G930T using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xlxo Posted September 21, 2017 #17 Share Posted September 21, 2017 If you are going next week, unless you get incredibly lucky, you aren't going to get on Alcatraz. That books months in advance.I wonder if tour companies will have tickets? This happened to me when I went several years ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruiserBruce Posted September 21, 2017 #18 Share Posted September 21, 2017 I wonder if tour companies will have tickets? This happened to me when I went several years ago. There is only operator going to Alcatraz, IIRC. We managed to get tickets for the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend about 6 weeks in advance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xlxo Posted September 22, 2017 #19 Share Posted September 22, 2017 Have a look at https://www.alcatrazcruises.com I'm not familiar with all the tours.... but I see tickets available for various times for next week. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Keith1010 Posted September 22, 2017 #20 Share Posted September 22, 2017 When we were recently there with our Grand Children we did a few things with them. One is to go to Pier 39 and that included having them go on the merry go round. We also went to a park. There are several in the city. Keith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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