In a sprawling and richly historic city like San Francisco, there’s certainly no shortage of things to see and do. But if you’re visiting with kids in tow, there are certain places you won’t want to miss and that includes Fisherman’s Wharf and nearby Alcatraz, two of the most exciting and family-friendly places in SF.
Fisherman’s Wharf is home to the highest concentration of activities for families of any place in the city. That includes museums dedicated to everything from vintage arcade games to cartoon art. And did I mention there’s a mirror maze to explore?
Sitting in the background, a little over a mile offshore from Fisherman’s Wharf, is the historic Alcatraz prison. And in case you’re wondering, yes, exploring a former notorious prison is indeed kid-friendly. Between the ferry ride across the bay (what kid doesn’t love boat rides?) to the Junior Ranger program, Alcatraz makes for a memorable addition to a day spent at Fisherman’s Wharf.
Read on to learn more about two of San Francisco’s top attractions and all the must-see stops — whether you’re visiting with toddlers or teens.
Kid-friendly activities at Fisherman’s Wharf
Fisherman’s Wharf dates back to the days of the Gold Rush, but the structures that now make up the wharf are sitting on the remnants of buildings decimated by the 1906 fire and earthquake that devastated the city. Today, the wharf is a colorful, touristy area with something for visitors of all ages.
Here are some of my favorite places to explore.
1. Play games at the Musée Mécanique
A visit to the Musée Mécanique is like a walk through history — accompanied by the occasional weird sound effects. The museum, which dates back to 1933, showcases more than 300 items collected over the years by the original owner, Edward Galland Zelinksy.
Edward began amassing his unique collection at the age of 11, and it eventually grew to include all kinds of coin-operated mechanical musical instruments and antique arcade artifacts.
Visitors will find everything from turn-of-the-century hand-cranked music boxes to modern video arcade games, so while little kids will love this place, teens are often interested too. And all of the items in the museum are in their original working condition.
Admission to this quirky showcase is free and open daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
2. Visit the Cartoon Art Museum
It doesn’t get more family-friendly than a museum dedicated to comics and cartoons.
First opened in 1984, exhibits at The Cartoon Museum showcase everything from comic books and anime to graphic novels.There are nearly 9,000 works of art in the permanent collection, with new installations 3-4 times each year.
Depending on when you visit, you may even be able to participate in a cartooning workshop. Check the museum calendar to find out what special activities or classes may be on offer, particularly if you have a budding cartoonist in your family.
The museum is open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Tuesday. Admission is free for kids 5 and under. Ages 6-12 cost $4 while students pay $6 and adults pay $10.
3. Get lost in Magowan’s Infinite Mirror Maze
Another quirky, family-friendly attraction, Magowan’s Infinite Mirror Maze was created by Charles Magowan and features high-tech lighting and a series of mirror-lined pathways that challenge visitors to find the right way out. Even toddlers enjoy this attraction, with its colorful lighting and infinite reflections.
The maze is made up of 77 mirrors spread over 2,000 square feet and is a modern take on mirrored fun-house attractions at carnivals. Magowan’s is open every day from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. and tickets, which can be purchased online in advance or in person, are $10. Children age 5 and under get in free.
4. Explore the Aquarium of the Bay
A perennial kid-pleaser, Aquarium of the Bay captivates visitors with its 20,000 local sea creatures including moon jellies, sharks, bat rays and more. Located at Pier 39 and open every day except Christmas, the nonprofit aquarium is dedicated to inspiring conservation of San Francisco Bay and its watershed.
Daily activities here range from naturalist-led animal feedings to hands-on science experiments and even behind-the-scenes tours offering an unforgettable look at the workings of the aquarium.
Aquarium hours are 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. daily. Tickets are $28.25 for those 13-64 years old and $20.25 for visitors 4-12. A 20% discount is available for family combo tickets when purchasing at least three tickets.
5. Meet the sea lions
A visit to Fisherman’s Wharf would hardly be complete without popping by to see its most famous residents: the sea lions!
This boisterous colony of marine mammals can be found on Pier 39’s K-dock, where they’re typically busy sunning themselves, snoozing, or barking at each other.
Sea lions have lived on the dock for decades and paying them a visit is not only free, but it’s also endlessly entertaining and offers a unique coastal California moment for children and visitors of all ages.
6. Take a tour with a local
It’s easy to wander Fisherman’s Wharf aimlessly and miss out on some of the hidden gems, history, and local flavors. A guided tour makes sure you don’t miss a thing, and you get personalized recommendations from a local SF expert.
One benefit of our walking tours that parents often enjoy is having a guide who can answer kids’ questions and help keep them entertained. This lets you relax and soak up the scenic surroundings while your pro guide leads your group through the exciting stops around Fisherman’s Wharf.
Your tour also includes tickets to Alcatraz, so you can visit the island after exploring the wharf.
7. Ride the SkyStar Wheel
The SkyStar observation wheel is a great way to give everyone a break from walking. The gondolas are fully enclosed, so you don’t have to worry about little ones, and the ride itself is slow and smooth, like a Ferris wheel. It’s one gondola per group, so you’ll have the cabin to yourself as well.
As you soar over 150 feet in the air, you can point out Alcatraz in the distance, spot boats moving through the bay, and help kids connect to the places they’ve already visited. The ride takes about 10 minutes, just right for families, and it’s an easy, low-stress addition to a day spent exploring Fisherman’s Wharf.
If you want to add the SkyStar onto your guided tour, we recommend our combo tour with the SkyStar, Alcatraz, and Fisherman’s Wharf. Your ticket is good for any day during your visit, so you can always return to ride the wheel another day if more convenient.
8. Take a spin on the carousel
The vibrant colors, the music, the whimsical animals — carousel rides are a beloved hallmark of childhood. And Fisherman’s Wharf is home to a particularly lovely example of this popular style of ride that’s increasingly part of a bygone era.
Made in Italy, the San Francisco Carousel is a two-story work of art that includes 1,800 twinkling LED lights and more than 30 animals that ferry passengers around.
Kids will love picking which animal to ride — not just horses but also a rabbit, panda, and several hippocampi (half horse, half fish). There are also teacups too for kids who can’t mount a steed.
Meanwhile, adults will appreciate the intricate hand-painted images on the carousel depicting San Francisco landmarks like Golden Gate Bridge, Chinatown, and even Alcatraz. As the carousel spins, traditional organ music fills the air, adding to the nostalgia.
Carousel rides are available daily from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Rides cost $9 per person. Children 2 and under are free but must be accompanied by an adult.
How to visit Alcatraz with kids
While its reputation may be slightly intimidating, don’t let that worry you. A visit to Alcatraz isn’t dark or scary, and it’s great for kids — both entertaining and educational.
Exploring the island offers the opportunity to experience history, spot wildlife, walk through beautiful gardens, and simply enjoy the views from the middle of San Francisco Bay.
The National Park Service manages the island and prison, and, like other national parks across the United States, young visitors here can participate in the Junior Ranger program. There’s also a Junior Ranger activity book for Alcatraz Island that you can download and print before your visit. The book leads kids through a variety of activities while exploring Alcatraz, including prompting them to find certain objects and items around the island.
As mentioned above, our tour includes your ferry ticket to the island (departing from Pier 33 — where all cruises to the island depart), but if you book on your own, be sure to reserve tickets before you visit. Tickets often sell out 2-3 weeks in advance.
Tips for visiting Fisherman’s Wharf and Alcatraz with kids
If you’re ready to explore Fisherman’s Wharf and Alcatraz with kids in tow, here are some important tips to make the experience even smoother for everyone in the family.
Can I bring strollers on the Alcatraz ferry?
Yes, you can board the boat to Alcatraz Island with a stroller, but there’s no specific stroller storage on board. It’s also worth noting that strollers aren’t allowed on the SEAT trams, which are the electric shuttles that meet ferries at the dock and take visitors who require mobility assistance to the cellhouse.
Are there discounts for kids?
Yes, we offer discounted prices on kids’ tickets. If you book your ticket separately, with Alcatraz City Cruises, you can also take advantage of discounted kids’ prices.
Where can we eat on Alcatraz Island?
There’s no food sold on Alcatraz Island, but the boat does have a few snacks, although they’re not cheap. Budget $6 or so for a PB&J or hot dog.
There are also lots of great food options at Fisherman’s Wharf that your guide can recommend, including sit-down restaurants, vendor stalls serving local specialties, and food trucks. You can pack a picnic and bring it with you to eat on Alcatraz Island, but picnics are limited to the dock area.
Be sure to bring some water. It’s a park, after all, and you want to stay hydrated!
What else should we bring?
You’re allowed to bring a backpack to the island, but it’s more comfortable walking around Fisherman’s Wharf and Alcatraz if you travel light. For both destinations, I recommend bringing plenty of sunblock. California is often sunny — which is nice — but there’s not a ton of natural tree cover in this area, so sunscreen is a good idea.
You may also want to bring a jacket. It can get windy on Alcatraz, especially on the ride over.
Fisherman’s Wharf is on every San Francisco traveler’s bucket list — and for good reason. The awe-inspiring bay views, historic ships, water activities, and fresh-off-the-boat seafood make it iconic.
There are lots of attractions and hidden gems you might miss without a local to share them. Luckily, I’m here to highlight the top things to do at Fisherman’s Wharf that locals love. Think of it as the secret side to the famous wharf.
1. The SF Maritime National Historical Park
Fisherman’s Wharf is part of the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, a unique park where the local wildlife includes seals, and historic ships and maritime museums replace the usual trees and trails.
This park includes:
- The Aquatic Park Historic District
- Hyde St. Pier
- The Aquatic Park Historic District
- A visitor center
- The Maritime Museum
I’ll cover more on these attractions below.
2. The Maritime Museum
Step into the Maritime Museum, and you’ll feel like you’re aboard a 1940s ocean liner. Built in the sleek Streamline Moderne style to resemble a cruise ship, this building was once a bathhouse, then a casino, and now a museum with free admission!
Murals of sea life cover both floors. Exhibits include artifacts of Pacific journeys such as the Mermaid, a 19-foot boat that one man sailed solo from Japan to San Francisco.
History note: These murals are known as WPA murals from the Works Progress Administration of the 1930s, a New Deal project designed to provide economic relief during the Great Depression.
Be sure and ask whether they’re holding a Chantey Sing during your visit. It’s a fun event, especially for kids. The inspiration for it dates to the 1800s. When the wind died and sailors were stuck at sea, they sank sea chanteys to keep their spirits up.
These interactive musical affairs would usually happen aboard the historic ships at Hyde Street Pier, but while the dock is being renovated, they take place at the Maritime Museum.
If you can’t get enough of SF’s seafaring history, head to the Maritime Visitor Center in the Cannery Building.
Fun fact: San Francisco boasts the oldest continuous sea chantey sing-along in the world.
If the murals inspired you, there’s more art across the street!
3. Fisherman’s Wharf Walking Tour
What’s more local than discovering part of the city with a local? Our Fisherman’s Wharf Walking Tour includes your roundtrip cruise to Alcatraz, but before you head to the ferry, you’ll get an inside look at the very best of Fisherman’s Wharf.
A few of the spots our guide shares include:
- The Pier 39 sea lions
- The Embarcadero Promenade
- The unusual Musée Mécanique
- Part of the 19th-century Barbary Coast Trail
- Colorful murals
- Historic ships in the bay
And much more. Visit with us, and we’ll reveal the hidden gems and incredible history of Fisherman’s Wharf. There are so many stories to tell here!
4. The Cartoon Art Museum
Who knew the funny pages were also serving to educate readers about political and social issues? Find out how illustrators used humor to reflect the times at the Cartoon Art Museum.
This small space has comic strip displays, animation shorts, and an exhibit of the Batman costumes used in movies and TV.
While you’re there, you’re encouraged to add one of your sketches to their collection. If you need help, they also offer classes on drawing.
5. San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park Visitor Center
This hidden gem feels more like a museum than your typical visitor center. The San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park Visitor Center is an under-the-radar Fisherman’s Wharf attraction with a host of immersive exhibits.
It’s highly educational but also entertaining.
Here are some of the topics the exhibits explore:
- The wild tales of the Barbary Coast
- What life was like on a lighthouse
- The ships buried beneath San Francisco’s streets
- How the Gold Rush transformed the city overnight
- Early interactions with Native Americans
- The history of the city’s shipbuilding industry
- How the 1934 Longshoremen’s Strike reshaped labor
- The legacy of Italian fishing families
Don’t miss the center’s award-winning 10-minute film, “The Waterfront: The Sailors Called It Frisco.”
Most days, the rangers are happy to lead free tours at 2:30 p.m. Just ask at the front desk.
6. Fresh fish at Scoma’s
If all this talk of maritime life has made you hungry, nearby Scoma‘s is the only restaurant with a fish receiving station. Small fishing boats deliver their catch directly to the receiving station, which they call “pier to plate.”
The waterfront restaurant is popular, serving locals and travelers since 1965. It’s a great place to grab lunch and just soak up the views.
Go local: You can also buy seafood directly from the fishers at Piers 45 and 47. Although Fisherman’s Wharf is known as a tourist attraction, it’s still a working wharf with generations of families operating fishing boats. The world-famous crab season runs from November through June.
7. San Francisco Water Taxi
One of the cheapest ways to get out on the water is by hailing a taxi — a San Francisco Water Taxi, that is.
For $10, you can ride in a small boat as your skipper shares some of the waterfront history while pointing out historic sites.
For a schedule, look for the yellow and black checkered signs. The taxis, which travel from Scoma’s to Pier 39 and the Ferry Building, usually leave on the hour, weather permitting.
8. Musée Mécanique
At Musée Mécanique, kids and adults alike can pop quarters into vintage arcade machines dating back to the 1800s and play to their hearts’ content.
This “mechanical museum” is free to visit, worth a stop even if you don’t play a game. (In fact, it’s a stop on our tour — our guides often bring a few quarters to delight guests with the strange but mesmerizing animatronics.)
Highlights include a miniature moving carnival, a Nickelodeon movie of the 1915 World’s Fair, Laffing Sal, a six-foot tall redhead with a maniacal laugh, and a Mighty Wurlitzer Band Organ from 1915, boasting 146 pipes.
Local tip: If you’ve been climbing the streets of San Francisco, it’s worth using your spare change on the vibrating foot massage machine.
9. The Fishermen’s and Seamen’s Memorial Chapel
In between the fishing boats, seafood restaurants, and touristy spots, there’s a small chapel hiding in plain sight. Listen for the campanile bells to find the Fishermen’s and Seamen’s Memorial Chapel across from Pier 45.
Constructed to honor those lost at sea, this small Catholic church includes a stained-glass window with a ship’s wheel, a crystal chandelier with 15 candelabra lights representing the rosary, and an antique banner depicting the patron saint of Sicilian fishermen, Madonna del Lume. It’s also the only church in the Bay Area with Gregorian chants and a traditional Latin mass.
Fun fact: Every October, during Fleet Week, the church holds a memorial mass before the blessing of the ships, a ritual dating back to medieval times.
10. SS Jeremiah O’Brien
See how the crew lived aboard a World War II ship on a tour of the SS Jeremiah O’Brien at Pier 35.
One of the Liberty ships that transported vital supplies to troops during the war, it’s the only one in original condition, according to the U.S. Naval Institute.
Now known as the National Liberty Ship Memorial, it’s a fun place to visit if you’re into WWII history. You can walk the same decks as members of the Greatest Generation, be shocked by their crowded bunks, and visit the Engine Room that was used in the “Titanic” movie. On special occasions, like July Fourth or Fleet Week, the ship even ventures out on the bay.
11. Museum of the Eye
The only free public museum dedicated to the science of sight, the Museum of the Eye will make you glad you are alive today and not, say, 200 years ago.
The historic ophthalmology tools and ancient spectacles are not for the weak of heart. The museum has several exhibits explaining how the eye works, visual disorders, and new scientific advances in the world of eyecare.
12. Subpar Mini Golf
You can relive all your memories of visiting San Francisco by playing through miniature landmarks, including the Transamerica Pyramid, Coit Tower and Alcatraz, at the Subpar Miniature Golf Course.
Be sure to celebrate your win with a drink on the sunny deck with views of passing ships.
13. Ghirardelli Square
While you’re at Fisherman’s Wharf, be sure and glance up at the newly restored clock tower at Ghirardelli Square,
After being shrouded in mesh for a year, the red brick and gray slate has been restored to its original 1916 glory.
There’s plenty more to enjoy at Ghirardelli Square, from shopping and dining to art and special events. Ordering the hot fudge sundae at the Original Ghirardelli Chocolate & Ice Cream Shop, dating to 1966, is a classic experience. Inside, there are historical touches like antique chocolate-making equipment and the 19-foot “G” from the original marquee. Plus, where else will you see the country’s largest flowing chocolate wall?
14. Waffles at the Norwegian Seaman’s Church
Just a couple blocks inland, you’ll find the Norwegian Seaman’s Church. Not technically part of Fisherman’s Wharf, but close by, the church is easily located by the colorful Swedish and Norwegian flags.
The church is typically open to the public, and the friendly staff offer visitors waffles (it’s a Scandinavian thing) on the deck overlooking the bay. A tiny store sells Scandinavian candies and crafted goods that are difficult to find in America.
The Norwegian Seaman’s Church also has a great view of the bay as you can see in the video above!
Local tip: Across the street is one of the city’s newest parks, Francisco Park. Covering a former reservoir, this lush multi-tiered park features swings, several dog runs, and a large reflective chrome heart sculpture for those who leave their hearts in San Francisco but want to remember it on Instagram.
Ready to visit Fisherman’s Wharf?
Now you know that despite its reputation as a touristy spot, Fisherman’s Wharf is also beloved by locals. We’re a friendly bunch and love to talk about this city we cherish.
So chat us up at coffee houses, bars (Buena Vista is a fun one), restaurants, and on the cable cars. And our guides love sharing about their passion for the city they call home. If you need travel tips for your visit, just ask!
Some final tips before you go:
- The easiest way to travel is a Clipper card that works for the cable car, buses, trolleys, ferries, and BART.
- Our summer is in September and October, where you are almost guaranteed to find sunny days and no wind. Our “June gloom” sometimes extends to July, so be sure and pack some light jackets.
- We’re big into walking so bring your hiking boots or tennis shoes. The Fisherman’s Wharf guided tour before your trip to Alcatraz is pretty light, but it’s great to have walking shoes for the island.
- There are more dogs than children here, so feel free to bring your pup to SF. If you’re a dog lover, you’ll be in canine heaven.
We can’t wait to welcome you to San Francisco’s coolest waterfront destination!