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Top Family Friendly Things to do in San Francisco in Summer 2018

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Are you planning a trip to San Francisco this summer and looking to save some money on all the great museums and attractions the city has to offer?



I've lived and worked in San Francisco in years past and now enjoy taking my family to San Francisco to enjoy the museums, activities, food and shopping available there.  If you're planning a visit, I highly recommend the Go Card San Francisco and have used it for past visits to San Francisco.  It's a great way to save money on attraction tickets that you're going to be purchasing for your visit.

Top Family Friendly Attractions
There are no shortage of family friendly things to do and see in San Francisco and if you're planning a trip there this Summer, be sure to consider checking out the following attractions:

The San Francisco Exploratorium is a museum of science, art and human perception that is designed to intrigue visitors of all ages curiosity.  I like to think of the Exploratorium as a giant playground showcasing interactive educational fun at its very best.


The California Academy of Sciences is a one of a kind destination located in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park.  It is a very unique place to visit for all ages and is the world's only aquarium-planetarium-rainforest-living museum all under one living roof.  It is a family friendly museum with lots of exhibits, programs, activities and things to see.


The San Francisco Zoo is located on the outskirts of San Francisco nestled against the Pacific Ocean on one side and Lake Merced on the other side along the Great Highway.  The Great Highway runs along the city's western edge along the Pacific Coast and Ocean Beach.  The SF Zoo is home to approximately 1,000 animals, 250 different species and gardens full of native and foreign plants.  The SF Zoo is a fun trip for kids of all ages as there are lots of things to see and do at this zoo.


Aquarium of the Bay is located on the historic San Francisco waterfront at PIER 39 and home to more than 20,000 marine animals including sleek sharks and rays, secretive octopus, hypnotic jellyfish, sparkling anchovies, frolicking river otters, and many more.


The M. H. de Young Memorial Museum, commonly referred as the de Young Museum, is a fine arts museum located in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park that offers a diverse collection of fine arts in a building with a dramatic copper facade.


Take in a game at AT&T Park and enjoy an afternoon watching the San Francisco Giants play. 


Enjoy the numerous restaurants and shopping in and around Union Square, which is the commercial hub of the city featuring major hotels and department stores packed into the area surrounding the actual square.


The wildly popular Museum of Ice Cream is extending its run yet again in San Francisco.  The interactive art exhibit features ice cream and candy themed exhibits in a maze of fun with treats along the way.  The Museum of Ice Cream will run through September 3, 2018 and time is running out, so if you haven't been yet, get your tickets fast! 


If you are planning on visiting lots of the main attractions in San Francisco, i.e., the Exploratorium, Aquarium of the Bay, California Academy of Sciences, taking a Boat Cruise, the de Young Museum or any other attractions in the city, I highly recommend the Go Card San Francisco.

I've used it for past visits to San Francisco and it's a great way to save money on attraction tickets that you're going to be purchasing for your visit.  Note that not all of the above mentioned attractions are included in the Go Card San Francisco, including the Museum of Ice Cream and tickets to a Giants baseball game.

What is a Go San Francisco Card?
A Go San Francisco Card is a multi-attraction pass that gets you into 25+ San Francisco attractions for one low price.  You will be able to visit multiple San Francisco attractions for one low price and save up to 45% on top museums, tours, and activities, and pay nothing at the gate when you arrive.

Go San Francisco Card - 45 San Fran Attractions 

How does a Go San Francisco Card Work?
The Go Card for San Francisco can be purchased as an 'all-inclusive pass', an 'explorer pass' or as a 'build your own pass' and offers all the main attractions in San Francisco.


Once you purchase the pass that's right for you, your Go Card San Francisco grants you admission to as many included attractions as you want to visit for the number of days you bought the card for.  You can either use your pass right on your phone with the free Go City Card app or can print your pass and guidebook at home  You'll also get a guide with detailed attraction descriptions, hours of operation, and a map to help plan your itinerary. Plus extra dining, shopping and entertainment discounts to help you save even more along the way.

I've personally used the Go Card 'Build Your Own Pass' on multiple occasions, and enjoy the flexibility this option offers.  This pass is valid for 30 days after your first attraction visit and you can still save up to 20% when selecting at least 2 or more attractions on the pass you build.