wavy_davy

Hi everyone! I have snuck over from the Australian threads. When we eventually get our visas (lets be positive) we will be going to Australia via San Francisco (1 week) and New York (few days stop over).

Can anyone suggest places to visit or must dos whilst we are there?? We will have our 3 year old daughter with us so they must be child friendly!

Thanks! Katy

bored-silly

Most places are kid friendly to be honest, even the very nice hotels. If you are only in SF for a week, you may want to consider staying at a place in or near Union Square. You will be very central then for most of the downtown 'tourist' places.
PM me if you want any more info on SF and stuff to do.

Tangram

Golden Gate Bridge
Alcatraz
Cable Car ride
Lombard Street ( Curvy street to drive down/walk down )
Coit Tower
Chinatown
Union Square ( inc Cheesecake Company at the top of Macys )
Palace Of Fine Arts and Exploratorium
Coach tour the different areas.

dunroving

There's an aquarium on the seafront, plus (I think) there's a big Ghirardelli's (chocolate) shop too!

If you like exercise, walk up the steepest street (forgot its name).

LeedsGirl

Go to Pier 39 and you will see everything there. Go to the Rainforest Cafe your daughter will love it. Don't recommend taking her to Alcatraz :scared:

gruffbrown

If you're in NY, the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island tour is worth doing, pre book your tickets http://www.circlelinedowntown.com/ as it gets really busy in the summer months Allow a whole day for that one as the queues are horrendous.

The Empire State Building is worth it as well, once again expect a couple of hour queue in summer http://www.esbnyc.com/index2.cfm

And don't forget a Broadway show http://www.broadway.com/gen/concierge.aspx

Have a good one

Gruff

Wintersong

I really enjoyed Alcatraz!

Most of the San Francisco highlights have been covered, but I would add the following:

Do a bay cruise but be prepared to freeze your butt off.
Sea Lions at Pier 39
Ghirardelli Square
Eat at the Stinking Rose (garlic restaurant. Great food that just keeps on giving... for several days. Everyone needs to go there once though!)
San Francisco Zoo.
Golden Gate Park. You can rent boats, there's windmills, the Asian Art Museum and Japanese Tea Gardens, a planetarium, an aquarium and a conservatory of flowers as well as a kids playground.

If you have a hire car, go over into the Marin headlands for the views of the GGB and definitely go to Muir woods. Point Reyes lighthouse is ok but it's a long drive and probably not worth it. If you want to go further afield, Carmel/Monterey/17 mile drive are beautiful, and Napa valley is worth a trip. If you go there, make sure you visit Old Faithful at Calistoga!

LeedsGirl

I was just figuring the three year old wouldn't enjoy it especially the old geezer trying to flog his books and telling his horror stories

Celsius

Unless I'm mistaken, going up the Statue of Liberty requires walking up lots of stairs so I don't think that's a very child friendly attraction.

On the other hand, the Empire State does have elevators so that would be pretty cool for looking out over Manhattan.

A Broadway show would be a complete bore to a three year old if he/she could even stay awake. Would suggest maybe the Bronx Zoo or something of that ilk.

Has the OP looked at NY City's visitor website? There may be a section for younger visitors.

gruffbrown

You can't walk up to the observation gallery in the Statue of Liberty anymore, so no stairs to climb, so yes you would be.

How about a matinee performance of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang or the Lion King?

Wintersong

True... not much in the audio tour to interest a 3yr old I guess.

Here's an idea though - lose the kid at the zoo then hotfoot it over to Pier 41 or whichever one it is the Alcatraz tours leave from.

Eskimo

Woodsey had the Garlic Ice Cream in there :scared:

Wintersong

I bet you didn't snog her for at least 3 days afterwards

How's the no smoking going?

Eskimo

Of course I snogged her - shes goooooooooorrrrrgeeeeousssss Day 8 - doing well went to a gig last night (Oasis) loads of smokers- held resolve ( got pissed)

Philgr

That's a good tip for anyone doing anything in SF. It's cold - <60 today when the rest of the Bay Area (away from the coast) is mid 70s.

Tourist sweatshirt sales pitches must change hands for millions in SF as everyone arrives thinking it will be warm.