10 Free Things to Do in San Francisco, CA

This is the 3rd most visited park in the United States! Fun fact: Golden Gate Park is 1,000 acres, and 20% larger than Central Park in NYC. The park is free to visit but some popular destinations do charge admissions. A few don’t miss free things to do in the park include: spy a buffalo at the Buffalo Paddock, take a stroll on Ocean Beach, and check out the Dutch windmill tulip garden! If you have kids in tow, Koret Children’s Playground is must do with 2 unique cement slides, tons of swings, a giant spider web of ropes to climb, and a carousel to ride! ($2 for adults, $1 for kids, and children 5 and under are free with the purchase of an adult ticket)

Pro tip: Bring a peice of cardboard for the cement slides! Also, dump a few hand-fulls of sand on the top of the slide, it makes the ride down much smoother!

This magical oasis is located on 5 acres inside of the Golden gate Park. Entry is free if you enter before 10am on Monday, Wednesday or Friday. Children 4 and under are always free. Inside the garden you will find koi ponds, an azalea-covered waterfall, a 5 story tall pagoda, and of course a tea house complete tea and light snacks.

Ghiaradelli Square is a San Francisco landmark nestled on the west end of Fisherman’s Wharf. The Original Ghirardelli Ice Cream & Chocolate Shop opened in 1893 and is a San Francisco staple! There is a mini cafe on the lower floor, but upstairs is the original chocolate shop. Upstairs you will also find a large cafe that serves all things delicious including sundaes, floats, malts, and banana splits 365 days a year. (Don’t miss the treasure island sundae!) There is also a mini chocolate factory that shows how a chocolate square is made.

We discovered the wave organ acoustic sculpture thanks to the nice guy renting us bikes at Wheel Fun Rentals. We asked him if there was anything we can’t miss on our bike ride across the Golden Gate Bridge, and he told us about the wave organ. To find the wave organ look for St. Francis Yacht Club on the edge of Crissy Beach. Ride bikes or walk down the long jetty to the very end. You can’t miss it.

Pro tip: The wave organ sounds best at high tide.

We stayed at the W in the SoMo District, which stands for South of Market. The W is older, but clean, a great price, and in an awesome walking location. It’s right next door to the Museum of Modern Art. The streets of San Francisco are filled with treasures. We stumbled into murals and sculptures galore on our walking escapades.

One day, we found ourselves in China Town and got glorious foot massages. Another morning, we walked to Mama’s restaurant and stood in the 45 minute line for a worth the wait breakfast. Your best bet is to go early on a weekday, but from what I’ve heard, there is basically always a line. The church in the picture above is next door to Mama’s.

There are tons of museums in San Francisco that have regularly scheduled free admission days. We decided to take advantage of the San Francisco CityPASS. The San Francisco CityPASS admission saves you 45% and includes multiple museums plus transportation. Here is what is included:

• Cable Car and Muni Bus Passport
• California Academy of Sciences
• Blue & Gold Fleet Bay Cruise Adventure
• Aquarium of the Bay
• Exploratorium OR de Young Museum

The CityPASS is $89 for adults and $66 for kids. The California Academy of Sciences is a must see for kid with a 2.5 acre living roof, penguins, and an aquarium and a planetarium. We will absolutely take our kids back next time we’re in San Francisco. Right across the street from the California Academy of Science is the de Young Museum, which Andy and I loved. This one is not as fun for kids, but there is a 9 story tall observation tower with 360 degree views of San Francisco that everyone will love.