FAQ: San Francisco Bay Area Region

What are the top five activities for your teen near/in the San Francisco Bay Area?  

From tech innovations to natural wonders, the San Francisco Bay Area offers an incredible range of activities perfect for teens. While you could spend weeks exploring hidden beaches, browsing vintage shops, or sampling global cuisine, here are our top five must-do experiences.  

1. Computer History Museum: If you want to learn more about technology and its impact on society, visit the Computer History Museum. You’ll learn about ENIAC and the evolution of personal computers, video games, and the internet through interactive exhibits and displays. 
2. Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito Adventure: This classic San Fran experience includes a scenic ride along the waterfront before riding across the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito, where you can explore the charming town’s shops and waterfront restaurants. Then, hop a ferry for a relaxing cruise back to the city. 
3. Pier 39: Love animals? Visit the famous Pier 39 sea lions. Ride the 7D Experience or check out the arcades and games. The pier includes unique shops with quirky souvenirs and trendy clothing, plenty of delicious food, and street performers. The Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz Island, and San Francisco Bay are the perfect backdrop for social media selfies, too.
4. Mount Tamalpais State Park: This expansive park includes Mount Tamalpais and offers breathtaking views of the Bay Area, the Pacific Ocean, and, on a clear day, the Farallon Islands. Explore over 60 miles of hiking trails winding through redwood forests, oak woodlands, and grasslands. 
5. California Academy of Sciences & Golden Gate Park: Explore a four-story rainforest, watch penguins, and catch a planetarium show. Head into Golden Gate Park for a paddleboat ride on Stow Lake or a leisurely walk through the Japanese Tea Garden.  

What are the top cultural activities for teens in the San Francisco Bay Area?  

San Francisco’s cultural landscape is as diverse as its famous fog patterns, offering teens a chance to explore global traditions, art, and cuisine. Many venues provide sensory-friendly hours and quieter spaces.  

1. Chinese Culture Center (CCC): The CCC promotes and preserves Chinese and Chinese American culture through art exhibitions, film screenings, live performances, and educational workshops. Located between Chinatown and the Financial District, it includes a gallery, auditorium, and learning center for visitors to engage with Chinese arts and culture.   
2. Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts (MCCLA): The MCCLA offers many programs and events, including art exhibitions, dance classes, music performances, theater productions, and workshops featuring Latino arts and culture. It also houses a printmaking studio, Mission Grafica.  
3. The Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California (JCCCNC): The JCCCNC offers classes, cultural events, workshops, and resources connecting people with Japanese traditions and heritage. Take a calligraphy class, watch a taiko drumming performance, participate in a tea ceremony, and more.
4. San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA): SFMOMA has an impressive collection of modern and contemporary art by Frida Kahlo, Andy Warhol, and Jackson Pollock, among others. The building itself, blending modern and contemporary design, is also a work of art. 
5. American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.): The Tony Award-winning A.C.T., housed in the restored, historic Geary Theater, produces classic and contemporary plays for all audiences. It also fosters the next generation of theater professionals through its MFA and Young Conservatory.

What are the best San Francisco Bay Area outdoor activities for teens?  

The Bay Area is an outdoor enthusiast’s paradise where urban excitement meets natural wonder. From hiking to water sports, there’s something for every teen. 

1. Alcatraz Island: A tour will take you across the San Francisco Bay to America’s most notorious prison. Explore the cellblocks and learn about their (in)famous residents. Hear stories of daring escapes and learn about the island’s history as a military fort and federal penitentiary.
2. Muir Woods National Monument: This majestic forest is a sanctuary of ancient redwood trees, some of which are 250 feet tall and over 1,000 years old. Hike the trails and discover the plant and animal life thriving in this ecosystem.
3. SOMA West Skate Park: This urban skater’s paradise is located under a freeway overpass and features a variety of obstacles for all skill levels, with design elements inspired by famous city spots. Its atmosphere, graffiti, and terrain make it a popular destination for the local skating community.
4. Half Moon Bay: This charming coastal town has beaches, redwood forests, and a historic Main Street to explore. The area hosts various events throughout the year, including parades and music and art festivals.
5. Oracle Park: Catch a Giants game at this waterfront MLB park or take a behind-the-scenes tour of the dugout, press box, and locker rooms. No tickets on game day? Rent a kayak and float offshore. Maybe you’ll get lucky and catch a foul ball or home run that sails over the outfield wall.

What are the best San Francisco Bay Area indoor activities for teens?

Rain or shine, the Bay Area offers endless indoor entertainment for teens, from museums to gaming centers and creative spaces.  

1. Exploratorium: This one-of-a-kind museum combines science, art, and human perception, encouraging you to play, experiment, and question. Touch a tornado. Create your own stop-motion animation, explore the wonders of the human body, and more. 
2. House of Air: A historic airplane hangar houses this indoor trampoline park, which includes “The Matrix” — a giant trampoline area perfect for bouncing, flipping, and practicing aerial tricks. There’s also a dedicated area for trampoline dodgeball. You can even take fitness classes and aerial training to elevate your skills to the next level.
3. Club Fugazi: This North Beach mainstay has entertained audiences for over a century. Originally a social club for Italian immigrants, it’s now home to the 7 Fingers, a contemporary circus troupe. See a show or rock to tunes on its weekly Music Mondays. The venue is a 3X 2024 winner for Best Live Theater, Best Family Night Out, and Best Event Space/Venue.  
4. The Escape Game: Step into one of the themed rooms and collaborate to uncover clues, solve puzzles, and complete your mission before time runs out. You may find yourself trying to escape prison, pull off a heist, or travel through time. These immersive challenges are fun for everyone.
5. Magowan’s Infinite Mirror Maze: Lose yourself in a world of endless reflections in Magowan’s Infinite Mirror Maze — a mind-bending labyrinth of mirrors and lights that challenge your sense of direction and perception. Wander “endless” hallways, navigate twists and turns, and try to escape this maze, illuminated by blacklights and neon for a psychedelic touch.

What are the best San Francisco Bay Area restaurants for teens?  

1. Super Duper Burger: This food joint has a reputation for fresh, high-quality burgers and is a popular spot to grab a burger made from locally sourced beef, crispy fries, and creamy organic milkshakes. 
2. U Dessert Story: A haven for anyone with a sweet tooth, this charming cafe fuses Eastern and Western dessert traditions. It’s known for its signature 20-layer crepe cakes in flavors like Thai tea and young coconut pandan. Try bingsoo (Korean shaved ice), honey brick toast, or an ubi mochi waffle.
3. El Farolito: Craving authentic Mexican food? Head to this taqueria known for its burritos, tacos, and quesadillas. Affordable prices, generous portions, and a lively atmosphere make it a popular spot for a casual (and tasty) meal.
4. Hard Rock Cafe San Francisco: A classic destination for music lovers, this restaurant has an impressive collection of music memorabilia you can enjoy with your classic American fare of burgers, fries, milkshakes, and more on Pier 39. You may even catch a live music show while you dine!
5. Boudin Bakery: Another San Francisco institution, this bakery is famous for its sourdough — a staple since the Gold Rush. Using the same mother dough starter for 170+ years, Boudin creates tangy, crusty sourdough loaves, which you can enjoy along with sandwiches, other baked goods, and soups served in sourdough bread bowls.

What are the best San Francisco Bay Area museums for families?  

From interactive science exhibits and immersive art experiences to fascinating history and cultural explorations, there’s something to spark curiosity and create lasting memories for all ages. Discover the fun in San Francisco’s museum scene. Here are some of our favorites for families to enjoy.

1. California Academy of Sciences: Explore the natural world in this amazing museum that features a living rainforest, planetarium, aquarium, and natural history exhibits. Dive into the ocean’s depths, journey through the cosmos, explore the lush four-story rainforest, and learn about dinosaurs, earthquakes, and more through interactive exhibits and programs.
2.  Bay Area Discovery Museum: Learn and explore in the museum’s interactive exhibits, art studios, and outdoor spaces, including a boat, treehouse village, and natural playscape. While geared toward younger audiences, younger teens will enjoy the play-based learning, too.
3. Oakland Museum of California (OMCA): Just 12 miles from San Francisco, OMCA invites you to explore the arts, history, and natural sciences. Learn about California’s history, its diverse ecosystems, geology, wildlife, and the challenges the region faces. Relax in the beautiful gardens, take a workshop, or enjoy a Friday gathering featuring live music and food trucks.
4. The Walt Disney Family Museum: Disney fans and anyone interested in animation and the history of entertainment will love this museum, which features exhibits showcasing Walt’s life and career. Learn the story of Disneyland, Walt’s vision for EPCOT, listen to historical recordings, and the history of Walt Disney Studios and the development of groundbreaking animation techniques.
5. Ghirardelli Square: Enjoy the rich history and mix of shops, restaurants, and attractions at this charming, historic waterfront destination — once a chocolate factory. Indulge in Ghiardelli chocolate treats and ice cream, try Subpar indoor mini-golf course, and learn about the history of this square and its role in San Francisco’s history.

For even more ideas and inspiration, check out the U.S. News San Francisco Guide.