Girls B-Day Ideas in No. California

[KimTinVA]

So... last year we celebrated our girls 6th birthday in Disneyland and So. California. This year we will be celebrating their 7th in Northern California, breaking the trip up into San Fran, Yosemite and Santa Cruz/Monterey. Can anyone give me some fun ideas and special experiences that could make their birthday extra special. We will be in San Fran on their actual bday. Any restaurants or girly places to take them? Or any stops worth making to give them a great experience. Thanks!!

 

[mamacatnv]

Are you looking for restaurants or things to do?
What time of year?

 

[KimTinVA]

We are going in August. Restaurants would be great. Also, any special experiences that would appeal to 7 year olds. Last years trip consisted of a first time trip to Disneyland, San Diego and LA, and they loved it. I know that No. California will be a different kind of trip (which we are looking forward to!) but I would love to throw a little bit of "magic" in there for them on their birthday. THanks!!!

 

[mamacatnv]

Monterey Bay Aquarium is amazing
http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/

Santa Cruz Beach and Boardwalk is tons of fun
http://www.beachboardwalk.com/

San Francisco has many of the touristy restaurants, Rainforest Cafe, Johnny Rockets etc on Pier 39. The Pier is a really unique place. There are street performers, shops, restaurants and the sea lions that have taken over the boat slips.
http://www.pier39.com/index.cfm

A Bay cruise under the Golden Gate, a trip to Alcatraz or a day spent riding the cable cars. My kids love, love, love riding the cable cars.

The California Academy of Sciences recently re-opened after a 500 million dollar renovation. I have heard really good things, it is located in Golden Gate Park.
http://www.calacademy.org/

The Exploratorium in San Francisco is a really fun place (we are headed there this weekend at the request of DD 11)
http://www.exploratorium.edu/

Couple of amusement parks:
Discovery Kingdom which was formerly Marine World, it has Animal shows and rides.
http://www.sixflags.com/discoveryKingdom/index.aspx

Great America amusement park as well as water park
http://www.pgathrills.com/#actions

There is a great water park in San Jose - Raging Waters
http://www.ragingwaters.com/

San Jose has an wonderful Childrens Museum, considered one of the best in the country:
http://www.cdm.org/index.asp?f=1

San Francisco has so many different dining options. There are wonderful cafe's, award winning restaurants etc. We are partial to a hole in the wall chinese restaurant in China Town and always eat there, so I can't help much with other restaurants. Yumm, we are eating there on Saturday!

Happy planning!

 

[KimTinVA]

Thanks so much!! I appreciate all the ideas (and the links!!), will start researching and making my itinerary.

 

[barkley]

my kids loved the wax museum at fisherman's wharf. i honestly did'nt think they would but go figure. the highlight of that visit was the stand where for a nominal fee (around $10) they use your hand, dip it and you end up with a cool wax hand to take home.

if you don't mind scooting out of the bay area a bit you could do the jelly belly factory in fairfield. the tour is fun and kids realy enjoy it (there's a mimi's cafe a couple of exits down the road which is a great place to grab a bite).

if you are going to do the boardwalk at santa cruz check their website for good deals on advance purchases of tickets for the rides (we do the wrist band for unlimited rides), also check out what entertainment they might be having on a given summer nite.

 

[KimTinVA]

Thanks for the great tips! My girls love jelly belly

 

[GrandBob]

Don't forget Gilroy Gardens. My DGD6 loves the place. It's mostly geared to the younger crowd -- I'd guess 10-12 max before they'd get bored. Hint -- bring a swim suit and towel. There's a water splash/slide area that DGD loves. She'll spend hours there.

-Bob

P.S. If you're going to Jelly Belly, try to do it on a weekday. On weekends, they still give the tour, but the plant isn't in production. So the tour consists of just videos and explanations. We went on a Saturday, and DGD was bored.

 

[GrandBob]

Oh, a couple of more things. I agree, the Aquarium is a must-see. Perhaps the best in the nation. Now, I may be biased, as I work for their sister organization, MBARI. But rest assured, they have lots of wonderful stuff for kids. Play areas, areas to explore, all of which are educational as well as lots of fun for the kids. Don't miss the touch pool, where your kids (or you!) can pick up and touch various sea life.

The best playground in Monterey is Dennis the Menace Park, which is part of Lake El Estero Park. Hank Ketcham, creator of Dennis the Menace, was a local resident and donated a themed statue. Lots of swings/slides/jungle gyms, plus an actual 1880's era steam locomotive that kids can climb on.

-Bob

 

[KimTinVA]

Thanks so much!! I was thinking about Gilroy Gardens but didn't know much about it. Would that be something that we would stop at on our way to Yosemite or is that really close to San Fran?

 

[GrandBob]

The town of Gilroy is on US101, south of San Jose and north of Monterey. Gilroy Gardens is actually on CA 152 about 3 miles west of town.

Depending on your itinerary, you'd probably be best off doing it from Monterey. It's about 45 minutes from Monterey. You could do it on your way from SF to Yosemite, but it would be out of the way. Besides, I wouldn't want to start in SF, spend all day at Gilroy Gardens, and then drive to Yosemite. It would be a long day.

OTOH, if you're driving between Monterey and Yosemite, it is (almost) on your way. Still, doing all day there plus the drive to or from Yosemite would make a long day. But doable, if you're in a time crunch.

HTH,
Bob

ETA - August you say? Then you're OK. But if you'll be around Gilroy the weekend of July 24-26, watch out for the Gilroy Garlic Festival. It's a fun time, but it jams up town and US101 with 100,000 attendees.

 

[lcasa]

One REALLY girly thing - and I'm not sure if they still do it, but the Saint Francis hotel on Union SQ used to have a proper high tea.

 

[mamacatnv]

We spent Sunday at the Exploratorium and WOW that place has improved immensly in the past 8 or 9 years since we last went. Tons of hands on things to do, experiment with etc. We will be going back real soon!

 

[Abbeys_mom]

At the North end foot of the GG Bridge is the Bay Area Discovery Museum (badm.org), a hand's on museum for kids. If you have a reciprocal pass from another kid's museum, it might be free. DD is nearly six and we still go there a lot.

The SF Zoo is right off the beach, and is one of my favorite zoos in the US.

Keep in mind the famous Mark Twain quote "The coldest winter of my life was the summer I was in SF". August has a tendency to be foggy in the actual city, but just outside the city can be really hot and amazingly clear. Pack lots of layers!

Welcome to my corner of the world!