Spend a family day in San Francisco

[tripods68]

It's been a while since I took the family for a day trip to the bay area. Yesterday was a picture perfect day with no fogs and temp in mid-70s. It's a great all-around day. Our kids are 12 & 13 so actually enjoyed it more than we did.

In case, you plan to visit there Pier 39 Fisherman's Wharf, Presidio, Golden Gate Bridge, Palace of Fine Arts plan to brings lots of cash/CC whichever you prefer. We used mainly cc and cash for tolls. Because of Pier 39 is the main tourist attraction, prepared to be approached by people wanting to buy their CDs, or interesting sign like "why lie, I need $$ to buy weed". It's typical San Francisco. Btw I told the guy, "who buys CDs nowadays?" and stared me down funny. We also read a sign for hiring for In-and-Out Burger that pays $16.00 an hour.

A day trip cost for 2 kids & 2 adults spending:

Gas Tank Coscto: $27.00
Bay bridge toll: $6.00
Pier 39 parking: $24.00 for (2.5 hours)
Luigi's Pizza + tips: $98.00
mini donuts: $15.00
Total cost:$170 for a day trip.

Compare that with our day trip to Monterey, CA last year which was a 3 hours drive from Sacramento. Parking is way cheaper there. Our total cost ends up less than $100.000.

I'm sure we could have saved a lot of money if we brought our lunch, driven longer to avoid tolls and drive around for cheaper parking. But we didn't want to do all that.

Our next family weekend trip is in March which will be in Santa Barbara.

[Drake3287]

At least you didn't have to include the cost of your car window being smashed and car broken into. Consider yourself as having gotten off easy!

You'll enjoy Santa Barbara, we just took a mini vacation down there the other day. Santa Barbara has the same homeless issues as SF though.

[tripods68]

At least you didn't have to include the cost of your car window being smashed and car broken into. Consider yourself as having gotten off easy!

You'll enjoy Santa Barbara, we just took a mini vacation down there the other day. Santa Barbara has the same homeless issues as SF though.

Sorry to hear...been lucky so far!

[Gailete]

Was that a special pizza place or something special. Certainly not Little Ceaser best pizza for $6!

I haven't been to SF since I was 14 when I promptly got sick, landed in the hospital with appendicitis and spent the week in the hospital. I never saw the Golden Gate bridge. We did drive down Haight-Ashbury on our way to the hospital so I did get to see the hippies. It was Dec. 1969. What an absolutely fun way to spend my Christmas vacation with my father who I hadn't seen in years.

[tripods68]

Was that a special pizza place or something special. Certainly not Little Ceaser best pizza for $6!

It was nothing really special. I personally like round table. We all ordered different things. My son had buffalo wings, my wife likes calamari, our daughter like cheese mini-pizza, and a large meat lovers pizza which alone $27.00. Each soda drinks cost $4.0 (i had a glass free water!). It was $87.0 plus tips.

[Gailete]

It was nothing really special. I personally like round table. We all ordered different things. My son had buffalo wings, my wife likes calamari, our daughter like cheese mini-pizza, and a large meat lovers pizza which alone $27.00. Each soda drinks cost $4.0 (i had a glass free water!). It was $87.0 plus tips.

WOW! If we spent that kind of money for a meal, I'd expect to be eating lobster or at least shrimp. Glad you had a fun day.

[Gailete]

I never had heard of round table pizza, but hubby looked it up and we were both drooling. Some of those pizzas looked expectionally great!

[msomnipotent]

Chicago is really expensive, too. We used to spend an arm and a leg showing exchange students around every summer, but we have really cut back the last few years. Here is an example of a typical day outing in the summer:

Parking at Soldier Field $25
Entrance to Field Museum for 2 adults, 1 student, 1 child $136 plus taxes and extras like their movie and new exhibits
Entrance to Shedd Aquarium (basic) $149.80
Lunch $50 in the FM cafeteria, about $125 for burgers at a nearby restaurant
If we have time, we visit the Adler Planetarium next door, which is relatively cheap at $12 per person.
Thankfully, we can get downtown without paying tolls but LSD can be a true nightmare to drive on even without an accident slowing everything down.

Now we take them to our cottage and buy a pass for the old-timey amusement park.
Gas $25
Tolls $15
Passes including entrance for 4, 1 meal plan, and 1 snack plan for the year $220, Done! Call us when you want to be picked up!

[tripods68]

Chicago is really expensive, too. We used to spend an arm and a leg showing exchange students around every summer, but we have really cut back the last few years. Here is an example of a typical day outing in the summer:

Parking at Soldier Field $25
Entrance to Field Museum for 2 adults, 1 student, 1 child $136 plus taxes and extras like their movie and new exhibits
Entrance to Shedd Aquarium (basic) $149.80
Lunch $50 in the FM cafeteria, about $125 for burgers at a nearby restaurant
If we have time, we visit the Adler Planetarium next door, which is relatively cheap at $12 per person.
Thankfully, we can get downtown without paying tolls but LSD can be a true nightmare to drive on even without an accident slowing everything down.

Now we take them to our cottage and buy a pass for the old-timey amusement park.
Gas $25
Tolls $15
Passes including entrance for 4, 1 meal plan, and 1 snack plan for the year $220, Done! Call us when you want to be picked up!

Totally understand. I've been to soldier's field once and ate near by restaurant.


I think if we took the Alcatraz tour and the city bus tour, it'd probably cost between $40 to $45 per person x 4 (2 adults and 2 kids) =$160 to $180. We could have easily spend $400 for just a day trip.