Any tips on bringing a 2 yr. old to San Fran?

We are leaving next week and have a 2 yr. old daughter. I%26#39;m concerned about safety for her, but I would assume that as long as we stay in the ';touristy'; areas we will be safe, right? What about children in Museums, Alcatraz, The Winchester House? Our daughter is well behaved, but she has her moments. I want to be courteous to others and try not to enter places that children might not be welcome. Maybe I%26#39;ve been on the Las Vegas forums to much and I might see that San Francisco has a different attitude towards children. Any advice would be appreciated! Thank you!

Any tips on bringing a 2 yr. old to San Fran?

I can speak only for myself when talking about attitudes towards children...I love kids. What I don%26#39;t love is parents who let their kids run wild and scream and throw things because they want them to ';express themselves.'; There is still such a thing as acceptable public behavior. Most of the time having kids around is no problem at all. take her to see the sea lions at pier 39 and she can ride the carousel as well. If she is in a mood and starts tantrum mode as kids do when you least want them to ;^) just try to minimize impact on others, taking her out of a restaurant unitl she can calm down, for instance. You should have no worries about her safety. I%26#39;m not sure what you mean there.

Any tips on bringing a 2 yr. old to San Fran?

Plan nap times for your daughter in your plans. For instance: take a morning tour of Alcatraz, have lunch, return to hotel room so she can rest before you do anymore sightseeing, etc, etc.

You should avoid places that offer disturbing images, such as the wax museum and Ripley%26#39;s: Believe it or Not. It also would not be wise to walk across the Golden Gate Bridge with her, unless she%26#39;s strapped into a stroller and can%26#39;t get herself out.

If your daughter does act up in a restaurant or store, leave until she can calm down. If that means returning to your room, get your food to go. All parents experience the joy of the ';terrible twos';. As long as you react appropriately to her ';moments';, no one will think ill of you or her.

San Francisco is a big city. Stay alert at all times of your surroundings and you should be fine.

Kenadie -This is a great town for kids. The City has done a lot of cleaning and fixing the neighborhood parks and playgrounds. The Yerba Buena Center (over the Moscone Convention Center downtown) has a great playground, a historic carousel, a childrens%26#39; museum, shops and lawn space to run around and play. You will all have a great time.

There are many things that will fascinate your toddler. As a mom of three - Alcatraz is a bit much with a toddler in tow. A lot of uphill walking and not very interesting for that age. You might want to be sure to bring a lollipop or something that will keep her entertained while walking through the prison. Look into the Fire Engine Tour - lots of fun.

Also - don%26#39;t base the Vegas forum on other forums or Vegas for that matter - while Vegas is definitely an adult destination - there is plenty to do with children (my kids love it there).

Thank you all for your comments. We intend to have a wonderful time, but also realize we will be working around our daughters schedule. I can promise you that you won%26#39;t be seeing my daughter running around screaming, expressing herself. (Unless we are at a park or something). There is a time and place for that. Nap times are a scheduled MUST, that will leave me, my daughter and all people around us from going insane! Thanks again!

Sounds perfect. You%26#39;ve got it down.

You know your daughter best, but the idea about avoiding disturbing scenes like the Wax Museum or Ripley%26#39;s makes sense if she is easily upset. That may also include anything with too much sensory stimulation--which includes a lot of S.F. Probably OK in small doses, but too much of busy traffic, scurrying people, multiple colors, and clashing sounds can be a lot even for adults!

Vary your activities during a given day so highly stimulating activities are balanced with something relaxing or unstructured. There are many neighborhood parks, and Golden Gate Park has all sorts of diversions for every age; you could go on the carousel, have a picnic, feed the ducks at Stow Lake, or rent a bicycle with a child carrier. Ocean Beach is near GG Park, but it might be foggy; it is THAT season. If you%26#39;re flying and not packing everything but the kitchen sink in your luggage, stop at a toy store and get an inexpensive kite, beach ball, or some little plaything to take along.

S.F. Zoo is by the beach. Along with the regular animals, you can also have a picnic, ride a carousel, or go to the Children%26#39;s Zoo where she can interact with rabbits, donkeys, etc.

Kids of all ages can run wild at the Exploratorium at the Palace of Fine Arts. It%26#39;s the first hands-on science museum, since copied by other cities world-wide (director was Frank Oppenheimer). Your child will be able to run, scream, touch, eat, buy toys at the gift shop, you name it. There are lovely grounds outside to see swans and ducks, and the bay is nearby with an excellent view of the bridge.

Another place would be the Steinhart Aquarium. I hear it%26#39;s been renovated, but as I recall, it is very much child-friendly.

The city is safe.