While some vacation spots like the Outer Banks are primarily for summer family trips, locations such as San Francisco are year-round, family friendly destinations. If you are looking for new places to take the kids in San Francisco, here’s what our local City Host recommends.

The best way to explore San Francisco is as an adventurer. Where will you and your family go today? Which part of The City will you explore? What new sights will you see and foods will you try? Within the 49 square miles of this cosmopolitan city, you will find museums, galleries, stores, boutiques, parks, playgrounds, restaurants and cafes, many that cater both to the young, as well as to the young-at-heart.

Check out a listing of monthly events taking place in The City and a directory of kid-friendly attractions at About.com. For extensive lists of family-friendly San Francisco activities, check out GoCityKids. One fun way to explore The City is to pick your family’s passion (baseball, art, outdoor fun, shopping, etc.) and plan an outing to whatever neighborhood is home to your dreams.

Before you go, remember that San Francisco is full of hills and small children may tire easily. For younger kids, bring an umbrella stroller that you can easily fold up to put in a taxi or on a bus. Make sure adults and older children wear comfortable shoes. Always dress in layers. San Francisco can be windy, foggy, sunny, and cold, all in the same day.

For a tour of the major tourist attractions, how about a ride on a double decker bus? If you have kids who can stand being on a bus for three hours, check out Gray Line bus tours of San Francisco.

Many times the best way to explore the neighborhoods of The City is on foot. San Francisco City Guides offers free walking tours of San Francisco. Most tours last 1-1/2 to 2 hours, so gauge your child’s attention level accordingly.

Two great museums geared towards kids are the preschooler-friendly Randall Museum and the Exploratorium, San Francisco’s museum of science, art, and human perception. The Zeum near the Moscone Center is also a kid favorite.

There’s lots to explore and discover in Golden Gate Park. Some kid-friendly highlights include the newly-renovated Children’s Playground, home to the 1912 Herschel-Spillman carousel, and Stow Lake, where you can rent a row boat.

Even though San Francisco is a small city, it is home to a large number of interesting buildings, museums, tourist attractions, stores, parks, eateries, and local hangouts. I encourage you to get creative and to have fun when exploring this city with your children.

Two card decks that will whet your appetite for creative exploration are available on Amazon.com. They are: City Walks with Kids: San Francisco: 50 Adventures on Foot and 52 Adventures in San Francisco by Lynn Gordon.

If you’ve got a favorite kid-friendly place in San Francisco, let us know about it.