Nicole Findlay

Nicole Findlay is a Bay Area native. As a freelance journalist, she covers travel destinations all around the world, but her favorite place to write about is home. She loves exploring San Francisco with her adventurous son and his 70lb. puppy.

Latest posts by Nicole

The Holiday Season in San Francisco: Ultimate 3-Day Festive Itinerary with Kids

Submitted by Nicole Findlay on Fri, 12/06/2024 - 7:54am

Kids will love all the holiday entertainment at Fairy Winterland. Photo courtesy of Children's Fairyland

The holiday season in San Francisco is magical. From sugar castles and life-sized gingerbread houses to holiday shows and twinkling light displays, there is so much to see and do during the holidays in the Bay Area! With the perfect holiday itinerary, you can make the most of any festive trip with a mix of adventure, entertainment, and fabulous food.

As a mom in San Francisco, I love sharing my favorite city with fellow families, especially this time of year. This San Francisco holiday itinerary includes family traditions, like a morning at the Ritz-Carlton’s Teddy Bear Tea, and a night on the ice at Napa Valley’s winter wonderland “Merry Meritage.” It also includes family-friendly restaurants, fun activities, and classic theater performances.

For more holiday happenings in San Francisco, check out our list of best holiday lights drive-thrus and Christmas light shows in San Francisco, and the best Bay Area Polar Express train rides. Discover more holiday outings in our Christmas Activities and Holiday Guide for San Francisco Bay Area Kids!

Glasgow with Kids: 47 Best Things To Do in Glasgow, Scotland

Submitted by Nicole Findlay on Sat, 10/19/2024 - 12:00pm

Glasgow is a great city to explore with kids! Photo by the author

Planning a family vacation to Europe? Glasgow, Scotland is the perfect place to visit with kids. The Scottish city is one of the world's friendliest destinations and boasts stunning architecture, gorgeous gardens, and plenty of family-friendly activities. From playgrounds and pub lunches to museums and mural trails, there are so many things to do in Glasgow, Scotland.

Here are nearly 50 things to do in Glasgow, Scotland with kids, including the best family-friendly Glasgow hotels and restaurants. Bookmark our European Travel Guide for Families, for more fun cities to visit in Europe, including Paris and Rome.

Best Public Pools for Kids in San Francisco and the Bay Area

Submitted by Nicole Findlay on Sun, 05/26/2024 - 8:05am

What’s better than a cool swimming pool on a hot day? Luckily, the Bay Area has loads of amazing public pools with special features for families. From water slides and lazy rivers to retractable roofs, extra-large inflatables, and even a water obstacle course, these public pools in San Francisco around the Bay Area (From North Beach to Mill Valley to Berkeley and beyond) are awesome for kids of all ages.

We've rounded up our favorite family-friendly beaches in the Bay Area and the best splash pads in all of San Francisco for when you want different ways to cool off! Find all this and more in our Ultimate San Francisco Kids Summer Vacation Guide.

Fisherman's Wharf with Kids in San Francisco: 24 Best Things To Do

Submitted by Nicole Findlay on Sun, 04/14/2024 - 8:15am

San Francisco Fisherman's Wharf is packed with things to do for kids of all ages. Photo by xiquinhosilva, via Flickr (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Fisherman's Wharf is one of the most family-friendly places in San Francisco. Bordered by the iconic Pier 39 to the east and the famous Ghirardelli Square to the west, parents and kids alike will love fun live performances, cute sea lions, antique arcade games, rides, quirky shops, and, of course, the Ghirardelli chocolate.

An afternoon exploring Fisherman's Wharf is the perfect escape for adventurous families. Another benefit of spending the afternoon at Fisherman's Wharf with kids? The spectacular views of the San Francisco Bay, Golden Gate Bridge, and Alcatraz.

For more popular attractions in San Francisco, check out everything you need to know about visiting Golden Gate Park with kids, read our guide on riding San Francisco cable cars with kids, and enjoy tons of budget-friendly activities with our Free Things To Do in San Francisco with Kids Guide.

3 Days in San Francisco with Kids: Ultimate Itinerary by a Local Mom

Submitted by Nicole Findlay on Sun, 02/25/2024 - 7:20am

There's so much to see and do in San Francisco with kids. Cable Car by Vasile Cotovanu via Flickr CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

San Francisco with kids in just three days may surprise and delight you with all there is to do and see! Sure, the city is pretty expansive and has tons of attractions. With a perfect itinerary, you can have an ideal mix of adventure and relaxation without missing the most iconic hot spots in San Francisco with kids.

As a mom in San Francisco, I love sharing my favorite city with fellow families. This San Francisco with kids itinerary includes notable landmarks like Alcatraz and Fisherman's Wharf, but it also has hidden gems, incredible family-friendly restaurants, and gorgeous outdoor spaces.

If you've got more than three days in San Francisco with kids, explore the Presidio Tunnel Tops, embark on family-friendly urban hiking trails, and find some hidden gems in our Free Things To Do in San Francisco with Kids Guide.

Chinatown with Kids: 18 Best Things To Do in Chinatown, San Francisco

Submitted by Nicole Findlay on Fri, 02/09/2024 - 7:50am

Discover culture and cuisine when strolling through Chinatown with kids in San Francisco. Photo by Nicole Findlay

Visiting Chinatown with kids in San Francisco is an immersive and culturally enriching experience. As you stroll through the vibrant streets, children can marvel at the intricate architecture, ornate temples, and colorful murals depicting Chinese folklore. Chinatown offers a captivating blend of history, cuisine, and culture that children and adults will enjoy discovering together.

A perfect excursion for families, little ones will love the liveliness of North America’s first and biggest Chinatown. Admire the beautiful red lanterns floating overhead along Grant Avenue. Kids will delight in the colorful storefronts full of trinkets and unique treasures. Sample delicious dim sum, exotic fruits, and other culinary delicacies.

For more iconic activities in San Francisco, check out everything you need to know about visiting Golden Gate Park with kids, read our guide on riding San Francisco cable cars with kids, and enjoy tons of budget-friendly activities with our Free Things To Do in San Francisco with Kids Guide.

Guide To Riding San Francisco Cable Cars with Kids: Everything You Need to Know

Submitted by Nicole Findlay on Sun, 01/21/2024 - 9:05am

Riding a cable car is a must when in San Francisco! Photo by Gina Ragland

The San Francisco cable cars are the most entertaining and iconic way to travel from one part of the city to the next. And riding San Francisco's beautiful cable cars with kids only adds to the fun! San Francisco cable cars provide a wonderful peek into the past for the entire family on this National Historic Landmark.

The steep San Francisco hills, the fresh air, the gorgeous city scenery, and the charming, chipped paint on the handrails all make riding the San Francisco cable cars a unique and memorable experience. Here's everything you need to know about riding the San Francisco cable cars with kids.

For more must-do activities in San Francisco, see these tips for visiting Golden Gate Park with kids, and work your way through this list of 100 things to do in San Francisco with kids before they grow up.

Best Christmas Light Displays and Holiday Lights in San Francisco

Submitted by Nicole Findlay on Sun, 12/10/2023 - 10:50am

Christmas in the Park is an annual festive affair in San Jose. Photo courtesy of Christmas in the Park.

Holiday lights in San Francisco make the already beautiful City by the Bay shine extra bright in December. From the North Bay to the South Bay and everything in between, festive holiday light displays around the Bay Area sparkle beautifully and are worth checking out. From 80-foot Christmas trees to whimsically lit gardens and over-the-top Christmas décor, the Bay Area is bursting with holiday spirit.

Whether families don matching pajamas and sip on hot chocolate from the comfort of their warm cars or explore Bay Area neighborhoods on foot, parents and little ones alike are sure to marvel at the bright lights, colorful characters, and, in some cases—synchronized holiday light shows. Christmas and holiday lights in San Francisco are plentiful. From neighborhoods to hotels, families are spoiled with holiday lights in San Francisco.

For more holiday activities in the Bay Area, check out our Christmas Activities Holiday Guide for San Francisco Bay Area Kids. It includes the top places to see Santa in San Francisco, a list of Polar Express train rides and Christmas trains in the Bay Area, and much more!

Nicole Findlay

Latest posts by Nicole

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