Sandra Lee

Sandra Lee is the community publisher and social media manager for Mommy Poppins Bay Area. With nearly a decade of writing in the parenting space, she’s passionate about helping parents create unforgettable memories with their kids. Her work has appeared in Tiny Beans, Zulily, and more. When she's not exploring or creating content, you’ll find her baking or practicing her hip-hop moves.

Latest posts by Sandra

40 Things To Do in San Francisco with Teens and Tweens That They'll Actually Enjoy

Submitted by Sandra Lee on Sun, 03/02/2025 - 12:10am

SF limits those tween and teen eye rolls! Photo by Max Whittaker, courtesy of Visit California

San Francisco offers endless opportunities to keep teens and tweens entertained—without the usual eye rolls. From music festivals to beach bonfires, there are a ton of local gems for older kids looking for a bit more adventure, culture, and excitement.

From exploring vibrant neighborhoods like Chinatown to tackling scenic hikes and thrilling attractions, this list is full of options that blend fun, adventure, and a bit of independence for older kids. If you're tired of hearing "I'm bored" or need time to reconnect with this particular age, this list of activities offers the perfect mix of fun and challenge for those teens and tweens.

San Francisco neighborhoods are full of hidden gems and iconic landmarks for tweens and teens to explore, from Golden Gate Park to Chinatown and Fisherman's Wharf.

Restaurants Where Kids Eat Free in San Francisco

Submitted by Sandra Lee on Sun, 02/16/2025 - 8:04am

Dig into kids eat free deals around the Bay Area. Photo courtesy of Pinstripes

San Francisco has one of the best food scenes in the country, and parents get the chance to enjoy it even more when kids eat free. From buttery Kouign-Amann to delectable ramen, a perk of living in the Bay Area is its renowned food scene. However, as any Bay Area parent knows, eating out with kids can get expensive. Luckily, many restaurants offer amazing “kids eat free” deals that make family dining more affordable, even for those picky eaters and growing bodies.

Whether looking for a casual diner, a vibrant Mexican spot, or a cozy Italian eatery, keep reading below for favorite kid-friendly restaurants across San Francisco and the Bay Area, where kids can eat free every day of the week.

For more freebies, check out these birthday freebies for kids, discover where to take the kids for free museum days, and uncover more complimentary deals and ways to save with our Guide to Free Things To Do in San Francisco with Kids.

Presidents Day Weekend 2025 in San Francisco: 12 Best Things to Do with Kids

Submitted by Sandra Lee on Wed, 02/12/2025 - 7:14am

Penguin Valentines at Cal Academy. Photo courtesy of the event.

Happy Presidents Day and Valentine's Day weekend! See Penguin Valentines at Cal Academy, where felt hearts line the nests of the resident African Penguins in a pair-bonding annual tradition. Chinatown is hosting its most popular event of the year: the Chinese Lunar New Year Parade and Festival celebrates the Year of the Snake. Great Scott! Families can go where you don't need roads to the Orpheum Theater for the opening weekend of Back to the Future: The Musical.

MLK Weekend 2025 in San Francisco: 15 Best Things To Do With Kids

Submitted by Sandra Lee on Wed, 01/15/2025 - 7:32am

Take the free NorCalMLK Celebration Train to SF for the MLK Day March. Photo by Pax Ahimsa Gethen, via Flickr. (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Looking for the best things to do in San Francisco and the Bay Area during MLK weekend? Add these family-friendly events to your list for the long weekend.

2025 may have just started, but it's already time for a long holiday weekend. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day takes place this Monday, and the Bay Area has a variety of events honoring the trailblazing activist. Start the historic day by taking the free Caltrain NorcalMLK Celebration Train which picks up passengers at various Bay Area stops and takes them to the 2025 MLK March in San Francisco. Then, bring the kids to the MLK2025 Music Festival at Yerba Buena Gardens to continue celebrating Martin Luther King, Jr. and to continue learning history outside the classroom.

Cheer on the Harlem Globetrotters and enjoy lively basketball games as they take the court doing trick shots to long jump shots in Oakland and San Francisco this weekend.

Many Lunar New Year events are also beginning to take place. Start the Year of the Snake celebrations at the Oakland Chinatown Lunar New Year Bazaar, which features entertainment, art, and free fun for kids.

Best Lunar New Year Events in San Francisco for Kids

Submitted by Sandra Lee on Sun, 01/05/2025 - 7:51am

Celebrate Lunar New Year at one of the largest celebrations outside of Asia.Photo courtesy of the San Francisco Chinese New Year Festival & Parade

Looking for the best Lunar New Year events in San Francisco? Here are some events and activities to add to your list for Lunar New Year 2025.

Lunar New Year is one of the most vibrant and exciting holidays in San Francisco and the Bay Area. The Chinese New Year Parade in San Francisco is one of the largest celebrations outside of Asia. The Bay Area comes alive with lion dances, cultural performances, and family-friendly festivities.

From San Francisco to San Jose, Lunar New Year celebrations offer an enriching experience for kids and families to welcome the new year with joy and good fortune.

While planning all the Lunar New Year fun, check out the best things to do with kids in Chinatown. We're also adding new Lunar New Year events to our San Francisco calendar each day.

New Year's Eve Weekend 2024 in San Francisco: Balloon Drops, Noon Years Eve

Submitted by Sandra Lee on Wed, 12/25/2024 - 2:43am

Count down to Noon Year's Eve at Bay Area Discovery Museum. Photo courtesy of the museum

Looking for the best things to do in San Francisco and the Bay Area over New Year's Eve weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list for New Year's Eve weekend.

It's time to say goodbye to 2024 and welcome 2025. The kids are still on school break, toys are being played with (or moving to the donation/regifting pile), and the holidays are winding down. The Bay Area has grand events, from early celebrations for the little ones to a traditional bell ringing. Kids will love the Noon Year's Eve at the Bay Area Children's Discovery Museum in Sausalito, which starts bright and early in the morning. The annual Bell-Ringing Ceremony takes place at the Asian Art Museum. End the year with amusement rides and a late-night celebration with midnight fireworks on New Year's Eve at Gilroy Gardens.

12 Best New Year's Eve Fireworks, Balloon Drops, and Other San Francisco Celebrations for Kids

Submitted by Sandra Lee on Sun, 12/22/2024 - 7:28am

See the snowfall on New Year's Eve! Photo courtesy of Gilroy Gardens

New Year's Eve celebrations in the San Franciso Bay Area are as unique and spectacular as the city we live in. Your family can ring in 2025 with everything from fireworks at Gilroy Gardens to a New Year's train ride at Roaring Camp. And for little ones with early bedtimes, there are a bunch of Noon Year's Eve parties throughout the Bay Area from Sausalito to San Jose.

In true San Francisco style, New Year's Eve events celebrate the many cultures on New Year's Eve, including Kwanzaa and a Japanese bell-ringing ceremony. However you celebrate, grab those noisemakers, and start the countdown—Happy 2025, everyone!

The festivities don't end with the New Year's Eve! Many holiday events and activities in the Bay Area continue after January 1. New events are added to our San Francisco calendar every day, so check it frequently to find a perfect family outing over Christmas vacation in San Francisco.

Christmas Weekend 2024 in San Francisco Top Things To Do: Nutcrackers, Reindeer Games, Holiday Train Rides, and More

Submitted by Sandra Lee on Fri, 12/20/2024 - 6:57am

The best way to spread Christmas cheer is to see Elf in Concert with the SF Symphony. Photo by Jaime Sumersille

Looking for the best things to do in San Francisco and the Bay Area over Christmas weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list.

All the last-minute shopping, gift wrapping, quick stocking stuffer trips, holiday lights, and grocery runs have led to this: Christmas weekend. Take a break and have holiday tea at the popular Teddy Bear Tea at the Ritz Carlton. See The Nutcracker with the San Francisco Ballet or Mark Foehringer‘s Nutcracker Sweets version for smaller kids. Grab a warm cup of hot cocoa, and lace up your skates for free ice skating, live music, and holiday kids activities starting this Saturday at Thrive City Winter Wonderland.

For an extra stocking stuffer, enter the Wiggles Bouncing Balls! Tour Giveaway! We’re giving away a family four pack of tickets to The Wiggles Bouncing Balls! Tour concert. You can enter to win by signing up for our newsletter here!

Whether traveling or staying local, staying home or spending it with family and friends close by, we here at Mommy Poppins wish you a Merry Christmas from our family to yours.

Sandra Lee

Latest posts by Sandra

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