2006-07-24 19:26:53 · 9 answers · asked by kineticspl 1 in Travel ➔ United States ➔ San Francisco
My kids (8 & 4 1/2) LOVE both cities. It depends on their ages and what they enjoy - but San Francisco is great sightseeing and seeing new things where as Las Vegas is just different... You can easily spend a week in SF with kids, 3 days tops in Las Vegas and that is only if you go to the Hoover Dam and take a heli ride to the Grand Canyon - otherwise a day or two days is enough.
THINGS IN SF for KIDS
Cable Car Ride / http://www.sfcablecar.com/
Lots of fun to ride (we rode all lines numerous time). The kids also loved riding the f-line trolleys and BART.
Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory / http://www.sanfranciscochinatown.com/attractions/ggfortunecookie.html
Here, tucked inside a storefront on tiny Ross Alley, some 20,000 fortune cookies a day are handmade by two women, each manning a conveyor belt of what look like miniature waffle irons. The factory opened in August 1962, and though there are other fortune cookie bakeries in the city, this is the only one where the cookies are still made by hand, the old-fashioned way. Anyone is welcome to stroll in and watch the cookies being made, sample a cookie, and pick up a bag of 40 for $3. The factory is open seven days a week, 7 a. m. to 8:30 p.m.. Admission is free. But if you want to take a photograph - and how could you resist? A sign by the front asks for 50 cents. 56 Ross Alley, (415) 781-3956.
Explore Chinatown & have Dim Sum for lunch (kids thought this was a blast)
Cable Car Barn & Powerhouse / http://www.sfcablecar.com/barn.html
First-hand look at the massive cables and machinery that power the system. The on-site Cable Car Museum has historic memorabilia and antique cable cars. Gift shop. Open daily 10am-6pm. Free. 1201 Mason Street @ Washington. 415-474-1887. Hours: April 1st - September 30th 10AM - 6PM
Ghirardelli Chocolate / http://www.ghirardelli.com
Millions of visitors visit the Ghirardelli Chocolate Manufactory and Soda Fountain at Ghirardelli Square every year to indulge in Ghirardelli's World Famous Hot Fudge Sundae, made with our legendary homemade hot fudge sauce, and other decadent ice cream sundae creations, shakes, floats and malts. Also at the shop is a tempting assortment of delicious Ghirardelli Chocolate confections and gifts. At the Ghirardelli Chocolate Manufactory, one can still see the original chocolate making equipment in operation
Pier 39
The kid sloved the double decker carousal & watching the sea lions
Fire Truck Tour / http://www.fireenginetours.com/
San Francisco’s Fun and Only Spectacular Big Red Shiny Mack Fire Engine - The RED HOT way to tour the Bay! Enjoy riding high on our 75 minute tours. Even if you’ve seen these sights before, this is a whole new experience on the Big red Shiny Mack Fire Engine. Authentic Fire gear is provided for your warmth and comfort (and looks great in your photos!) ** all the adults and kids on the tours LOVED it.
USS Pampanito / http://www.maritime.org/
Visitors experience what life was like for the submariners during World War II aboard this fully restored floating exhibit, now a National Landmark. Self-guided audio tour included with admission offers an “insider’s” perspective as you explore Pampanito’s torpedo room, crew’s quarters, control room, and fully operational galley. Open daily 9am-8pm. Pier 45, Fisherman’s Wharf.
Musée Mécanique / http://www.museemechanique.org/
This is one of the largest privately owned collections of Antique coin-operated automatic mechanical musical instruments in the world. There are over 160 machines consisting of Grand-Ma Fortune Tellers, lovetellers, strength testers, photo booths and several games of chance and skill dating back from the 1880's thru the present. All of the "Penny Arcade" machines are in their original working condition so the public can play and enjoy them as they were originally intended. Admission is always free but all machines are coin operated.
Ripley’s Believe it or Not / http://www.ripleysf.com/index2.html
Inspired by the 1920s newspaper column “Believe It or Not,” this museum’s 250 exhibits and interactive displays showcase the unique, the odd, and the unusual. Open 10am-10pm, Fri & Sat until midnight. 175 Jefferson @ Mason, Fisherman’s Wharf. **completely tacky -but the kids thought it was fun
THINGS IN LAS VEGAS for KIDS
Most hotels have something the kids will enjoy, but there is a lor of walking inbetween the casinos and the casinos are very smoky. Also you will not be able to gamble with the kids in tow.
Some ideas (depending on their age)
Downtown – the Freemont Experience is a light show that is great with the kids.
MGM Grand – Lion Habitat & Rainforest Café for lunch/dinner
M&M World – 4 story M&M store
Eifel Tower at Paris
Gondola Rides at the Venetian
Water show at the Bellagio
Rides & Carnival Games at Circus Circus (don’t stay there though)
Great pools at Mandalay Bay if you stay there
Carnival at Rio
Rollercoaster at New York, New York
Definitely drive to Hoover Dam & takre the tour
2006-07-25 02:23:28 · answer #1 · answered by socaljules 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
A decade ago, it would've easily been Las Vegas. Today, San Francisco is better, hands down.
Within an hour by car/ferry/train of San Francisco are three major theme parks, all have recently undergone upgrades: Six Flags Marine World in Vallejo, Paramount's Great America/Boomerang Bay in Santa Clara, and Beach Boardwalk in Santa Cruz.
http://www.sixflags.com/parks/marineworld/index.asp
http://www2.paramountparks.com/greatamerica/index.cfm
http://www.beachboardwalk.com/
In the city center, the Exploratorium is a great children's science museum. The Wharf's old-fashioned kiddie attractions include the wax museum, Ripley's Believe it or Not, arcades, old Navy ships, midway games , sea lions, and do forth are still going strong. SFMOMA also has children's diversions at "Zeum" (which includes an ice hockey rink and bowling alley) next door to the exhibition for adults. San Francisco also has many outdoor parks -- including the world-famous 1,000 acre Golden Gate Park, unlike Las Vegas.
http://www.exploratorium.edu/
http://www.zeum.org/
Las Vegas briefly flirted with the idea of becoming a "family destination" in the early 1990s, but they quickly changed their minds. Sin City is definitely back to its former "No Children Allowed" self. And opinion polls show most locals like it that way... no more little ones running amok unsupervised in the casino or outraged tourists demanding compensation cause sexy advertisements have scarred their kids for life (or some other nonsense).
Many of the kiddie attractions built during those experimental days are now gone...MGM Grand's Theme Park (closed), The Pirates of Treasure Island (retooled to become an adult "Siren" show), Wet N' Wild (wrecking ball), Caesars' Atlantis Ride (replaced with a nightclub). Even Excalibur is trying to shed it's children friendly image by introducing a male strip show. And Circus Circus hasn't had a facelift in years, it looks outdated, depressing, and seedy.
There are a few thrill rides left at New York, New York and Luxor, but they're only of interest to older kids (and it's unknown how long they'll survive).
http://www.luxor.com/entertainment/atrium_level.aspx
http://www.nynyhotelcasino.com/pages/ent_coaster.asp
Certainly, all the new resorts cater exclusively to adults (Wynn, Bellagio, Paris, etc.) as well. And casinos and bars are once again enforcing the age rules much more strictly than before.
2006-07-25 04:48:14 · answer #2 · answered by SFdude 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
San Francisco. Seriously why bring the children to Sin City. Las Vegas isn't even family friendly anymore.
2006-07-25 02:30:08 · answer #3 · answered by kitt 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Las Vegas is a sin city...go to San francisco:)
2006-07-25 02:31:44 · answer #4 · answered by huma 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Salt Lake City
2006-07-25 02:29:08 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hmmmm choice between Sin City and Gay Capital of the world.... it's a toughie...
2006-07-25 03:37:44 · answer #6 · answered by getthef 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Salt Lake City, Utah! :-)
2006-07-25 02:30:55 · answer #7 · answered by cherry_nova2 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
las vegas,,cause if u loose everything in the casino,,u can sell your kids!
2006-07-25 02:31:05 · answer #8 · answered by easyasalife 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Neither..both have things which will shock kids
2006-07-25 11:11:50 · answer #9 · answered by dwh12345 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋