Let's be real: travel during a pandemic with young kids isn't the easiest — as if it were easy pre-COVID. So with high hopes and three kids in tow — 3, 7, and 10 — we embarked on a 5-hour road trip from Los Angeles to San Francisco to escape the heat and see something new. And fortunately, we weren't disappointed. Filled with amazing eats, culture and lots of kid-friendly activities, it was a great place to explore for three days. Whether it was the season or due to COVID, the city itself wasn’t very busy which we appreciated and the cool weather allowed us to enjoy a slice of feeling like we were really somewhere different.
Things to Know:
Where to Stay:
The Alton, Fisherman’s Wharf
The location couldn’t be beat — we were mere blocks away from the Fisherman’s Wharf, Pier 39, the Exploratorium and the famous Ghiradelli’s Square. The chic new hotel (part of the group of Kimpton Hotels) is also walking distance to Chinatown. And trust me, not having to load 3 kids into a car and search (and pay) for parking in San Francisco every time we wanted to go somewhere was a huge plus.
The rooms were spacious, mid-century chic (hello, record player!) and the hotel had an amazing complimentary happy hour every night that served really good wine (a must for parents after a long day sightseeing with kids). The in-house restaurant wasn’t open yet when we arrived, but judging by the peeks we got at the decor, it’s going to be gorgeous and we can’t wait to try it next time.
The Kimpton Hotels have also recently started a partnership with Micro Kickboard so there are kids' scooters and helmets to check out which is really awesome for families that don’t want to take up precious cargo space lugging those around and to get around the Fisherman’s Wharf area. The Alton in particular has also partnered with 4Moms to offer baby gear for families staying which is also a huge perk (because who really loves lugging a travel crib, etc. around?)
For the days we were too lazy to leave for dinner, there was an In-N-Out, not to mention tons of other eateries practically across the street, making it a breeze to send one adult out for food. All in all, the location, style and cleanliness was pretty much a dream for traveling with little kids.
(Disclosure: The Kimpton Hotel provided partial press accommodations for this trip. No other compensation was received. All opinions are my own.)
