Walk below an aquarium of colorful fish, put your curiosity to the test in a learning laboratory and learn all about San Francisco’s history, all in one day. In the City by the Bay, student groups can easily jump from one exciting attraction to the next. Hop aboard the cable car…San Francisco is calling.
Pier 39 Street Performer
When planning a student trip to San Francisco, Fisherman’s Wharf and Pier 39 should certainly be on the itinerary. The festive waterfront marketplace is one of the city’s top attractions, with over 100 stores, restaurants and sights. Students can get a glimpse of the community of California sea lions gathered on K-Dock next to the pier, where they’ll learn about the charismatic mammals that have made this spot their home. Then they can head inside the Aquarium of the Bay and walk through crystal-clear tunnels as San Francisco Bay’s incredible animals swim overhead.
A short walk from the Pier leads student tours to The San Francisco Dungeon. Students can take an hour-long journey through nine different stories covering 200 years of the city’s past. The fully themed experience puts them right in the action, taking them through the Lost Mines of Sutter’s Creek, where gold was first discovered, and Alcatraz, the military prison that housed some of the country’s most notorious criminals.
The magic of Disney can be found in San Francisco at the Walt Disney Family Museum. Student groups can explore the remarkable life story of Walt Disney through his own photographs and personal collection. They can take part in hands-on animation activities and gallery tours.
Over at The Exploratorium, a 21st century learning lab, students have the opportunity to ignite their curiosity and explore how the world works. Creative exhibits, playful experiences and insightful projects encourage learning and discovery in a new and fun way.
California Academy of Sciences
The California Academy of Sciences beckons students from kindergarten to12th grade to explore its engaging exhibits and shows. Students can become virtual space travelers in A Tour of Our Solar System, or dive in with sea otters in the show Habitat Earth.
If you’re looking for an alternative to the traditional city tour, try City Clues Adventures and Tours. The company offers a fun-filled treasure and scavenger hunt specifically for student groups. Youths can follow clues and scavenge for one-of-a-kind items through some of San Francisco’s famed neighborhoods, including Chinatown and North Beach.
Wipeout Bar and Grill
After a long day of exploration, give students some much-needed sustenance at one of San Francisco’s many great eateries. Nosh on some gnarly garlic fries and pipeline pepperoni pizza at Wipeout Bar and Grill, San Francisco’s popular surfing restaurant, located on Pier 39. Student groups can dine on the wide-open patio or inside the main room while admiring the celebrity-signed surfboards and famous beach signs adorning the walls.
Fog Harbor Fish House is a primo spot for delicious seafood and great views of the Bay. You can reserve private rooms for your students, where they’ll enjoy specialties such as Dungeness Crab, baked oysters, fish and chips, and fried shrimp, to name a few.
You can also choose from a wide selection of well-known franchises. Dick’s Last Resort opened on Fisherman’s Wharf last year and offers competitive prices for student groups—as well as personalized paper hats for each guest. Hard Rock Cafe San Francisco provides students with a fun evening event called “Frisco Discos,” where groups can dine at the restaurant and then return later in the evening for a dance party complete with DJ and fun lighting.
From educational scavenger hunts to award-winning museums, San Francisco is filled with fun adventures and activities for students.
