SF Botanical Garden at Strybing Arboretum050

Kids may think that the central attractions at the San Francisco Botanical Garden are the ducks and other waterfowl on the pond. Parents are usually more impressed with the backdrop - 55 acres with over 7,500 varieties of rare and unusual plants, and flowers arranged mostly by geographical origin. Both parents and children love exploring the multitude of secret gardens clustered within.

The Botanical Garden organizes many special events with children in mind, from birdwalks and storytelling to annual seasonal events, including the Lunar New Year Flower Market, and Summer Gardening Fair. The annual events offer free entertainment and craft projects for kids. The Botanical Garden also has a library, which gives kids a chance to browse through hundreds of children's books on science, plants, and natural history.

Free guided tours are offered at 1:30pm every day; on weekends an additional tour is added at 10:30am. Groups of 10 or more can call ahead to reserve special-focus tours.

A free Birding Walk, especially designed for kids who are ages seven and older, and their families, meets at the Bookstore near the Main Gate at 10am on the first Saturday of the month.

Free story telling is at 10:30am on the first and third Sundays of most months (for children ages four to eight). Guided Family Walks follow the Children's Story Time at 11am; these are special docent-led tours created with kids in mind!

The Botanical Garden Nursery has a plant sale every month except December and January. All plants are suitable for Bay Area gardens and are propagated from Botanical Gardens' own collection. Nursery volunteers are on hand to help with selection and offer advice, and children can take home their own piece of the Gardens!