Six Fun Family Activities in the Presidio

Looking for fun family adventures? Check out our suggestions for getting the kids outside and working off a little energy. We’ve got everything – from birding to picnics to using technology to learn more about the great outdoors.

1. Picnic in the Park

Take lunch on the road! The Presidio’s Main Parade lawn (shown here) is a favorite picnic location, but there are also less discovered places – some with views like Inspiration Point, some along the water like Mountain Lake beach, and others located near nature and wildlife, like El Polín Spring. Some locations offer picnic tables, and there’s always plenty of open space in the park to stretch out and enjoy your spread.

2. Go on a Cyber Treasure Hunt

Geocaching is a global treasure hunt where participants seek specific hiding spots by using compass coordinates and wayfinding clues. We have fourteen geocaches hidden in the park, offering a wealth of insights about the Presidio’s history and natural world. Most are housed in plastic boxes with a small journal inside (be sure to use hand-sanitizer to stay safe). Find information and instructions on the Geocaching website. The app is free – just search for Presidio of SF.

3. Pick Up A Presidio Adventure Passport

Stop by the Presidio Field Station to pick up your very own Presidio Adventure Passport! Each free passport kit includes a field journal for writing notes, a deck of 18 illustrated GeoQuesting cards, a mini-pencil, and an “Adventures in the Presidio” map. Use this new park experience to enjoy a treasure hunt where you seek hidden boxes and messages placed in unique locations around the Presidio, each holding fun facts about park history and the natural world related to the spot where you find them. Adventure awaits for explorers of all ages! 

4. Explore with the “Adventure Map”

The illustrated “Adventure Map” highlights 25 things you can do in the Presidio. It’s got colorful details that invite kids to explore all the park has to offer. Maps can be found in the green and orange wooded boxes at three spots in the park: the nature play pop-up at the Main Post, the north side of Mountain Lake, and the Crissy Field Overlook.

5. Become a Birder

Did you know over 300 species of birds come through the Presidio each year? The Presidio offers great places to learn about our feathered friends – from Crissy Field Marsh to El Polín Spring to Mountain Lake. Become a part of the birding community with the Golden Gate Audubon Society, learn about birds through the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, explore the Birds of Mountain Lake Guide, or join the citizen scientist community with the iNaturalist app.

6. Visit a Presidio Business

Looking for a fun indoor activity? The Presidio is home to unique businesses offering entertainment, culture, and recreation for all ages. At The Walt Disney Family Museum, explore the life and legacy of Walt Disney through interactive exhibits, rare artifacts, and a model of the original Disneyland, then stop by the museum store and café to enjoy a snack on the porch overlooking the Main Parade Lawn. For something more active, House of Air at Crissy Field features over 8,000 square feet of trampolines for open jump time, aerial training, dodgeball, and fitness classes, with a café and bar for post-jump refreshments. If bowling is more your speed, Presidio Bowl offers classic lanes with modern amenities, including automatic scoring, a grill, and a full bar. Whether you’re reserving a lane or just stopping by for a burger and drink on the patio, it’s a great spot to unwind with views of the Main Parade Lawn and San Francisco Bay.