Things to do in San Mateo County

John McLaren Park

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Hiller Aviation Museum

The aviation museum features many exhibits and activities. Visitors can see displays of various airplanes, helicopters, and other aircraft, and there is an authentic aircraft hangar where visitors can view early aircraft being restored. The museum also offers a variety of educational programs and activities, including summer camps and aviation lectures, so visitors can learn about aviation science and technology.

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Año Nuevo State Park

An important highlight of Ano Nueva State Park is the large number of walruses. This is a large breeding colony of walruses. Every winter, as many as 10,000 walruses, sea lions and seals come here to thrive. At the viewing point, there are very kind grandpas and grandmothers all year round to explain the living habits and other knowledge of walruses to people who come and go. This is a must-see for people who love nature and animals.

2026 Global 100 - Family-friendly Attractions

Golden Gate Park

Golden Gate Park is a large urban green space in San Francisco, covering approx. 1,017 acres and stretching approx. 4.8 km from east to west, spanning the Richmond District and Sunset District in the western part of San Francisco. This land was originally barren coastal sand dunes. After continuous tree planting and sand stabilization efforts starting in the 1870s, it gradually became the large, tree-lined park it is today. The park features rich, layered landscapes where cultural facilities and natural scenery intertwine. The eastern section concentrates cultural venues such as the California Academy of Sciences, the de Young Museum, and the Japanese Tea Garden, while the northern section features historic buildings like the Conservatory of Flowers. The park's natural and recreational areas are equally diverse. Blue Heron Lake surrounds the central Strawberry Hill, and pedal boats can be rented on the lake. In the western part of the park stand two historic windmills, the Dutch Windmill and the Murphy Windmill, with tulip gardens nearby. The Bison Paddock has existed in the park since the late 19th century, and you can still see the herd of bison active in the paddock today. Spreckels Lake is a gathering place for model sailboat enthusiasts, and exquisite miniature sailboats can often be seen sailing on the water. The park also features a disc golf course, a lawn bowling club, and a skate park, with cycling paths running throughout the park.

No. 1 of Best Things to Do in San Francisco

Alcatraz Island

Alcatraz Island stands isolated in San Francisco Bay, facing Fisherman's Wharf across the water. To reach the island, visitors must take a ferry from nearby Pier 33. In 1775, Spanish explorers mapping the bay named it "Isla de los Alcatraces" (Island of the Pelicans) due to the abundance of seabirds. However, this small island later became world-famous for its "devilish" reputation: from 1850, it first served as a military fortress guarding the bay entrance, then became a military prison. From 1934 to 1963, it operated as a high-security federal penitentiary housing over a thousand inmates including Al Capone. No escape attempts were ever confirmed successful. The island served as a filming location for "The Rock," and its English name inspired "Azkaban" in Harry Potter. From 1969 to 1971, a 19-month Native American occupation made it an important landmark in the American civil rights movement. Now the entire island is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, where abandoned prison cells, old lighthouses, and weathered barracks still retain their original layout. The prison cells along the main corridor, "Broadway," are open to visitors, with permanent exhibitions recounting the island's past. Put on headphones, and the audio guide plays firsthand accounts from former guards and inmates. Between the cliffs and shrubs, seabirds like western gulls, cormorants, and black-crowned night herons nest and thrive. The blend of profound history and bay wildlife makes it one of San Francisco's most distinctive destinations.

No. 5 of Best Things to Do in San Francisco

San Francisco Museum of Modern Art

The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art is a large art museum in San Francisco, California. It is one of the well-known modern art museums in the world. Its halls are home to works by Andy Warhol, Paul Klee, Ansel Adams, Willem de Kooning, Roy Lichtenstein and many other twentieth century artistic luminaries. The museum is a very popular tourist destination in the city, and is highly recommended for all art aficionados.

Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve

Mussel Rock Park