A Trolley Day with the Boys in San Francisco

A couple of weeks ago Jonathan took the boys to San Francisco to give me time to clean the house. During his visit to the Ferry Building he came upon the Market Street Railway Museum almost by accident. The boys loved their visit, so we decided to take them again on Saturday, and this time also ride the classic streetcars up the Embarcadero.

The Market Street Railway Museum is really not a museum. It is more a gift shop ... The museum part consists of the front part of a trolley car, and a train table with streetcars on it. The proprietor is very nice, and knowledgeable, and the boys did like ringing the bell on the trolley car.

After purchasing some t-shirts we headed out the door to the streetcar stop. It was right before the Chinese New Year Parade, so the cars weren't running their full route. Jonathan and I toyed with the idea of going to the parade too ... but we never made it.

For $4 for a family of 4 (the boys were free because they are 5 and under) could do a round trip ride from the Ferry Building to Fisherman's Wharf. We road two different streetcars. The first train was from Cleveland, and the second train was from Philadelphia. Several years ago San Francisco started the F line of refurbished vintage streetcars from around the country and around the world. I have ridden a couple of times for business meetings on Market Street. It was convenient, and fun ... but traveling with two preschool train enthusiasts takes it to a new level.

After our ride we headed to Bluebottle Coffee in the Ferry Building for coffee and gelato (the gelato is across the hall) before the planned walk to the parade. When we left the Ferry Building it was already dark ... so we decided to call it a day, and make the drive back to San Jose.

It was a wonderful day, and you couldn't beat the price.