Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco, California

Eat, Shop, Play, Relax and Cruise at the Fisherman's Wharf of San Francisco.  From crab-cakes to nutella crepes, what ever your choice of food is, they got it covered. Cookies, ice-cream, chocolates, candie they got it all at Fisherman's Wharf. Don't forget the fresh fruit at Vlaho's fruit Orchard. They have a good collection of fruits where you can shop in the market and after purchasing, you can wash it and eat it too. That is an unexpected nice touch at the end. This place has a good selection of restaurants to dine in.

Taking a public transportation to Fisherman's Wharf is probably the best choice because of heavy traffic and high parking prices. Streetcars and busses are available till the Fisherman's Wharf. Public parking is also available but it is way too crowded. Popular attractions of this place includes the Sea Lion Center, the Aquarium, Madam Tussauds museum. If you are planning to visit these attractions, it is economical to go with City Pass.

Bay tour cruises and tours to Alcatraz start from Pier 39. Alcatraz tour might need prior reservations. Check the weather before taking a tour. Clear skies can make the tour more enjoyable.

If nothing appeals, pick a bench and gaze upon the Sea Lions and seagulls on the west side of the pier. Variety of city tours start from Fisherman's Wharf. That is a good way to know what is where in the city and plan accordingly.

At last, check out the cute souvenir shops for cute sand dollars, shell and much more.

Toledo Zoo and Aquarium, Toledo, Ohio

Free admission for mothers on Mothers day and free admission for fathers on Fathers day with your children of course. Definitely you can expect large crowds on these days. A perfect place for family outing on a summer day. Be prepared for long walks which can be bit strenuous for younger children. 

The zoo starts off with Arctic encounter where you can watch several animals like Penguins, Polar bear up close. A short walk away is Safari Railway, runs around the African safari where you can catch a glimpse of animals feeding or resting under a tree shade. Cross the bridge to get to more exhibits. Flamingos, Elephants, Lions, Camels, Apes, Reptiles and what not .This zoo houses vide variety of animals and it is a lot of ground to cover !!!

Zoo staff rolled out a big cart with a big snake on it. Kids gathered for a petting session while scared parents like me stood few feet away watching 😕

Make sure to visit the Aviary. It houses varied species of birds from all across the globe. Lot of gift shops and food stalls to pick up a souvenir or quench your thirst on a hot summer day. Make sure to bring extra water bottles and have fun.