Try this one day itinerary at the San Francisco Zoo and Gardens. 

San Francisco Zoo and Gardens is home to more than 2000 exotic, endangered, and rescued animals. It is located directly on the Pacific Coast, very close to Ocean Beach in San Francisco. It is open 365 days a year. SF Zoo is a perfect opportunity to spend a fun day with your kids, learning about animals and inspiring them to care for all wildlife.

It is necessary to reserve a date and time and purchase tickets online, prior your visit. Tickets must be redeemed at your specific time, and the entire party needs to be present to enter.

The price is $25 for adults, $20 for seniors, and $18 for children between 2 and 11 years old. Children under two are free. If you present proof of San Francisco residency, prices are a little bit cheaper.

There is a parking lot at the zoo. You need to purchase a parking voucher on-site on the day of your visit. Prices are between $11 and $13 depending on the day of the week. Valet parking is $25. You can find free parking on the street along Sloat Boulevard.

There are a few cafes where you can find food and drinks, but they are overpriced and they do not have healthy options. I recommend bringing snacks.

The zoo is not that big, it is easy to walk, so take your time admiring the animals and learning about them. The Lipman Family Lemur Forest is the largest outdoor lemur habitat in the country. Penguin Island is home to the largest colony of Magellanic penguins outside of the wild. Giraffes are our favorites, as usual, so we spend a significant part of our time at the African Savanna. Note that there are no Elephants at the SF Zoo.

Other favorite areas: Fisher Family Children’s Zoo, where you can find farm animals for feeding and petting; the historic 1921 Dentzel Carousel; the 1904 miniature Little Puffer steam train; and the playground.