• Costume parties are a favorite Halloween activity.halloween 1 image by Nathalie P from Fotolia.com
  
  San Francisco residents traditionally go all out to celebrate Halloween. Families find interesting ways to mark the event, such as by going to a museum, making jack-o'-lanterns, participating in Halloween costume parties and taking a vampire tour. Children and their parents join Halloween activities to enjoy the season and have a San Francisco experience.
  
  

The Vampire Tour of San Francisco

• Take the Vampire Tour of San Francisco if you love history as much as you love the supernatural macabre. Explore the gothic side of Nob Hill and discover how vampire myths have played an influential part in the shaping of San Francisco. The tour takes visitors to six stops: Fairmont Hotel, Grace Cathedral, Huntington Park, Mark Hopkins Hotel, Nob Hill Café and Pacific-Union Club. Each destination has its own vampire history. Learn what the tour outfit says is 85 percent true San Francisco lore mixed with Halloween revelry. As of 2010, the Vampire Tour of San Francisco runs every Friday and Saturday night in October, starting at 8 p.m. on the corner of California and Taylor streets across from Grace Cathedral, for $15 to $20. Wear your Halloween costume.
  
  Vampire Tour of San Francisco
  California and Taylor streets
  San Francisco, CA 94108
  650-279-1840
  sfvampiretour.com
  
  

Yerba Buena Gardens Halloween Costume Walk

• If your family wants a not-so-spooky holiday, visit the Yerba Buena Gardens Halloween Costume Walk. Families with kids 10 and younger can join this casual afternoon parade on the Saturday closest to Halloween. Kids in costume get special treats and can partake of a variety of games and activities such as storytelling, bowling and ice skating.
  
  Yerba Buena Gardens Halloween Costume Walk
  760 Howard St.
  San Francisco, CA 94103
  415-543-1718
  ybgf.org
  
  

Goblin Jamboree

• Experience a spooky---but not scary---haunted wonderland at Bay Area Discovery Museum's Goblin Jamboree. Just six miles from San Francisco, Bay Area Discovery Museum transforms into a haunted building and offers activities, games, train and pony rides, live music and more for you and your kids. Learn about children's arts and crafts and show off your costume. As of 2010, tickets to the spooky museum cost $12 to $14, and the event runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  
  Bay Area Discovery Museum
  Fort Baker
  557 McReynolds Road
  Sausalito, CA 94965
  415-339-3900
  baykidsmuseum.org