Today our guest blogger is Jamie Pearson,  a writer, mother of two, and founder of the family travel web site Travel Savvy Mom.  She has traveled extensively with and without her children. Here, she shares five of her favorite free things to do with kids in her own backyard, San Francisco.

Chrissy Field: Stroll the waterfront here, play on the beach, and take a few photos of the Golden Gate Bridge overhead (it’s compulsory).  It’s a nice and safe place to let the kids off-leash, and the views of Alcatraz and the city skyline are gorgeous.

Sea Lions at Pier 39: Skirt around the left side of Pier 39 avoiding the myriad spending opportunities contained therein.  Walk down to the end of the pier, and you’ll find an enormous, vociferous, and pungent colony of California sea lions.

Pug Sunday: On the first Sunday of every month, pug owners from miles around congregate in Alta Plaza Park from 2pm to 4pm.  Even if you don’t appreciate the humor of this only-in-San Francisco event, you’ll like the views of Twin Peaks and Marin County.  There is a nice gated playground here as well.

Chinese New Year Parade: A disarmingly small town event in this big city, the annual parade usually takes place on the first Saturday in February and is free.  Watch for the mayor waving from a convertible, troops of girl scouts marching by, dragon dancers, and Miss Chinatown.  Start out on the corner of Kearney and Bush, and wander over to Union Square when it gets dark.