I have been to he Wharf numerous times and leave less and less impressed with each visit. Really it is just a bunch of dirty junk for sale. It is hard to understand why this is the biggest tourist attraction in California. You shouldn't need more than 2 hours to look around and work your way up and down the street. Surely this is the Calgary Stampede of San Francisco to the locals. Better options that are within day trip range. Drive up to route 49 to see why all these 49ers game to San Francisco in the first place. Wine country close by Napa, Sonoma or even Modesto. Closer to the city and just beyond the Golden Gate Bridge is Muir Woods in Marin County
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muir_Wo...ional_Monument The birthplace of mountain biking and amazing hiking all around. Also for the Northern California beach scene Santa Cruz is also not that far away and more Redwoods there also. There are likely 10-15 amazing day trips within a 2 hour radius from San Francisco that would all offer something completely unique and there is always a reason to go back to this area. For kids.....Jelly Belly, Six Flags, Waterworld etc.