San Bruno is often overshadowed by San Francisco — especially since they’re so close. But the city of San Bruno has plenty of fun activities and places to hang out. There’s a casino, an arcade, museums, and refreshing natural landscapes. Check out our guide on how to make the most of your day in San Bruno.
The Shops at Tanforan
This mall is built on a former horse racing track. That might seem like an unrelated factoid, but the mall continues to use a horse as its logo, so it’s good to know. We might be biased, but one of our favorite things to do here is visit on Off the Grid nights (every Tuesday from 5 PM to 8 PM). Pull up with some friends and sample a bit from each spot in our rotating selection of food trucks.
Barnes & Noble is more than just a bookstore. Their collection of board games, stationery, records, and magazines is impressive. Their stores encourage browsing, lounging, and snacking. There’s nothing like munching on a cookie from the cafe while flipping through the newest drop of cookbooks.
The Bounce Place is a child’s wonderland with miniature inflatables, obstacle courses, and cartoon character themed decor. For any parents that get FOMO while visiting, The Big Bounce America is a traveling attraction that allows grown ups to join in on the fun.
Imagination City is a miniature city run by toddlers — sort of. Parents can bring their tots to engage in imaginative play. There’s costumes, props, and sets for children to play as a chef, doctor, or fireman.
Take a break from shopping by and visit The Art Hub by Peninsula Museum of Art. It’s located inside the mall and admission is free.
If moving art is more of your thing, stop by Cinemark. This is a big summer for movies with titles such as A Quiet Place, Deadpool & Wolverine, Garfield, and Inside Out 2 dropping within a few months from one another.
Explore the Outdoors
San Bruno Mountain provides a stunning view of San Francisco. There’s multiple trails along creeks and eucalyptus forest. Dogs and pets aren’t allowed, but you can bring a horse if you’d like.
Activities
Artichoke Joe’s Casino is a century old establishment that started as a pool parlor. I won’t spoil the story here, but there’s a reason for the peculiar name. Today, the casino has a saltwater aquarium with exotic fish, a restaurant, and a bar.
The SFO Aviation Museum is a short drive from San Bruno. Exhibits include The Art of the African Instrument, airplane models, Chinese Ceramics, weaving traditions, and Haitian Metal Sculptures. Check their site to see which exhibits are in rotation.
This final activity is extremely niche but worth noting so you can point at it and tell everyone this random fact when you pass by. Fat Wong’s Kitchen is a cash-only, Chinese restaurant operating out of one of the first Taco Bells. Don’t take my word for it, watch Conan visit the Taco Bell Museum to learn more.
