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Bay Area Activities for Kids
Vetted outings for families with kids under 8. Each one includes what to expect, how to get there, tips from parents who've done it, and what it costs.
152 activities across 11 categories
Parks & Nature
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Alcatraz Island Junior Ranger Program
San Francisco·Ages 5–8·~4 hr·$$ Medium - View →
Alum Rock Park
San Jose·Ages 2–8·~2 hr·$ Low - View →
Angel Island State Park
Tiburon/SF·Ages 3–8·~4 hr·$$ Medium - View →
Arastradero Preserve
Palo Alto·Ages 2–8·~2 hr·Free - View →
Baker Beach
San Francisco·Ages 0–8·~2 hr·Free - View →
Berkeley Rose Garden
Berkeley·Ages 0–8·~1 hr·Free - View →
Bernal Heights Park
San Francisco·Ages 2–8·~1 hr·Free - View →
César Chávez Park
Berkeley·Ages 0–8·~2 hr·Free - View →
Children's Bell Tower (Bodega Bay)
Bodega Bay·Ages 4–8·30 min·Free - View →
Corte Madera Marsh Ecological Reserve
Corte Madera·Ages 2–8·~1 hr·Free - View →
Coyote Hills Regional Park
Fremont·Ages 2–8·~3 hr·$ Low - View →
Coyote Point Recreation Area
San Mateo·Ages 0–8·~3 hr·$ Low - View →
Crissy Field
San Francisco·Ages 0–8·~2 hr·Free - View →
Dumbarton Bridge Trail & Don Edwards Refuge
Fremont·Ages 2–8·~2 hr·Free - View →
Foothills Park
Palo Alto·Ages 2–8·~3 hr·$ Low - View →
Golden Gate Park
San Francisco·Ages 0–8·~3 hr·Free - View →
Heather Farm Park
Walnut Creek·Ages 0–8·~2 hr·Free - View →
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
Felton / Santa Cruz·Ages 2–8·~3 hr·$ Low - View →
Koret Children's Quarter Playground
San Francisco·Ages 1–8·~2 hr·Free - View →
Lake Chabot Regional Park
Castro Valley·Ages 2–8·~3 hr·$ Low - View →
Lake Merritt Loop
Oakland·Ages 0–8·~2 hr·Free - View →
Lands End Trail
San Francisco·Ages 3–8·~2 hr·Free - View →
Los Gatos Creek Trail & Park
Los Gatos / Campbell·Ages 1–8·~2 hr·Free - View →
Magical Bridge Playground
Palo Alto·Ages 1–8·~2 hr·Free - View →
Marin Headlands — Rodeo Beach & Bunkers
Sausalito·Ages 3–8·~3 hr·Free - View →
Mission Dolores Park
San Francisco·Ages 0–8·~2 hr·Free - View →
Mission Peak Regional Preserve (Lower Trails)
Fremont·Ages 4–8·~2 hr·Free - View →
Morcom Rose Garden
Oakland·Ages 0–8·~1 hr·Free - View →
Mount Tamalpais — Easy Family Hikes
Mill Valley·Ages 3–8·~3 hr·$ Low - View →
Muir Woods National Monument
Mill Valley·Ages 2–8·~2 hr·$ Low - View →
Natural Bridges State Beach (Monarch Butterflies)
Santa Cruz·Ages 2–8·~3 hr·$ Low - View →
Oyster Bay Regional Shoreline
San Leandro·Ages 0–8·~2 hr·Free - View →
Oyster Point Park & Marina
South San Francisco·Ages 0–8·~2 hr·Free - View →
Palo Alto Duck Pond (Peers Park)
Palo Alto·Ages 0–8·~1 hr·Free - View →
Pescadero State Beach & Marsh
Pescadero·Ages 2–8·~3 hr·Free - View →
Pier 39 & Fisherman's Wharf
San Francisco·Ages 1–8·~2 hr·Free - View →
Pinole Shores Regional Park
Pinole·Ages 0–8·~2 hr·Free - View →
Point Isabel Regional Shoreline
Richmond·Ages 0–8·~2 hr·Free - View →
Point Reyes Bear Valley Trail
Point Reyes Station·Ages 3–8·~3 hr·Free - View →
Presidio Tunnel Tops
San Francisco·Ages 1–8·~2 hr·Free - View →
Quarry Lakes Regional Recreation Area
Fremont·Ages 2–8·~3 hr·$ Low - View →
Rancho San Antonio Open Space
Los Altos Hills·Ages 2–8·~2 hr·Free - View →
Robert W. Crown Memorial State Beach
Alameda·Ages 0–8·~2 hr·Free - View →
San Francisco Botanical Garden
San Francisco·Ages 0–8·~2 hr·Free - View →
San Gregorio General Store & Beach
San Gregorio·Ages 2–8·~3 hr·Free - View →
San Jose Municipal Rose Garden
San Jose·Ages 0–8·~1 hr·Free - View →
Sausal Creek Trail — Dimond Park
Oakland·Ages 2–8·~2 hr·Free - View →
Shoreline at Mountain View
Mountain View·Ages 0–8·~2 hr·Free - View →
Stanford Dish Walking Trail
Palo Alto / Stanford·Ages 4–8·~2 hr·Free - View →
Stinson Beach
Stinson Beach·Ages 0–8·~3 hr·Free - View →
Stow Lake Paddleboats
San Francisco·Ages 3–8·~2 hr·$ Low - View →
Tilden Park Merry-Go-Round
Berkeley·Ages 0–8·45 min·$ Low - View →
Tilden Regional Park
Berkeley·Ages 0–8·~3 hr·Free - View →
Windy Hill Open Space Preserve
Portola Valley·Ages 4–8·~3 hr·Free
Museums
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Bay Area Discovery Museum
Sausalito·Ages 0–8·~3 hr·$$ Medium - View →
Bay Model Visitor Center
Sausalito·Ages 4–8·~1 hr·Free - View →
California Academy of Sciences
San Francisco·Ages 2–8·~4 hr·$$$ Premium - View →
Chabot Space & Science Center
Oakland·Ages 4–8·~3 hr·$$ Medium - View →
Children's Creativity Museum
San Francisco·Ages 2–8·~2 hr·$$ Medium - View →
Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose
San Jose·Ages 0–8·~3 hr·$$ Medium - View →
Computer History Museum
Mountain View·Ages 5–8·~3 hr·$$ Medium - View →
CuriOdyssey Science Museum & Zoo
San Mateo·Ages 1–8·~3 hr·$$ Medium - View →
Exploratorium
San Francisco·Ages 3–8·~3 hr·$$ Medium - View →
Frank Lloyd Wright Marin County Civic Center
San Rafael·Ages 5–8·~1 hr·Free - View →
Habitot Children's Museum
Oakland/Berkeley area·Ages 0–6·~2 hr·Free - View →
Lawrence Hall of Science
Berkeley·Ages 3–8·~3 hr·$ Low - View →
Lindsay Wildlife Experience
Walnut Creek·Ages 2–8·~2 hr·$ Low - View →
Marine Mammal Center
Sausalito·Ages 3–8·~2 hr·Free - View →
Oakland Museum of California
Oakland·Ages 3–8·~2 hr·$$ Medium - View →
Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo
Palo Alto·Ages 1–7·~2 hr· - View →
Randall Museum
San Francisco·Ages 2–8·~2 hr·Free - View →
Seymour Marine Discovery Center
Santa Cruz·Ages 3–8·~2 hr·$ Low - View →
Sulphur Creek Nature Center
Hayward·Ages 2–8·~1 hr·Free - View →
The Tech Interactive (Tech Museum San Jose)
San Jose·Ages 4–8·~3 hr·$$ Medium - View →
USS Hornet Sea, Air & Space Museum
Alameda·Ages 4–8·~3 hr·$$ Medium
Transit & Rides
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Angel Island Ferry from Tiburon
Tiburon·Ages 3–8·~4 hr·$$ Medium - View →
Ferry Ride SF to Sausalito
San Francisco·Ages 0–8·30 min·$ Low - View →
Ferry Ride SF to Tiburon
San Francisco·Ages 0–8·~1 hr·$ Low - View →
First BART Ride (Bay Crossing)
Bay Area·Ages 0–8·~1 hr·$ Low - View →
Golden Gate Bridge Walk
San Francisco·Ages 4–8·~2 hr·Free - View →
Niles Canyon Railway
Fremont / Sunol·Ages 2–8·~2 hr·$ Low - View →
Oak Meadow Park — Billy Jones Wildcat Railroad
Los Gatos·Ages 0–8·~1 hr·$ Low - View →
Redwood Valley Railway (Tilden Steam Train)
Berkeley·Ages 0–8·30 min·$ Low - View →
Roaring Camp Railroads
Santa Cruz / Felton·Ages 1–8·~4 hr· - View →
San Francisco Cable Car Ride
San Francisco·Ages 2–8·30 min·$ Low - View →
San Francisco Fire Engine Tours
San Francisco·Ages 2–8·~2 hr·$$ Medium - View →
Sausalito Waterfront Walk
Sausalito·Ages 0–8·~2 hr·Free
Indoor Play
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Altitude Trampoline Park — Great Mall Milpitas
Milpitas·Ages 3–8·~2 hr·$$ Medium - View →
iFLY Indoor Skydiving
Union City / San Jose·Ages 3–8·~2 hr·$$$ Premium - View →
Little Land Play Gym
San Francisco·Ages 0–6·~2 hr·$$ Medium - View →
My Gym Children's Fitness Center
Multiple Bay Area Locations·Ages 0–6·~1 hr·$$ Medium - View →
Pump It Up (Inflatable Play)
Multiple Bay Area Locations·Ages 1–8·~2 hr·$$ Medium - View →
Rockin' Jump Trampoline Park
Multiple Bay Area Locations·Ages 3–8·~2 hr·$$ Medium - View →
Safari Run Indoor Playground
San Mateo·Ages 1–10·~2 hr·$$ Medium - View →
Sky Zone Trampoline Park
Fremont / San Jose / Milpitas·Ages 3–8·~2 hr·$$ Medium - View →
Swings & Wings Play Space
Alameda·Ages 0–8·~2 hr·$$ Medium - View →
Touchstone Climbing — Kids Climb
SF / Berkeley / Oakland / San Jose·Ages 4–8·~2 hr·$$ Medium - View →
Whirlygig Indoor Play Space
San Jose·Ages 0–7·~2 hr·$$ Medium
Seasonal
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Berkeley Kite Festival (Annual)
Berkeley·Ages 1–8·~3 hr·Free - View →
Bob's Pumpkin Farm
Half Moon Bay·Ages 1–8·~2 hr·$ Low - View →
Brentwood U-Pick Farms
Brentwood·Ages 2–8·~3 hr·$ Low - View →
Christmas Tree Farm — Coastside
Half Moon Bay·Ages 1–8·~2 hr·$$ Medium - View →
Fourth of July Fireworks — SF Waterfront
San Francisco·Ages 3–8·~2 hr·Free - View →
Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival
Half Moon Bay·Ages 1–8·~3 hr·Free - View →
San Francisco Lunar New Year Parade
San Francisco·Ages 2–8·~3 hr·Free - View →
SF Pride Parade — Family Zone
San Francisco·Ages 2–8·~3 hr·Free - View →
SF St. Patrick's Day Parade
San Francisco·Ages 1–8·~3 hr·Free - View →
Swanton Berry Farm — Strawberry Picking
Davenport·Ages 2–8·~2 hr·$ Low - View →
ZooLights at San Francisco Zoo
San Francisco·Ages 1–8·~2 hr·$$ Medium
Arts & Performance
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Bay Area Children's Theatre
Berkeley / San Francisco / San Jose·Ages 2–8·~1 hr·$$ Medium - View →
Bay Area Open Studios
Bay Area·Ages 3–8·~2 hr·Free - View →
Berkeley Playhouse
Berkeley·Ages 3–8·~2 hr·$$ Medium - View →
Cartoon Art Museum
San Francisco·Ages 4–8·~1 hr·$ Low - View →
Color Me Mine (Pottery Painting)
Multiple Bay Area Locations·Ages 2–8·~2 hr·$$ Medium - View →
Origami & Japanese Culture Workshop
San Francisco·Ages 4–8·~1 hr·$ Low - View →
Paint-a-Pot (Pottery Painting)
San Francisco·Ages 2–8·~2 hr·$$ Medium - View →
San Francisco Ballet — The Nutcracker
San Francisco·Ages 4–8·~2 hr·$$$ Premium - View →
SF Symphony Family Concerts
San Francisco·Ages 3–8·~1 hr·$$ Medium - View →
Young Performers Theatre at Fort Mason
San Francisco·Ages 3–8·~1 hr·$$ Medium
Farms & Animals
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Año Nuevo State Park (Elephant Seals)
Pescadero·Ages 4–8·~3 hr·$ Low - View →
Ardenwood Historic Farm
Fremont·Ages 2–8·~3 hr·$ Low - View →
Hidden Villa Farm & Wilderness
Los Altos Hills·Ages 2–8·~2 hr·$ Low - View →
Lemos Farm
Half Moon Bay·Ages 1–8·~2 hr·$ Low - View →
Little Farm at Tilden
Berkeley·Ages 1–8·~1 hr·Free - View →
Oakland Zoo
Oakland·Ages 1–8·~4 hr·$$ Medium - View →
San Francisco Zoo
San Francisco·Ages 1–8·~4 hr·$$ Medium - View →
Slide Ranch
Marin County·Ages 3–8·~3 hr·$$ Medium - View →
Tilden Little Farm & Nature Area
Berkeley·Ages 1–7·~2 hr·Free
Water & Beaches
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Aquarium of the Bay
San Francisco·Ages 1–8·~2 hr·$$ Medium - View →
Aquatic Park Berkeley (Kayak & Sailing)
Berkeley·Ages 4–8·~2 hr·$ Low - View →
El Cerrito Splash Park
El Cerrito·Ages 1–8·~1 hr·Free - View →
Fairfax Water Park (Deer Park)
Fairfax·Ages 1–8·~2 hr·Free - View →
Fitzgerald Marine Reserve Tide Pools
Moss Beach·Ages 3–8·~2 hr·Free - View →
Lake Anza Swimming (Tilden)
Berkeley·Ages 2–8·~3 hr·$ Low - View →
Lake Del Valle Regional Park — Swimming
Livermore·Ages 2–8·~4 hr·$$ Medium - View →
Rengstorff Park Splash Pad
Mountain View·Ages 1–8·~1 hr·Free
Sports & Recreation
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Bay Trail Family Bike Ride
Bay Area·Ages 3–8·~2 hr·Free - View →
Bumper Bowling
Multiple Bay Area Locations·Ages 3–8·~2 hr·$$ Medium - View →
Gymnastics Open Gym (Bay Area)
Multiple Bay Area Locations·Ages 1–8·~1 hr·$ Low - View →
Oakland Ice Center
Oakland·Ages 3–8·~2 hr·$$ Medium - View →
Scandia Family Fun Center
Fairfield·Ages 3–8·~2 hr·$$ Medium - View →
Yerba Buena Ice Skating & Bowling
San Francisco·Ages 3–8·~2 hr·$$ Medium
Food & Farms
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Berkeley Bowl Produce Adventure
Berkeley·Ages 2–8·~1 hr·Free - View →
Ferry Building Farmers Market
San Francisco·Ages 0–8·~2 hr·$ Low - View →
Japantown SF — Japan Center
San Francisco·Ages 2–8·~2 hr·$ Low - View →
Oakland First Fridays (Evening Market)
Oakland·Ages 3–8·~2 hr·Free - View →
San Francisco Chinatown
San Francisco·Ages 2–8·~2 hr·$ Low
Theme Parks
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Children's Fairyland
Oakland·Ages 1–8·~3 hr·$ Low - View →
Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park
Gilroy·Ages 2–8·~5 hr·$$ Medium - View →
Happy Hollow Park & Zoo
San Jose·Ages 1–8·~3 hr·$ Low - View →
Pixieland Amusement Park
Concord·Ages 1–7·~2 hr·$ Low - View →
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
Santa Cruz·Ages 2–8·~5 hr·$$ Medium