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Things to Do in the Bay Area with Kids

Madeleine Singh • Apr 23, 2020

We live in an awesome place! There’s never a shortage of fun things to do in the Bay Area with kids, and you don’t need to be an adult to take advantage of everything the area has to offer. Since we’re a mom-owned business, we’ve pulled together a list of our favorite kid-centered activities that can be enjoyable for parents, too.

Kid-Friendly Discoveries

Lawrence Hall of Science

Let your imagination run wild at UC Berkeley’s Lawrence Hall of Science, which earned special congressional recognition for its role as a partner for NASA’s Kepler mission. The museum features rotating exhibits that teach about the most fascinating concepts in science, and has educational programs for all ages.

Address: 1 Centennial Dr, Berkeley, CA 94720
Tickets: Free for members and children under 2, $12-16 for nonmembers

For more information and current exhibits, go to lawrencehallofscience.org/.

Bay Area Discovery Museum

Both kid and toddler friendly, the Bay Area Discovery Museum’s beautiful scenery and fascinating exhibits are captivating to kids and adults alike. Located at the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge in Sausalito, BADM spans across 7.5 acres, featuring seven exhibition spaces and more than six daily drop-in programs for children 6 months of age to 10 years old.

Address: 557 McReynolds Road, Sausalito, CA 94965
Tickets: $15.95 for ages 1-64, $13.95 for babies and seniors (save $1 per ticket by purchasing online in advance)

For more information and current exhibits, go to bayareadiscoverymuseum.org /

Get Outside with the Kids

Crissy Field

Kids or no kids, nothing is more serene than a walk down Crissy Field, one of San Francisco’s most beloved outdoor spots. The national park, which used to be a military airfield, is a beautiful place to walk or bike with some of the Bay’s best views of the Golden Gate Bridge.

To plan your visit, go to parksconservancy.org/parks/crissy-field.

Photo by Maarten van den Heuvel on Unsplash

Tilden Park

Originally built in 1911, the Tilden Park Merry-Go-Round traveled through Redlands, San Diego, and Los Angeles before becoming a permanent part of Berkeley, where it has been for over 60 years. Located in Tilden Regional Park at the intersection of Central Park Drive and Lake Anza road, the Tilden Park Merry-Go-Round is complete with a snack bar and picnic area, providing a Bay Area family-fun afternoon.

The park also hosts a number of seasonal events such as pancake breakfasts and easter egg hunts. 

Tickets: $4 each or 7/$22
For directions and more information, go to tildenmerrygoround.org /.

Kid Approved Food

Off the Grid

With events held in Fort Mason, Lake Merritt, and more, Off the Grid is the ideal weekend destination for any foodie. OTG events, which feature live music and dozens of the Bay’s best food trucks, is a family favorite because with so many options, there’s guaranteed to be something for everyone (picky eaters, too!). Even better, admission is free!

For dates and locations, go to offthegrid.com/events/

Sweet Treats

Family bonding doesn’t need to involve a day trip or long excursion; even just grabbing ice cream after dinner is a great way to spend time with each other while enjoying the Bay’s delicious food scene. If you’re in the East Bay, we recommend getting sundaes at Fentons Creamery, which is featured on our  Oakland Sweets, Spirits and The Beyond Cemetery Tour ; if you’re in the City, you should try Mitchell’s Ice Cream shop, which was named Best Ice Cream in the Bay for 2019 by the SF Guardian.

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