Fun With Kids in the Oakland and Berkeley
When I first started hearing something about a Berkeley “aquatic” park, I pictured a swimming pool or a sprinkler pad. To add to my initial confusion, it took me a while to realize I had already been there (and no, there are no sprinklers or pool) and knew this park to be Dreamland! Now that […]
The Richmond Plunge just re-opened a few months ago after having been closed for almost 10 years and it’s awesome!
I took my barely two-year old to Habitot recently and he had the best Special Mommy Date ever! If you’ve never been to Berkeley’s underground treasure of a kids’ museum, let me show you a few highlights. A few of our favorite things: Straight ahead to gross motor creativity. The main exhibit rotates to keep things […]
The sign says it all: Where Busy Moms Find Balance. I wrote about my lovely day trip to Bloom Retreat on my personal blog but here’s what you need to know to plan your own visit. What is it? Bloom is a yoga and wellness center for mothers in Walnut Creek offering yoga, prenatal yoga, kids […]
Darkness, blood, masks, and startling noises are the best parts of Halloween for big kids and the worst for little ones. Here are some outings that promise to be scream-free in honor of the holiday. Colusa Circle’s Halloween Celebration on Sunday, October 27. A pet costume contest, and animal show, face painting, and more. Local […]
The Emeryville monster store, Ikea, is a colorful and fascinating place for a child (just make sure you don’t have too much on your shopping list!). Take advantage of the little-known family parking lot past the big parking structure and back toward the store.
Can we talk about trains? My little boys are all about trains. When my oldest was one, the best way to get him out of the house was to talk about the choo choos we would see: real train, BART train, train table, it didn’t matter (but there had to be trains). I could easily […]
Talk to me, East Bay. Do you like to head out to the country to pumpkin fields on genuine farms? Do you prefer little patches within your part of town? Or do you just head to the grocery store for your gourds? Over the years, I have noticed that the range of Bay Area pumpkin […]
Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays throughout the year, a spirited toddler guru, Dawn Margolin, leads toddler classes and playgroups at Temple Beth Abraham in Oakland. The play sessions are open to children of any background, though circle time on Friday will incorporate some elements of the Jewish Shabbat tradition. Classes are for walking children, ages 3 […]
This guest post was submitted by Peggy, who has lived all over the Bay Area but now calls El Cerrito home. Since having her son, Lucas, over two years ago, her focus has turned to fun events and activities that they can do together as a family. Thanks, Peggy! An easy weekend family camping getaway […]
San Pablo Park is Berkeley’s oldest park and has many amenities.
My trusted pal, Angie, and her boys are avid train enthusiasts. When they returned from a recent fabulous train ride on the Niles Canyon Railroad, I got the lowdown all things awesome about this day trip to Fremont. This trip is great for kids of all ages: infants, toddlers, and school age kids, as well […]
A 35-minute drive from our house in Berkeley, Pixieland Amusement Park was a super fun day for all three of my kids (age 2, 6, and 8) in a contained area small enough that it wasn’t a problem to parent alone. Think of it as a more modern (some say better, others say charmless), smaller […]
Vivian took a recent family outing to pick at Swanton Berry Farm — open yearround — and offered to share the highlights with us. The kids had fun picking fresh organic strawberries. The strawberries were some of the sweetest and juiciest I’ve ever had. The view from the farm is magnificent, with the Pacific Ocean […]
Take a lazy hike in the woods and reward yourself for the (mild) exertion with a huge plate of pancakes. You’ve just discovered the secret recipe for the Marin’s West Point Inn.
Who & What Tim Oliver Swimming in the Oakland Hills offers drop-in swim lessons for children 3 months to 3 years in a lovely but crowded outdoor pool. During inclement weather, the pool is enclosed with a weatherproof dome to allow the lessons to continue. Class format Show up with your baby or young toddler […]
Habitot in downtown Berkeley has announced a new fall class schedule. Beginning the week of September 30, parents and caregivers may drop-in to any of the weekday morning family classes at 11 am. The fee is $8 per child per class – no charge for adults and you may pay entrance fees at the door […]
