Fun With Kids in the Oakland and Berkeley
Tired of the small tracks? Let’s go BIG ride a real live train! A preschooler’s big train escape in the East Bay You can begin easily at either the Emeryville Station (EMY) or Jack London Square and catch a 30 to 45 minute train to Martinez (MTZ). The train trip is just enough time to […]
Kids so pleased with their costumes they want to wear them more than once? Here is a round-up of Halloween activities and outings where Jedi Knights and Cleopatra will be more than welcomed. Pre-Halloween events A costume Swap at Color Me Mine in Alameda is already in the works. When you drop off your costume (during […]
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 […]
Before you pack up the kids and the celery and head off to our favorite free farm in Berkeley, read this announcement on Berkeleyside about badly needed renovations that will keep Little Farm closed NOW through the end of February. Major sewer construction work that is set to begin next month will see the Little Farm, […]
On Sunday October 13, Shattuck Avenue will close down to car traffic from the north end at Rose Street in the Gourmet Ghetto to the southern end of Downtown Berkeley at Haste. Bikes, scooters, strollers, and wagons are welcome, as are pedestrians. Local vendors will line the edges of the street offering food, information, and […]
International Walk to School Day this year is on October 9th. In celebration of alternate modes of transportation of all types, you can proudly carpool, walk, ride the bus, bike, scooter. Be on the lookout for “walking school buses”, groups of children and parents meeting up to walk to school together. My sons typically walk to […]
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 […]
My husband Alec took our big boys to ride bicycles on the brand spanking new Bay Bridge, so of course, I interviewed him. What can I expect riding or walking on the new Bay Bridge? There are LOTS of rest stops once you’re on the actual bridge, with benches and everything – probably every 1/4 […]
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 […]
300,000 people will party in the street this Sunday on Solano Avenue. (Bring your walkie talkies!)
Our young family has been camping a handful of times over the past couple years. We’ve never been to the same place twice. Each place has had its own special charm and some things that were a bit less charming about them too. Ranking them from most RUSTIC to most POSH, here’s my report on […]
I actually wore mittens on my bicycle this morning — in AUGUST! — but by afternoon the temperature is comfortable enough to consider outdoor dining for dinner. Thanks those of you following on the 510Families Facebook page, we have curated a list of 10 kid-friendly restaurants with patios in Oakland. (See our list of Berkeley […]
