El Cerrito — located just past Albany when traveling North on San Pablo Avenue — is a cute town with some fun things to offer for kids and families. Pick a place to play, eat (or both!) and make a half-day out of it. Many of the businesses are either on or just off San Pablo Avenue, but there are epic views in the hills and some lovely parks hidden up there as well. Let’s get going!
Best for Toddlers
Huntington Park
Carlson Blvd & Huntington
This park has a brilliant design for families with mixed-age kids: the toddler play area is fully gated and separate from the bigger kids’ section, but you can see both areas from either side. So the toddler is safely enclosed while older siblings run free, and you can actually watch everyone at once. Rare and wonderful.
Mendocino Park
Mendocino & Burlingame
Small, sunny, and beloved by the under-3 crowd. There’s not much shade, so pack a hat and sunscreen, but the compact size actually makes it easy to keep tabs on a bolting toddler. The equipment has that perfectly worn-in quality that kids somehow love more than the shiny new stuff.
Ohlone Greenway
Parallel to Liberty St
The Greenway is a flat, paved path for walking, stroller naps, wagons, or other ride-on toys. It offers a close-up view of BART trains passing above, which can be exciting for transportation lovers.
El Cerrito Library — Thursday Storytime
6510 Stockton Ave · Thursdays at 10:15 am
This little library punches above its weight. It’s small and cozy, with a dedicated children’s area stocked with puzzles, blocks, and a wide selection of picture books. The weekly storytime runs Thursdays at 10:15 am and is a low-key neighborhood ritual for dozens of toddlers who then head up to Vista Park. (Note the library is closed Mondays and Sundays.)
Best for School-Age Kids
Cerrito Vista Park
Moeser Lane & Pomona
This park is a fun one for your little daredevils. Two huge slides you can only get to through a ladder, and plenty of climbing structures. It’s fully gated (yay!) and there’s a smaller tot-friendly structure for younger ones. Bring a ball and bat for a quick game of baseball on the huge green grassy field, or pack a picnic lunch to make an afternoon out of it. There is a bathroom next to the playground.
El Cerrito Swim Center
Moeser & Asbury
The Swim Center is undergoing renovations and will reopen in May for summer hours. When it does, it’s one of El Cerrito’s best hot-weather destinations. The splash park gets packed on sunny days — arrive early for a shaded spot to watch from. The facility also has a lap pool and a shallow pool area with spray features for younger kids. Note: the waterslide from previous years is gone. Bring snacks, sunscreen, and patience for the admission line as open swim hours are limited.
Tassajara Park
2575 Tassajara Ave.
Situated in a hilly neighborhood, this clean and large park is a great place for kids of all ages to play. It has two large play structures– one for tots and one for older kids– two spinning chairs, two tennis courts, a basketball court, and a spacious grass field to run and play. See our write-up of Tassajara Park in El Cerrito >>
Rialto Cinemas Cerrito
10070 San Pablo Ave · San Pablo & Central
A genuine neighborhood treasure. This beautifully restored Art Deco theater shows a mix of first-run films, independent films, and classics, and they’ll bring gourmet pizza, sandwiches, and salads right to your seat during the show. One of the theater even has funky couches to sit on, and the whole experience feels a little more special than just going to the movies. Check their calendar for occasional kids’ matinees and special screenings.
Castro Park and Korematsu Middle School
Norvell St. and Gladys Ave.
Castro Park shares a block with Korematsu Middle School, which means the playground connects to a basketball court and kickball diamond that kids can use when school is out. There’s also a shaded toddler play area if you have a mix of ages in tow, and Castro Park itself has some genuinely fun climbing structures. A solid choice when you want an active afternoon and room to spread out. More details about Castro Park >>
Memorial Grove Loop Trail
7501 Schmidt Ln
This hike takes less than an hour (maybe thirty minutes for adults) and reveals sweeping views of the Bay. It’s got a bit of a climb involved, so kids who hate hiking will let you know. For those who are motivated by a view or seeing nature, it’s a great 1.3 mile loop with easy parking right in front of the trailhead.
Good for Everyone: All Ages Activities
Arlington Park & Clubhouse
1120 Arlington Blvd.
Up in the hills above town, Arlington Park has a little something for every stage: a tot play structure, a bigger-kid playground, a small creek to splash around in, and a large grassy field perfect for stomp rockets, frisbee, or just rolling around. The setting is beautiful — it feels a world away from San Pablo even though it’s only a few minutes’ drive. Find out more about playing at Arlington Park >>
Blake Garden
70 Rincon Road
Technically in Kensington, but close enough and special enough to include. This 10.5-acre UC Berkeley landscape garden is free, open to the public Tuesday–Friday (9am–4pm), and genuinely magical for curious kids. Winding paths lead from redwood groves to a formal reflecting pool to a California native wetland. It’s the kind of place where kids discover that exploring doesn’t require a destination. Closed weekends and university holidays. Find out more about Blake Garden >>
Splash Park at El Cerrito Swim Center
Moeser & Asbury
When it’s open, this is one of the cheapest thrills in El Cerrito, a large cement pad embedded with spray features. It’s on the same property as the pool, but has slightly different hours. More info on hours of the splash park >
Best places to eat with kids in El Cerrito
| The Annex San Pablo & Panama Adjacent to the El Cerrito Natural Grocery Store – find fresh prepared foods and coffee here. Stop by for a hot breakfast or make your own salad for lunch. Plenty of seating, and since it’s already prepared, it’s super fast! |
| New Dumpling 10064 San Pablo Avenue next to Rialto Theater This dumpling spot is in the Michelin Guide! The food is so delicious, but the atmosphere is pretty bland, which makes it better for take-out or with kids than a date night. (Assuming your littles will eat dumplings!) |
| Fat Apple’s Fairmont & Colusa Come here for weekend brunch or stop by the counter anytime for a cup of coffee and a sugar cookie out of the bakery case. |
| Elevation 66 Brewing Company 10082 San Pablo Ave · San Pablo & Central Yes, it’s a brewery — but it’s also a genuinely welcoming spot for families. Kids are welcome, the food is a serious cut above pub grub, and there’s something nice about ending a park afternoon with a proper meal and a cold beer for the grown-ups. Open from 4pm on weekdays, 11am on weekends. |
| Well Grounded Stockton & Norvell Cute little coffee shop on Stockton Avenue with tasty bagel sandwiches. So good! They even have a few tables outside for sitting. |
Insider tip for residents: El Cerrito is a mecca for enrichment classes for children. From Ifshin Violins, where you can rent a student violin for $22/month to El Cerrito Martial Arts, Katie’s Dance Studio, or Colorspace Arts, you’ll definitely find an activity that will spark your child’s passion. There’s even a fencing studio! The activities hosted by El Cerrito Parks and Rec are diverse and affordable, however, so don’t skip their catalog of offerings.
Upcoming events in El Cerrito
Our calendar has lots of upcoming events in the Albany / El Cerrito area. Here are the next few.
