Albany & El Cerrito with Kids
Favorite Kid-Friendly Albany and El Cerrito Places
Upcoming Events for Albany and El Cerrito Kids & Families
Tuesday, March 10, 2026
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm: Baby Storytime @ Albany Library, AlbanyWednesday, March 11, 2026
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm: Kids Craft Hour @ Albany Library, Albany6:30 pm – 7:00 pm: Pajama Storytime @ Albany Library, Albany
Monday, March 16, 2026
3:30 pm – 5:00 pm: Build it! @ Albany Library, AlbanyTuesday, March 17, 2026
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm: Baby Storytime @ Albany Library, AlbanyWednesday, March 18, 2026
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm: Kids Craft Hour @ Albany Library, AlbanyMore Family-Friendly Albany/El Cerrito/Kensington Stuff to Know
19 Places to Run with a Jogging Stroller in the East Bay
From Lafayette to Richmond, Albany, and Berkeley, great paths for any runner with a jogging stroller. Here are ones we love!
Book Now: Dive into a Floating Egg Hunt
We love a good egg hunt, and we love swimming so grab your baskets and goggles, and get ready to find some treasure.
Spring Break Camps in the East Bay
It’s that time of year: Spring Break! Here is a list of programs that offer one-week sessions while school is closed during April.
Youth Soccer in the East Bay: A Parent’s Guide
Where, how, and when to sign kids up for soccer programs that match their developmental level.
Ticket Alert: Family Matinees at Rialto Cinemas
Cerrito Rialto and Elmwood Theatre welcome families to their free weekend matinees. Tickets available in advance.
Arlington Park & Clubhouse: Lots to explore in El Cerrito
Arlington Park has tons of green space and is one of those winding parks that has a variety of areas to explore beyond the play ...
Parents’ Guide to Solano Avenue
The one-mile stretch of Solano Avenue, running through Berkeley and Albany features over 200 businesses ranging from ballet to boba.
Dec. 13 – 26: Life-Sized Nativity Scene in El Cerrito: Shadi Holiday Display
In a hillside lot in El Cerrito, a stucco version of Bethlehem pops up every holiday season. Stop by and check out this lighted display ...
Drop-in Art Studios for Families
I love art studios stocked with supplies where I can let my kids get messy without worrying about cleaning up afterward. These drop-in studios fit ...
How to Book a Christmas Pedicab Adventure
This Christmas-themed outdoor adventure for your family may be just the thing to kick off your holiday season.
Best Bay Area Christmas Events for Families
Your Christmas planner of family-friendly Bay Area Christmas event picks for toddlers to teens.
Sponsor Spotlight: Prospect Sierra Launches The Learning Center
With two campuses in El Cerrito, Prospect Sierra creates a nurturing, personalized independent school where every child is celebrated.
10+ Free Holiday Happenings at Alameda South Shore Center
Beginning with a tree lighting Nov. 28 through Christmas Eve, your family can visit Santa Claus and see holiday movies outdoors.
Paws to Read: A Cuddly Option for Young Readers
Children can practice reading to trained furry friends in supportive literacy programs found at various East Bay library branches.
Where to Get Photos with Santa Claus in the East Bay
Where to get your Santa photos in the East Bay, Oakland, Alameda, or Berkeley and our nearby vicinity all month long.
50 Things to Do With Bay Area Kids When School Is Out
Wondering what to do when school is out? Take one of these 50 fantastic Bay Area ideas and build your day around it.
Indoor Fun: 10+ Things to Do on Rainy Days in the East Bay
On a rainy day, here are some great indoor fun East Bay destinations to make your kids happy and run off those ya-yas!
10 Trunk-or-Treat Events in the East Bay
Trunk or treat events, where kiddos can dress up in their costumes and go tailgating for candy from decorated car trunks, are back.
Hispanic/Latine Heritage Month for Kids & Families
Hispanic Heritage Month is September 15 through October 15. We found a variety of ways to celebrate with kids in the East Bay.
Checklist: 10 Things to do before you’re 10 in the East Bay
Presenting a fun East Bay bucket list for little kids, a challenge to all you cool Bay Area parents. Have you taken your kid to ...
10 Mostly Free & Cheap Outings for Mixed Ages in the East Bay
With kids age two to nine, it is hard to find something for everyone. Here are ten terrific East Bay places that we all love.
National Night Out Gatherings in the East Bay
August 5 is National Night Out, a day centered on community building. Organize an event among your neighbors, or join a city-led event. Find one ...
Summer Fairs and Festivals for Bay Area Families
Here is a list of outdoor street fairs, carnivals, county fairs, and festivals to pencil into your Summer plans from May to August.
44 Best Activities for Teens in the East Bay & Beyond
What to do with East Bay teens? Our teenagers' Bay Area favorites include museum deals, hiking, beach day, little farm, & fire pits at ocean ...
Best Ice Cream in Oakland, Berkeley, and Beyond
Our go to treat is always ice cream. Always. I've rounded up our local favorite places to order up a scoop. Did yours make the ...
6 Tot-Friendly Splash Parks in the East Bay
We've rounded up our favorite splash pads in the East Bay - perfect for pre-swimmers and toddlers to get cool in the summer heat.
Where Do You Swim in the East Bay?
We've rounded up all the best places to swim in the East Bay: seasonal pools, water parks, beaches, lagoons, and even private pools you can ...
75 Days of Summer Fun for East Bay Kids
The best ideas for family fun all summer long: fruit picking, ice cream, bike rides, beaches, splashing, and concerts!
Best East Bay Destinations & Tips for Train Lovers
When my kid was one, the best way to get him out of the house was to talk about the choo choos we would see: ...
3 Best Places to Fly a Kite in the East Bay
Flying a kite involves running outside and a little patience. When your kids tell you that they're bored, you can tell them to go fly ...
Summertime Reading Games Powered by the Libraries
Summer is for reading! Many area public libraries offer summer reading games, community events & many cool kid-sized prizes for reading.
Swimming Lessons for East Bay Kids
Let's talk about swim lessons. Here are your East Bay swimming pools that will help teach your child how to swim, arranged roughly from South ...
Favorite East Bay Milkshake Spots
My favorite milkshakes from Oakland and San Pablo to Walnut Creek include organic, vegan, and extremely delicious flavors. Drink it in your car!
Messy Art Day for Under 6-Year-Olds Returns to El Cerrito Preschool Coop
Messy Art Day is a special event, open to the public, for kids five & under at El Cerrito Preschool Coop on Sunday, March 16. ...
El Cerrito Swim Center is Perfect for Little Walkers and Swimmers
The El Cerrito Swim Center includes a large lap pool, a smaller recreation pool with zero entry, and water spray features.
Now Open: El Cerrito Splash Park
At the opposite end of the building from the swimming pool entrance, the splash pad welcomes visitors to the El Cerrito swimming pool by providing ...
Get Free Museum Entry with Discover & Go
Powered by our local libraries, Discover & Go gets you and your kids in free to some of our most popular museums and attractions for ...
10+ East Bay Yoga Studios with Prenatal Yoga
Stressed, exhausted, or excited about an upcoming birth? Prenatal yoga just might be the place for you.
A Rookie’s Guide to Kids Baseball & Softball in the East Bay
If you're thinking you'd like to give your child the opportunity to play baseball, but don't know how to get started, keep reading. We'll walk ...
21 Places in the Bay Area Where Kids Can See Animals
A few favorite places to get a miniature zoo experience for FREE in the East Bay, small animal encounters, & farms!
Best Pizza in the East Bay for Families
50 favorite East Bay pizza places beloved by kids & families sliced up by type of crust including 10 for half-baked!
14 East Bay Restaurants Where Kids Eat Free
Did you know there's a handful of restaurants where kids eat free? Skip cooking on Tuesday night and head to one of these places.
99 Kid-friendly Restaurants in the East Bay
99 kid-friendly restaurants to check out in Oakland and Berkeley from Breakfast for dinner to Mexican, Pizza, Asian, Diners, and lots more!
Introducing Center For Early Childhood Connections
At the CECC in Albany, the therapists and other support staff pride themselves on helping families build relationships and expand their toolkits as their children ...
26 Places Where Kids Can Ride Scooters
Wondering where your little one can ride a scooter around Oakland? I have 2 scooters and 2 helmets permanently in my trunk, and I know ...
12 Things to Do at Memorial Park in Albany
Memorial Park in Albany is home to so many family-friendly resources and events, that all parents in communities north of Berkeley should know about it.
Drive-Through Coffee = Rookie Parents’ BFF
Iced or hot, drive-through coffee is a parent's best friend. But you have to know where to look. The East Bay hides them away.
Favorite Bay Area Donuts and Doughnuts
From El Cerrito to Downtown Oakland to San Francisco, here are our favorite Bay Area donuts (and doughnuts!)
9 reasons to visit Point Richmond with kids
A pool, a beach, a playground, a tunnel, and a train museum! Point Richmond has plenty of family fun to explore.
Kensington Gem: Blake Garden
Blake Garden garden is a teaching and research lab for Cal but it is open to the public on weekdays. Expect interesting paths with beautiful ...
Getting Sandy at Keller Beach in Richmond, CA
My family loved our four-hour getaway to Keller Beach in Richmond. Bring sand toys and snacks to make the most of your day.
Home Depot Offers Free Weekend Workshops for Kids
Spend a FREE morning at Home Depot building craft projects with your kid on the first Saturday of each month.
Where to Find Monarch Butterflies in the East Bay
It's that time of year where Western monarchs gather in Northern California. Find out where to find them in the East Bay!
Take the Bay Day Challenge With Your Kids
Take on the Bay Day Month of Challenges with your kids September 7 to October 7. See the Bay + win prizes.
Soak Up the Summer Solstice in the East Bay
Seek out the summer solstice on Wednesday, June 21 in Oakland. Soak in the daylight, salute the sun, play outside.
Park Profile: Centennial Park in El Cerrito
Centennial Park playground near the Ohlone Greenway has natural surfaces, climbing ropes, sand, and a platform swing. Great for kids under five.
Albany Hill Playground: Peggy Thomsen Pierce Street Park
Albany's park, the Peggy Thomsen Pierce Street Park, on the west side of Albany Hill is perfect for monkey-bar lovers AND the under-4 set.
Christmas Lights in El Cerrito: A Driving Tour
Part of a home decorating contest, the map indicates houses that are decorated as well as the ones that are competing in a contest.
Tassajara Park (and Playground!) in El Cerrito
With two play structures, a grassy field, and a bathroom accessible to those in the know, Tassajara Park in El Cerrito is a fun place ...
Save The Date: Solano Avenue Stroll
Solano Avenue in Berkeley and Albany will come together for their superfun Solano Stroll on Sunday afternoon, September 11, 2022.
Best Places to Take Kids in Albany
Park nearly anywhere on lower Solano Avenue (for FREE) and you'll find a place to play, a place to eat, or a place to relax ...
Guide to El Cerrito with Kids
El Cerrito has many great places to play and eat for families. Check out our best tips on where to go along San Pablo Avenue.
Let Us Plan 10 Summer Adventures for Your Little Kids!
Have you ever spent hours googling for activities to do with kids, instead of going out and doing them? Let us spare you the effort. ...
Kids classes at University Village in Albany
Affiliated with UC Berkeley, but open to all, this affordable recreation program offers gymnastics, basketball, and circus classes to kids of all ages.
What to Do With Kids in Kensington
Find all the fun things to do with kids in and around Kensington and Colusa Circle from Blake Garden to the perfect sweet treats.
Park Profile: Cerrito Vista Park
El Cerrito's Cerrito Vista Park is great for adventurous kids. Paved tracks around the large grassy field is excellent for scooters and bicycles.
Park Profile: Jewel’s Terrace Park (Albany)
Jewel's Terrace Park has two playgrounds, large grassy field, tennis courts, basketball court, picnic tables, and a BBQ grill.
Insider tips: University Village with kids
From free toys to expensive parking, here are my insider tips for parents of babies and little kids living in the University Village.
Dartmouth Tot Lot in Albany, a love story
On the corner of Dartmouth and Talbot in Albany, find a small park with an excess of used push cars, play houses, a tiny play ...
Park profile: Castro Park in El Cerrito
El Cerrito's Castro Park is a favorite playground packed with equipment for activities from basketball to rock climbing.
East Bay Indoor Birthday Party Places
A winter birthday means that it just might rain on your parade. Plan for an indoor party and stop worrying about the weather at one ...
20 free things to do in the East Bay before summer is over
Take on one of these items as your mission every day, and you'll definitely be getting the most out of the East Bay.
Bridges Rock Climbing Gym birthday party
A stone’s throw from Costco in Richmond is Bridges Rock Gym, a fitness and climbing spot for kids and adults. Birthday parties at Bridges are ...
{510} Family Faves with El Cerrito mom and educator Lily Jones
El Cerrito mom Lily Jones is the creator of Curiosity Pack, a tool kit for preschool literacy activities at home. She blogs for Teaching Channel ...
East Bay restaurants for big family groups
When my visiting family was in town, I was at a loss for dining-out options that would be able to accommodate the nine of us. ...
Support the food banks year-round
My friend recently told me about a program to replenish the food bank by picking up grocery donations from nearby homes on a regular basis, ...
Back-to-school checklist
Back-to-school prep in the East Bay: hair, shoes, backpack, lunchbox, clothes, what else do you need?
New mom challenge: Visit the fabric store
Visit a fabric store with your baby awake and spend a naptime on one of these easy projects: play blanket, swaddle blanket, or carrier!
Killer Foot Massages at the Pacific East Mall
Have you been to the Pacific East Mall in Richmond? For less than $20, you can get a one hour reflexology massage at Golden Island ...
Reader tip: Alberrito Streets
Lest we forget our neighbors to the North, my friend Wendy reminded me that this Saturday is the Alberrito Streets extravaganza. It is a monster ...
My East Bay summer bucket list (Heather)
After reading Whitney’s East Bay summer bucket list, I wanted to create one of my own. Here are ten things I’d like to do with ...
Hiking in the East Bay with kids
I have a shelf full of travel books that I’m reluctant to toss because they remind me of my past life. However, I know that ...
Support group for new mothers
support group for new mothers in Oakland and Berkeley
Reader tip: Classes in Albany tumbling and yoga
Are you ready for a series of tiny tumbling or post-natal yoga at the Albany rec center? Read on...
New Kid in Town: Little Star Pizza
The third location of Little Star Pizza has been open on Solano Avenue since mid-summer, and until we went there over the weekend, I had ...
