Day Trips
There are so many places to go when you have the day to explore the Bay Area with a family. Here are a few hundred terrific ideas with places to play and eat while you’re away on your adventurous day trips with kids.
Where to Take Bay Area Kids to Experience the Snow
Bay Area kids get to experience the snow with a day trip or weekend getaway for sledding, tubing, snow shoeing, skiing, or snowboarding. Lucky kids.
What Are The Closest Snow Play Trips for Bay Area Families?
Where to take Bay Area kids to play in the snow? Skip the lifts. Here are five options for kid-friendly snow play with snowshoes or ...
Lunar New Year in the Bay Area is a Family-Friendly Celebration
As the Year of the Horse approaches, a handful of wonderful kid-friendly Lunar New Year celebrations pop up around the Bay Area.
The Best Tubing and Sledding near the Bay Area
10 top destinations with a ticket booth that will give you access to tubing or sledding with your kids!
5 East Bay Spots to Get Even Wetter on a Rainy Day
Outdoor spots to take kids after -- or during -- a rainy day in the East Bay.
Leland Snow Play, Tubing Fun for All Ages
At Leland Snow Play, tickets allow you to ride tubes down a man-made hill as many times as you like. Open late Dec.-April.
Tube Tahoe: Winter Fun in South Lake Tahoe
Experience the thrill of tubing in South Lake Tahoe at Tube Tahoe, a family-friendly snow destination for families with little ones.
Dodge Ridge: More Accessible Kid-friendly Skiing Than Tahoe
More affordable than Tahoe and super family-friendly, Dodge Ridge is one Oakland mom's little secret.
Soda Springs: Tubing and First-time Skiing
Fun and easy for first-time skiers or those who just want to play in the snow!
South Lake Tahoe Ski School Smackdown
What are the main differences between South Lake Tahoe Ski Schools at Heavenly Resort, Sierra-at-Tahoe, and Kirkwood? Let us help.
Sugar Bowl Ski Resort is Awesome for Little Skiers
Sugar Bowl Ski Resort in Tahoe offers a great experience for families, and I road-tested it for you.
Best Bay Area Christmas Events for Families
Your Christmas planner of family-friendly Bay Area Christmas event picks for toddlers to teens.
Favorite East Bay Christmas Tree Lots & Farms
East Bay Christmas tree lots from Alameda, Oakland, Castro Valley, Berkeley range from fast, playful, to woodsy. Choose your favorite!
Ticket Alert: Holidays at Filoli Gardens in Woodside
Filoli offers a rustic redwoods train experience or a light-up wonderland. Choose one adventure with the lavish historic house & garden.
Visit with Black Santa in Oakland & More
Find Black Santa Claus for photos in Oakland from Nov. 16 through Christmas Eve.
Cut Your Own Christmas Tree at Frosty Mountain Tree Farm in Sebastopol
Just me and my four kids under age ten felling our perfect Christmas tree with a saw: a magical day in Sebastopol for my crew.
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.
Nicasio Valley Pumpkin Patch for Classic Fall Fun
Nicasio Valley Farm offered exactly what I was looking for: seasonal fun with rustic farm vibes and fewer carnival attractions.
G&S Pumpkin Patch & Corn Maze Is Festive Fun For The Whole Family
At G&S Farms, kids can pick their very own pumpkins straight from the vine and run through an awesome corn maze.
Conquering the Cool Patch Pumpkins Corn Maze
Cool Patch Pumpkins offers a truly epic corn maze and all the pumpkins you could desire! Just make sure you're prepared.
10+ All-Abilities Playgrounds and Play Spaces Near Oakland
Inclusive playgrounds are designed with innovative features to welcome children of all ages and capabilities. These are within an hour of Oakland.
Our Petaluma Pumpkin Patch & Amazing Corn Maze Adventure
Petaluma Pumpkin Patch and Amazing Corn Maze offers a festive farm experience along with plenty of bouncy, jumpy fun.
Ticket Alert: Fall Festival on the Coast at Rancho Siempre Verde
Visit this family farm with a rustic yet whimsical vibe, fresh fall harvest, giant swings, and coastal views.
Arata’s Pumpkin Farm & Hay Maze in Half Moon Bay
Arata's Pumpkin Farm features a 6-acre corn field, a pumpkin river and a famous and menacing two-acre Minotaur’s Labyrinth Hay Maze.
Our visit to G & M Farms Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze in Livermore
The pumpkin patch portion of G & M Farms couldn't be cuter. Grab a red Radio Flyer wagon and pick from rows of perfectly placed ...
Fall Fun at Santa Rosa Pumpkin Patch & Giant Corn Maze
Pumpkins, petting zoo, ziplines, corn pit, cow train, and so many more outdoor activities to fill your visit to the Santa Rosa Pumpkin Patch!
Super Family-friendly Trails & Beaches at Mori Point, Pacifica
Mori Point, a 32-acre wetland park near Pacifica, has trails that wind along bluffs and beaches, is an easy 30-minute drive from Oakland, and can ...
On Sale Oct. 25: East Bay Christmas Train: Niles Canyon Train of Lights
Set your calendar alerts. Niles Canyon Railway plans to release tickets for their popular Train of Lights event in October.
A Little Kids’ Guide to Downtown Benicia
Downtown Benicia is the cutest little place with some big history. With California's third capitol building, picnic, seashore, treats & more!
Day Trip to Pacifica With Kids
Pacifica is the place to be on a sunny day. Pack a lunch and a kite for a stunning day at the beach.
Pomegranate Picking in the East Bay
It is pomegranate picking season and you can head out to a Bay Area farm and pick with your children for a terrific autumn outing.
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 ...
East Bay Pumpkin Patch & Corn Maze Guide
East Bay pumpkin patches come in many types: a pile at the market, a quick pumpkin picture, a carnival atmosphere, or a full day on ...
Book Now: Magical Christmas Train in Sacramento
Tickets are now available for the Magical Christmas Train by River Fox out of West Sacramento. It will be lots of holiday fun.
18 Kid-friendly Sonoma and Napa Places to Visit
If you ever visit Sonoma Train Town (you should if you haven’t!), you’ll probably want to add a few other activities to your day-trip to ...
Bay Area Discovery Museum Halloween Party: Goblin Jamboree
Goblin Jamboree is a costume party with hands-on learning activities and spooky decorations. Best for those under age 8.
Book Now: Holiday Train Rides Around the Bay Area
All aboard the Polar Express! Here are a few magical holiday train rides for Bay Area families, some of which will sell out quickly.
Stand-Up Paddle Boarding in the East Bay (SUP)
Being in the water on your own floating device is an ideal socially distanced activity. Here are places where you can get your family out ...
Where Do You Take Guests From Out-of-Town?
To show off the East Bay to your friends from back home, where do you go? We've got culture, stunning views, the Bay, and redwoods!
Book Now: Sacramento’s Polar Express
Don't miss your chance to purchase tickets to the Polar Express train in Old Town Sacramento. Become a member early for presale access.
Kids Boo Fest at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom is Scare-Free
Families at Six Flags' BooFest can expect a Crazy Hay Maze, Pumpkin Painting, Kids Costume Contest, Kids Scream Contest, & Trick or Treat Trail.
Apple Picking with Children Near the Bay Area
Apple-picking season is upon us. Here are a few U-pick options and Bay Area apple orchards worth a visit with your family. Always, call first!
Book Now: Napa Valley Santa Train Jolly Journeys
Modeled after the Polar Express, passengers take a 1.75-hour round-trip train ride up to the "North Pole" to receive a small gift and treats.
Three Nunns Pumpkin Patch Has Tractors, U-Pick & Massive Corn Mazes for Acres of Fun
Open 9/18 through 10/31, Brentwood's Three Nunns Farm has a u-pick pumpkins, 2 corn mazes, and lots more produce. Let's get dirty.
Lemos Farm in Half Moon Bay Pumpkin Patch and More
Find pumpkins, pony rides, train rides, hay rides, petting zoo, haunted house, barn slide, car barn ride, barn jumpers - wheee!
Stafford Lake Bike Park in Marin: An Epic Playground for Bike Lovers
This 17-acre family-friendly mountain bike course offers all the exciting jumps, challenging tricks, and clever toys that mountain bikers of all ages will love.
Worth the Drive: Inflatable Aqua Park Playground near Sacramento
I am DYING to go to Wake Island Watersports Park in the Sacramento area and play in their floating playground, AQUA PARK.
Roaring Camp Railroad near Santa Cruz
About 90 minutes from Berkeley, Roaring Camp Railroad is a real steam locomotive chugging up and down steep passes through a redwood grove.
Best Bay Area Beaches You Can Visit Today
Bay Area beaches are perfect for a mini getaway or day trip. Here are 15 of our favorites within two hours of Oakland with tips ...
Ticket Alert: Book Now for Thomas & Percy Halloween
Thomas the Tank Engine is coming close to the Bay Area for Thomas and Percy's Halloween Party, October 4 -26, 2025.
Apple-A-Day Ratzlaff Ranch U-Pick Apples
Apple picking time is here! So don your flannels and boots and pack up the kiddos for a good old-fashioned day of apple picking in ...
A Memorable Day Apple Picking at Chileno Valley Ranch
Chileno Valley Ranch in Petaluma is a picturesque place to pick apples with kids -- only an hour drive north of Oakland.
Visit Vallejo’s Children’s Wonderland
Children's Wonderland is a cute, clean, huge park in Vallejo. Enter through the guarded gates to let your imagination run wild.
Quarry Park: A Ropes Course Worth the Drive for East Bay Families
This ropes course and adventure park is worth the drive for Bay Area families with kids over ten.
U-Pick Blueberries at Duckworth Family Farm in Sebastopol
If your family loves fruit picking at a picturesque pastoral country farm, Duckworth Family Farm in Sebastopol is your new favorite summer day trip.
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 ...
U-Pick Strawberries & Other Berries in the Bay Area
The warmer days of Spring and early Summer (from April to July) bring the prospect of juicy sweet strawberries and other yummy berries
East Bay Fireworks & Other Fourth of July Events
Parades, pancakes, flags, festivals, & fireworks! Our Fourth of July Guide for East Bay families has it all.
Giant Trolls at Filoli through Nov. 10
Don't miss 6 gigantic wooden troll sculptures by Danish artist Thomas Dambo and the incredible natural play area in the redwoods.
Kayaking with Kids Near Oakland
Kayaking can be an easy and enjoyable way for your family to enjoy the Bay waters. Here are places that can get you out on ...
19+ Ways to Celebrate Juneteenth With Kids
Celebrate Juneteenth, June 19th, with community gatherings, great meals, lively music, and cultural celebrations. Or a little of everything.
Everything You Need to Know About Bay Area Amusement Parks
From Six Flags in Vallejo to Happy Hollow in San Jose, which is primarily a Zoo, there are some really cool places that are worth ...
U-Pick Raspberries at Boring Farm in Sebastopol
About an hour from the East Bay, Boring Farm offers U-Pick organic raspberries from June through to September. Advance tickets are required.
Bay Area Fruit Picking Guide
Fruit picking is a year-round activity in California. Here's your guide to the what/where/when/how of Bay Area farms and orchards.
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!
What Parents Should Know About Bay Area Water Parks
Your guide to Bay Area waterparks; find the one that works best for your family. From water slide junkies to sprayground newbies, we love ya!
Six Flags Discovery Kingdom: Is it Worth It?
Part zoo, part theme park, the park offers a surprising number attractions that suited my young kids.
Best Places in the Bay Area for Camping With Little Kids
Here are our favorite Bay Area places to go tent camping with our little kids -- plus some cabin camping options for good measure.
A Guide to Cherry Picking in Brentwood for 2025
Brentwood: When to go, where to go, and what to bring on a cherry-picking day trip from the Bay Area.
Our Favorites at Bay Area LEGOLAND Discovery Center
The LEGOLAND Discovery Center in Milpitas is a really cool indoor playground for all LEGO builders and wannabes, especially those ages 4 to 10.
Happy Hollow Park & Zoo in San Jose: Worth the drive!
With so many playgrounds to explore, it's hard to find time to see the animals at Happy Hollow Zoo & Park!
Where to Find Dinosaurs in the East Bay
If you and your kid are always looking for cool dinosaur books and toys, you'll love to see these life-size (and bigger!) local dinos.
Spring Break Staycation Guide
How many of these day trips and adventures for grade school-age children can you squeeze into one week of your Bay Area staycation?
Day Trip: Gilroy Gardens for Family Fun
Gilroy Gardens is well maintained, with 21 rides and a small water park. Bring swimsuits, and note that water features are included with admission.
Spring Break Ideas for East Bay Families
Spring Break inspiration for road trips from the Bay Area, easy travel, and other ways to spend your week off.
Day Trip: Sonoma’s TrainTown Railroad
Just 50 minutes from Berkeley, Sonoma's TrainTown offers an introductory amusement park experience. Train enthusiasts will be more than satisfied.
The Wave Waterpark in Dublin
The Dublin Wave is a water park with slides and water play areas for all ages.
Fremont’s Aqua Adventure Water Park
Fremont's Aqua Adventure features lazy river, splashy water play structure, a few big water slides. Kids over age six can navigate the park while you ...
Contra Loma Lagoon is Closed for 2025
Closed Summer of 2023 for needed repairs.
Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Concord, a Mega Waterpark in the East Bay
Hurricane Harbor Concord is a giant water park for thrill-seekers and kids who love to splash. Lazy river. Children's sprayground for small people. Opens May ...
California’s Great America Amusement Park Is Open March Through October
California’s Great America claims to be home to the most rides in Northern California and offers a complete water park inside.
Toddlers’ Guide to Lindsay Wildlife Experience
Everything at Walnut Creek's animal rescue and museum, Lindsay Wildlife Experience, is great for a three-year old.
Ticket Alert: Train Ride with Easter Bunny Visit
Easter Bunny and a steam train ride through the redwoods! Just, wow. Buy tickets now for one of these train rides in April.
Ticket Alert: Easter Egg Express Train in Sacramento
The River Fox Train runs its Easter experience on weekends April 1 through April 9 on open-air vintage cars followed by an egg hunt.
Three-Year Olds’ Guide to Monterey Bay Aquarium
Monterey Bay Aquarium has awesome otters, penguins, and play area. But it can be overwhelming, too. Here's our little kids' perspective.
Bay Area Road Trip: Monterey Bay
The Monterey Bay Aquarium is one of California's best indoor tourist attractions, a perfect mission for the long days of holiday school closures.
Day Trip to the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve Tide Pools in Moss Beach
King Tides are Dec 13-15, 2024. The Fitzgerald tide pools are accessible for all ages. You can get to tide pools a very short walk ...
Step Back in Time at Fremont’s Ardenwood Historic Farm
Ardenwood Farm is a working farm and a trip back in time, to a place where Laura Ingalls might have lived, without the Minnesota snow.
Tahoe: Northstar Ski School for Kids
Pro-tip:Â If you're considering ski school for two kids, check the various resorts for their age groupings. Siblings may be together in some locations, but apart ...
Reindeer Ridge Christmas Tree Farm in Sebastopol
For a cut-your-own-Christmas-tree experience with all the trimmings (train & tractor rides, hot cider, farm animals, zip line!), we love Reindeer Ridge.
Angel Island with Kids: Family-friendly Hike, Tram Ride and More
Looking for a mini vacation? It's in the Bay, literally! Visit Angel Island with the kids for a ferry ride, outdoor time, beautiful views and ...
Sep 20-Oct 26: California’s Great America Tricks and Treats
Leaning into treats, candy, and seasonal decor more than jump scares and gore, families of young ones should have a blast.
Riding San Francisco Iconic Cable Cars With Kids
Riding San Francisco's famous cable cars makes the perfect city adventure for an East Bay kid. Here's how to get the most from your day!
Where to Play on a Hot Day, East Bay
Our team of experienced parents weighed in on where to go and what to do when it is Just Too Dang Hot. Start with donuts.
Santa Cruz: Vacation meets Staycation
A family-friendly destination that costs a lot less than Hawaii.
Dell’Osso Family Farm Pumpkin Patch & Massive Corn Maze
Dell'Osso Family Farm is open for spooky fun in the pumpkin patch with an epic corn maze. I went with 3 kids under age 7 ...
Favorite Bay Area Toddler Activities
Guide to fun places, museums, and more in the Bay Area for toddlers who have strong opinions and short attention spans!
Fun factory tours in the Bay Area with kids
Go behind the scenes at some of your favorite Bay Area companies to see how things are made!
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.
Hike to Pancake Breakfast at West Point Inn
Pancake hike was totally worth it! I tried to savor the perfect weather, these sweet children, and the epic view because I may never get ...
Explore San Francisco’s Ferry Building
San Francisco's Ferry Building is a quick BART ride and an exciting option for a weekday adventure with your kids. Bring a hat, a jacket, ...
Niles Canyon Railway 2024 Season
Niles Canyon Railway is opening for a limited number of autumn rides out of Sunol Station. Get your tickets now. All aboard!
Robert Livermore Aquatic Center Open June 10 for 2024 Season
The Robert Livermore Aquatic Center has a lagoon-style play pool, a water play structure, and a 22-foot-long water slide. Perfect for some splash-time fun!
Day Trip to Bay Area Discovery Museum
The Bay Area Discovery Museum in Sausalito is a hands-on, outdoor science museum that will entertain & educate children under 5
Tour the Jelly Belly factory in Fairfield
The Jelly Belly jellybean company in the land offers free tours and will send you home with samples and fun facts to spare. Win win. ...
Parents’ Guide to East Bay Gardens
Explore family-friendly East Bay Gardens for outdoor fun: admire flowers, follow butterflies, enjoy nature, & get inspired!
Vacation Inspiration: Oregon Coast with Kids
A simple itinerary for an Oregon road trip with kids: from the Bay Area to Portland.
Take the Train to Sacramento’s Railroad Museum
Your train-obsessed children are going to love this adventure to the California Railroad Museum in Sacramento from Berkeley by railroad.
Half-Day Trip to CuriOdyssey at Coyote Point
CuriOdyssey is a science playground and zoo best suited for the smallest children at Coyote Point in San Mateo.
Vacation Inspiration: A Coastal Escape to Portola Hotel & Spa in Monterey
Portola Hotel & Spa makes an easy getaway to explore the Monterey area that both kids and parents will enjoy.
Road Trip: Monarch Butterfly Colonies of the Central Coast
Three places to see amazing butterfly colonies -- and hit the beach when you're done. Fully clothed, of course; it is winter time.
Profile: Fremont’s Central Park
Fremont's Central Park offers tons of space to run and play, picnic, boat, and exercise, there is a unique playground unlike any I've seen.
Field trip: The Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito
Animal-loving kids will love to see the baby seals, learn about what they eat and how we can take better care of our ocean-dwelling friends.
Christmas Tree Farm Magic at Rancho Siempre Verde in Pescadero
Ride an epic tree swing, make a wreath, roast marshmallows, cut your own Christmas tree, hike in the woods, and wrestle your brothers in the ...
Daytrip to Stinson Beach with kids
Stinson Beach is our favorite, FAVORITE beach in the Bay Area with kids.
Visit Alcatraz With Kids
Alcatraz is a lot of fun with kids -- when your kids are the right age -- here are my best tips for Alcatraz with ...
Half-day Trip: Lafayette Reservoir and Playground
This lovely East Bay spot for stroller walks and picnics has a wonderful new playground.
Day Trip Inspiration: Muir Woods with Kids
Muir Woods National Monument -- add it to your Bay Area Bucket List! It's a great day trip option for hiking and earning a junior ...
12 Best Bay Area Science Museums for Kids
The Bay Area has some of the world's best science museums. Play with your kids while learning about science, technology, and nature.
Fabulous Safari West in Santa Rosa
I took my family to Safari West in Santa Rosa to spend the morning on a safari vehicle tour. Super fun! I suggest this trip ...
Where to Ride a Carousel in the East Bay
For classic childhood fun, we rounded up 12 carousels to ride in the East Bay and beyond.
{510} Family Faves with Beautiful Brown Adventures’ Angel
Angel is a Puerto Rican and Indigenous mom of two in Alameda, a doula, and a co-founder of Beautiful Brown Adventures. Here are her faves.
{510} Family Faves with Beautiful Brown Adventures’ Angelica
Angelica, an Oakland mama to a 5-year-old, shares her favorite local places for boba, brunch, & beaches along with a passion for world travel.
Frolic at Happy Dahlia Farm Through October
About an hour from Oakland in Petaluma, the Happy Dahlia Farm is open Wednesday through Sunday 11 am to 6 pm through October.
Camping at Mount Madonna & Fruit Picking in Watsonville
In 2023 and 2024, many camp sites at Mount Madonna are closed for forest maintenance.
12 Places to Go Plane-Spotting in the Bay Area
We rounded up the best destinations for plane-loving kids to view airplanes.
Vacation Inspiration: Monterey County
Monterey, Carmel-By-The-Sea, Pebble Beach, and Moss Landing with miles of beaches & safe overnight lodging.
Visit the Sunflower Fields of Yolo County near Davis
For years the farmers of Yolo County, about an hour from Berkeley, have grown 70,000 acres of sunflowers. They bloom in June & July.
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. ...
Kid-Friendly Farms to Visit Near The East Bay
We have loved bringing our children to meet animals and run around at a working farm. Ride a pony, chase a chicken, pick an apple. ...
Field Trip: San Jose Children’s Discovery Museum
This indoor and outdoor children's museum in San Jose is engaging, interactive, and educational— worthy of a day trip to the South Bay.
Day Trip: Sheep at Mission Ranch, in the Fairytale-esque Carmel-by-the-Sea
If you happen to be headed south down the coast on a Sunday, you must try the Sunday Brunch at Mission Ranch. It’s a quick, ...
Meet a Giant Furry Cow & a Zonkey at American Made Miniatures Farm
Located in Petaluma, American Made Miniatures Farm Sanctuary is incredible, your kids will beg to revisit for years to come. I brought 6 kids.
Get Outside at Hidden Villa Farm in Los Altos Hills
About an hour from Oakland, get your family's quarantine wiggles out at Hidden Villa with friendly farm animals and lots of room to run in ...
Free Park Passes for Fourth Graders
Hey fourth graders! See natural wonders and historic sites in California and beyond for free. Two very cool initiatives—one federal and one state—to get all ...
Day Trip to Di Rosa: Kid-Friendly Art Museum in Wine Country
Wine country, art museum—these things may not initially strike you as family-friendly, but they totally are. Trust me on this one!
3 Easy Ways to Introduce Middle Eastern Culture to East Bay Kids
Thanks to Stephanie Meade for this guest post. Stephanie is the founder and editor of InCultureParent.com, a tremendous resource for parents raising global citizens. One ...
Cornerstone Sonoma: Kid-friendly Botanical Garden and Wine Tasting
Want a good family-friendly wine country activity? We love Cornerstone Sonoma, a botanical garden/art exhibit/wine tasting experience in one.
Park Profile: Imagine Inclusive Playground in Dublin
Explore this, shiny, new, and expansive playground with inclusive features, just 30 minutes away from Oakland.
Chocolate and Chalk Art Festival
The sidewalks in North Berkeley will be bursting with color during the CHOCOLATE & CHALK ART FESTIVAL on Saturday, June 19, 2021.
A Majestic Lunch Spot: San Francisco Conservatory of Flowers
The gardens around the SF Conservatory of Flowers is a magical place to have lunch with the kids. I felt like I was in a ...
5 National Parks To Visit With Bay Area Kids Before They Grow Up
Do you prefer majestic trees or volcanic geysers? We've rounded up step-by-step itineraries for a handful of National Parks.
Magical Bridge in Palo Alto: Inclusive Playground Worth the Drive
You've gotta see this Palo Alto playground that is truly and uniquely for everyone: all ages, abilities and sizes.
Santa Cruz Guide for Kids who Love Trains
Three terrific places to take your train-obsessed kid on a getaway to Santa Cruz. And where to stay.
Delicious Strawberry U-Pick at Blue House Farm
Enjoy the fresh coastal air while picking delicious organic strawberries with your children, it is a practically perfect, stress-free outing near Half Moon Bay
Stargazing With Kids & Seeking Out the Elusive Milky Way
You don’t need a telescope to see the Milky Way and stargaze. Just a sense of adventure to escape the light pollution and some coffee ...
Half-day Trip to San Rafael and WildCare
A half day adventure in San Rafael starts with a visit to WildCare, a FREE rehabilitation facility for local animals that toddlers dig.
Pushing Through to Point Pinole with Kids
This helpful guest post is by Annie Burke. She not only shares her insider tips to Point Pinole Regional Shoreline, but she also keeps it ...
Staycation in Santa Clara
For a low key, budget friendly staycation in Silicon Valley, the Santa Clara Marriott is an easy last-minute trip. My girls loved it.
No more tours of Mrs. Grossman’s Sticker Factory in Petaluma
The only sticker factory in the USA, Mrs. Grossman's Sticker Factory, has stopped giving tours as of July 31, 2019.
Kids Obstacle Challenge coming to San Mateo
Kids Obstacle Challenge is a fun adventure and obstacle course for kids ages 5-16, with 15+ challenging obstacles and lots of mud.
Special time with your kid: 10 sibling-free outings
Leave the siblings at home. Anywhere you go together can be special. Here are 10 fantastic places to take your child for one-on-one time.
Day Trip: Sonoma Farm Crawl – Spring Tour Apr 27 + 28
Customize your own tour of the farms of Sonoma County with access to an interactive map and dozens of special activities scheduled for the weekend.
Places to stop on a 101 roadtrip south from the Bay Area
10 kid-friendly spots to know about near California's US-101, for folks driving south.
Winter is the Best Time to Explore the California Delta with Kids
Annie Burke is the creator of Outside Kids. In the summer months, those of us living in the hot inland areas head west on highways 580, 80, ...
Yes, the Bay Area Does Have Seasons: Winter
We gratefully welcome back Annie Burke, founder of Outside Kids, for today’s post. Most people say that the Bay Area doesn’t have seasons. I disagree. ...
Field Trip to the Hills and Tunnels of Black Diamond Mines
Thank you to Annie Burke sharing her terrific tips for exploring Black Diamond Mines with kids in tow. There’s something cool about exploring an ...
{510} Family Faves with Outdoors Advocate Annie Burke
Annie Burke loves to take her children outside into the parks, seashore, and nature In the Bay Area. Get your fingernails dirty.
7 Family-Friendly Wineries in Napa
Monday Sparkles shares the most terrific family-friendly wineries that they go to not just for the wines but for the views, activities, and treats
Kid Reporter: 3 Kid-Friendly Mountain Biking Trails in the Bay Area
Three mountain biking trails to explore with kids in the Bay Area, by Kid Reporter and mountain biking enthusiast, Zach, age 12.
Family-friendly Napa County with Monday Sparkles
We asked Patricia and Fanny for their favorite kid places in their part of Napa County and they were happy to share ice cream, trails, ...
5 great day trips in the Bay Area
Bay Area day trips for families within 90 minutes of Oakland: Safari West, Monterey Aquarium, Roaring Camp, Jelly Belly Factory, Ano Nuevo State Park.
Day trip: Guerneville for families
90 minutes North of Oakland on the Russian River sits the quaint little town of Guerneville -- our favorite day trip.
Wine without whining for East Bay parents
Wine tasting with kids in the Bay Area
A day trip for a hot weekend: Burke’s Canoe Trips
One mile north of Forestville, CA sits a canoe put-in spot just steps from the Russian River, where Burke’s Canoe Trips will outfit your family ...
Larson Family, kid-friendly Sonoma Winery
We’ve visited a handful of Napa/Sonoma wineries with kids in tow, and Larson Family is the one we keep coming back to. The dirt road driving ...
Kid Report: The Marin County Fair
You should go to the Marin County Fair because there is a lot to do! There are games, rides and shows. One of the rides ...
Day trip idea: Howarth Park in Santa Rosa
Howarth Park has enough attractions to keep you busy all day long, and though it’s further away than Tilden Park, it’s almost definitely sunny there, ...
Brentwood farms fruit picking, tips for families
Monday, I drove four boys out to Brentwood to go fruit-picking. I was vague in my promises — berries, cherries, apricots, or whatever they have. You like ...
Pint-sized train adventure to Martinez
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 ...
Vacation inspiration: Moss Beach (not Moss Landing)
Thanks to Jennifer Saranow Schultz, a Bay Area mom and writer of HintMama.com, for this piece about Moss Beach, a super close and toddler-friendly getaway. ...
Vacation inspiration: Moss Landing
My brood just spent a lovely three-day weekend in Moss Landing with extended family and I thought it might inspire some of you who are ...
Safari West: An Oakland family surprises the kids with a mystery trip
Thanks to Oakland writer Nancy Davis Kho for sharing her story with us today. When I was a kid in Upstate New York, my parents ...
A visit to the Palo Alto American Girl Store
There is a new American Girl store in Palo Alto! Â Is it worth the drive for (510) folks? Â The previously used exclamation mark is your ...
3 super day trips with a one-year old
We are happy to introduce you to Jennifer Saranow Schultz (AKA Hintmama), the San Francisco parent to Hannah. As of the time of this interview, ...
A great time for camping at Half Moon Bay
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, ...
5 Family-friendly road trips from Oakland
Looking for a fun day trip or mini vacation for your long weekend? These fellow Bay Area bloggers have a few inspiring ideas and photographs ...
Healdsburg: Wine-tasting with kids
My husband and I took an anniversary trip to Healdsburg for wine-tasting with our two daughters, and Heather asked me to share some highlights. My ...
Day trip: Hearts Desire beach in Marin County
Hearts Desire is a kid-friendly beach for those who enjoy a long and beautiful drive through West Marin county. (Nope, no apostrophe in the name ...
Wine country with kids: Calistoga public swimming pool
Our contributor today is Berkeley mom Nila Rosen who tipped us off to the idea of researching in advance of a road trip to locate ...
Reader tip: Marinwood Pool in San Rafael
A good half-hour North of Berkeley, San Rafael offers weather that makes stripping down and jumping in the pool more tolerable. Reader Cori Kesler of ...
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 ...
EARTHseed Farm U-Pick Apples & Furry Pigs in Sebastopol
EARTHseed Farm is a cute organic farm just past the quaint town of Graton. My family spent a lovely morning there picking apples and more!
