Richmond & W. Contra Costa
There are tons of things to do with kids in West Contra Costa County, CA. We’ve got parks, playgrounds, kid-friendly restaurants, and lots of library picks in Kensington, El Cerrito, and Richmond as well as El Sobrante, Martinez, Hercules, San Pablo, and Pinole.
Best Kid-Friendly Places in Richmond and West CoCo County
Upcoming Events for West Contra Costa County Families
Tuesday, March 10, 2026
9:00 am – 4:00 pm: Explore Blake Garden @ Blake Garden, Kensington5:00 pm – 7:00 pm: Family Game Night @ El Sobrante Library, El Sobrante
Wednesday, March 11, 2026
10:30 am – 11:00 am: Storytime for Littles @ San Pablo Public Library, San Pablo2:00 pm – 4:00 pm: Doodle Hour @ Hercules Library, Hercules
Friday, March 13, 2026
9:00 am – 4:00 pm: Explore Blake Garden @ Blake Garden, KensingtonSaturday, March 14, 2026
10:00 am – 11:00 am: Touch-a-Truck @ Hercules Library, HerculesMore Family-Friendly Richmond Area 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.
Celebrating Women’s History Month in the East Bay
Looking for a way to celebrate Women's History Month with your family? Check out this handy list!
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?
Taking the San Francisco Bay Ferry With Kids
Riding the San Francisco Bay Ferry from Jack London Square is a fun activity to do with kids -- even if your destination is just ...
Hanukkah Guide: Family-friendly Activities for the Festival of Lights
This Hanukkah Guide for East Bay kids has listings for menorah lightings & Hanukkah events in Oakland, Berkeley, Richmond & beyond.
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.
Halloween Events for East Bay Kids
Fun and safe Halloween events and activities for kids in Oakland, Berkeley, and surrounding areas.
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.
5+ Family-Friendly Turkey Trots
Turkey trots we love for families and where to play afterward. Here are five we like in the East Bay
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 ...
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.
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 ...
East Bay Breweries & Beer Gardens Where Kids Can Have Fun, Too
East Bay breweries where parents can enjoy local beers while kids are entertained by charming environments.
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.
Drop-in Craft Projects at Michaels Stores
Join a free kid-friendly weekend craft session at Michael's in San Leandro, Emeryville, Alameda, or Pinole. Usually in a seasonal theme.
Lo’s Playtown in Benicia is Worth the Drive for Preschool Fun
This indoor playspace is a preschooler's paradise, featuring imaginative play areas, a climbing structure, and even a cozy workspace for parents.
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.
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!
Five Dollar Tuesday at the Movies
$5 Tuesday movie showings for kids and families around the East Bay.
Free Building Workshops for Kids
Calling all mini builders! Local hardware stores host a variety of free family-friendly workshops and craft projects for kids with real tools
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 ...
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.
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 ...
iFlip Gymnastics: Open Gym & Classes in Richmond
Located near Costco in Richmond, iFlip is a gymnastics-filled wonderland for kids, offering classes, parties, and open gym.
Spotlight on Soccer Stars Contra Costa
For kids 12 mos to 12 years, Soccer Stars Contra Costa offers a progressive curriculum that teaches soccer FUNdamentals in a supportive way.
Take the Richmond Plunge
Surrounded by high ceilings and lovely murals, the Richmond Plunge indoor swimming pool is epic. Chilly water but nice, clean locker rooms.
Tot Splash and Family Swim at Richmond Swim Center
Tot splash hours at Richmond Swim Center are inviting!
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 ...
Cold or Wet Day? Go Indoor Swimming
My kids love to go to an indoor swimming pool even if the weather outside is frightful. Here are some fave East Bay pools.
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 ...
Where to Grab (Hip) Coffee with Kids in the East Bay
I've frequented a lot of coffee shops in Berkeley and Oakland with kids in tow, here are some of our favorites and why!
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!
American Ninja Warrior Birthday Party at Traverse Fitness
For energetic children 7+, the birthday parties at the Traverse Fitness American Ninja Warrior warehouse are an exhilarating 90 minutes.
Point Molate: Sea Glass Treasure & Burning Man Art in Richmond
Combine a tranquil beach with a steampunk art scene for a memorable day in Richmond. We also love the sea glass!
Cloverfield U-Pick Organic Farm in El Sobrante
This organic farm is a great find in the East Bay to pick our own produce. With no entrance or parking fee, we only pay ...
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!)
Sweet Hike: Fairy Houses Galore in Point Richmond
I explored the magical fairy houses that make up Little Point Richmond of Washington Avenue with my children, age 2 to 8, and we were ...
10+ Drop-in Toddler Activities in the East Bay for $10 or Less
A helpful list of toddler activities and outings that don't require advanced planning, for East Bay kids and parents.
25 Places to Take Preschoolers in the East Bay – Indoors
Places to take East Bay toddlers and preschoolers: Bay Area destinations for younger kids featuring amazing indoor play spaces and museums.
Explore Dinosaur Gardens in the East Bay
Delight in a magical treasure: dinosaur gardens. Perfect to work into a family walk, we found seven locations walking around the East Bay.
17 Toddler-Friendly Hikes in the East Bay
Hiking with a toddler can be a walk down the street, or a quest to find bugs or fairies. We love these East Bay places ...
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.
21+ Kid-Friendly Things to Do in Richmond
Visit the parks, playgrounds, pools, museums and other kids-friendly spots located in the city of Richmond. There's plenty to explore!
Vallejo’s Christmas House is A Special Outing
This extravagant light display on a home in the Glen Cove area of Vallejo is a nice evening outing. 2022 is the family's final year ...
East Bay Restaurants with Kids’ Play Areas
When restaurants have play areas, or even a small basket of chalk and a chalkboard, it can make a parent's life easier. We are grateful ...
Park Profile: Solano Playlot in Richmond
Add this park to your "must visit" list: Solano Playlot in Richmond. Fun for the kids with nearby treats and snacks worth a stop.
Pinole Park Profile: Fernandez Park
Fernandez Park has a fenced-in tot lot, big kid playground, ducks, expansive greenspace, basketball court, baseball field, and paved trails to roll on.
3 Places to Get a Kid’s Pedicure in the East Bay
While any nail salon will likely take your child as a client, we discovered three that make it extra special.
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. ...
Favorite Things to Do in Hercules & Pinole with Kids
Hercules Pinole with kids, the area may be small, but there is plenty to do! Here are ten of my favorite places for families with ...
Dirt World: Richmond’s Free Public BMX Bike Park
The first bike park in the 510, Dirt World is a 2-acre public bicycle terrain park currently under development on the Richmond Greenway in Richmond.
Unusual TEPCO Beach in Richmond is Full of Riches
TEPCO Beach in Richmond is strewn with broken ceramics and stunning views of the Bay and Golden Gate Bridge. Best for ages 5+
Host a Private Movie Watch Party at Emeryville’s AMC Theaters
Starting at $379, you can rent out a full movie theater for a variety of new release and classic films.
Traverse Fitness: Biggest American Ninja Warrior Gym in California
Introducing the biggest Ninja Warrior gym in the Bay Area, welcoming kids 6 and up, plus adults, for classes, open gym, and birthday parties.
Splash And Rock Scramble at Sunol’s Little Yosemite near Fremont
Little Yosemite in the Sunol Wilderness is a gorgeous hike filled with beautiful marshes, waterfalls, and wading areas nestled between rocks.
Visiting La Moine Park (AKA, Cheese Park)
La Moine Park, better known to the locals as the Cheese Park, is located in a quiet hillside neighborhood in Richmond near El Sobrante.
Mom’s Night Out idea: Step-by-step Canvas Painting Studios
Painting studios where adults can feel confident about putting their brushes to canvas, including some with kid-friendly painting classes.
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 ...
{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.
Kid Report: Roller derby in Richmond!
I am so thrilled to have this guest report by nine-year old Sadie, who is a 4th grader at Washington Elementary in Berkeley because I, ...
ME time: My favorite spots around the {510}
This post was sponsored by domain.ME who wants you to have more time for ME. All opinions and picks are my own. I recently wrote ...
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 ...
5 East Bay outings for a baby in a carrier
Babies in a carriers are a great companions. They go where you want them to; they guarantee that passersby will smile at you; and you ...
