Discounts for East Bay Families
- Save on groceries. $20 Off + FREE Delivery on your first order when you spend $75 or more at Safeway.com.
- Free diapers. USE CODE: ‘510FAMILIES’ @ www.earth-baby.com to receive 1 pack of compostable diapers, 1 pack of compostable wipes, and 4 weeks of EarthBaby delivery, pick up, and compost service for FREE! No contract, subscription, or obligation necessary.
- More East Bay deals & discounts >
Family Fun in the East Bay
Great idea: Eventbrite for school events
Almost any feature your special event requires — even those that made you wake up at 5 am and worry — has been thought of by the Eventbrite folks.
Get this app: Chinook Book (free)
The mobile coupon app is free to the first 20,000 users. No need to buy the book if you act quickly!
Eating while at Alta Bates Hospital
Whether you’re at Alta Bates Hospital on Ashby for one night or several, there are many good choices for food that are better than the standard tray of food that comes with your stay. Sorry, but yuck.
Join us for Mom’s Night Out @ Sticky Art Lab
This event is now sold out. There is a waitlist in case anyone can’t join us. We have partnered with UrbanSitter and Sticky Art Lab to bring East Bay moms a fun evening out.
Birthday party entertainment: Magic Dan
Magic Dan is a former teacher whose performances are as much fun for the parents as they are for the kids. Oakland mom, Kristen McClusky said, “He was great. the kids loved him and he had the parents cracking up.”
Birthday party entertainment: East Bay Vivarium
Birthday party fun: Have a little piece of the Vivarium brought to your house in the form of their traveling reptile program.
Field trip: Farm day in Brentwood
I took the kids to an awesome pick your own farm and pumpkin patch out in Brentwood that I totally recommend!
Local bloggers to love
11 East Bay bloggers to check out.
5 East Bay outdoor birthday party ideas
I’ve put together a list of five options for outdoor birthday parties that are super fun and let kids run their ya-yas out around the East Bay.
7 solutions for when you can’t deal with dinner
What East Bay resources are other parents leaning on when they run out of inspiration or time?
Berkeley’s Off the Grid with a kid
El Cerrito mom, Sunny McKay, thinks that Off the Grid with a kid is a great idea! Here are her tips.
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…
Homeroom: Temescal Mac & Cheese Restaurant
Temescal’s popular mac and cheese restaurant, Homeroom, has the classics with a few extra touches that make it great for kids and parents alike. Outdoor seating, too!
Berkeley independent toy store, Mr. Mopps, is delightful
Mr Mopps independent toy store is a gem in Berkeley.
Birthday party entertainment: Fur, Scales and Tails
When I heard about Tracy Hill “the animal guy” and his performance at birthday parties, I knew I should share.
Local sweet potato pie queen: Mamie & Makhi’s
If you’re hungry for a homemade sweet potato pie, read about how my friend Lois is taking the (510) by the belly.
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 no idea how family-friendly the place would be.
Letterboxing in the 510
Up for a treasure hunt? We’ve got a couple of clues for you.
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!
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.
{Road Trip} Kid-Friendly Glamping Spot 90 Minutes from Bay Area
Swimming, boating, jumping, and general outdoor fun, all made easy with low-key cabin rental.
Raddish Kids: Home Cooking Lessons in a Box
Raddish is a cooking club, culinary lesson, and mealtime solution with cute collectibles, quality tools, and commemorative patches for about $22/month. Ages 4-14.
41 Enrichment Activities & Centers by and for Black Families
This community-generated list of East Bay classes and mentorship programs for Black kids and families includes art, science, nature, biking, and more.
Photo Scavenger Hunt for Families: Take a Shape Walk
My son and I like to walk around the neighborhood. We decided to make our walks more interesting by turning our walks into scavenger hunts by looking for a specific shape each time. Our favorite shape to look for is a circle.
Fairy Gates Trail Hike in San Francisco
Part of the Mount Sutro Open Space, the Fairy Gates hiking trail in San Francisco offers kid hikers the reward of several tiny fairy villages set up along the 1.8 mile path.
What the City of Oakland is Offering for Kids and Families This Summer
May 28 briefing by Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf covered summer camps, summer learning, swimming pools, free meals, libraries, and slow streets.
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 to stay up late.
Now Open: Tennis Courts
I love to see the families and kids out playing tennis again. Where to go and how to do it safely in the East Bay.
7 Instagram-Worthy Wall Murals in the East Bay Kids Will Love
Stunning street art wall murals around Oakland that will make you want to get your camera out, where to find them, and who made them!
10 Soothing Sensory Activities for Preschoolers Worth the Mess
Easy sensory projects to do with basic household objects that will delight your little one. Almost definitely worth the mess & clean up!
Archery in Oakland at Redwood Bowmen
Bring your own bow and arrows to this archery range among the redwoods. Officially for archers 10 and up.
The Essential Guide to Gardening With Kids In the East Bay
My family and I have had some extra time to be diligent in picking weeds and carefully planning out our garden. Hints for East Bay gardening with kids!
Kiwi Crate Projects Are Pretty Incredible
Kiwi Crate makes “seriously fun” art and engineering projects on a subscription basis for ages 0-8, 9-13, and 14+. My five-year old loves it.
Wrangling the Mess of Family Life During Shelter In Place
Here’s how I mostly keep my house and family running smoothly during shelter in place by optimizing daily and weekly tasks. Please share yours!
Welcome to {510} Families
For parents looking for more fun with their kids in the East Bay, this is your online guide. You’ll find free and cheap activities for babies and kids in Oakland, Berkeley and surrounding areas.
Discover what you can do this weekend, where you can play, and how to find everything an East Bay family needs. Help us build this community: submit tips and make comments. Thank you for visiting.
Discover our never-ending calendar of fun stuff to do with kids in the East Bay!
– Heather & Whitney
