If you’re looking for a change of scenery, consider exploring the “La” in “Lamorinda.” As an Oakland and now Lafayette-based mom, here are some of the best places to go with little kids and their accompanying grown-ups in Lafayette, CA, about 15 minutes from Oakland or only two BART stops past Rockridge.
Hike, Stroll, or Ride Bikes in Lafayette
Lafayette has some great family adventures to keep us active. Here are three of our favorites that are both kid-friendly and dog-friendly (for all you fellow “fur baby parents”).
Lafayette-Moraga Regional Trail
Lafayette-Moraga Regional Trail is a great place for a leisurely walk and for kids learning how to ride their bikes or scooters. While the full length of the trail is 7.65 miles long, for younger kids, we start at the Olympic Blvd Staging Area for a mile or two — where the trail is flat and wide — and then turn back around just before we get too tired. There are lots of little surprises along the way.
- Hours: 5 am-10 pm
- Parking: free
- Dogs: allowed on leash
0.5 miles in, you’ll spot a yard with chicken coops and an egg box where we can sometimes pick up fresh eggs. We’ve never seen the egg box full, but it’s still fun to take a peek inside.
0.7 miles in, you’ll find trees laden with colorful birdhouses left by locals. It’s a great photo op spot and quite magical.
Pro Tip: Help the kids make birdhouses in advance to add to the colorful collection. We sign our name on our contribution so we can spot it on future trips.
Lafayette Ridge Staging Area at Briones Regional Park
For a more strenuous hike with great views and cow sightings, we like Lafayette Ridge Staging Area at Briones Regional Park.
Briones Regional Park has many trailheads — the Lafayette Ridge Staging Area is accessible off Pleasant Hill Road and free to enter. We like this hike for older kids (5+) unless you have younger kids in a hiking carrier and you want to work out your glutes. The trail starts on an incline. We typically explore for a mile or two, watch some cows, and then turn around— but the trail continues through hilly ridges with many scenic views.
- Hours: 8 am to sunset
- Parking: free
- Dogs: allowed off-leash except for designated areas with signage, within 200 feet of any trail or park entrance, and in the parking lot
Parent Tips for visiting Lafayette Ridge Staging Area:
- There is limited shade. Try for early walks or go on days that aren’t deathly hot.
- Look out for cowpies! Really, there are a lot.
- Bring water.
- Stay out of the way of grazing cattle — they roam the area and will often go on the trails. Don’t touch or feed them.
- Look out for ticks, snakes, and possibly larger wildlife like coyotes.
Lafayette Reservoir
Lafayette Reservoir is another popular spot that’s a favorite with a paved 2.7-mile stroller-friendly loop (be warned: there are a few steep hills). For much older kids and a more strenuous hike, there’s the higher elevation 4.7-mile Rim Trail. It may take over two hours to hike, but the views are worth the climb. We also love that it offers many other ways to get kids to release all that energy — such as boating, fishing, picnicking, biking, and a playground for tots (2-5) and older kids.
- Hours: vary seasonally (about sunrise to one hour after sunset)
- Parking: $1 per half-hour (2-hour max) or $7 for all-day
- Boat rentals start at $15/hour, and fishing access permit day passes for $6 can both be purchased at the Visitor Center.
- Dogs: allowed on leash
Note: Bicycling, scootering, and skating around the lake are only permitted on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons and Sunday mornings until noon. Also, EBMUD’s website states that there is “harmful algae” present in the Lafayette Reservoir so keep kids and dogs out of the water. Looking for other boating options? Check out Lake Chabot or Lake Merritt Boating Center.
Visit the Lafayette Library
The Lafayette Library has one of the best children’s areas in the Bay Area. If you’re there on a weekday morning, you’ll find it’s a popular spot for babies and toddlers. There’s a hub of computers with educational games, reading nooks with busy boxes and magnetic mazes, and a covered second-floor patio space with kid tables and comfy chairs.
They always have activities for kids, like guessing how many objects are in a jar, weekly scavenger hunts, a community jigsaw puzzle and puzzle swap, and drawing contests. We always appreciate the themed book tables and a holiday book section there year-round. Outside all the spaces for little ones and tweens, there’s a phenomenal teen center and rooms you can reserve for up to two hours if you’re working remotely. The grassy outdoor amphitheater is a great spot to picnic.
There are singing storytimes every Wednesday from 10:30-11 am, Read to a Dog events for ages 6 and up practicing their literary skills, and other family events.
Location: Lafayette Library, 3491 Mt Diablo Blvd, Lafayette, CA
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Picnic with some good eats in Lafayette
Lafayette Plaza Park is the perfect pairing of a large grassy lawn with delicious food options. Our kid loves running across the lawn and climbing the rock walls— even when we tell her not to.
Start with Sideboard
Love fried chicken or want brunch? Go with local favorite, Sideboard, for their buckets of fried chicken. We salivate over the croissants (ask for the French butter) and pastries from La Châtaigne, located in La Fiesta Square across the street. Their pastries are divine. While they often have a line on weekends, it tends to move quickly.
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- Parking: metered spots are $2 an hour. Note: There isn’t a lot of free parking downtown these days, and parking meters are closely monitored. Don’t risk not feeding your meter!
- Dogs: leashed dogs allowed on the lawn
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Parent Tips for visiting Lafayette Plaza Park:
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- A few times we’ve gone, the lawn was slightly wet and we’re happy we packed a water-resistant picnic mat.
- On sunny days, a lawn umbrella is useful to get some extra shade.
- Tell Sideboard that you are getting to-go and eating on the lawn. They can bring your to-go order to you on the lawn and even provide blankets.
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Dessert from The Scoop
In La Fiesta Square, The Scoop is a much-needed ice cream spot in Lafayette with a unique model – it features a rotating selection of flavors from different creameries, like an ice cream tap room, plus iced matcha for parents. If picking out toppings themselves is more your kids’ style, try Yogurt Shack near Whole Foods, where they also sell Fenton’s ice cream.
Location: The Scoop, 63 Lafayette Cir, Lafayette, CA
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More Flavors at Local Kitchens, Lafayette
For the family where everyone seems to want something different, try Local Kitchens. This carry-out spot offers a variety of food options, including burritos, burgers, and Mediterranean.
Location: Local Kitchens, 3455 Mt Diablo Blvd, Lafayette, CA
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Headlands Brewery & Beer Garden, Lafayette
For outdoor dining, we love Headlands Brewing and its kid-friendly beer garden. This was Headlands’ first location — they now have two spots in Berkeley (Westbrae and on the UC campus) and Walnut Creek. There’s a large turf area with low benches that make it a good kid-friendly area where parents can relax with a cold beer or frozé. They’re known for delicious smash burgers and have some other bar food like pretzels and hot dogs. Dogs are also welcome.
Location: Headlands, 3420 Mt Diablo Blvd, Lafayette, CA
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Sweet Treats in Lafayette
When our kid has been really good, we head to Zoonie’s Candy Shop. We have a blast browsing through the nostalgic candy items (remember when Warheads or candy cigarettes were a thing?). There is even a section where we can watch kid-friendly movies from old-school movie theater chairs.
Location: Zoonie’s, 3591 Mt Diablo Blvd, Lafayette, CA
Grab an empty bucket at either entrance. Be warned that the buckets of candy are kid height — we think that was on purpose and quite genius on their part. Candy in the baskets is priced by weight at $13.99/lb.
Tip: Kids love the fountain at the front of Zoonie’s, and the Lafayette Merchantile tiles at the backdoor entrance make for great photo ops.
Cupcakes more your jam? Grab a few at Susiecakes — a chain bakery with an almost cult-like following to some Bay Area folk. Its Lafayette location is Susiecakes’ only East Bay location.
Location: Susiecakes, 3598 Mt. Diablo Boulevard, Lafayette, CA
Mix-and-Match or Seasonal Activities
While one of these activities alone may not be worth the drive through the Caldecott Tunnel, we always have an amazing day with a mix-and-match of an “active” activity and a “food-centric” one. There are also special events throughout the year to consider, like the Res Run for Education family-friendly 2-mile fun run, Rock the Plaza Music summer music series, the Art & Wine Festival in September, and Trick-or-Treat Street in October.
Where else do you love to go with kids in Lafayette?
