25 Best Things to Do in Oakland With Kids

Oakland offers many family-friendly activities, restaurants, and outdoor spaces that cater to all ages. From exploring the scenic trails to enjoying indoor and outdoor play, kids have plenty of opportunities for fun and adventure.

Thanks to Oakland Unified School District (OUSD), with over 34,000 students & more than 50 languages represented at campuses across the Town, for sponsoring this guide to 25 of the very best places for kids and families in Oakland. On-time enrollment applications for the upcoming school year are available on the OUSD site as of December 3, 2025.

We asked our team of contributing parents and OUSD staff to share their favorite places in Oakland to go with kids.

Things to do in Oakland with Kids

1. Children’s Fairyland is a vintage-style amusement park (think Disneyland when it opened in the 1950s) near Lake Merritt. Enjoy live shows, kiddie rides, and family fun. Never been? Here’s a first-timer’s guide to Fairyland >>
2. The Oakland Zoo offers a vast and immersive experience, with spacious wildlife habitats that house animals of all sizes. Watch playful monkeys swing through the trees, or step up close to the glass to greet the bathing grizzly bears. Don’t miss out on the scenic gondola ride! Our review of the Oakland Zoo experience >>
3. Oakland Ice provides year-round skating and a fun venue for birthday parties at its indoor ice rink, located in downtown Oakland. Skate rental starts at toddler size 6.
4. MOCHA, Museum of Children’s Art is a hands-on art studio and gallery with open hours on weekends and library visits on weekdays. MOCHA is centrally located near 12th Street BART.
5. Chabot Space and Science Center, nestled in the Oakland Hills, introduces children to STEM principles and the wonders of space through engaging exhibits and interactive learning. More about Chabot and its fabulously free telescope viewings >>

6. Oakland Library Events include cool art workshops, storytimes, toy rentals, and playgroups. Find lots more at the libraries >>
7. Temescal Regional Park and Lake Temescal offer green areas to run or picnic, paths for wandering or scootering, two playgrounds, and a lake to fish or wade in! All about Lake Temescal for kids >>
8. Fentons Creamery, featured in the movie UP, is an old-school ice cream parlor with delicious shakes, supersized sundaes, and classic American comfort food. Pro-tip: for little eaters, order the deconstructed banana split.
9. Oakland Ballers baseball games are building community with Oakland’s newest sports franchise at the renovated ballpark at Raimondi Park (next to a playground – yay!) — All about the Ballers with kids >>
10. Montclair Village is an all-in-one spot where you can’t go wrong with shops, restaurants, a library, park, paths, friendly faces, and a weekend Farmer’s Market. Check out our Parents’ Guide to Oakland’s Montclair neighborhood for more tips.
11. Jack London Square has scenic views of boats, plenty of outdoor patios for lower-stress dining with kids, a great farmers market, a small bowling alley & arcade (at Plank), a nearby movie theater, and a nice series of family-friendly events throughout the year. More of Jack London Square’s kid-friendly attractions.

12. Oakland Museum of California’s (OMCA) Friday Night program is a great way to kick off the weekend. Food trucks, live music, and art inspiration are all around for plenty of family fun. The OMCA gardens are always free.
13. Pacific Pipe Climbing Gym is an eye-catching facility with various climbing options, fitness classes, and events for children over 6 through adults. Pacific Pipe is impressive just to look at.
14. Rockridge, is a charming, BART-accessible neighborhood with a wonderful library and FROG Park, a fun spot for kids to play. Definitely a favorite for Oakland families! Take a virtual tour of Rockridge with this post >>
15. Lake Merritt is a lovely spot for a picnic on a beautiful day. Kids love the wildlife, leisurely walking path, and nearby playgrounds, while older kids enjoy taking watercraft onto the lake from the Lake Merritt Boathouse. Plan your visit to Lake Merritt >>
16. Roberts Regional Park is a local favorite for Oaklanders for its grove of redwood trees. Kids dig the massive play structure, swimming pool, and open space to play (any kind of) ball! Learn more about Roberts Regional Park >>

17. The New Parkway Theater is our favorite way to squeeze a movie and a meal in at the same time. With Cereal Cinema programming and occasional kid-friendly showings, you can enjoy entrées from the full-service café right at your seat, which might be a vintage couch or a comfy armchair.
18. The Oakland Aviation Museum invites kids to get up close to the airplanes, and on Open Cockpit Days, they can hop inside! It seems like they’re always offering a deal, too.
19. Bay Play is an indoor playground in the heart of West Oakland with arcade games, a ninja warrior course, rock climbing, and bounce houses. You name it, they’ve got it!
20. Middle Harbor Shoreline Park is a treat for kids who love vehicles. You can enjoy a snack while watching the shipping containers. It’s also perfect for riding on wheels, whether on a scooter or a bike. Visit Middle Harbor Shoreline Park with us >>

21. Oakland Roots soccer games are a great family-friendly way to enjoy one of the Town’s only sports franchises playing at the Coliseum. Watch the Oakland Roots in action >>
22. Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park is perfect for young and newly adventurous hikers. Along with the towering redwood trees and accessible trails, we love that magical spot to view thousands of ladybugs.
23. Dimond Park and Sausal Creek offer a variety of outdoor activities and play structures suitable for all ages. Bring a picnic, load up bikes and scooters, and remember your creek shoes! The nearby Dimond District is perfect to treat kids to pizza and ice cream afterward. Discover more about Dimond Park >>
24. Pump it Up! Love it or hate it, this indoor bouncy arena allows kids as young as two to bounce out their energy. Look for drop-in playtime, special events, and parties.
25. West Oakland Farm Park gives children (and adults) a chance to learn about the importance of food sustainability and community, while mixing in some play time. See what else the Farm Park features >>

Is there an Oakland favorite that we missed? Tell us about it below.

Stay connected with OUSD schools! Whether you’re a current or future parent, caretaker, or student, you’re invited to engage in online communities for OUSD elementary, middle, and high schools. Find OUSD below on Instagram and Facebook.

• @TownSproutsOUSD – Elementary School Network
• @oakinthemiddle – Middle School Network
• @TheLinkOUSD – High School Network

Follow along with OUSD as they show and tell the slices of everyday school life here in Oakland while growing space for all students and families to be involved and feel supported through this wonderful adventure.

OUSD’s on-time enrollment window for the 2026-27 school year opens Wednesday, December 3, 2025. Website to enroll >

Upcoming Events for Oakland Kids & Families

Thanks so much to Oakland Unified School District for providing excellent schools for Oakland children and sponsoring 510Families.com.