The city of Richmond is a vibrant, multicultural community about 20 minutes north of Oakland. From swimming pools and playgrounds to museums and hiking trails, there are loads of things to explore in Richmond with kids. Here are our favorite family-friendly things to do and places to go:
Favorite Richmond parks, playgrounds, and outdoor spaces
Solano Playlot is a top choice for playtime or picnic time. This park features a playground and grassy area. There’s a nice mix of sliding, climbing, and swinging options for kids across multiple age groups. A small tot area entertains babies and toddlers. Pack a hat — this park is quite sunny.
La Moine Park & Playground, aka Cheese Park, is old school, but that’s part of its charm. The play area features a large concrete structure, complete with a wide slide and Swiss cheese-like holes (hence the nickname), plus a traditional playground that’s great for preschoolers. A large grassy field and picnic area round out the space. Keep in mind that the concrete play area should be visited with caution — it’s likely better for older preschoolers or grade school-aged kids.
Explore a pocket park, like Kern Playlot, Janice Playground or Mendocino Park. These little play areas are nestled into the community throughout Richmond and feature a small play structure, sometimes swings, too! Explore the entire list of Richmond’s Parks; it’s like a go-to list of places to explore.
Wildcat Canyon Regional Park is set in the hills and offers hiking trails, picnic areas, plus a creek and playground to play in. We typically hike from the Alvarado Staging Area and found a handful of trails that our young kids can enjoy.
Miller-Knox Regional Shoreline, located in the Point Richmond neighborhood, is a gem of a park. It offers so many activities for families, including hiking and biking trails, grassy fields, a lagoon, sweeping views of the Bay, and a playground, to boot! It should absolutely be on your “must-visit” list of East Bay parks.
Point Pinole Regional Park and Shoreline juts into San Pablo Bay to create an absolutely stunning vantage point for waterfront views. There are kid-friendly hiking paths, plus prime train spotting.
Keller Beach is an ideal destination for building sand castles, dipping your toes in the water, and enjoying a glorious sunny day. The water is calm — but rather cold — and the windy conditions are just right for kite flying.
Point Molate Beach offers a prime space to collect cool rocks and sea glass. The beach is quite rugged and natural rather than sandy and calm. This beach is located near the Richmond Bridge and provides spectacular views of San Pablo Bay and Marin’s mountainous silhouette.
Bike, scoot, jog, or walk along the miles of paved trails in Richmond. We enjoy the San Francisco Bay Trail, especially the stretch between Point Isabel and Marina Bay Harbor. The terrain is flat but the landscape is so ecologically diverse. It’s also a joy to spot waterfowl or see kite surfers and boats cruising through the Richmond Inner Harbor. Find more kid-friendly paths to push a jogging stroller >
View big art at Point San Pablo Harbor. This waterfront space hosts events and live music, plus there is a restaurant. Families may also enjoy the interesting sculptures on display. It’s not a sanctioned play area, but kids may enjoy climbing on the sculptures. Do be careful though, some art includes sharp pieces or slippery surfaces.
For the sweetest walk you’ll likely ever take, head to Point Richmond to see the Fairy Houses. It’s a magical and impressive urban hike along Washington Avenue. The distance isn’t long, but there is a hill involved. Take your time and enjoy the elaborate and charming designs. It’s a great destination for the 8 and younger crowd.
The ferry is one of the best ways to travel across the Bay into San Francisco. Richmond has its own ferry terminal with plenty of free parking and easy access. Hop aboard for a comfortable, clean ride that has incredible views of the Bay.
Discover 7 Reasons to Visit Point Richmond with Kids >>
Favorite Richmond pools, museums, shops & indoor spaces
Richmond Plunge is an amazing indoor pool in Point Richmond. The grand and historic facility recently is extremely clean and offers plenty of space to practice strokes, play with pool toys, or just float around. Visit for Public Swim or Tot Splash; see the current schedule and rules here.
Richmond Swim Center features a great pool for taking a dip, plus a child-friendly splash pad area for lots of joyous water fun! This swim center also offers Family Swim and Tot Splash drop-in hours;Â see the current schedule and rules here.
Richmond Art Center offers rotating exhibits, classes, camps, and free community events, such as Spring Family Day and Dia De Los Muertos/Fall Family Day. It’s a wonderful hub and resource for celebrating arts and community.
Rosie Riveter World War II Home Front Museum is located at the Richmond Marina and is maintained by the National Park Service. It tells the struggles and successes of American lives on the Home Front. Explore the Visitor Center, tour the SS Red Oak Victory (open Sundays) or walk past the Rosie Riveter Memorial Statue. The museum is spread across a several areas that aren’t necessarily all in walking distance of each other, so be sure to reference the map before your trip.
Golden State Model Railroad Museum is a thrilling outing if you have kids who love trains. The museum isn’t large but it’s filled to the brim with displays of towns, businesses, and landscapes that are inspired by real California destinations, such as the Tehachapi Loop. During our family’s visit, a scavenger hunt-like game was available to keep kids engaged. HO, O and N scales are on display. It’s open weekends (though trains only run on Sundays) which makes it a great option to keep in your back pocket when looking for a change in routine.
Richmond Public Main Library Children’s Room is an inviting space that provides a range of children’s activities and events — hosted in the library and throughout the community. Locals say it has one of the best baby storytimes in the East Bay. Visit on Mondays at 10:30 am for Baby/Toddler Storytime or Wednesdays at 10:30 am for Family Storytime. Check out all the upcoming events on the Children’s Room’s Facebook page.
Catahoula Coffee Co is an independent local coffee shop that serves up delicious hot and cold beverages. There’s also a few kids items, which are sure to bring a smile to your little ones face. It’s walking distance from Solano Playlot, so pick up a drink or pastry before hitting the play structure.
Multicultural Bookstore and Gifts is a community treasure. The children’s bookstore offers a range of titles, with a large focus on black and brown characters or authors. The shop also hosts events for the general public, including monthly storytimes, author readings, panel discussions and playtimes.
Bougie Babies is an upscale salon that serves only children, ages 3-13. It’s a wonderful choice if you’re looking to treat your child to a completely immersive mini-spa experience designed just for them.
Tell us, what’s your favorite kid-friendly destination in Richmond?
