Here are some favorite destinations for family fun in the East Bay.
Amusement Parks
Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo has small rides and character visits for young children and thrilling rollercoasters for tweens and teens.
Pixieland in Concord offers fun rides and special events, including an Easter Speggtacular, Halloween Spooktacular and Winter Wonderland.
Fairyland in Oakland is great for younger kids and a reasonable entry fee includes rides and entertainment, including storytelling, magic shows and puppet theater. Enjoy holiday fun at the Jack O’Lantern Jamboree and Fairy Winterland.
Art
Museum of Children’s Art (MOCHA) in Oakland is unique in that it only displays artwork by children. Gallery admission is free and reasonable fees are charged for open studio participation.
The Junior Center of Art and Science in Oakland encourages artistic and scientific exploration through workshops, exhibits and events.
Beach
Robert W. Crown Memorial State Beach in Alameda features 2.5 miles of beach, plus the Crab Cove Visitor Center, a bicycle trail, lawns and picnic tables. Each June the park features a sand castle and sand sculpture contest.
Children’s Theater
The Bay Area Children’s Theatre specializes in high quality theater adaptations of great children’s books. Performances are held in Berkeley and San Ramon.
Berkeley Repertory Theatre offers youth and family programs, including Sunday Samplers, Teen Nights, Sneak Peaks and Student Matinees.
Culture
La Pena in Berkeley offers performances and classes in Latin American music, dance and other art forms. Special performances for children are offered most Saturday mornings.
Farms
Ardenwood Historic Farm in Fremont is a Victorian era working farm with a blacksmith shop and home tour. Ardenwood hosts fun events throughout the year, including a Harvest Festival in October and Christmas Faire in early December with house tours, train rides, food samples, farm activities, arts & crafts, and music.
Visit Little Farm at Tilden Park in Berkeley to see cows, sheep, goats, rabbits, chickens and pigs. Visitors are welcome to bring lettuce or celery to feed the animals. Sienna Ranch in Lafayette hosts monthly family days with horse and pony rides, sustainability education and projects, archery, hayrides, survival skills activities, and more.
Garden
The UC Berkeley Botantical Garden has plant “zones” ranging from alpine to desert to tropical and everything in between. Don’t miss the greenhouse of carnivorous plants.
Historical Museums & Parks
The U.S.S. Hornet in Alameda is a World War II aircraft carrier that also supported the Apollo space missions. Family Overnights provide a fun opportunity to immerse yourself in history.
Black Diamond Mines Museum in Antioch offers mine tours seasonally on weekends where guests ages seven years and older view mining equipment, ore shutes, and geological features.
Oakland Museum of California combines art, history and natural science under one roof to tell the stories of California and its people. Special events and family programs include crafts, storytelling, concerts and more.
Music
La Pena and Ashkenaz in Berkeley offer special performances for children on Satruday mornings and Sunday afternoons, respectively.
Nature & Wildlife Centers
Lindsay Wildlife Museum in Walnut Creek treats over 5000 wild animals every year. Join a petting circle with a rabbit, guinea pig or hamster. Watch feeding and training demonstrations and meet an eagle, hawk or owl.
You can actually borrow an animal, including cage, food, and care instructions, for a week from Sulphur Creek Nature Center in Hayward. View reptiles, amphibians, fish, and arthropods in the Discovery Center and birds and mammals in outside enclosures outside.
Parks
Tilden Park in Berkeley has picnic areas, pony rides, carousel, train ride, botanical garden, and swimming.
Science & Technology
Chabot Space & Science Center in Oakland has a great facility and lots of fun activities for learning about space and climatology.
The Lawrence Hall of Science in Berkeley offers hands-on science fun with fascinating exhibits, live science demonstrations, planetarium shows, and special events.
Specialty Museums
The Pacific Pinball Museum in Alameda provides a rare opportunity to play dozens of classic pinball machines for one low admission.
The Blackhawk Museum in Danville showcases vintage automobiles.
Sports
The Oakland Raiders NFL football team, Oakland A’s major league baseball team and the Golden State Warriors NBA basketball team provide three great opportunities to watch professional sports in the east bay.
UC Berkeley and Saint Mary’s in Moraga offer the opportunity to watch top notch men’s and women’s college athletes compete in over 20 sports.
Trains
Ride historic trains at the Niles Canyon Railway Museum in Sunol.
Visit the Golden State Model Railroad Museum in Point Richmond or the Walnut Creek Model Railroad Society in Walnut Creek to observe elaborate model trains.
Water Slides
Six Flags Hurricane Harbor in Concord and Aqua Adventure in Fremont are great places to beat to heat.
Zoos
The Oakland Zoo is easy to get to, usually uncrowded, and just the right size. Lots of space for the animals, but easy to walk around. Relatively inexpensive admission fee. Rides are an additional fee, but reasonable.
