That's the family-friendly Bay Area staycation list in case you were wondering. 😛 On my month-long work sabbatical (can I call it that?) I experienced local fun during my regular working hours and it.was.the.best. I know not everyone can take a month off work, but just in case you find yourself with some extra vacay time, I've got you covered with a list of 14 FFBAS ideas! All places are stroller friendly, too! In alphabetical order...
Part aquarium, part natural history, part rainforest! Go when they open, and if you have membership take advantage of the earlier member hours (plus if you're driving you'll score street parking much easier in the earlier morning hours). We happened to be there when they had a special outdoor giant animatronic bug exhibit for the littles; it was a hit! Check out their schedule of events for any special activities, though it's also fun just to roam, and stop for snacks on their cafe patio.
- Plan for: 2 hours
- Bring: Snacks (there's a cafe, too)
- Advanced reservations? Yes, and cheaper if you purchase a few days in advance. There are also membership options and other memberships may have reciprocal membership entry, too.
- Parking: Free 4-hour street parking; come early!
- Toddlertainment value: 8/10 - Toddler was amused, and extra delighted when we got to the kid's outdoor play area!
- Would I go again? Yes, though I might skip the rainforest because bugs and muggy.
A storybook theme park! We have Fairyland membership and my kid is at the age where it's worth every penny; the more we go, the more the he wants to go! Currently, he's obsessed with the puppet shows and the Geppetto animatronic scene. There's something to explore around every corner, and it's adorable because everything is kid-sized. There's also lots of spots to sit and take a break.
- Plan for: 2 hours. Check the events schedule for special performance times. If you want to ride the trolly, come when they open and B-line to the trolly line first thing.
- Bring: Good walking shoes
- Advanced reservations? Recommended if you don't have membership for speedy entry or for holidays or special events (they sometimes sell out).
- Parking: You can pay to park around the lake ($5 on weekends, per hour on weekdays); there's also nearby residential or metered parking (no limit and free on Sundays).
- Toddlertainment value: 10/10 - Fairyland forever!
- Would I go again? Yes. Did I mention the staff have started to recognize us? 🙂
The fanciest garden I've been to. I love garden time, maybe because it's a bit nostalgic of my parents' garden. Filoli is an experience. Springtime is a lovely time to go, but there will always be something to enjoy throughout the year. Make use of their app to get around the grounds and to find out what's in bloom or on display. If I had more of a green thumb and an abundant plant budget I would have for sure bought everything in their garden shop, too. Read more about my first visit here.
- Plan for: 2-4 hours
- Bring: Liquids, a hat, good walking shoes.
- Advanced reservations? Yes, though weekdays don't tend to sell out. Purchase special tickets (like for the afternoon tea!) well in advance of your preferred date. Under 5 is free!
- Parking: Free lot parking, but limited; come early to snag a spot!
- Toddlertainment value: 8/10 Toddler enjoyed the wood chips at the olive tree grove, and also enjoyed running around and having popsicles at the vegetable garden bar!
- Would I go again? Yes, it was so beautiful and zen. Some areas require more toddler oversight, but overall would go back for a family affair.
An anytime leisure adventure! With lots of snacks, coffee, and shops, and the occasional live band and handmade pop-up, Fourth Street is one of those places that is just fun to visit. My go tos: Cafe Reveille for snacks, Peet's for oat milk cold brews, and a visit to my friend's plant and flower shops. Also fun: sitting in the sunshine on one of the public benches for people watching, chatting, climbing (in the case of my kid), or watercoloring. Toddler side quests: the statue and the toy store.
- Plan for: 1-2 hours
- Bring: Reusable bag for leftovers or shopping.
- Advanced reservations? None needed; go stroll on a whim.
- Parking: Lots of free lots and street parking.
- Toddlertainment value: 6/10 overall, but 10/10 for the toy store + the train passes by on occasion
- Would I go again? Oh, of course. Meet you there!
The premiere Bay Area marionette company! Seriously, if you can catch a show, do it! Fratello has a repertoire of shows and an assortment of puppet styles and characters. The last show we attended was Mother Goose. We've also seen Jack and the Beanstalk, Halloween Spooktacular, and Carnival of the Animals. Lead puppet master Kevin makes and restores all of the puppets and sets. They even have custom storage bags and trunks, and the maximizer in me is so impressed! They host a Q&A and puppet meet and greet after each show which is always a hit, too!
- Plan for: 1 hour (come 15 minutes early to grab a seat and stay an extra 15 minutes to meet the puppets and puppeteers!)
- Bring: Camera, intrigue
- Advanced reservations? No; shows listed on their webpage are free to the public.
- Parking: Depends on the event location
- Toddlertainment value: 15+/10, my kid even likes to watch the team break down the set. We're usually the last to leave.
- Would I go again? Yes!
It's like four playgrounds in one! We had a Walnut Creek errand so we ventured to Heather Farms playground. I think I would have enjoyed the gardens more, but what toddler could resist this colorful playground! It was rather large, and maybe a little overwhelming for my kid, but in the end he didn't want to leave. Lots of structures to climb, slides of all sizes, and different areas for various ages and abilities. Side quest: Mini dinosaur play lot at the mall (Broadway Plaza).
- Plan for: duration: An hour was enough because we got cold.
- Bring: Layers!
- Advanced reservations? None needed.
- Parking: Lots of free lot parking; same for the mall.
- Toddlertainment value: 7/10, was maybe a little overwhelming with all the big structures and kids running around.
- Would I go again? Yes, in more appropriate clothing.
A weekly activity! My kid loves live music. On repeat is the Kensington Farmers Market (Sundays 9-1PM) for picking up fresh produce and snacking on a baked good while enjoying the weekly band! The market sets up a canopy and chairs so you can lounge and listen. If you need to get more wiggles out Memorial Park is just walking distance away.
- Plan for: 30 minutes but sometimes we'll watch for an hour +
- Bring: Your favorite market tote, cash for band tips
- Advanced reservations? No
- Parking: Neighborhood parking; you may need to walk a block or so
- Toddlertainment value: 9/10 - Music and carbs? Yes please!
- Would I go again? Most definitely, rain or shine!
Entertain your brain! Our first time here as a family was a hit! We missed the live animals (check the schedule so you don't miss them!) but my kid loved the Outdoor Nature Lab (they let you borrow magnifying glasses and binoculars) and the Young Explorers Area (with hands on physics activities and experiments!). Don't want to pay? The whale and DNA structure just outside the entrance was just as fun as the museum!
- Plan for: 2-3 hours
- Bring: Drinks and snacks
- Advanced reservations? Yes for faster check in; we bought ours the night before.
- Parking: Paid lot up the hill
- Toddlertainment value: 8/10 - there were some exhibits clearly for an older kid crowd but there were plenty of other intriguing features
- Would I go again? A toss up for me, but definitely sparks toddler interest.
My new favorite park! The park designers created giant flowers for the shade and planted them all over the park - so fun! There are two main playgrounds for littles and bigs, with hills, slides, and so many areas for imagination. There was also a music area with a cajon, plosive aerophones, xylophone, and this orange music ball - wind it and it'll play a series of songs. It's set up like a stage; kids could put on their own concert! Side quest: Story Coffee for a kid's steamer.
- Plan for: 1-2 hours
- Bring: Hat and sunscreen
- Advanced reservations? No
- Parking: Shared lot with the library; coffee has small shopping plaza parking
- Toddlertainment value: 9/10, was hard to leave
- Would I go again? Yes, worth the trek.
Art, history, and natural sciences! On this visit we were my Godsisters special guests, but apparently you can enjoy the garden area for free! My kid loved watching the turtles sunbathe and swim around the garden. It was a good 45 minutes of toddlertainment. There's also an indoor nature playspace which has lots of fun for the littles - a train set, a play kitchen and garden, shadow puppet area, a fish tank, and 'camping nooks.' I would have much preferred to just stay outside; the lighting and basement feel had me feeling a little trapped.
- Plan for: 2-3 hours (including snacks at the cafe - we had a burger and fries!)
- Bring: Picnic blanket if you want to hang out on the lawn
- Advanced reservations? Yes, the museum does sell out especially for special events. For members you can pick up guests passes the day of your visit.
- Parking: Paid lot parking; get validated if you're a member or guest of a member.
- Toddlertainment value: 10/10 - the live turtles were the highlight of the day!
- Would I go again? Yes, though maybe we would just go and enjoy the garden space without going into the museum.
Richmond Marina
Pho and sunset walk! A winning combination! And you can enjoy both at the Richmond Marina. There are lots of other areas to stroll along the Marina but if you're looking for a toddler friendly meal (my kid loves the noods) to go with your sunset stroll, head to Anh for some al fresco dining with a view.
- Plan for: 1-2 hours (with dinner)
- Bring: A jacket - it's windy!
- Advanced reservations? None needed.
- Parking: The restaurant has a shared lot with the neighboring restaurant, and you can leave your car there while you walk around the marina.
- Toddlertainment value: 8/10 - Marina walk equals bird watching and running an open path!
- Would I go again? Yes, it was so peaceful! Though the angle for sunset is probably better at other times of the year.
Another anytime leisure adventure! The usual suspects: Morningtide for gifts - check their pop up schedule for something tasty; Oaktown for spices - check out their pop up schedule, too; Highwire/Flowerland for coffee and plants; Five Little Monkeys for toy perusing! Also Tay Tah Cafe for blended Thai iced teas and smoothies, As You Wish for froyo, Kyoto for a quick sushi run, Squabisch for pretzels - peep the fun shapes in the window. The list goes on and on...
- Plan for: 1-2 hours; you can easily make a day of it!
- Bring: Good shoes, reusable bag, appetite
- Advanced reservations? No
- Parking: 90-minute street and residential parking most days
- Toddlertainment value: 7/10 overall; 10/10 for the toy store and mini Radio Flyers at Flowerland
- Would I go again? Fasho.
Go bears! Picnicking on the North Lawn and wandering the hills of campus is always a relaxing time for me, and my kid seems to enjoy it, too! There are big open spaces to run around and campus is generally vehicle-free (minus the maintenance trucks). If your kid is like my kid, catching the Cal VSA lion dance team practices on Friday evenings is always 10/10.
- Plan for: 1-2 hours
- Bring: Snacks - may I suggest Pink Cloud? 🙂 And stroller for all the hills.
- Advanced reservations? No
- Parking: Street; we usually park on North side where there are more residential spots (generally a 2-hour limit weekdays before 6PM; no limit after 6PM or on weekends) and walk (10-15 minutes)
- Toddlertainment value: 8/10 - There's a lot to explore around campus!
- Would I go again? Yes, it's fun to find different spots to picnic.
Newts! Need I say more? We headed to the botanical garden on a whim and were very much delighted by all the paths, trees, running water, and newts! We stayed much longer than I thought we would; even one of the workers was surprised to see us a few hours later. We stopped for snacks and watercoloring, spotted a tiny frog in the wilderness, and didn't want to leave (but they were closing!).
- Plan for: 2 hours or more
- Bring: Good shoes. If you bring your stroller you can easily leave it in certain spots and wander for a bit.
- Advanced reservations? No, but sometimes recommended for busier days or special events. Kids under 5 are free.
- Parking: Paid lot up the hill.
- Toddlertainment value: 10/10 for the newts!
- Would I go again? Yes, there was much more to explore!
Fin. Have you been to any places on this FFBAS list? What would you add?
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