Guides for weekends with kids
Hand-picked lists for the way parents actually plan a weekend: by your kid's age, the weather, your budget, the kind of outing, or where you live. Every place links to full details — drive time, stroller notes, parking and tips.
In season
By age
By weather & budget
By type
- HikesKid-friendly hikes and nature walks around the South Bay17 places
- FarmsFarms with animals for kids around the South Bay7 places
- PlaygroundsThe best playgrounds around the South Bay13 places
- LibrariesLibraries with great kids' areas around the South Bay17 places
- BeachesBeaches for kids within about an hour of the South Bay11 places
- TrainsTrain rides and railroads for kids around the Bay Area7 places
- GardensGardens worth visiting with kids around the South Bay5 places
- Zoos & animal parksZoos and animal parks for kids around the Bay Area10 places
- MuseumsChildren's museums and science centers around the Bay Area7 places
By area
- Near SunnyvaleThings to do with kids in and near Sunnyvale16 places
- Near San JoseThings to do with kids in and near San Jose16 places
- Near Palo AltoThings to do with kids in and near Palo Alto16 places
- In San FranciscoThings to do with kids in San Francisco9 places
- Near Santa CruzThings to do with kids in and around Santa Cruz7 places
Every place, by type
Hike
- Alum Rock Park
- Año Nuevo Elephant Seal Reserve
- Big Basin Redwoods (Redwood Loop)
- Coyote Hills Regional Park
- Ed R. Levin County Park
- Henry Cowell Redwoods (Redwood Grove Loop)
- Los Gatos Creek Trail (Campbell Section)
- Muir Woods National Monument
- Palo Alto Baylands Nature Preserve
- Picchetti Ranch
- Purisima Creek Redwoods (Higgins Canyon Entrance)
- Rancho San Antonio + Deer Hollow Farm
- Sanborn County Park
- Shoreline Park & Lake
- Stevens Creek County Park Reservoir
- Ulistac Natural Area
- Uvas Canyon Waterfall Loop
Farm
Playground
- Central Park
- Cuesta Park
- Dennis the Menace Playground
- Golden Gate Park (Koret Playground + Historic Carousel)
- Guadalupe River Park & Rotary PlayGarden
- Las Palmas Park
- Magical Bridge Playground (Palo Alto)
- Magical Bridge Playground (Rengstorff Park)
- Magical Bridge Playground (Sunnyvale, Fair Oaks Park)
- Rinconada Park
- Serra Park
- Sunnyvale Baylands Park
- Vasona Lake + Oak Meadow Park
Library
- Berkeley Central Library
- Cupertino Library Children's Area
- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Library
- Fremont Main Library
- Los Altos Library
- Los Gatos Library
- Milpitas Library
- Mitchell Park Library
- Mountain View Public Library
- Oakland Main Library
- Redwood City Public Library
- Rinconada Library
- San Mateo Main Library
- Santa Clara Central Park Library
- Saratoga Library
- SF Main Library (Fisher Children's Center)
- Sunnyvale Public Library
Beach
- Bean Hollow Pebble Beach
- Capitola Beach & Esplanade
- Coyote Point (Bay Beach + Magic Mountain Playground)
- Crab Cove (Alameda's Shallow Beach)
- Crissy Field (Beach and Lawn Under the Golden Gate)
- Half Moon Bay State Beach (Francis Beach)
- Natural Bridges State Beach
- Pigeon Point Lighthouse
- Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk & Main Beach
- Seabright State Beach
- Seacliff State Beach / Rio del Mar