Animals

children petting goat
Zoos, farms, and wildlife centers with live animal exhibits are listed below. Click on the link to reach the organization's web page where you'll find a summary of attractions, prices, hours, and directions.

Some zoos have fun rides and play areas. Many farms and wildlife centers have areas where you can enjoy a picnic lunch.

Zoos
San Francisco Zoo - San Francisco
Many new and improved exhibits. A fun children's zoo, plus a carousel and steam train.

Oakland Zoo - Oakland
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. Standard park food. Zoo Lights holiday light show from Thanksgiving to New Year's is very neat.

Happy Hollow - San Jose
Although this zoo is small and doesn't have many of the animals one typically associates with zoos (no elephants, zebras, or tigers), there are enough cute, furry animals to entertain most children. Plus, there are several rides, a puppet show, and fun play areas. The nearby Historical Park has interesting refurbished buildings and an old-fashioned icecream shop and candy store.

Kennedy Park - Hayward
A petting zoo and pony rides. Plus, a merry-go-round and train ride. Reasonably priced.

Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo - Palo Alto
A small zoo with snakes, birds, bats, bunnies, and fish. No fee, but a donation is accepted near the entrance to the adjoining children's museum. Bring a picnic lunch and dine at nearby Rinconada park where you'll find two nice children's play areas. If it's a warm summer day, bring your swimsuits and enjoy a fun swim at Rinconada Pool.

Aquariums
Monterey Bay Aquarium - Monterey
Seymour Marine Discovery - Santa Cruz
Steinhart Aquarium - San Francisco
Aquarium of the Bay - San Francisco

Farms & Ranches
Ardenwood Historic Farm - Fremont
Deer Hill Ranch - Lafayette
Deer Hollow Farm - Los Altos
Hidden Villa - Los Altos Hills
Lemos Farm - Half Moon Bay
Little Farm, Tilden Park - Berkeley
Phipps Country Store & Farm - Pescadero
Prusch Park - San Jose
Slide Ranch - Muir Beach

Horseback Riding
Ano Nuevo - Pescadero
Blue Moon Riding School - Half Moon Bay
Calero Ranch - San Jose
Cevalo Riding Academy - San Jose
Kalana Corral - Brentwood
Miwok Livery Stables - Mill Valley
Monterey Bay Equestrian Center - Monterey
Napa Valley Trail Rides - Napa and Sonoma
North Gait Equestrian Center - Walnut Creek
Park Pacifica Stables - Pacifica
Rancho Saguaro - Martinez
Seven Oaks Farm - Portola Valley
Skylark Ranch - Pescadero

Wildlife Centers
Most wildlife centers showcase local animals (seals, falcons, bobcats, etc.). In some cases the animals have been injured or undernourished and are being rehabilitated.
Ano Nuevo - Pescadero
Coyote Hills Regional Park - Fremont
Coyote Point Museum - San Mateo
Crab Cove Visitor Center - Alameda
Crissy Field Center - San Francisco
Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge - Fremont
Elkhorn Slough National Estuary Research Preserve - Watsonville
Hayward Shoreline Interpretive Center - Hayward
James Fitzgerald Marine Reserve - Moss Beach
Lindsay Wildlife Museum - Walnut Creek
Marine Mammal Center- Marin
Palo Alto Baylands Nature Center and Duck Pond - Palo Alto
Randall Museum - San Francisco
Rotary Nature Center & Wildlife Bird Santuary - Oakland
Safari West - Santa Rosa
Shorebird Nature Center - Berkeley
Sulphur Creek Nature Center - Hayward
Terwilliger Nature Education Center - Corte Madre
Tilden Nature Area and Little Farm - Berkeley
Wildcare - San Rafael
Wildlife Center of Silicon Valley - San Jose

Fun A-Z	Fun by City	Animals	The Arts	Camps	Entertainment Centers	History
Libraries	Mothers Clubs	Museums	Outdoor Fun	Parties	Restaurants	Sports
Free Newsletter	Discounts	BAKF Favorites	Your Ideas	About BAKF	Advertising	Home