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Here are some of our favorite things to do with kids in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Amusement Park
Great America in Santa Clara has thrilling coasters, fun shows, KidZville (rides, play area, and shows for younger children) and even a water park.

Fairyland in Oakland is great for younger kids. Reasonable entry fee includes rides and shows.

Aquarium
The Monterey Bay Aquarium is world class... fun, educational, big! The breathtaking setting makes a great weekend destination in early Fall when both the crowds and the fog are gone. Stay overnight and enjoy kayaking on the bay (Monterey Bay Kayaks offers naturalist led tours). Let your kids burn off some energy at the Denise the Menace playground before the drive home.

Art Center
Zeum at Yerba Buena Gardens in San Francisco provides fun hands-on art activities for all ages. While you're at Yerba Buena ride the old playland carousel and enjoy the colorful playground area. Bowling and iceskating are also available.

Art Museums
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 San Jose Museum of Art has many kid-friendly exhibits. On one visit we enjoyed exhibits of Chihuly glass, modern art furniture, photo collage, and cartoon drawings. The museum is within walking distance of the Tech Museum and the Children's Discovery Museum.

Aviation Museum
Hiller Aviation Museum in San Carlos has very interesting vintage and experimental aircraft exhibits. Children ages 8-17 can register for the Young Eagles program and fly for free above the San Francisco Bay with a licensed pilot in a real plane!

Beaches
Natural Bridges State Beach in Santa Cruz is scenic and has lively tide pools just a short hike from the main beach. Nearby natural trails lead through the winter habitat of monarch butterflies. The Seymour Marine Discovery Center is nearby and is a worthwhile side trip.

Biking Trails
Canada Road in San Mateo is closed to motorized vechiles from Hwy 92 to Edgewood Rd. along Crystal Springs Reservior on most Sundays. Stop for a look down the Pulgas Water Temple. Tour the house and gardens at nearby Filoli Mansion.

Children's Museums
Bay Area Discovery Museum in Sausalito is a great children's museum in a beautiful location. The Children's Discovery Museum in San Jose is equally fun and conveniently located near the Tech Museum.

Children's Theaters
California Theatre Center in Sunnyvale. Adult actors perform classic fairy tales.

Peninsula Youth Theatre in Mountain View. Young actors perform both new and old favorites. Costumes and sets are spectacular.

Young Performer's Theatre in San Francisco. Several especially fun and witty shows.

Farms
Ardenwood Historic Farm in Fremont hosts fun events throughout the year. Our favorites are the Harvest Festival in October and the Christmas Faire in early December. Events typically include house tours, train rides, food samples, farm activities, arts & crafts, and music.

Gardens
The UC Berkeley Botantical Garden was an accidental find for us. We just happened upon it on our way back from the Lawrence Hall of Science and were amazed at the number and variety of plants. The place has the feel of an educational/research garden, not a fancy for-show garden. The plant "zones" range from alpine to desert to tropical and everything in between. Don't miss the greenhouse that holds the carnivorous plants.

Historical Museums & Parks
The Museum of American Heritage in Palo Alto has well done kid-oriented exhibits and special events.

Natural History Museums
California Academy Natural History Museum in San Francisco has dinosaurs and much more, including insects, minerals, and an african experience. Round out the day at the adjacent Steinhart Aquarium and Morrison Planetarium.

Nature/Wildlife Centers
Coyote Point Recreation Area in San Mateo has daily otter and fox feedings and weekend animal talks.

Lindsay Wildlife Museum in Walnut Creek houses local animals that can not be released into the wild, usually due to injury.

Ano Nuevo State Park in Pescadero is a "must do" activity during elephant seal season (December through March). It takes some advance planning, because the seal breeding area is only accessible via tour and the tours (especially weekend tours) book up in advance. However, it's worth the effort to get closer to the huge males than you thought you'd be allowed to and see hundreds of females and their pups.

Parks
The best park is probably the one that's closest to you and has a fun play structure. However, when you're looking for a special day try one of these 3 destination parks. Each has numerous fun activities.

Golden Gate Park in San Francisco has art museums, aquarium, planetarium, arboretum, tea garden, play grounds, boat rentals, and even buffaloes! Main roads closed to auto traffic on Sundays to accomodate bicycling and skating.

Tilden Park in Berkeley has picnic areas, pony rides, carousel, botanical garden, and swimming.

Vasona Park in Los Gatos has picnic areas, playgrounds, boat rentals, and paved bicycle paths. Adjacent Oak Meadow Park has train ride and carousel.

Planetarium
Chabot Observatory & Science Center in Oakland has a great facility and lots of fun activities.

Restaurants
Chevys throughout the Bay Area serves fresh tasting Mexican food fast. Kid's menu, balloons, and tortilla machine makes Chevy's a favorite choice for a fun meal.

Fresh Choice is another Bay Area chain that appeals to families. Almost any child can find veggies he/she likes on the extensive salad bar and the baked potatoes, pizza, muffins, and soft-serve ice cream round out the meal.

Science & Technology
The Exploratorium in San Francisco has hundreds of hands-on "experiments" your children can perform.

The Tech Museum in San Jose has several themed areas (space, communications, life sciences, etc.)

Snow Skiing
Smaller, low-key resorts tend to be a better experience and a better value for families. Some favorites are:

Badger Pass in Yosemite is a great ski destination. Yosemite is beautiful and uncrowded during winter. Ice skate under the stars at the Currie Village ice rink.

Northstar in Truckee has fun ski and play areas especially for kids and consistently good ski schools.

Visit Soda Springs for snow tubing and sledding.

Train Rides
The Roaring Camp and Big Trees Narrow Gauge Railroad in Felton (near Santa Cruz) is fun any day, but especially fun during one of their many special events. Worth the drive for Thomas the Tank Engine days, Moonlight rides, Harvest Festival, Halloween Ghost trains, and Pioneer Christmas.

For a really special train adventure weekend ride the Amtrak Capitol Corridor train to Sacramento to visit the California State Railroad Museum. Stay in the nearby Delta King paddleboat hotel and explore Old Town Sacramento.

Water Slides
Raging Waters in San Jose and Waterworld in Concord are equally great places to beat to heat. Pick the one closest to you and head our for a fun day.

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.

The San Francisco Zoo now has modern entrance area, pretty landscaping, expanded petting zoo, and several new animal habitat areas. Especially fun in summer when zoo camp teens display small animals for viewing and petting.