The Bay Area is fortunate to have a wealth of places to enjoy a fun day outdoors with your children. Be sure to visit our Parks, Beaches, and Animals pages for additional great ways to enjoy a nice, sunny day in the Bay Area.
Biking and Hiking Trails
Iron Horse Regional Trail - Concord to San Ramon
Lafayette-Moraga Regional Trail - Lafayette, Moraga
Contra Costa Canal Bike Trail - Martinez, Pleasant Hill, Walnut Creek, Concord
Point Pinole Regional Shoreline - Richmond
Angel Island - San Francisco
Golden Gate Park - San Francisco
Lake Merced - San Francisco
Canada Road Bicycle Sunday - San Mateo
Crystal Springs Trail - San Mateo
Mt. Diablo State Park - Walnut Creek
San Francisco Bay Trail - Bay Area
Boat Rentals
Lake Chabot - Castro Valley
Lake Elizabeth - Fremont
Outback Adventures - Larkspur, Fremont
Lafayette Reservoir - Lafayette
Lake Del Valle - Livermore
Vasona Park - Los Gatos
Monterey Bay Kayaks - Monterey
Shoreline Park - Mountain View
Lake Merritt - Oakland
Shadow Cliffs Recreation Area - Pleasanton
Almaden Lake Park - San Jose
San Pablo Reservoir - San Pablo
Sea Trek - Sausalito
Boat Rides
Alameda/Oakland Ferry - Alameda
Elkhorn Slough Safari - Moss Landing
Alcatraz Cruises - San Francisco
Red and White Fleet - San Francisco
Blue & Gold Fleet - San Francisco, Alameda, Oakland, Vallejo, Tiburon, Sausalito
Hornblower Yachts - San Francisco, Berkeley
Golden Gate Ferry - San Francisco, Sausalito, Larkspur
Captain Kirk's Sailing Adventures - Sausalito
Angel Island Ferry - Tiburon
Farms
Smith Family Farm - Brentwood
Wolfe Ranch - Brentwood
U-Pick Farm Map - Brentwood
Swanton Berry Farm - Davenport
Joan's Farm & Pumpkin Patch - Livermore
Deer Hollow Farm - Los Altos
Hidden Villa - Los Altos Hills
Uesugi Farms - Morgan Hill
Slide Ranch - Muir Beach
CoastWays Ranch - Pescadero
Phipps Country Store & Farm - Pescadero
Petaluma Pumpkin Patch - Petaluma
Evergreen Acres Petting Farm - San Jose
Prusch Park - San Jose
Rodoni Farms - Santa Cruz
Crystal Bay Farm - Watsonville
Gizdich Ranch - Watsonville
Mariquita Farm - Watsonville
Farmers Markets
Smith Family Farm - Brentwood
Campbell Farmers' Market - Campbell
Daly City Farmers Market - Daly City
Danville Farmers Market - Danville
Emeryville Public Market - Emeryville
Pescadero Grown Farmers' Market - La Honda
Los Altos Farmers' Market - Los Altos
Moraga Farmers Market - Moraga
Morgan Hill Farmers Market - Morgan Hill
Mountain View Farmers' Market - Mountain View
Napa Valley Chef's Market - Napa
Old Oakland Farmers' Market - Oakland
California Ave Farmers Market - Palo Alto
Palo Alto Farmers' Market - Palo Alto
Pescadero Grown Farmers' Market - Pescadero
Coastways Ranch - Pescadero
Pinole Farmers' Market - Pinole
Ferry Plaza Farmers' Market - San Francisco
Evergreen Farmers' Market - San Jose
San Jose Downtown - San Jose
Bayfair Farmers Market - San Leandro
San Ramon Farmers' Market - San Ramon
Santana Row Farmers' Market - San Jose
Santa Clara Farmers' Market - Santa Clara
Rodoni Farms - Santa Cruz
UCSC Farm & Garden - Santa Cruz
Sunnyvale Farmers' Market - Sunnyvale
Diablo Valley Farmers Market - Walnut Creek
Gizdich Ranch - Watsonville
Gardens
Meyers House & Garden - Alameda
Bamboo Giant - Aptos
Berkeley Rose Garden - Berkeley
UC Berkeley Botantical Garden - Berkeley
Hayward Japanese Garden - Hayward
Allied Arts Guild - Menlo Park
Sunset Magazine Garden - Menlo Park
Dunsmuir House & Gardens - Oakland
Gamble Garden - Palo Alto
Strybing Aboretum & Botanical Gardens - San Francisco
Chinese Cultural Gardens - San Jose
Japanese Friendship Garden in Kelly Park - San Jose
Municipal Rose Garden - San Jose
Rosicrucian Park - San Jose
San Jose Heritage Rose Garden - San Jose
San Mateo Japanese Garden in Central Park - San Mateo
Friendship Garden - Santa Cruz
UC Santa Cruz Farm & Garden - Santa Cruz
Hakone Garden - Saratoga
Villa Montalvo Arboretum - Saratoga
Cornerstone Gardens - Sonoma
The Gardens at Heather Farm - Walnut Creek
Ruth Bancroft Garden - Walnut Creek
Filoli - Woodside
Horseback Riding
Folger Stable Horseback Riding with Bay Area Equestrian Connection ~ Woodside
Folger Stable in Wunderlich County Park in Woodside offers miles of all weather, horse friendly trails (no dogs, no bikes allowed) and horseback riding programs for all ages. Our riding programs for children include everything from an easy family trail ride through the park to English or Western Lessons, Spring and Summer 5 day Camps, Birthday Parties and Mini Horse Camps. We have knowledgeable staff, quality instruction, well trained horses and ponies and an inviting atmosphere in a convenient Bay Area location.
Heather Hill Horse Back Riding Center ~ Pacifica
Located at Park Pacifica Stables just 15 minutes south of San Francisco, we offer an inclusive, safe and general horsemanship program. English/Western Lessons, Riding Academy, Youth Camps, and Trail Lessons. Heather Hill owner, Laura Stevens, believes that learning to ride a horse is a metaphor for life. Horses teach responsibility, self-confidence, stewardship of nature and the valuable skill of being able to communicate with people of all generations. Join Laura and her Fabulous Welsh Cobs and Ponies! Call Laura for more information: 650-465-4083
Mar Vista Stable - Daly City
Sugarloaf Farm - Gilroy
Blue Moon Riding School - Half Moon Bay
Friendly Pony Parties - Half Moon Bay
Horizons East Equestrian Center - Livermore
Rancho Saguaro - Martinez
California Riding Academy - Menlo Park
Miwok Livery Stables - Mill Valley
North Bay Natural Horsemanship - Napa
Skylark Ranch - Pescadero
Seven Oaks Farm - Portola Valley
Spring Down Equestrian Center - Portola Valley
Webb Ranch - Portola Valley
Monterey Bay Equestrian Center - Salinas
Cevalo Riding Academy - San Jose
North Gait Equestrian Center - Walnut Creek
Nature Centers & Outings (also see Parks)
Crab Cove Visitor Center - Alameda
Shorebird Nature Center - Berkeley
Tilden Nature Area and Little Farm - Berkeley
Terwilliger Nature Education Center - Corte Madre
Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge - Fremont
Hayward Shoreline Interpretive Center - Hayward
Sulphur Creek Nature Center - Hayward
GreenPlay - Mill Valley, Ross
James Fitzgerald Marine Reserve - Moss Beach
Rotary Nature Center & Wildlife Bird Sanctuary - Oakland
Palo Alto Baylands Nature Center - Palo Alto
Ano Nuevo - Pescadero
Point Reyes Outdoors - Point Reyes Station
Marine Science Institute - Redwood City
Crissy Field Center - San Francisco
Randall Museum - San Francisco
Wildlife Center of Silicon Valley - San Jose
CuriOdyssey at Coyote Point - San Mateo
The Marine Mammal Center - Sausalito
Nature Bridge - Sausalito
Richardson Bay Audubon Center & Sanctuary - Tiburon
Lindsay Wildlife Museum - Walnut Creek
Elkhorn Slough National Estuary Research Preserve - Watsonville
Caterpillar Kids Club - Peninsula
Tiny Treks - Peninsula, South Bay
Playgrounds
Adventure Playground - Berkeley
Marin Playgrounds Directory - Marin County
Small World Park - Pittsburg
Yerba Buena Playground - San Francisco
McEnery Park - San Jose
Monopoly in the Park - San Jose
Many city parks have impressive playgrounds. Visit our Parks page for links to city parks near you.
Swimming Lakes
Contra Loma Reservior - Antioch
Lake Anza, Tilden Regional Park - Berkeley
Cull Canyon Reservoir - Castro Valley
Gull Park - Foster City
Quarry Lakes - Fremont
Don Castro Resevoir - Hayward
Shell Beach, Tomales Bay State Park - Inverness
Del Valle Reservoir- Livermore
Lake Temescal - Oakland
Shadow Cliffs Lake - Pleasanton
Almaden Lake Park - San Jose
Coyote Point Recreation Area - San Mateo
Parkside Aquatic Park - San Mateo
Swimming Pools
Antioch Water Park - Antioch
Berkeley Swimming Pools - Berkeley
City of Brentwood Aquatic Complex - Brentwood
Brisbane Swimming Pool - Brisbane
Burlingame Aquatics Center - Burlingame
Campbell Aquatics - Campbell
Concord Community Pool - Concord
Blackberry Farm - Cupertino
Hayward Plunge - Hayward
Hercules Swim Center - Hercules
El Cerrito Swim Center - El Cerrito
Los Gatos High - Los Gatos
Livermore Pools - Livermore
Martinez Community Pool - Martinez
Belle Haven Pool - Menlo Park
Monterey Sports Center - Monterey
Morgan Hill Aquatics Center - Morgan Hill
Mountain View Community Services - Mountain View
Silliman Family Aquatic Center - Newark
Oakland Pools - Oakland
Roberts Pool - Oakland
Oceana Swimming Pool - Pacifica
Rinconada Pool - Palo Alto
Pinole Swim Center - Pinole
Sullenberger Swim Center - Pittsburg
Pleasant Hill Pools - Pleasant Hill
Dolores Bengston Aquatic Center - Pleasanton
Redwood City Pools - Redwood City
Richmond Swim Center - Richmond
San Bruno Park Pool - San Bruno
Jewish Community Center of San Francisco - San Francisco
San Francisco Aquatics - San Francisco
San Jose Aquatics - San Jose
San Leandro Pools - San Leandro
San Mateo Swim Centers - San Mateo
Marinwood Pool - San Rafael
Doughtery Valley Aquatic Center - San Ramon
San Ramon Olympic Pool and Park - San Ramon
Santa Clara Pools - Santa Clara
Harvey West Pool - Santa Cruz
Siltanen Family Swim Center - Scotts Valley
Orange Memorial Pool - South San Francisco
Walnut Creek Aquatics - Walnut Creek