VISITING San Francisco Bay Area · The Bay

Visiting San Francisco Bay Area with toddlers and little kids: the plan.

Pick one side of the bay per day. San Francisco has the zoo, the Exploratorium and the Academy of Sciences, Oakland has Fairyland and its zoo, and San Jose has the Children’s Discovery Museum and Happy Hollow. The Bay Area Discovery Museum is just across the Golden Gate in Sausalito.

Top 2 can’t-miss spots

#1Oakland, 699 Bellevue Avenue
Children’s Fairyland
Closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
Kids $18Adults $20under 1
See it in the guide
#2Sausalito, 557 McReynolds Road
Bay Area Discovery Museum
Closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
$25 eachunder 1
See it in the guide
Nap breaks built in

One day or two in Bay Area

A couple of big stops, a real lunch and a nap in the middle. Tap a stop for the full listing.

If you have one day
MORNINGChildren’s FairylandOpens at 10, Wed–Sun · Oakland, 699 Bellevue Avenue · $18 kids, $20 adults
NAPBack to the hotel for nap. If your little one sleeps best in the car, take a loop.
AFTER NAPExploratoriumOpen until 5 · Embarcadero, Pier 15
If you have two days

Day 1 is the one-day plan above. Day 2:

MORNINGBay Area Discovery MuseumToddler space for the littlest · Sausalito, 557 McReynolds Road · $25 per person
NAPBack to the hotel for nap. If your little one sleeps best in the car, take a loop.
AFTER NAPSan Francisco Zoo & GardensLast entry 4pm · Sunset District, Sloat Blvd. at the Great Highway
Where to stay

Kid-friendly areas near the big attractions

Pick the area by the stops you’ll make most, then plan around nap.

SFDowntown San FranciscoClose to the Exploratorium and an easy drive to Golden Gate Park and the zoo.Near Exploratorium and California Academy of Sciences
OAKOakland, near Lake MerrittWalk to Fairyland; the Oakland Zoo is 20 minutes away.Near Children’s Fairyland
Eat

Easy restaurants near the big stops

Kids’ menus, quick service and a short drive from the attractions. Prices come from each restaurant’s own menu.

Café · Sunset DistrictLeaping Lemur CaféNear San Francisco Zoo & GardensCafé · Golden Gate ParkAcademy CaféNear California Academy of Sciences
Before you go

Practical tips

Parking, strollers, changing tables and the best times to go.

Parking
The SF Zoo charges $20 to park on weekends, and the Oakland Zoo $15 in advance or $20 at the gate.
Bridges
Tolls apply on the way into San Francisco and Oakland, so plan your day around one side of the bay.
Visiting in November or December?

Santa and Christmas lights in Bay Area

If your trip lands in the holiday season, these two pages have the dates, prices and booking links.

Santa in Bay AreaBreakfast with Santa, Santa photos and Santa trains, with 2026 pricesChristmas lights in Bay AreaDrive-thru and walk-through displays, start times and 2026 prices
This week

Happening while you’re here

This week’s top events in San Francisco Bay Area. The full list, with hours and the forecast, is on the this-week page.

#1Sat 10am–3pm
Boo at the Zoo, San Francisco Zoo
A costume parade at 11, a costume contest at noon with its own toddler category, candy stations and crafts around the zoo. Weekend parking is $20.
San Francisco Zoo & Gardens · San Francisco
Included with zoo admission
Hours, food & parking
#2Sat 9am–4pm
Goblin Jamboree at the Bay Area Discovery Museum
The last day of the museum’s Halloween festival at Fort Baker. Toddlers 42 inches and under get their own space in Harvest Hall, and there’s a bug dig with the Beetlelady.
Bay Area Discovery Museum · Sausalito
$30 per ticketIndoor
Hours, food & parking
#3Sat 12–7pm
Halloween Jam: Mad Magic! at Children’s Fairyland
Fairyland’s Halloween party on the shore of Lake Merritt runs into the evening on Saturday. Fairyland also runs a gentler daytime Halloween Jam on Friday and Sunday.
Children’s Fairyland · Oakland
Ticketed
Hours, food & parking
#4Sat 1–3pm
Halloween Parade and Trick-or-Treating (Oakland Main Library)
A costume parade through the Main Library that starts in the Children’s Room. The candy is allergen-free. Free.
Main Library · San Francisco Bay Area
Free
Hours, food & parking
#5Sun 1–3pm
Bernal Community Día de los Muertos
An outdoor celebration on the Moultrie Street side of the library, with music by La Familia Peña-Govea. Bring something for the community ofrenda.
Bernal Heights Branch Library · San Francisco
Free
Hours, food & parking
See everything this week →
Good questions

Visiting San Francisco Bay Area with toddlers: the FAQ

Is San Francisco Bay Area kid-friendly?

For a family with kids under 6, yes. Our San Francisco Bay Area guide lists 13 places we checked for little kids, plus 2 free places and 4 picks for babies and toddlers. This page adds 2 easy restaurants near the big stops and free storytimes at 3 library systems. This week’s list has 30 dated outings for ages 0–6. See free things to do in San Francisco Bay Area and this weekend’s list.

Where should we stay with a toddler?

Pick the side of the bay you’ll spend the most time on. Downtown San Francisco is closest to the Exploratorium, and Oakland is closest to Fairyland and the Oakland Zoo.

What if it rains?

The Exploratorium, the Academy of Sciences, Chabot and the Children’s Discovery Museum are indoors.

Get the list every Thursday.

One short email every Thursday evening with the five things we’d leave the house for in Bay Area.