Looking for things to do in East Bay with kids? We have mapped 154 family-friendly places across the area, from outdoor playgrounds (48), museums & educational attractions (21) and outdoor pools & water parks (17).
Find kid-friendly places to play, learn and explore in and around East Bay. Browse by category below, or jump to a few popular spots families visit.
Weekends are when most families actually get out, so start here. 82 of these places are outdoors and 43 are indoors, which matters more than usual when the forecast turns.
When it rains, or when it is simply too cold to be outside for long, there are 43 indoor places to choose from. Museums and indoor playgrounds are the usual answer, and both work at short notice.
A good share of what is on this page costs nothing. 76 of the places we list are free to visit, which makes a short trip perfectly reasonable when attention spans are short.
Splash pads, wading pools and indoor play areas suit toddlers, because they are shallow, close by and easy to leave early. Older children get more out of the hands-on museums and the bigger play structures.
Museum of Children's Art (MOCHA) in Oakland, California is an arts education museum where families can explore hands-on art studios and participate in creative…
Oakland Ice Center is a family entertainment venue in Oakland, CA that operates an NHL-sized and an Olympic-sized ice surface. The facility offers public skating…
Museum of Children's Art (MOCHA) in Oakland, California is an arts education museum where families can explore hands-on art studios and participate in creative…
A Victorian house museum on the shore of Lake Merritt, built in 1876. Visitors can tour the period rooms and learn about Oakland's 19th-century history. The house…

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City public pool; seasonal summer lap and family swim; lessons available
Children's Fairyland is a whimsical 10-acre storybook park located on the shores of Lake Merritt in Oakland, California, designed for families with young children…
Oakland Museum of California is a museum, garden, and gathering place in the heart of Oakland that explores the big ideas that shape California lives. Families can…
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Bowling bocce billiards arcade; craft food; great outdoor space; family and adult
We list 154 kid-friendly places in East Bay, led by outdoor playgrounds (48) and museums & educational attractions (21). Every listing shows hours, prices and what other parents thought.
76 of the places we list in East Bay are free to visit, including playgrounds, splash pads and several outdoor spaces.
There are 43 indoor places in East Bay, including museums, indoor playgrounds and family entertainment centers.
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Helping families discover trusted, kid-friendly places to play, learn and explore, while giving local businesses an affordable way to reach parents.