Favorite Bay Area Toddler Activities

Sonoma TrainTown

Keep the little ones busy with these 15 favorite activities and outings in Marin, the San Francisco Bay Area, and beyond, specially selected for families with kids 5 and under. 

1. Sonoma TrainTown: Take a train ride, meet and feed farm animals, and enjoy the amusement rides.
2. Bay Area Discovery Museum, Sausalito: Hands-on play, climb, splash, build, and explore hands-on play zones.
3. Lemos Farm: Petting zoo, pumpkins, seasonal attractions, and events year-round fun.
4. Outpost Playground at Tunnel Tops: Climbing logs, crawling tunnels, water play, sand building, nature exploration, imaginative outdoor obstacle adventures.
5. Slide Ranch, Muir Beach: Visit animals, oceanfront trails, tide pools, and picnic.
6. Oakland Zoo: Children’s Zoo, rides, petting goats, splash play, rope bridges, and hands-on animal learning.
7. Children's Fairyland, Oakland: Explore storybook sets, gentle rides, puppet shows, animals, and outdoor imaginative play.
8. Exploratorium, San Francisco: Hands-on exhibits, water play, light and sensory activities.
9. San Francisco Zoo: Petting zoo, train, carousel, playground, penguins, giraffes, and grizzly bears.
10. California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco: Curiosity Grove, animal exhibits, aquarium, rainforest, and hands-on science play.
11. Children's Museum of Sonoma County, Santa Rosa: Hands-on science, art, water play, outdoor garden, imaginative STEAM exhibits.
12. Little Farm, Tilden Park: Visit cows, goats, chickens; explore barns, enjoy nearby nature trails, free. 
13. Tilden Steam Train, Orinda: Mini steam train ride through redwoods, tunnels, bridges, gentle loop; perfect short kid-friendly adventure
14. Gilroy Gardens, Gilroy: Gentle rides, splash zones, train rides, toddler carousels, garden-themed play areas.
15. Filoli, Woodside: Creating Home at Filoli is a site-wide exhibit with kids’ scavenger hunts, nature play spaces, hands-on art, and storytelling about belonging.