Summer’s here, and it’s time to soak up the season with your family! Whether you’re up for big adventures or quick local outings, the Bay Area is packed with kid-friendly fun—from ferry rides and splash pads to concerts, hikes, and berry picking.

To help you plan, we’ve organized everything by region so it’s easy to find something nearby (or worth the drive!).

☀️ San Francisco

🎈 Balloon Museum – Immersive art experience that’s kid-friendly and Insta-worthy.
⚾ SF Giants Game – Catch a home game at Oracle Park with a ferry ride there!
🧺 Picnic at Crissy Field or Dolores Park – Bring a blanket, snacks, and enjoy the views.
🌈 SF Pride Parade – Sunday, June 29, 2025. Starts at Embarcadero Plaza. Celebration weekend: June 28–29.
🎶 Stern Grove Festival – Free concerts every Sunday, June 15–Aug 17. Ticket lottery required.
🔥 Bonfire at Ocean Beach – Fire pits are first-come, first-served.
⛴️ Ferry ride to Oracle Park or Chase Center – Fun and scenic transportation.
🚣 Pedal Boats at Stow Lake – Open daily in Golden Gate Park.
🏕️ Camp at Kirby Cove – Iconic camping under the Golden Gate.
🍦 Ice Cream at Mitchell’s or Humphry Slocombe.
🥾 Hike Lands End – Explore coastal cliffs and labyrinths.
🌿 Salesforce Park Events – Free yoga, music, movie nights & more.
🏖️ Beach picnic – Try Ocean Beach, China Beach, or Baker Beach.
🎭 Club Fugazi – See “Dear San Francisco” – a kid-friendly, high-energy acrobatic show.
💦 Splash Pads – Mission Playground, Tunnel Tops Outpost, 24th & York Mini Park.

☀️ South Bay

🍒 U-Pick Farms – Try Boo Cherry Orchard or Tru2Earth in Morgan Hill.
🎢 California’s Great America – Roller coasters + South Bay Shores water park.
🚣 Vasona Lake – Pedal boats, kayaks, and canoe rentals.
🛍️ Downtown Campbell Farmers Market – Every Sunday, spring to fall.
🎬 Cinemark & AMC – Summer movie camps from $1.75.
🏞️ Hike Mt. Umunhum or Mt. Hamilton – Breathtaking valley views.
🧩 Beat the Lock Escape Room – Family-friendly puzzles in Santa Clara.
🎨 Whirlygig Parties – Wednesday open-play sessions for littles.
🧱 LEGOLAND Discovery Center – Indoor play, events & STEM fun.
🖌️ Petroglyph Ceramic Lounge – Paint-your-own pottery.
🧪 Slime Kitchen – Sensory play fun with multiple Bay Area locations.
💦 Splash Pads – Seven Seas, Ortega, Serra, Lakewood, Hellyer, Magical Bridge (Fair Oaks), Plaza de Cesar Chavez.
🌊 Calibunga Waterpark – Open in San Jose.

☀️ Peninsula

🦩 Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo – Feed flamingos, climb, and learn.
🎤 Magical Bridge Summer Concerts – Inclusive concerts throughout the summer.
🏊 Rinconada Pool – Public swim sessions.
🎥 Movies on the Square – Free summer films in Redwood City.
✈️ Hiller Aviation Museum – Summer airshows and STEM exhibits.
🎶 Concerts on the Lagoon – Foster City hosts free music by the water.
💦 Stanford Fountains – Free splash play at Stanford Shopping Center.
🚂 Kiddos Chu Chu Train – Seasonal rides in Foster City.
🤸 ABC Tree Farms Inflatable Park – Two giant water slides!
🌊 Parkside Aquatic Park – Beach, splash pad, playground.
🌸 Filoli Estate – Giant trolls exhibit runs through Nov 10, 2025.
💦 Splash Pads – Mitchell Park (Palo Alto), Magical Bridge (Red Morton), Burton & Laureola (San Carlos), Spinas, Fleishman, Stulsaft (Redwood City).
🏖️ Beaches – Try Pacifica, Pescadero, Venice, Bean Hollow.

☀️ East Bay

🍦 Meadowlark Dairy – Drive-thru soft serve in Pleasanton.
🎡 Alameda County Fair – June 13–July 6, 2025.
🏊 Don Castro & Cull Canyon Lagoons – Affordable swimming holes.
💧 Rancho San Ramon Splash Pad – Free and shaded.
🧚 Fairyland Oakland – For toddlers to young kids.
🚂 Tilden Steam Train – Open weekends.
🐐 Tilden Little Farm – Pet goats, cows & pigs.
🎆 4th of July Parades – Danville, Benicia, Pleasant Hill.
🎠 Children’s Wonderland Park – Hidden gem in Vallejo.
🛍️ City Center Bishop Ranch – Splash pad + farmers market.
🫧 Bubblefest at Chabot – June 21–22, hands-on science fun.
💦 Splash Pads – San Ramon, Dublin, Brentwood, Concord, Danville, Walnut Creek.
🌊 Water Parks – Hurricane Harbor, The Wave, Antioch Water Park, Aqua Adventure, Silliman Center.

☀️North Bay

🏖️ Beaches – Muir, Stinson, Rodeo, Dillon, Bodega Bay.
🚂 Sonoma TrainTown – Mini train rides + petting zoo.
🐘 Safari West – African safari with giraffes, zebras & rhinos.
🥾 Redwood hikes – Armstrong Redwoods, Helen Putnam Park.
🍓 U-Pick – Sebastopol farms like EARTHseed, Gabriel, Redwood Empire.
🎨 Children’s Museum of Sonoma County – Great indoor/outdoor mix.
🐄 Creamery Tours – Marin French Cheese Co., Cowgirl Creamery.
🎡 Sonoma County Fair – Late July–August.
🍷 Kid-friendly wineries – Cornerstone, Larson Family Winery, Castello di Amorosa.
🎢 Scandia – Mini-golf, arcade, bumper boats.
🧗 Sonoma Zipline Adventures – Epic redwood ziplines.
🍿 Movies in the Park – Check rec sites for Petaluma, Napa, Santa Rosa, Novato.
💦 Splash Pads – Vacaville, Fairfield, Santa Rosa, San Rafael.

☀️ Beyond The Bay

Great Wolf Lodge Water Park in Manteca
Water Oasis at Gilroy Gardens
Wake Island Water Park in Pleasant Grove
Santa Cruz - boardwalk, beaches (Shark Fins Cove, Natural Bridges), Free movies and concerts

🌟 Bonus: Nationwide Summer Fun

🎳 Kids Bowl Free – 2 free games a day at participating alleys.
🎬 $1.75 Summer Movies – Cinemark, AMC, and Regal all run weekday summer series.
📚 Library Summer Reading Programs – Prizes and events at most libraries.

Bay Area Summer Bucket List For Families 2025

☀️ San Francisco

🎈 Balloon Museum – Immersive art experience that’s kid-friendly and Insta-worthy.

⚾ SF Giants Game – Catch a home game at Oracle Park with a ferry ride there!

🧺 Picnic at Crissy Field or Dolores Park – Bring a blanket, snacks, and enjoy the views.

🌈 SF Pride Parade – Sunday, June 29, 2025. Starts at Embarcadero Plaza. Celebration weekend: June 28–29.

🎶 Stern Grove Festival – Free concerts every Sunday, June 15–Aug 17. Ticket lottery required.

🔥 Bonfire at Ocean Beach – Fire pits are first-come, first-served.

⛴️ Ferry ride to Oracle Park or Chase Center – Fun and scenic transportation.

🚣 Pedal Boats at Stow Lake – Open daily in Golden Gate Park.

🏕️ Camp at Kirby Cove – Iconic camping under the Golden Gate.

🍦 Ice Cream at Mitchell’s or Humphry Slocombe.

🥾 Hike Lands End – Explore coastal cliffs and labyrinths.

🌿 Salesforce Park Events – Free yoga, music, movie nights & more.

🏖️ Beach picnic – Try Ocean Beach, China Beach, or Baker Beach.

🎭 Club Fugazi – See “Dear San Francisco” – a kid-friendly, high-energy acrobatic show.

💦 Splash Pads – Mission Playground, Tunnel Tops Outpost, 24th & York Mini Park.

☀️ South Bay

🍒 U-Pick Farms – Try Boo Cherry Orchard or Tru2Earth in Morgan Hill.

🎢 California’s Great America – Roller coasters + South Bay Shores water park.

🚣 Vasona Lake – Pedal boats, kayaks, and canoe rentals.

🛍️ Downtown Campbell Farmers Market – Every Sunday, spring to fall.

🎬 Cinemark & AMC – Summer movie camps from $1.75.

🏞️ Hike Mt. Umunhum or Mt. Hamilton – Breathtaking valley views.

🧩 Beat the Lock Escape Room – Family-friendly puzzles in Santa Clara.

🎨 Whirlygig Parties – Wednesday open-play sessions for littles.

🧱 LEGOLAND Discovery Center – Indoor play, events & STEM fun.

🖌️ Petroglyph Ceramic Lounge – Paint-your-own pottery.

🧪 Slime Kitchen – Sensory play fun with multiple Bay Area locations.

💦 Splash Pads – Seven Seas, Ortega, Serra, Lakewood, Hellyer, Magical Bridge (Fair Oaks), Plaza de Cesar Chavez.

🌊 Calibunga Waterpark – Open in San Jose.

☀️ Peninsula

🦩 Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo – Feed flamingos, climb, and learn.

🎤 Magical Bridge Summer Concerts – Inclusive concerts throughout the summer.

🏊 Rinconada Pool – Public swim sessions.

🎥 Movies on the Square – Free summer films in Redwood City.

✈️ Hiller Aviation Museum – Summer airshows and STEM exhibits.

🎶 Concerts on the Lagoon – Foster City hosts free music by the water.

💦 Stanford Fountains – Free splash play at Stanford Shopping Center.

🚂 Kiddos Chu Chu Train – Seasonal rides in Foster City.

🤸 ABC Tree Farms Inflatable Park – Two giant water slides!

🌊 Parkside Aquatic Park – Beach, splash pad, playground.

🌸 Filoli Estate – Giant trolls exhibit runs through Nov 10, 2025.

💦 Splash Pads – Mitchell Park (Palo Alto), Magical Bridge (Red Morton), Burton & Laureola (San Carlos), Spinas, Fleishman, Stulsaft (Redwood City).

🏖️ Beaches – Try Pacifica, Pescadero, Venice, Bean Hollow.

☀️ East Bay

🍦 Meadowlark Dairy – Drive-thru soft serve in Pleasanton.

🎡 Alameda County Fair – June 13–July 6, 2025.

🏊 Don Castro & Cull Canyon Lagoons – Affordable swimming holes.

💧 Rancho San Ramon Splash Pad – Free and shaded.

🧚 Fairyland Oakland – For toddlers to young kids.

🚂 Tilden Steam Train – Open weekends.

🐐 Tilden Little Farm – Pet goats, cows & pigs.

🎆 4th of July Parades – Danville, Benicia, Pleasant Hill.

🎠 Children’s Wonderland Park – Hidden gem in Vallejo.

🛍️ City Center Bishop Ranch – Splash pad + farmers market.

🫧 Bubblefest at Chabot – June 21–22, hands-on science fun.

💦 Splash Pads – San Ramon, Dublin, Brentwood, Concord, Danville, Walnut Creek.

🌊 Water Parks – Hurricane Harbor, The Wave, Antioch Water Park, Aqua Adventure, Silliman Center.

☀️North Bay

🏖️ Beaches – Muir, Stinson, Rodeo, Dillon, Bodega Bay.

🚂 Sonoma TrainTown – Mini train rides + petting zoo.

🐘 Safari West – African safari with giraffes, zebras & rhinos.

🥾 Redwood hikes – Armstrong Redwoods, Helen Putnam Park.

🍓 U-Pick – Sebastopol farms like EARTHseed, Gabriel, Redwood Empire.

🎨 Children’s Museum of Sonoma County – Great indoor/outdoor mix.

🐄 Creamery Tours – Marin French Cheese Co., Cowgirl Creamery.

🎡 Sonoma County Fair – Late July–August.

🍷 Kid-friendly wineries – Cornerstone, Larson Family Winery, Castello di Amorosa.

🎢 Scandia – Mini-golf, arcade, bumper boats.

🧗 Sonoma Zipline Adventures – Epic redwood ziplines.

🍿 Movies in the Park – Check rec sites for Petaluma, Napa, Santa Rosa, Novato.

💦 Splash Pads – Vacaville, Fairfield, Santa Rosa, San Rafael.

☀️ Beyond The Bay

Great Wolf Lodge Water Park in Manteca

Water Oasis at Gilroy Gardens

Wake Island Water Park in Pleasant Grove

Santa Cruz - boardwalk, beaches (Shark Fins Cove, Natural Bridges), Free movies and concerts

🌟 Bonus: Nationwide Summer Fun

🎳 Kids Bowl Free – 2 free games a day at participating alleys.