Got a day off as a family and wondering where to go that’s closer to the Bay than Apple Hill or Disneyland?
We have compiled our top recommendations for day trips near and around San Francisco Bay Area. These places are conveniently located and within 3 hours of drive from San Francisco, making them the perfect local destinations for families with kids. Find out more about each of them below and be sure to tag us on social media (IG: @sfbayarea.moms) to share your adventures!
Top destinations for San Francisco Bay Area families:
1. Ripley’s Believe It Or Not! San Francisco
There’s never a bad time to explore the fascinating world at Ripleys’s Believe It or Not! San Francisco, a must-see attraction local to the Bay Area! Located in the heart of Fisherman’s Wharf, this oddity museum is guaranteed to satisfy curious minds and leave you wanting to learn more! Encounter unforgettable artifacts and interactive exhibits you have to see to believe. Read more about our own adventure at Ripley’s here: https://sanfranciscomoms.com/travel/arent-you-curious-about-ripleys-believe-it-or-not/
2. California’s Great America
We love California’s Great America (CGA) with its Americana and Snoopy motifs, especially during the holiday season! Nestled in the heart of Silicon Valley, CGA promises non-stop entertainment and unforgettable memories all year long – from Planet Snoopy rides for the littles to thrilling costers for the teens and adults. With live shows, delicious food, and refreshing drinks, explore the vibrant energy of spring, the festive allure of winter, and everything in between!
3. Santa Cruz
Whether you’re looking for an adventurous outdoor excursion, a trip to the museum, a delicious seafood meal, or a relaxing day by the beach – Santa Cruz has something to offer everyone. From towering redwood forests to the iconic amusement Boardwalk, this town has many cool things to see and do. Be sure to check out the farms in Watsonville, Gilroy Gardens and the nearby outlets, as well as the amazing coastline alongside Highway 1.
4. San Francisco Zoo
Don’t forget to take a ride on the Little Puffer Miniature Steam Train and save some time for the mom-approved playground of all playgrounds – the Elinor Friend Playground. Open 365 days a year, San Francisco Zoo is home to more than 2,000 exotic, endangered, and rescued animals in 100 acres of majestic and peaceful gardens located directly on the Pacific Coast. The mission of San Francisco Zoo & Gardens is to connect all people with wildlife, inspire caring for nature, and advance conservation action. For the first time in its history, San Francisco Zoo & Gardens is home to critically endangered Mongolian or Przewalski’s horses, an Asian species that was listed as “extinct” in the wild!
5. Children’s Museum of Sonoma County
A trip to Santa Rosa is not complete without visiting the Charles Schulz Museum and Children’s Museum of Sonoma County. With a mission to inspire curiosity and creativity through joyful transformative experiences, this interactive space is packed FULL of learning touchpoints for children aged 10 years and under. From a real-life helicopter on which you can climb onboard, to drama theaters and firefighting simulators, to STEAM exhibits and a spaceship you can try your hand at piloting – it is the epitome of children’s museums!
6. LEGOLAND Discovery Center Bay Area
Jump into a world of creativity, color, and playful learning this summer at LEGOLAND Discovery Center Bay Area, the ultimate indoor LEGO® playground! Enjoy an interactive LEGO-themed ride and a 4D cinema where your favorite LEGO characters come to life. Explore MINILAND Bay Area, featuring local landmarks made from over a million bricks, and get hands-on in LEGO-themed build-and-play areas where kids’ imaginations can explore endless possibilities. Conveniently located inside the Great Mall in Milpitas, just minutes off I-680. For more information and to book your tickets, visit BayArea.
7. Gardens of Golden Gate Park
Whether you’re looking for family fun, a quiet respite, or inspiration in the wonder and beauty of plants, the Gardens of Golden Gate Park has something for everyone. For roaming open grass fields and landscaped gardens that showcase more than 8,000 different kinds of plants from around the world, go to the San Francisco Botanical Garden (bring a picnic basket!). The Conservatory of Flowers is set in a landmark building — the oldest public wood-and-glass conservatory in North America — inspires awe and fascination with its rare and exotic plant collection. Bask in the natural beauty and tranquility amongst graceful Japanese maples, twisting pines, clipped azaleas, and cherry trees in the oldest operating public Japanese Garden in North America.
8. Coastal Marin
Coastal Marin is an outdoor wonderland, popular for mountain biking, hiking, kayaking, and sailing all year long. For those looking for milder activities, you can opt for whale watching, bird watching, garden tours, scenic painting photography, and just exploring Point Reyes National Seashore. Our favorite stop in Marin is the Marine Mammal Center, the largest marine mammal hospital in the world, where admission is free and animals are being rehabilitated.
9. Old Town Sacramento
You may have heard about the famous Polar Express™ ride during the holiday season put on by the California State Railroad Museum, but there are tons to see and do at Old Town Sac throughout the year! Put on your best boots and cowboy hat and check out over 125 shopping, dining, events, and attractions. From riverboats to horsedrawn carriages and riverside bike treks, go back in time to the gold rush era at the beautiful Old Sacramento Waterfront historic district.
10. Monterey Bay Aquarium
Located at the ocean’s edge on historic Cannery Row, the not-for-profit Monterey Bay Aquarium is your window to marine life. Known for its regional focus on the marine habitats of Monterey Bay and with a mission to inspire the conservation of the ocean, the Monterey Bay Aquarium is the most admired aquarium in the United States, a leader in science education, and a voice for ocean conservation through comprehensive programs in marine science and public policy. Their newest exhibit, Into the Deep, takes us on a five-part journey into a mysterious but important oceanic environment. An interpretive station also offers an opportunity to touch giant deep-sea isopods (huge rolly-polly!) and learn about their natural history.
11. Tilden Regional Park
Tilden Regional Park is a sprawling 2,079-acre wonderland in the Berkeley hills above the San Francisco Bay’s eastern cusp. At the Tilden Nature Area, swing by the Environmental Education Center (EEC) you can explore Wildcat Creek watershed exhibits, learn about park activities, and even have a chance to catch a live animal presentation (we saw snakes last time!). The nearby Little Farm (8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily) is home to farm animals, including cows, sheep, goats, rabbits, chickens, and pigs. Remember to bring lettuce or celery to feed the animals! Since 1952, the Redwood Valley Railway has been offering scenic rides aboard miniature steam trains through
the redwoods.
12. Brentwood U-Pick Farms
Support locl farms! When it comes to fresh produce, we are absolutely spoiled here in California. Head over to Brentwood for Agri-tourism and learn all about Californian farming! Get hand-on and harvest your own fruits and vegetables at U-Pick farms. U-pick activities are suitable for toddlers and up, and you can’t get produce fresher than this! Harvest Time, a non-profit organization, produces an educational farm trail map that directs us to more than 60 growers who sell directly to the consumer!
