Berkeley is a vibrant and spirited place that may surprise those who still see it as the counter-culture center of the Sixties. Free speech and “flower power” are forever in the city’s DNA, but Berkeley has evolved into a culinary and cultural travel destination with a “green” soul. The tree-lined streets of Berkeley offers creative, educational and fun experiences for every member of the family. From fun art activities for children to several kid-oriented museums, there’s always something lively and festive right around the corner. Here are Trekaroo’s top picks for things to do in Berkeley with kids:
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Walk among roaring, stomping, realistic-looking dinosaurs at Lawrence Hall of Science- UC Berkeley:
Explore the prehistoric world like never before in Dinosaurs Unearthed. Scientists, engineers, and artists designed these creatures to be as lifelike as possible. The gigantic animals open their jaws, blink their eyes, and move their limbs. See the Hall’s dinos spring to life — if you dare! Dinosaurs Unearthed features amazingly real animatronic dinosaurs, a hands-on fossil dig site, articulated full-size skeletons, actual dinosaur fossils, and interactive multimedia stations. Younger visitors will have fun in the Young Explorers’ Experience. This special exhibition area features activities designed for visitors aged 2–7 years.
Visitors to Lawrence Hall of Science can also explore the skies in an interactive planetarium, where questions and activities are part of the program! The geodesic dome is installed with a state-of-the-art projection system. The 50-seat planetarium’s Public Planetarium Program is presented every Saturday and Sunday. Daily programs are also offered Monday-Friday during the summer. Saturday Night Stargazing, weather permitting, is held every 3rd Saturday of the month, year-round.
Read Trekaroo user reviews of Lawrence Hall of Science.
Ride a scaled down steam train at Tilden Regional Park:
Tilden recreational activities have become a happy tradition for generations of East Bay youngsters. From a carousel ride and a picnic to a swim at Lake Anza and a stroll through the botanic garden, Tilden has variety to delight everyone. Ride along the scenic ridge of Tilden Regional Park on a scaled-down steam train or visit the Little Farm. The Little Farm features a variety of farm animals including cows, sheep, goats, rabbits, chickens and pigs. Several heritage breeds are preserved here, including Milking Shorthorn Cattle. Visitors are welcome to bring lettuce or celery to feed the animals.
Tilden Park’s Lake Anza is a favorite getaway. Its sandy beach is open to the sun and sheltered from the wind, with lifeguards posted during the swim season. There is a beach access fee to the swim area, which has changing rooms and picnic grounds are nearby. The lake is open for fishing throughout the year and kids under 16 are welcome to fish without a license. The lake is not stocked, but has naturally occurring largemouth bass, bluegill, sunfish, and channel catfish.
Read reviews of Tilden Regional Park.
Adventure Playground has been written up as a top 10 playground in National Geographic:
The Adventure Playground is a wonderfully unique outdoor facility where staff encourage children to play and build creatively. Come climb on the many unusual kid-designed-and-built forts, boats, and towers. Take a ride the zip line or just hammer, saw, and paint. Adventure Playground is designed for children seven years old and older, however younger children are welcome as long as they are within arms reach of a participating adult. Next door to Adventure Playground is the Shorebird Park Nature Center, a solar powered facility built out of straw bales and recycled materials. Here you’ll find a 50 gallon salt tank, a 30 gallon fresh water tank and displays on marine mammals and birds.
Read reviews of Adventure Playground.
Relax at The Aquatic Park in the Dream Land for Kids playground area:
Aquatic Park provides a wide range of recreational opportunities including bird-watching, boating, hiking, biking and the Dream Land for Kids play area, as well as a habitat for bird and aquatic life, frisbee golf in the meadows, and fitness exercise courses. Dream Land for Kids is a unique tot and school-age play area featuring extensive wooden castles, walkways, and other structures.
Get slithery at The East Bay Vivarium:
The East Bay Vivarium is one of the largest reptile specialty stores in the nation. They offer the most diverse selection of reptiles in the U.S. Their inventory includes snakes, lizards, turtles, frogs, tarantulas and much more! The store supplies zoos, educational institutions and classrooms as well as individuals and families with snakes, lizards, tortoises, turtles, frogs, toads, salamanders, tarantulas and scorpions and carry a book selection of more than 200 titles covering these animals in captivity and the wild.
Learn and Discover at Habitot:
The East Bay’s discovery museum for young children features hands on exhibits and indoor play areas are especially for infants, toddlers and young children. The museum’s six small-scale theme exhibits create a learning, discovery and play space for kids and their families. Fun exhibits encourage parent and child interactions with multi-sensory learning games and activities. Current exhibits include Waterworks, Drop-in Art Studio, Little Town Grocery & Café, Infant-Toddler Garden, Wiggle Wall, and the new Medical Center with a special veterinary care wing, including puppies and kitties that need care and attention. When they’re not driving the ambulance, examining X-rays, giving vaccinations or caring for newborns, kids are bathing puppies in this new veterinary clinic.
Read reviews of Habitot Children’s Museum on Trekaroo.
The Berkeley Kite Festival at Cesar Chavez Park:
Image courtesy Berkeley Kite Festival
Cesar Chavez Park offers a wide range of recreational opportunities in a marina setting with spectacular views of the three bridges, Alcatraz and Angel Island. Home of the Annual International Kite Festival in July, this park plays host to the most serious kite flyers in the world. Every year, they make their pilgrimage to Berkeley to demonstrate their kite-flying prowess and present their amazing kite creations. In addition to watching the kites, the Berkeley Kite Festival offers free kite-making lessons and kite-flying lessons. If you don’t have a kite, you can purchase one at the giant sales tent. The event is free, and each area of the festival provides a different glimpse of what kiting has to offer. You can bring a picnic or purchase food from the vendors at the festival which will offer hot dogs, barbequed chicken, pretzels, ice cream, and corn on the cob. If you go, Bring a blanket to sit on, and bring sweaters for everyone, since the breeze out on the Berkeley Marina can get pretty dang chilly.
Tina Buell (aka: imsnow) is a 2011 Superoo and a single mom to a 3 year old boy. She loves to travel with her mom and son to as many places as her schedule and budget allow.
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If you’ve ever been to San Francisco in the summer, you’ll know summer time temperatures never get very hot in the city, but drive a few minutes north, south, or east and you’ll find hot days in the 80s and the 90s. Fortunately, for families who are looking for ways to cool off this summer, there are some world class water parks within an hour driving distance and there are many places where you can cool off for free or close to free.
Here are some of the places that Trekaroo families have voted as their favorite places to cool off around the San Francisco Bay Area. So grab those swim suits and head on out.
Best Water Park - Aqua Adventure (Fremont, CA)
Photo by: Brennan Pang
Surprisingly the new Aqua Adventure Water Park wins over the popular Raging Waters Water Park in San Jose. This one year old facility that’s run by the city of Fremont isn’t the largest water park, but it’s in almost brand new condition, it’s clean, and best of all, the price is right. Resident adults pay $15.99, while non-residents pay $16.99. Under 48″ tall? You only pay $11.99. 3 and under get in for just $2. For little ones, you’ll be hearing squeals of delight for hours at the Lil’ Squirts area for wee ones who aren’t quite ready to be fully immersed in water. Bucket Bay is basically a play structure that has water spraying in every which direction that even a 6 year can be quite happy in. The big slides are fun, but nothing too over the top. Reviews of Aqua Adventure Water Park with Kids
More Water Parks in the San Francisco Bay Area
Best Theme Park with Water Play Features: California’s Great America (and Boomerang Bay Water Park)
Photo by: Flickr/bryce_edwards
California’s Great America is a great hit with Trekaroo families with an impressive 4 star rating. Families with older kids and teenagers in particular enjoy the thrilling roller coaster rides. But what’s even better is that the admission also gets you into Boomerang Bay. At Boomerang Bay, you’ll find 30 foot slides as well as rafting slides. Younger kids will drop their jaws at the not so kiddie kiddie area complete with tri-level fortress with 8 family slides connected by bridges and passageways and rope ladders. Best of all, there is water water water everywhere. Thrilling? -Yes! Cool Off? – Yes! Only draw back is that admission is pricey. So, for a summer treat, California’s Great America gets rave reviews on Trekaroo and will most definitely bring smiles to everyone’s face.
For young kids under 12, Gilroy Bonfante Gardens is a favorite theme park with a water feature too that isn’t quite as pricey, but lots of fun nonetheless.
Best Free Splash Pad Area: Mitchell Park (Palo Alto, CA)
Photo by: Brennan Pang
Mitchell Park is a small playground with a fantastic splash pad. The splash pad is attached to the playground which is small, but adequate in supplying a couple of hours of active play. The splash pad is delightful for little ones with water squirting out at unpredictable intervals catching kids by surprise. Benches around the water play area allow parents to sit and soak in the heartwarming scene of happy children. Best of all, it’s absolutely FREE! Reviews of Mitchell Park Playground
Other Splash Parks along the Peninsula and South Bay (San Francisco Bay Area)
Other Splash Parks on the Easy Bay (San Francisco Bay Area)
Best Swimming Lake – Shadow Cliffs (Pleasanton, CA)
Photo by: Flickr/fromkmr
In the 266 -acre park of Shadow Cliffs Recreation Area is no ordinary 80 acre lake. You can swim at the beach complete with a bathhouse and refreshment stand, but the big attraction is the 4 -flume Rapids Water Slide located at Shadow Cliffs. It’s privately owned and operated and open on weekends in the spring and fall, and daily during the summer. For those not interested in the water slides, you can also go boating and fishing in the lake.
Best Beach - San Gregorio State Beach
Photo by: Picassa/ Jean Tessier
San Gregorio state beach is a big favorite of families on Trekaroo with a glowing 5 star rating. This beach is unique not because of the wonderful sandy beach, but because it has two other features that are a hit with kids. Most of the year, the top end of the beach is strewn with drift wood that teases a child’s (and adult’s) imagination. You’ll see the remnants of last week’s fort that Johnny built as your child is busily adding on to a tee pee from a previous visitor. In addition, San Gregorio river pours into the ocean at San Gregorio beach. The slow flowing river is a much safer place for kids to splash around than in the ocean where the waves tend to be rather big. Bring a tube and float down a short section of the river on a hot summer day. Reviews of San Gregorio State Beach with Kids
For beaches closer to the city, you might also consider:
- Crissy Field Beach, San Francisco,CA
- Schoonmaker Beach, Sausalito, CA
- Crown Memorial State Beach, Alameda, CA
Best Place to Splash around in a River: Russian River
Photo by: Flickr/ ((brian))
To the north of San Francisco, in Sonoma County is beautiful Russian River. You can rent kayaks or just find you way down to the banks of the river and get comfortable on a sandy river bank. You can pick up a canoe at Johnson’s Beach and Resort, Burke’s Canoe Trips and Kayaks, or Soar Russian River Adventures. However, if you don’t want to hang out at Johnson’s, there are several river access points along the Russian River you can just hike down to. Some popular ones are Healdsburg Memorial beach, and Monte Rio Beach.
To the south, you might try San Lorenzo River near Henry Cowell Redwood State Park
Related:
- Keeping Kids Safe at Water Parks and Pools
- Public Pools in San Francisco
- Public Pools in the East Bay (San Francisco)
- Public Pools on the Peninsula (San Francisco)
- Water Parks in Florida
- Water Parks in Washington State
- Indoor Water Parks in Denver
- Great Places to Cool Off with Kids in Texas
- Great Places to Cool Off with Kids in the Chicago Area (Chi-town)
Do you have an outing that you would like to spotlight this week? Perhaps its a post about a vacation you just took or a day trip that you think our readers should know about. Or maybe its a post about the vacation you are currently planning and going to book through Trekaroo! Spotlight your posts here by following the instructions for Spotlight Thursdays and filling out the Mr. Linky Form below.
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LiLing Pang is a contributing author and co-founder of Trekaroo.
Travel with kids to: CA | CO | DC | FL | HI | IL | MA | NC | NY | PA | TN | TX | VA | WA
The Happy Hollow Park and Zoo has been a place where young families and grandparents have made memories for 46 years. Moms and Dads who themselves were once tots tearing through this whimsical land of fairytales, furry animal friends, and of course the beloved Danny the Dragon, have the happiest memories of Happy Hollow. It’s no wonder that when the Happy Hollow magic started to fade after years of service, the residents of San Jose came to it’s rescue by passing a bond measure to fund the renovation of their special place.
Now 20 months and $72 million later, Happy Hollow is reopening its gates following an extensive overhaul and expansion. The grand opening of Happy Hollow is this Saturday, March 20, 2010. Trekaroo got a special sneak peak last week and my oh my, are we excited to tell you that your younger children will be in heaven. Grab your calendars, call some friends, and make a play date right now to visit the new Happy Hollow Park & Zoo.
From the moment I set eyes on the new entry way with it’s delightful display of whimsical animal sculptures created by artist Tom Otterness, I knew we were in for a treat. If you have a kid between the ages of 2 and 10, you’ve got to come check it out for yourself. Here’s what we loved about the new Happy Hollow:
Delightful playgrounds – At Happy Hollow Park & Zoo, you aren’t going to find any pre-fabricated playground structures. Instead, you’ll find custom-designed playgrounds that resemble works of art. The Redwood Lookout playground was absolutely stunning. I just couldn’t help myself and climbed atop this two-story tree house structure and slid down one of those magnificent slides. Despite its size, there’s a smaller redwood structure on the other side for the little ones to enjoy. Parents can feel part of the fun by resting on the big boulders in the middle of Redwood Lookout and keep an eye on their “little monkeys.”
In addition to Redwood Lookout, there were several bump-out areas for kid’s needing a smaller playspace. Integrated into the new petting zoo is another fantastic playground called Lemur Woods geared towards a younger crowd. At first glance, you might think it’s another pretty fabulous playground, but it’s strategic placement next to the goat pen and lemur exhibit was purposeful to encourage children to parallel play with their furry friends. Don’t be surprised to find your 4-year old prancing little a billy goat or swaying around the play structure like a lemur.
Read what other parents are saying about Happy Hollow Park and Zoo>>
Plentiful Learning Opportunities – Teaching about animal and environmental conservation is at the very heart of Happy Hollow. No dreary alarmist documentary here to get the point across. Instead, children learn about conservation through having fun observing, discovering, and exploring. In fact, Happy Hollow is working on getting it’s LEED silver certification. The Learning L.O.D.G.E. which is the center for educational activity is constructed of hay bales and kids can see proof of it for themselves. Right outside the learning center is an on-site rain water catchment system that filters and cleans rainwater and keeps it in the park for the health of the abundant vegetation. Throughout the park, kids have multiple opportunities to learn about environmental conservation whether it’s through the abundance of recycling bins (and the lack of trash cans), the radiant floor cooling/heating in place of traditional energy sucking A/C, or the use of recycled materials throughout the park.
“Double H” Ranch is the wonderful new animal contact area where kids can get up close and personal with goats, sheep, lemurs and more. As they learn to care for their animal friends, children are also learning about the species conservation projects that Happy Hollow participates in. Down in the lower zoo, most things are the same except for two new areas: Dinosaur Dig for your budding paleontologists and a fantastic bee hive area that teaches kids about the important role that these hardworking friends play in our eco-system. Not only can children see the bees hard at work but all their senses are engaged in the world of the bees, learning how we can all be thoughtful in helping them thrive.
If you would like to visit with a school group, the education department can make classroom visits, or host students. Happy Hollow also offers classes for kids as young as 12 months and summer camps for kids 3 to 13.
Old Favorites are Still Here - Danny the Dragon hasn’t left although, he might have stepped out briefly to get a make-over. Newly minted with shiny new tires and a bright coat of paint, Danny’s ready to take kids on a tour of the new Happy Hollow. The maze and puppet theater have been updated, but still offer the same charm as before. The beloved crooked house has been spruced up herself and ready to welcome children back. The lower zoo’s been freshened up and many of the same animals are still here. One new friend is the Foosa, a rare member of the mongoose family and a top predator native to Madagascar. The lemurs aren’t so sure about him, but Happy Hollow is excited to be one of just 22 facilities in the US to provide a home to this endangered little guy. Oh yes, the Mini Putt-Putt cars and Granny Bug rides are also still around.
Wonderful place for birthday parties – Once word gets out, this might be the hottest place for a birthday party this year. Get in the front of the line because bookings are starting to fill up already for the summer. There are 9 different party spots that you can rent out at Happy Hollow depending on the size of the group. Here’s a tip – Danny’s Place, Whistling Woods and Chimes and Bells are all located close to Redwood Lookout – the big playground. Party packages range from $235 to $455 with add-ons you can choose from. No outside food is allowed except cake. But all entertainment is taken care of, so mom and dad can just kick back and celebrate with the kids.
Fully ADA Accessible – During the renovations of Happy Hollow, a lot of thought was given towards making the park fully ADA accessible. That means that the placement of sculptures give consideration to whether a wheel chair can weave it’s way easily between them. But beyond having ramps throughout the park which make it wonderfully stroller friendly (although it is small enough that you probably won’t need one), even the playground areas are ADA accessible. The maze has extra wide paths and is accessed via a ramp, some of the slides at Redwood Lookout can even be accessed with a wheel chair. All doorways are perfectly flushed with the ground.
Congrats to Happy Hollow and the residents of San Jose for preserving this wonderful place for families. We are looking forward to hearing about all the new memories Trekaroo families are making at Happy Hollow. (Write a review of Happy Hollow Park & Zoo) Admission to Happy Hollow is $12 for kids and adults 2 and up (under 2 is free). Once you’re in, there are no extras to pay for, so your kids can enjoy as many rides as they want unlike most zoos in the Bay Area. If you live within a 45 minute drive, seriously consider getting the Family Membership which is a steal at $95 for the whole year. The Family Membership will get two parents and up to 4 kids in for free all year in addition to lots of discounts on classes and food.
Happy Hollow Park & Zoo
1300 Senter Road, San Jose, CA
Grand reopening on March 20, 2010
For more information, call 408.794.6420 or visit www.hhpz.org.
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LiLing Pang is a contributing author on Trekaroo – a reviews site dedicated to exploring and traveling with kids.
Travel with kids to: CA | CO | DC | FL | HI | IL | MA | NC | NY | PA | TN | TX | VA | WA
For our family, the Thanksgiving holiday marks the beginning of the Christmas season. As soon as the turkey has been eaten, we’re planning our trip to the Christmas Tree Farm to choose and cut down a tree for our living room. It is a tradition that our whole family enjoys and looks forward to each year. However, the first year we started this tradition, things didn’t go so smoothly. I just wrote a story telling about this experience as well as Top 10 Tips for a successful trip to a Christmas Tree Farm. If you’re heading to a Christmas Tree Farm for the first time, keep these in mind. It will help to ensure your first experience is fun-filled and wonderful.
Tomorrow we’re off to explore a new farm. We’ll be sure to report back on it. In the meantime, read my reviews on three farms in the San Francisco
Four Winds Tree Farm, Los Gatos, CA
Rancho Sempre Verde, Pescadero, CA
Santa’s Tree Farm, Half Moon Bay, CA
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