Being a dad in the San Francisco Bay Area is a wonderful thing, and it’s good to get out of the house a little. We’re lucky to have so many great resources, places to go, things to do, and the climate to enjoy these activities all year round. Take a gander at this list (some of my favorites) if you need some ideas, and if you have any of your own favorites, please let me know…
GROUPS
East Bay Dads – great resource for information on parks, museums, hikes, etc.
Silicon Valley Dads – the south bay daddy hub.
Berkeley Parents Network – awesome! listings for all things parentish.
MEDIA
Bay Area Kid Fun – fun ideas for play.
Yelp – local reviews – restaurants, parks, etc.
The Poop – funny, fresh take on parenting and pop culture.
Bay Area Parent Magazine – nice, stylish.
MUSEUMS
Bay Area Discovery Museum, Sausalito – Nestled in some re-purposed military barracks at Fort Baker, you can’t beat the backdrop to this place – a stunning view of the Golden Gate Bridge and SF Bay. Come for the view, stay for the hours of fun activities. When I first came here I studied the map, counted 5-6 small buildings, and thought I could cover everything in a day. Wrong. Way too much here. The Tot Spot is one of the best designed spaces I’ve found for young toddlers. There’s also an art studio, a wave workshop, special exhibits, a wonderful outdoor play area, a theater, and more.
Randall Museum, San Francisco – nice small museum that sits atop a hill in the middle of downtown SF. Amazing view from the surrounding green. Creative exhibits. Intimate spaces. Docents bring out live animals now and then. If you can find the entrance to this hidden gem it’s well worth the effort.
Children’s Discovery, San Jose
PARKS
Ardenwood
Golden Gate Park
Central Park, San Ramon
HIKING
Grateful Dads – national organization with many local chapters. Hikes every month.
East Bay Dads – usually lots of hikes in the summer.
Tilden Nature Area
Chabot Reservoir
San Jouaquin Miller
INDOOR PLAY
Habitot, Berkeley
Studio Grow, Berkeley
Zoaccalo’s Coffee House, San Leandro
Tumble & Tea, Oakland
Play Cafe, Oakland
Pri Pri Cafe, Albany
SHOPPING
epinions.com
