Where to take the kids in Sausalito

Tucked under the north end of the Golden Gate Bridge, with acres of outdoor climbing, building and water play. Widely considered the best in the region for little kids.

• 1.9 mi
• Under 9
• Indoors + out

Before you go Right on the water and genuinely cold and windy — a windbreaker beats a sweater. There’s a real water play area, so pack a full change of clothes.

Wide-open headlands, a dark-pebble beach, old military bunkers to explore, and the postcard view back at the bridge.

• 3.3 mi
• 3 and up
• Outdoors

Before you go Fog and hard wind are the norm, not the exception. The road in is narrow and winding — worth knowing if anyone gets carsick. No shade and limited facilities, so bring water.

Old-growth coast redwoods on a flat boardwalk loop. Quiet, shaded, and short enough that small legs can do it.

• 5.2 mi
• 3 and up
• Outdoors

Before you go Parking or shuttle must be reserved in advance — people are turned away at the gate every weekend. The main boardwalk is stroller-friendly; the side trails are not. Cool and damp even in August.

Aquarium, four-story rainforest dome, planetarium and natural history museum under one roof. The default answer when it’s raining.

• 6.3 mi
• All ages
• Indoors

Before you go The rainforest dome runs on timed entry and the line builds fast — go early. Weekend parking in the park is rough; the underground garage is the reliable option.

Hundreds of hands-on exhibits you’re actually supposed to touch, pull and climb on. Adults tend to lose track of time here.

• 6.3 mi
• 6 and up
• Indoors

Before you go It’s enormous and you will walk — comfortable shoes matter. Under-5s can enjoy it but will miss most of the point. It’s on the water, so it’s windy outside the doors.

One of the oldest public playgrounds in the country, with a century-old carousel and a bank of long concrete slides.

• 6.4 mi
• 1–10
• Outdoors

Before you go Bring a flattened cardboard box — the concrete slides barely work without one, and every regular family has one in the trunk. Weekend parking is tight; transit is genuinely easier.

Stop-motion animation studio, clay lab and music room. Kids leave holding something they made.

• 6.8 mi
• 3–9
• Indoors

Before you go Small enough for a half day. Pair it with the historic carousel and the gardens right outside to make a full outing.

A small hilltop community museum with live animals, craft workshops and one of the better views in the city.

• 7.0 mi
• Under 10
• Indoors

Before you go Compact — plan a half day and add the hill outside. It closes on set days each week, so check before driving over.

A dedicated children’s zoo and a little steam train, which is often the part they actually remember.

• 8.8 mi
• Under 10
• Outdoors

Before you go It sits directly on the Pacific and runs far colder and foggier than downtown, in summer especially. Bring a real jacket — this is the single most common mistake here.

A storybook park built entirely at toddler scale — nothing loud, nothing scary, no long lines.

• 13 mi
• 1–8
• Outdoors

Before you go Adults are only admitted with a child — don’t plan to send one grown-up in to scout. It’s a half-day park; don’t block out the whole day.

Science exhibits plus an outdoor terrace looking clear across the bay, and a giant DNA sculpture kids are allowed to climb.

• 13 mi
• 6 and up
• Indoors + out

Before you go Perched up the hill, so it’s windier and cooler than downtown Berkeley. The drive up is a series of switchbacks — dose the carsick kid beforehand.

The Little Farm, a vintage merry-go-round and a small steam railway, all in one stretch of the Berkeley hills. A rite of passage for East Bay kids.

• 13 mi
• Under 10
• Outdoors

Before you go At the Little Farm you can feed the animals, but only lettuce and celery — bring it from home, there’s nothing to buy on site. The train and carousel keep their own limited schedules, so check before counting on them.

Planetarium shows, space exhibits and large research telescopes up in the hills above Oakland.

• 17 mi
• 6 and up
• Indoors

Before you go Telescope viewing runs on specific evenings and depends entirely on clear skies — check the schedule and the forecast together, and bring warm layers for standing outside after dark.

A gondola lifts you over the whole zoo and out across the bay — worth the trip on its own.

• 20 mi
• All ages
• Outdoors

Before you go Built on a hillside, so a stroller is real work. The East Bay bakes in summer while SF is foggy — hats, sunscreen and more water than you think.

Hands-on science plus a small zoo of rescued native California animals, right on the bay shore.

• 21 mi
• Under 10
• Indoors + out

Before you go It sits inside a larger bayside park with a playground and shoreline path — budget extra time, because leaving is the hard part. Breezy off the water.

Long flat beaches, a working harbour, tidepools and pumpkin fields in autumn. The classic coastal day out.

• 27 mi
• All ages
• Outdoors

Before you go Cold and windy even in summer — this is not a swimming beach, it’s a digging-and-running beach. Highway 92 and Highway 1 back up badly on weekend afternoons, and October is gridlock. Never turn your back on the surf.

Real aircraft and helicopters at eye level, with a few you can actually climb into, plus flight simulators.

• 27 mi
• 3 and up
• Indoors

Before you go A strong rainy-day pick that stays interesting for a wide age spread. It’s beside a working airport, so there are usually small planes taking off to watch outside.