Fun for All Ages
In addition to Berkeley's numerous educational and interactive museums, young visitors can enjoy creative arts adventures and outdoor activities all across town.
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Adventure Playground
Neighborhood West Berkeley
Adventure Playground at the Berkeley Marina is a Marina Experience program that has been called a Top 10 playground in National Geographic. Come climb on the many unusual kid designed and built forts, boats and towers. Ride the zip line or hammer, saw and paint. Free admission; see website for age restrictions and group reservations & fees. School Year Hours: Weekends 11am-5pm (closed if raining);
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Aquatic Park
Neighborhood West Berkeley
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, Fitness Exercise Courses. Park Hours: 6am-10pm. unless otherwise posted.
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Berkeley Ironworks
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Berkeley Playhouse
Neighborhood Elmwood
Berkeley Playhouse is a theater for all ages presenting a year-round season of musicals, as well as a music conservatory offering a range of educational instructional classes in music performance skills. Situated in the Elmwood District, with many restaurants and shops nearby. Visit our website for schedules, information and tickets.
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East Bay Vivarium
Neighborhood West Berkeley
The East Bay Vivarium is one of the largest reptile specialty stores in the Nation. We offer the most diverse selection of reptiles in the U.S. with quality service and experience. Our inventory includes snakes, lizards, turtles, frogs, tarantulas and much more! Not only do we offer healthy, high quality animals, but we also have all the supplies you need to keep your herp healthy and happy. Hours: Monday - Friday, 11am-7pm; Saturday and Sunday, 11am-6pm
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Habitot Children's Discovery Museum
Neighborhood Downtown
The East Bay's Discovery Museum for young children. Our hands-on exhibits and drop-in art activities are perfectly tailored for infants, toddlers, preschoolers and families. Habitot offers children's classes and camps, preschool field trips, birthday parties, parenting classes and parent support groups. Come and play! Check website for upcoming events and free admission days. HOURS: Fall-Winter, Mon-Thurs 9:30am-12:30pm; Fri-Sun, 9:30am-4:30pm PRICES: CHILD- $8.00 (under 12 months free); ADULT-$7.00 (Seniors/Disabled - 10% discount); Call for Groups
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Indian Rock Park
Neighborhood North Berkeley
One of Berkeley's rugged rock parks providing great views and challenges for early-level rock climbing. Indian Rock was dedicated for park purposes in 1917. Dick Leonard, the "father of modern rock climbing," and noted environmentalist David Brower, founder of "Friends of the Earth," learned rock climbing and developed their own mountaineering techniques at Indian Rock. Park facilities include picnic area with BBQ, fireplace and grassy play areas.
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Kite Flying at Cesar Chavez Park
Neighborhood West Berkeley
90 rolling acres and 1.5 miles of paved trails. Built on the site of a former landfill, the park offers a wide range of recreational opportunities in a marina setting with spectacular views of the three bridges, Alcatraz and Angel Island. Great for kite flying. Home of the Annual International Kite Festival in July.
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Lake Anza
Neighborhood Surrounding Area
Just up the hill from North Berkeley, 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. Ample parking, wheelchair accessible. There is a beach access fee to the swim area, which has changing rooms. Cafe on site. Swimming is generally prohibited November through March. Beach Access Fees: $3.50 age 16-61; $2.50 age 1-15; $2.50 seniors 62+ or disabled; FREE under 1 year
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Lawrence Hall of Science
Neighborhood UC Berkeley campus
Visit the Hall to combine an awe-inspiring view of the San Francisco Bay with hands-on indoor and outdoor science exhibits. Kids and families can build bridges and buildings, interact with animals, climb giant structures, and view a 3-D movie. Open daily, 10:00 am - 5:00 pm. Group tours available. Admission fee. All major credit cards accepted.
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Merry-Go-Round
Neighborhood Surrounding Area
Tilden's Herschell-Spillman merry-go-round is a splendid antique carousel with hand-carved and beautifully painted wooden carousel animals to ride. The calliope plays music to make any child's heart sing. The facility offers wheelchair accessible snack stand, restroom and parking. Hours: 11am-5pm - Weekends Only Please visit our website for additional information.
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PIER 39
Neighborhood Surrounding Area
There is something for everyone at PIER 39, San Francisco's premier Bay Attraction, a festival marketplace with more than 110 stores, 12 bay view restaurants, and fun-filled attractions for all ages, including our sea lions, street performers and live musicians daily.
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Planetarium at Lawrence Hall of Science
Neighborhood UC Berkeley campus
Explore the skies in our interactive planetarium, where questions and activities are part of the program! Our geodesic dome is installed with a state-of-the-art projection system. The 50-seat planetarium is wheelchair accessible. Public Planetarium Program is presented every Saturday and Sunday, plus most holidays. Daily programs are also offered Monday-Friday during the summer and during special holiday weeks. Saturday Night Stargazing: Weather permitting, we hold public stargazing every 3rd Saturday of the month, year-round. Open Daily: 10:00 am - 5:00 pm (closed Thanksgiving and Christmas). Tickets are $4 per person, and are sold at the Visitor Services Desk on a first-come, first served basis. Everyone must have their own ticket. Planetarium Passes must be exchanged at the Visitor Service Desk for tickets. Please note the age restrictions for each program. Children under 6 will not be admitted, except for programs listed for ages 4-8. May 28 - Sep. 25, 2011: 1:00 p.m. Flying High (ages 4-8, with adult) 2:00 p.m. Constellations Tonight (ages 6 to adult) 3:00 p.m. Target Earth (ages 8 to adult)
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Shorebird Park Nature Center
Neighborhood West Berkeley
Shorebird Park Nature Center is the first municipal strawbale building in the United States. It has a solar hot water radiant system to provide heating year-round in the cool marina climate, and a solar photovoltaic electrical system to power the aquariums, computers, lighting and other equipment.Our new Straw Bale building is now the Nature/Visitors Center and Office. here you'll find a 50 gallon salt tank, a 30 gallon fresh water tank and displays on marine mammals and birds. Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 9am-5pm
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Steam Train Rides
Neighborhood Surrounding Area
Ride along the scenic ridge in Tilden Regional Park on a scaled-down steam train. Parking, drinking water, restrooms are wheelchair accessible. Hours: Weekends 11am-6pm (or dusk) Summer Weekdays: mid June through Labor Day, 11am - 5pm Single Ride Ticket: $2.00 Credit Cards Not Accepted
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Tilden Nature Area & Little Farm
Neighborhood Surrounding Area
Tilden Nature Area is a 740 acre preserve located just North of Tilden Regional Park. With over 10 miles of hiking trails, the preserve contains a blend of native and introduced plant communities. Hikes range from the leisurely, self-guided Jewel Lake Nature Trail to a climb to a vigorous climb up Wildcat Peak (elevation 1,211') for panoramic, San Francisco Bay views. A 750- foot boardwalk through the woods leads to Jewel Lake, a historic reservoir and waterworks, and a peaceful place to watch wildlife. Nature Area Hours: Daily, 5am-10pm; Environmental Educ. Center: Tuesday-Sunday, 10am-5pm; ; Little Farm: Open daily, year round, 8:30am-4:00pm
