Benable — create shareable lists of things you recommend!
E.g., products you love, local businesses, travel recs - you can add anything to a Benable list!
Favorite Activities in Northern California for Toddlers
15
items Northern California offers a wealth of family-friendly, accessible, and affordable activities that both toddlers and adults can enjoy. This is a list of some of my son’s favorites.
Map
Why It’s Great: This interactive science museum captivates toddlers with hands-on exhibits like building circuits or stepping inside a tornado, while adults enjoy the creative and educational displays. It’s stroller-friendly and has a dedicated toddl...
Exploratorium
Why It’s Great: Toddlers are mesmerized by colorful jellyfish, playful sea otters, and touch pools, while adults appreciate the stunning marine exhibits and conservation focus. The aquarium is stroller-friendly with family restrooms.
Monterey Bay Aquarium
Why It’s Great: This historic seaside amusement park offers toddler-friendly rides like the carousel and mini train, plus arcade games for adults. The beach setting is a bonus for family fun.
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
Why It’s Great: Walk among towering redwoods on the accessible Main Trail Loop (ADA-compliant boardwalk), perfect for toddlers to toddle and adults to marvel at nature. Rangers offer short educational talks.
Muir Woods National Monument
Why It’s Great: This small, interactive museum and zoo in Palo Alto offers toddlers hands-on science exhibits like a water play area and a mini zoo with animals like bobcats and reptiles. Adults enjoy the educational displays and relaxed setting. It’...
Palo Alto Junior Museum and Zoo
Why It’s Great: Toddlers love the Little Farm (free, feed animals with provided celery), merry-go-round ($2–$3/ride), and steam train ($3–$4/ride), while adults enjoy scenic trails and picnic areas with Bay views. Stroller-friendly paved areas make i...
Charles Lee Tilden Regional Park
Why It’s Great: Interactive exhibits on science, art, and health engage toddlers with water play and climbing structures, while adults appreciate the educational value. Stroller-friendly with a toddler zone.
Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose
Why It’s Great: This massive park has toddler playgrounds, open spaces for running, and the Koret Children’s Quarter with a carousel ($2/ride). Adults enjoy gardens and free events like music festivals.
Golden Gate Park
Why It’s Great: Toddlers love seeing giraffes and elephants, and the mini train ride ($5), while adults enjoy the California Trail exhibit and conservation focus. Stroller-friendly with shaded areas.
Oakland Zoo
Why It’s Great: A free factory tour fascinates toddlers with colorful jelly bean production and tastings, while adults enjoy the quirky museum and candy shop. Stroller-accessible.
Jelly Belly Candy Store
Why It’s Great: This sandy beach is perfect for toddlers to dig and splash in shallow waves, while adults relax with stunning Marin County views. Picnic areas and restrooms add convenience.
Stinson Beach - Golden Gate
Why It’s Great: This museum is designed for young children, offering toddler-friendly interactive exhibits like a water play area, art studio, and pretend-play grocery store. Adults appreciate the educational focus and cozy, manageable size for keepi...
Habitot Children's Museum
Why It’s Great: Designed for young kids, this museum offers outdoor and indoor play areas like a shipwreck structure and art studios. Adults love the Golden Gate Bridge views and parenting workshops.
Bay Area Discovery Museum
Why It’s Great: A short, family-friendly boat tour (typically 60–90 minutes) on San Francisco Bay offers toddlers the excitement of being on the water, with views of the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, and the city skyline. Adults enjoy the narrated hi...
San Francisco Bay Cruise (60 Minutes)
Why It’s Great: A steam train ride through redwood forests thrills toddlers with the whistle and scenery, while adults enjoy the 19th-century history and narration. Short 1-hour trips are toddler-friendly.
Roaring Camp Railroads