Things to Do with Kids in Oakland — 28 Family-Friendly Places

A beautiful hillside zoo with over 850 native and exotic animals. The California Trail features grizzly bears, wolves, and condors. The Wayne & Gladys Valley Children's Zoo has a barn, rides, and a nature play area.

America's first storybook theme park, located on the shores of Lake Merritt. Enchanting fairy-tale sets, puppet shows, gentle rides, and a petting zoo. The inspiration for Disneyland, it's perfectly sized for young children.

Touchstone climbing gym with bouldering, top rope, lead climbing, yoga, and fitness. Youth programs include after-school camps, summer camps, and competitive climbing teams.

A 3,000 sq ft custom-built indoor playground across four levels with two climbing walls, a ninja ropes course, bounce house with slide, mixed reality room, and a full arcade. Features a designated toddler area for the little ones and is a 2025 Bay Area Parent Gold winner.

A year-round indoor ice skating center in downtown Oakland with two rinks (one NHL-sized, one Olympic-sized). Offers public skating, skating classes for kids age 3+, and skating aids for beginners. Oakland residents get 10% off admission.

A magical redwood forest right in Oakland with the family-favorite Stream Trail following Redwood Creek through towering trees. The first mile is paved and stroller-friendly, with a children's playground at Canyon Meadow staging area.

A hidden 8-acre rose garden oasis with over 6,000 rose bushes, cascading fountains, winding walkways, a reflecting pool, and graceful stairways. The cement paths are fully stroller and wheelchair accessible. Completely free. Look for the resident wild turkeys wandering the grounds.

A convenient urban swimming lake near the junction of Highways 24 and 13 in Oakland. Features a flat paved trail perfect for strollers, two playgrounds, a sandy beach, and refreshment stands. A great quick nature escape in the city.

A nonprofit industrial arts education center offering youth classes in glass blowing, blacksmithing, welding, ceramics, neon, and woodworking for ages 8-18. Serves 3,000+ youth annually with weekend, after-school, and camp programs.

Oakland's premier music school with eleven fully equipped teaching studios. One-on-one training in piano, guitar, ukulele, violin, cello, bass guitar, drums, and voice with credentialed university-level instructors.

Award-winning outdoor adventure camps for grades K-12 where kids connect with nature, make friends, and learn from expert guides. Programs include wilderness skills, nature exploration, archery, and survival techniques.

Located on the shores of Lake Merritt, JCAS offers hands-on after-school and weekend classes for young artists, makers, and inventors aged 6-13. Drop-in hours Tuesday-Saturday with art and science exploration activities.

Oakland Public Library offers excellent children's programs across multiple branches including storytimes, science experiments, magic shows, cooking classes, crafting, and gardening activities for all ages.

An interactive space and science museum in the Oakland Hills with planetarium shows, real telescopes for stargazing, and hands-on space exhibits. Friday and Saturday night telescope viewings are magical for school-age kids.

Hands-on art museum in Old Oakland offering interactive exhibits, open studios, art camps, and Saturday drop-in sessions. Also hosts library drop-in art classes across Oakland and Berkeley branches.

An iconic Oakland ice cream parlor since 1894, featured in the Pixar movie 'Up'. Famous for massive sundaes, banana splits, and old-fashioned sodas. Also serves full lunch and dinner. A must-visit East Bay institution.

Creative California-Japanese ramen in Oakland's charming Rockridge neighborhood. Offers a dedicated kid's ramen with just noodles and broth. Known for seasonal, farm-to-table approach to ramen.

A restaurant entirely dedicated to mac and cheese - every kid's dream! Creative combos like Gilroy Garlic, Jalapeño Popper, and classic cheddar. Gluten-free and vegan options available. Fun colorful decor kids love.

Oakland ramen spot near Jack London Square offering a dedicated kids ramen option. Reservations available to guarantee seating, making it easier to plan family outings. Rich, flavorful broths.

Pizza, beer, and play at this kid-and-dog-friendly Oakland taproom. Outdoor play area with toy cars, retro arcade games, fire pits, and heat lamps. Covered outdoor seating makes it all-weather friendly.

Trendy Oakland brewery and pizzeria in a converted Dodge dealership with a grand open-air beer garden, fire pits, and wood-fired pizza. Kid and dog friendly with a relaxed vibe and 32 beers on tap.

50,000 sq ft entertainment center at Jack London Square with 18 bowling lanes, 50+ arcade games, bocce, and a full restaurant. BBQ, burgers, and brunch with waterfront views. Best for families before 3pm.

Classic West Coast pizza chain that's been a family gathering spot for decades. Large dining areas, arcade games at some locations, and the signature King Arthur's Supreme pizza. Great for parties.

A wonderful neighborhood bookstore in Oakland's Rockridge district with a large children's corner that feels like a secret garden. Offers a curated selection of picture books, chapter books, and young adult titles.

Oakland's beloved Saturday farmers market at Splash Pad Park near Lake Merritt, featuring bouncy houses, face painting, balloon artists, live music, and a kids' play fountain alongside fresh local produce and prepared foods.

The oldest independently owned toy store in Oakland, Montclair Toyhouse carries dolls, stuffed toys, science toys, outdoor toys, puzzles, games, building sets, LEGO, cars, craft and art supplies, and children's books.

A charming consignment store on Oakland's Lakeshore Avenue specializing in name-brand children's clothing, shoes, and toys for ages 0-12 in excellent condition. Great for finding quality items at a fraction of retail price.

A magical craft supply treasure trove of donated and surplus materials perfect for kids' art projects. Bins of buttons, fabric, paper, beads, and unique finds at incredibly low prices. Sparks creativity and teaches sustainability.