When I took time off to stay home with the kids, I found myself wondering how to fill every single minute of every single day with my preschooler and toddler. Eventually we settled into a routine, but it would have been nice if I had a neat little collection of day excursions and places to visit that I could refer to when we we needed some extra enrichment for our at home days. I mean, there’s only so much reading, crafting, and indoor play one can get up to in a day. I’m not at home all day with my kids anymore, but there’s no reason not to pass on this helpful information to you! Enjoy your days

Children’s Parks

Shoup Park (Los Altos)

Grant Park (Los Altos)

Rosita Park (Los Altos)

Cooper Park (Mountain View)

Cuesta Park (Mountain View)

Rengstorff Park (Mountain View)

Mercy-Bush Park (Mountain View)

Thaddeus Park (Mountain View)

Mitchell Park (Palo Alto)

Rinconada Park (Palo Alto)

Children’s Libraries

Palo Alto Children’s Library

Mountain View Library

Los Altos Library

Children’s Museums

Children’s Discovery Museum (San Jose)

Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo (Palo Alto)

Bay Area Discovery Museum (Sausalito)

Exploratorium (San Francisco)

Children’s Creativity Museum (San Francisco)

Aquariums

Aquarium of the Bay (San Francisco)

Exploratorium (San Francisco)

Monterey Bay Aquarium (Monterey)

Zoos + Farms

Happy Hollow Farm (San Jose)

Deer Hollow Farm (Los Altos)

Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo (Palo Alto)

Exploratorium (San Francisco)

San Francisco Zoo (San Francisco)

CuriOdyssey (San Mateo)

Hidden Villa (Los Altos)

Silicon Valley Human Society (San Jose) – Technically not a zoo or farm, but an absolutely fabulous facility for homeless dogs, cats, rabbits, and guinea pigs. You can visit with the animals, including petting them.

Lindsay Wildlife Museum (Walnut Creek)

Oakland Zoo (Oakland)

Farmer’s Markets + You Pick Farms

Mountain View Farmer’s Market (Mountain View)

Los Altos Farmer’s Market (Los Altos)

Lemos Farm (Half Moon Bay) – Pick your own Halloween pumpkins and Christmas trees, plus go on pony rides, jump in the bouncy house, and take a mini-train ride.

Webb Ranch (Portola Valley)

Swanton Berry Farm (Davenport)

San Carlos Farmer’s Market (San Carlos)

Kid-Friendly Beaches

Fitzgerald Marine Reserve (Moss Beach)

Planes, Trains + Automobiles

Hiller Aviation Museum (San Carlos)

Roaring Camp Railroads (Felton) – Don’t miss the annual Day Out With Thomas event.

Bacteria Breeding Grounds (aka Indoor Kid Gyms)

The Jungle (San Jose)

Pump It Up (Sunnyvale)

Music, Art + Gym Classes

City of Menlo Park Gymnastics

Play (Los Altos)

Gymboree (Los Altos)

The Little Gym (Mountain View)

Community School of Music & Arts (Mountain View)

Los Altos Recreation Department

Menlo Park Recreation Department

Mountain View Recreation Department

Palo Alto Recreation Department

Palo Alto JCC

Dance Classes

San Juan Academy of Dance (Los Altos)

Veksler Dance Academy (Mountain View) – They have Angelina Ballerina classes!

Swim School

Abilities United (Palo Alto)

Palo Alto JCC (Palo Alto)

DACA (Cupertino)

Sutton Swim School (Cupertino)

Menlo Swim and Sport (Menlo Park)

La Petite Baleen Swim School (San Bruno)