CityMommy

Lawrence Hall of Science in Berkeley.

The Botanical Gardens on the UC Berkeley campus.

The Lindsey Wildlife Museum in Walnut Creek.

Lakeside Park in Oakland (come in through the back entrance - if you go through the front your kid is going to want to go to Fairyland.) At the back of the park is the Rotary Nature Center - look at the fish, feed the rabbit or turtle, look at the other exhibits - depending on the time you might be able to do some ceramic painting or play in the discovery room. When you're done there, walk up Perkins a bit and turn into the gardens - see the fruits and vegetables growing, and then, turn into the peaceful Japanese Meditation Garden.

The newly re-opened Oakland Museum.

Pixieland in Concord.

Playland not at the Beach in El Cerrito.

Go bowling. (Check to see if an alley near you has special family rates - for example, Albany Bowl has a super deal if you come on Thursdays between noon and five.)

Go play mini golf. (there are Golflands in Milpitas, Sunnyvale, San Jose and Castro Valley.)

Go visit the Rodin statue garden on the Stanford campus. Then eat lunch while your kid(s) run around on the grass next to the cafe.

Go to the Oakland Zoo, smaller, less expensive and less crowded than SF, but still has some fantastic exhibits and very nice kids area.

If your kid is a fan of cement slides, (which are best done with a piece of cardboard under your bottom) especially tall ones, go to the park at Douglas and Seward in SF. In the East Bay, Dracena Park in Piedmont has a short one (and a rock wall as well as water to use in the sand box and relatiely clean bathrooms to boot!)

Adventure Playground down on the Berkeley Marina - remember to dress for a mess! Or, if you're not feeling the paint, walk to the playground right next to it - a great place to go on a hot day!

The Randall Museum.

Have fun!

Nikole