Things to Do with Toddlers
Explore the best things to do with toddlers options for kids and families in Monterey
Monterey County Youth Museum
Children's museum with hands-on exhibits. This colorful museum for toddlers & bigger kids features interactive exhibits with a local theme.
Colton Hall Museum and Jail
Exhibits dedicated to California history. Built 1847–1849, this museum in an old government building has exhibits on the history of Monterey.
Old Fisherman's Wharf
Quaint landmark with dining & shopping. Iconic waterside complex & event site featuring seafood eateries, shops & water-sports activities.
Del Monte Beach
Waterfront with boardwalk & dunes. Strip of beach with boardwalk pathways through sand dunes, plus wildlife & picnic areas.
Dennis The Menace Playground
Sizable kids' playground & park. Spacious kids' playground & park featuring activities such as a maze & a rock climbing wall.
El Estero Park
Visit this great place for kids and families!
Treasure Hunt: The Ride
Visit this great place for kids and families!
Monterey Mirror Maze and Laser Challenge
Mirror maze with a vibrant setup. Walk-through mirror maze with a psychedelic vibe & activities for team-building & parties.
Monterey Bay Aquarium
Sprawling marine life attraction. Well-known aquarium on a rocky coastline with exhibits ranging from otter habitats to touch pools.
Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History
Free exhibitions on regional wildlife. Nature museum offering exhibits on birds, insects, plants & other wildlife, plus free admission.
Laguna Grande Regional Park, Monterey side
Waterfront area with picnic tables. Green space on the water offering a volleyball court, play area, picnic tables & public barbecues.
Monterey State Beach
Scenic beach area on Monterey Bay. Miles of scenic coastline offer beachgoers recreational activities ranging from surfing to fishing.
Lovers Point Park
Small beachside recreation spot. Petite beach park with swimming, surfing & other water recreation, plus kayak & bike rentals & more.
Monarch Sanctuary
Visit this great place for kids and families!
Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary
Nature reserve for seasonal butterflies. Preserve with pine, cypress & eucalyptus trees sheltering thousands of monarch butterflies Oct–Mar.
The Great Tide Pool
Visit this great place for kids and families!
Carmel Beach
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Pescadero Point
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The Crocker Cypress Grove
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Tatum's Garden
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Santa Cruz Surfing Museum
Exhibits exploring wave-riding culture. Rotating exhibits on surfing culture & local history housed in a historic, preserved lighthouse.
Seacliff State Beach
Camping & hiking among redwoods. Versatile state beach offers a variety of outdoor activities such as camping & hiking.
Natural Bridges State Beach
Rock formations, tidepools & marine life. Compact sandy patch with rock bridges & tidepools, popular for spotting seabirds, whales & seals.
Seymour Marine Discovery Center
Aquarium & interactive science museum. Interactive marine science museum & aquarium, with hands-on exhibits, a touch pool & a gift shop.
Blue Whale Skeleton
Visit this great place for kids and families!
Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History
Wildlife, plant & archaeology exhibits. Galleries & interactive programs exploring flora, fauna, geology & peoples native to the Bay Area.
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
Iconic amusement park on the beach. Amusement park offers a variety of games & rides right on a mile-long stretch of sandy beach.
Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Exploration Center
Theater & interactive exhibit gallery. Educational multimedia exhibits include theater, touch pools & a remotely operated underwater robot.
Giggles-N-Wiggles Bouncer, Arcades family entertainment center
Visit this great place for kids and families!
Giggles-N-Wiggles
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The Santa Cruz Children’s Museum of Discovery
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Ocean View Park
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Chanticleer Ave County Park
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LEO’s Haven Accessible Playground
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Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History
Hands-on exhibitions & special programs. Expansive venue with hands-on art & history exhibitions, plus special programs good for all ages.
Wilder Ranch State Park
Picnic areas, trails & horseback riding. Natural landscape with diverse activities including hiking trails, picnic areas & horseback riding.
UC Santa Cruz Arboretum & Botanic Garden
Rare plants & a butterfly garden. Vast collection of rare plants with a succulent garden, a butterfly area & a eucalyptus grove.
The Mystery Spot
Iconic gravity hill offering tours. Opened in 1941, this roadside landmark is a tilt-induced visual illusion with tours & a gift shop.
Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park
Kid-friendly rides & attractions. Rides & attractions plus gardens draw crowds at this bustling, family-friendly amusement park.
Roaring Camp
Train rides & all-ages special events. Family-friendly park offers train rides amid natural landscapes, seasonal routes & special events.
Skypark
Basketball court & skate park. Diverse activities are available at this public space with a skate park & basketball court.
Vasona Lake County Park
Site with a sprawling lawn, trail & lake. Public green space with 45 acres of lawn, a multi-use trail & picnic areas plus a lake with fishing.
Lost Worlds Funtropolous
Visit this great place for kids and families!
Pump It Up San Jose Kids Birthday Party and More
Visit this great place for kids and families!
Lincoln Glen Park
Small park with playground & green space. Small community park offering a playground & tot lot, water spray area, green space & picnic tables.
Brigadoon Park
Visit this great place for kids and families!
Monterey County Agricultural & Rural Life Museum
Folksy interpretive village & artifacts. Restored barn, school, blacksmith shop & turn-of-the century farm implements that trace history.
Jollyman Park
Quaint place for picnics & sports. This 11.5-acre urban park contains ball fields, a playground & shaded picnic tables.
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