Free & Cheap Things to Do with Kids
Explore the best free & cheap things to do with kids options for kids and families in San Rafael
Gerstle Park
Elegant historic estate on 2 acres. Historic estate with 12 ornate rooms & cottages in a 2-acre park setting used for community events.
Lagoon Park
Visit this great place for kids and families!
Peri Park
Visit this great place for kids and families!
McNears Beach Park
Fishing, picnicking, tennis & swimming. 55-acre green space with picnic tables & tennis courts, plus a fishing pier, swimming pool & trails.
Cascade Falls Trailhead
Visit this great place for kids and families!
Blackie's Pasture
Bayside park with trails & fields. Scenic waterfront park featuring grassy fields, a playground & paths for walking & biking.
Muir Woods National Monument
Picturesque, redwood tree-filled park. Scenic, forested park featuring giant redwood trees, long hiking trails, a visitor center & more.
Hamilton Wetlands
Nature preserve with walking trails. Wetlands nature preserve featuring walking/cycling trails, plus egrets & other wildlife.
Trojan Point
Visit this great place for kids and families!
Paradise Beach Park
Scenic spot for picnics, beach & fishing. Waterside park in a residential neighborhood, offering views, picnic lawns, a fishing pier & beach.
Mount Tamalpais State Park
Steep hiking & biking to a sweeping view. Redwood groves plus hiking & biking trails that lead to sweeping views from a 2,571-foot peak.
Tiburon Open Space Committee
Visit this great place for kids and families!
The Wave Garden
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Dunphy Park
Oceanside park with a gazebo & courts. Waterfront space featuring sand volleyball & bocce courts, plus a gazebo & benches.
Muir Beach Overlook
Well-known spot for sweeping ocean views. An iconic staircase leads down to this windy point with sweeping views of the ocean & Pacific coast.
Sausalito Boardwalk
Visit this great place for kids and families!
Miller/Knox Regional Shoreline
Waterfront park with beach & rail museum. Waterfront space with a picnic area, beach, fishing pier, panoramic views & a model railroad museum.
Angel Island Immigration Station
Visit this great place for kids and families!
Angel Island State Park
Island park with campsites & city views. Large island with campsites featuring hiking & biking trails plus panoramic views of San Francisco.
Marin Headlands
Rugged coastline & wildlife haven. Stretch of coastal basalt headland & habitat for bobcats, coyote, deer & abundant birdlife.
Pogo Park #1 - Elm Playlot
Visit this great place for kids and families!
Point Pinole Regional Shoreline
Scenic park offering multi-use trails. Sprawling park with scenic, multi-use trails through meadows, eucalyptus woods, bluffs & beaches.
Bay Area Discovery Museum
Interactive kids' museum. Indoor/outdoor museum inspiring kid creativity via interactive exhibits, a play space & art classes.
Marina Bay Park
Visit this great place for kids and families!
Fort Point National Historic Site
Civil War fortress. Fort from the Civil War era located under the Golden Gate Bridge offering cannon drills & tours.
Sea Lion Viewing Area
Visit this great place for kids and families!
Sea Lions
Marina docks with sea lions galore. Docks off Pier 39 that are a favorite hangout of hundreds of sunbathing, barking sea lions.
San Francisco Carousel at Pier 39
Visit this great place for kids and families!
Musical Stairs
Visit this great place for kids and families!
Magowan's Infinite Mirror Maze
Colorful maze of mirrors & archways. Arched doorways & columns form the basis for this colorful mirrored maze for adults & children.
Aquarium of the Bay
Waterfront museum with aquatic animals. Aquarium with creatures from local waters, including otters, sharks & jellyfish, plus a touch tank.
Exploratorium
Hands-on science museum. Hundreds of interactive, educational exhibits & activities illustrating scientific principles.
Shorebird Park
Picturesque setting with a nature center. Scenic marina park offers picnic sites, play areas & a nature center with fish & wildlife displays.
Adventure Playground
Visit this great place for kids and families!
Blake Garden UC Berkeley
Artful UC Berekely park for scenic views. UC Berkeley's College of Environmental Design's green space with scenic views & diverse plant life.
Chinatown San Francisco
Famous neighborhood for Chinese culture. Iconic area with the largest assembly of Chinese eateries, shops & cultural events outside of Asia.
Golden Gate Park
Gardens, trails, museums & festivals. The city's 1,017-acre oasis draws hikers, bikers, art lovers & music fans, plus gardens & museums.
Heart of San Francisco Series
Visit this great place for kids and families!
Tenderloin Playground
Indoor/outdoor recreational hub for kids. City-run recreational center & children's playground offering special events & classes.
Huntington Falls
Visit this great place for kids and families!
Murphy Windmill
Visit this great place for kids and families!
Refugio Valley Park
Play equipment, a pond & picnic areas. Park featuring a walking path around a duck pond, picnic tables, restrooms & 2 play structures.
Osher Rainforest at the California Academy of Sciences
Visit this great place for kids and families!
San Francisco Botanical Garden
Green refuge with rare plant collections. 55 acres of serene gardens showcasing diverse plants from around the world & a magnolia collection.
Koret Children's Playground
Large vibrant playground with a carousel. Lively playground featuring a variety of equipment, an old-fashioned carousel & ample grassy lawns.
Kennedy Grove Regional Recreation Area
Low-key park featuring eucalyptus trees. Quiet spot for picnics & other gatherings, with a rustic cottage, hiking trails & fragrant trees.
Helen Diller Civic Center Playground
Visit this great place for kids and families!
Children's Creativity Museum
Interactive arts & technology museum. A place for kids to explore arts & technology by making music videos, animating short films & more.
Leroy King Carousel
Visit this great place for kids and families!
Tilden Nature Area Environmental Education Center
Visit this great place for kids and families!
Tilden Nature Area
Site for scenic hikes & wildlife views. Nature preserve featuring easy & challenging hiking trails with scenic views & wildlife sightings.
Cullinan Ranch Trail
Visit this great place for kids and families!
Randall Museum
Children's museum on 16-acre park. Museum with wild-animal exhibits & hands-on experiences for exploring science & the arts.
Virginia-McGee Totland
Visit this great place for kids and families!
Mission Bay Kids Park
Purpose-built activity center for kids. Interactive play zones, climbing structures & sandboxes in a modern kids' park with picnic benches.
Codornices Park
Rose garden, views, picnicking & hiking. Comprising the Berkeley Rose Garden plus areas for ball playing & hiking, picnicking & kids' play.
Helen Diller Playground
Play area with a climbing wall & slides. Climbing structures, sand boxes & swings in an adventure playground with a long, twisting slide.
Doyle Hollis Park
Park with a playground & an amphitheater. Park featuring a playground & basketball, plus a fountain, picnic areas & an amphitheater.
Habitot Children's Museum
Hands-on learning lab for kids. Museum engaging kids ages 1-5 with interactive exhibits like a wind tunnel & face-painting table.
Berkeley Natural History Museums
Visit this great place for kids and families!
Inspiration Point
Scenic overlook at a nature park. Observation area with sweeping views & interpretive plaques, plus a parking lot & trail access.
Mare Island Shoreline Heritage Preserve
Nature preserve with hiking trails. Nature preserve overlooking Carquinez Bay featuring stunning landscape with native grasses & views.
San Francisco Zoo
100 acres of animals & more. Families come for the more than 2,000 animals, kids' zoo, steam train, carousel & special exhibits.
University of California Botanical Garden
Sprawling collection of diverse plants. Established in 1890, this 34-acre garden features a collection of plants from around the world.
Rockridge-Temescal Greenbelt
Playground & creek amid redwood groves. Urban greenbelt offers a playground, climbing wall & creek amid butterfly gardens & redwood groves.
Children's Wonderland Park
Many whimsical playscapes for kids. Park featuring children's play structures in unique shapes, such as a castle, teapot & fire truck.
Temescal Regional Recreation Area
Oasis for picnicking, swimming & more. Urban, lakeside retreat offering swim & picnic areas, a fishing dock, trails & playgrounds.
Children's Fairyland
Storybook-themed amusement park standby. Vibrant, longtime amusement park pairing a storybook motif with rides & theatrical performances.
Pacific Pinball Museum
Historic & playable pinball machines. Museum displaying rare & vintage pinball machines, which are also playable, amid colorful local art.
Dan Foley Park
Fishing, sporting, picnics & playground. A community center shares grounds with fishing, natural & artificial fields, play & picnic areas.
Benicia State Recreation Area
Scenic hillside coastal park. Marshes, grassy hillsides & rocky beaches attract hikers, birders, fishers & cyclists to this park.
Doug Siden Visitor Center at Crab Cove
Aquarium & marine life exhibits. Bayfront education center with an 800-gallon aquarium & interactive exhibits about marine life.
Butterfly Habitat
Visit this great place for kids and families!
Shark Experience
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ACME Fun Factory
Visit this great place for kids and families!
Odin's Temple of the Tiger
Visit this great place for kids and families!
Six Flags Discovery Kingdom
Amusement park with wildlife encounters. Enormous amusement park filled with high-speed roller coasters & rides, plus wildlife attractions.
Other Things to See
Best Kid-Friendly Restaurants & Cafes
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Top Public Schools & School Districts
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Music Lessons & Performing Arts Programs
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Best After-School Programs & Activities
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Things to Do with Kids at Night
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Best Sports & Fitness Activities for Kids
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Language Classes for Children
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Top Private Schools for Kids
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Kid-Friendly Hiking Trails & Nature Walks
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Best Parks for Outdoor Fun
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Things to Do with Toddlers
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Best Family-Friendly Attractions
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Best Camping Spots & Outdoor Adventures
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Best Tutoring Centers & Academic Support
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Best Theaters & Live Shows for Kids
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Best Places for Birthday Parties
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Unique & Hidden Gem Activities for Families
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Best Kids Camps & Summer Programs
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Best Indoor Play Areas for Kids
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Best Museums & Educational Spots for Kids
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Top Amusement Parks & Fun Centers
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Best Water Parks & Splash Pads
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Best Science Centers & Discovery Zones
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Best Zoos, Aquariums & Animal Encounters
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Best Sports Leagues & Youth Athletics
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Explore More Activities
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