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| The Bay Area is one of the greatest places in the world to live, with a wealth of activities and diversions for you and your baby. Below is a list of a few of the places we like to go with our little one. |
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| There are a ton of great parks to visit on the Peninsula. Here are a few of our favorite "go to" parks. |
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BURLINGAME PARKS |
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Ray Park
1525 Balboa Avenue
Open all week 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
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Nice shady park with big grass area. The park in a great neighborhood, so it's also a great area to take a stroll.
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"J" Lot Playground
Primrose Street, just south of Burlingame Ave.
Open all week 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
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Small park in downtown Burlingame with great people watching. For its size, it is usually busy so your little one will have plenty of friends to play with.
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Pershing Park
138 Crescent Avenue
Open all week 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
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Another nice neighborhood park that has been recently renovated. A short stoll to Burlingame Ave if you want to make an afternoon out of it. |
Washington Park
850 Burlingame Avenue
Open all week 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
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Burlingame's largest park, plenty of activities including two large play areas with squishy synthetic padding. |
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SAN MATEO PARKS |
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Central Park
50 East 5th Avenue
Reservations: (650) 522-7434
Mon through Fri 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Sat and Sun 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Japanese Tea Garden |
Great place for picnics and barbeques. Big grass area and full playground with train rides on the weekends.
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Coyote Point Park
1961 Coyote Point Drive
(650)573-2592
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This park, which includes a number of picnic areas, reopened their playground in June 2006. The new 39,000 square foot playground has 6 slides 13 swings, a three story castle, 2 dragons, and much more.
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Indian Springs Park
313 West 39th Avenue |
Nice shady park with good views. Modern play areas for little and big kids. Beware the wood chips which are plentiful at this park!
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Laurelwood/Sugarloaf Park
3471 Glendora Drive |
Laurelwood is a nice, secluded place for picnics and parties. Full sand playground. |
Parkside Aquatic Park
1097 Seal Court
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Cool place by the water in Shoreview. Squishy synthetic playground padding, picnic area and boat launch
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Ryder Park
1801 J. Hart Clinton Drive
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Nice place to go on warm days. Ryder park has a cool water feature and modern play equipment. Squishy synthetic padding for the payground (no eating sand or wood chips!) and neat trail for strollers/walking/jogging.
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OTHER PENINSULA PARKS |
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Millbrae Central Park
477 Lincoln Circle
Millbrae
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Not many people know about this hidden gem, but this expansive park is great for children.
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Stafford Park
King Street at Hopkins Avenue
Redwood City
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Our favorite "destination" park. With modern structures, a spacious play area and water feature, it is a great way to spend a warm (late) summer day.
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Vista Park
Vista Road between Culebra and Chiltern
Hillsborough
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One of the nicest parks in the area. Recently remodeled, this park has everything you are looking for in a park including squishy synthetic padding in the play areas, strutures for little and big kids as well as a mini rock climbing area.
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COYOTE POINT MUSEUM - Great place to take your kids. The museum has a number of interesting exhibits and also has an attached zoo with native birds and other animals.
SAN FRANCISCO ZOO - Following some recent renovations, the San Francisco Zoo is better than ever. Don't miss the Meerkats or the petting zoo, your kids will love them! Also make sure to dress warm, as the zoo is near the ocean.
PALO ALTO JUNIOR MUSEUM AND ZOO - Free exhibits and small zoo in Palo Alto. Great place for rainy days.
HAPPY HOLLOW PARK AND ZOO - Located in Kelley park in San Jose, Happy Hollow has rides, play areas as well as a theater with puppet shows. There's also petting zoo featuring goats, miniature horses, and other animals.
EXPLORATORIUM - Hands on science exhibits for all ages. Kids under 3 are free, adults get in free the first Wedensday of each month.
BAY AREA DISCOVERY MUSEUM - Indoor/outdoor museum just north of San Francisco featuring hands-on art, science and environmental exhibits
OAKLAND ZOO - Located in Knowland Park in Oakland. Great children's zoo and special holiday events.
STEINHART AQUARIUM - In the process of being renovated (scheduled to be complete in 2008), but it is still one of our favorites. Be sure to catch the penguin feedings at 11:00 and 3:30 every day. |
GYMBOREE PLAY AND MUSIC - Located in San Mateo at the Laurelwood Shopping Center, Gymboree has great classes for members as well as open gym for non-members (Wed and Fri from 2:30 to 5:00) for only $10
JUNIOR GYM - Located in downtown San Mateo, this is another great way for your child to get their energy out. Open gym from 12:30 to 1:30 and 2:30 to 3:30 ($5 per hour), classes also available for both members and guests.
LITTLE GYM - Located in Belmont and has classes similar to Gymboree and Junior Gym. No open gym times, but a number of classes are available with membership.
TALBOT'S TOYLAND - Talbot's has a great set up where kids can explore and play with many of the toys they have for sale, including a brio train table and fully assembled climbers and playhouses.
TANFORAN MALL PLAY YARD - A mall play pen? Yes! It's definitely better than other mall play areas, and becuse of Tanforan's recent renovation everything is new (and horse racing themed).
SAN MATEO LIBRARY - There is a great little section in the newly renovated library to crawl and toddle around in with board books, puzzles and stuffed animals. The story time amphitheater is also good for daily activities put on by library staff or for just climbing around in. |
SAWYER CAMP TRAIL - Our favorite stroller/walking/jogging trail on the peninsula. Fully paved but surrounded by nature, this trail is perfect for taking your little one out.
FITZGERALD MARINE RESERVE - Really good place for older kids, but even toddlers can have fun at this coastside park. Tidepools, walking trails and a nearby airport (our son loves planes) make this a great place to go on a sunny day.
AÑO NUEVO STATE PARK - Another coastside park, Año Nuevo has cool trails and famous elephant seals that make Año Nuevo their home.
GOLDEN GATE PARK - Open spaces, picnic areas, a Swan Lake and a Japanese Tea Garden make this park worth the parking hassles on the weekends.
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