Four for Families

These can’t-miss Oakland attractions are perfect for all ages. BY

MARTHA-PAGE ALTHAUS

Local Voices

KYMBERLY MILLER

Executive

Director of Children’s Fairyland

“Children’s Fairyland is a beloved institution, and the tradition of this place gets handed down from one generation to the next. A grandparent may have come here as a child and really cherished that time … maybe they grew up in Oakland, they brought their kids, and now they’re bringing their grandchildren here.”

1oakland Zoo

For 100 years, the Oakland Zoo has been committed to animal rescue, welfare, and conservation. Today it remains a national leader in wildlife care through its efforts to rehabilitate and rehome animals in need, and visitors can see everything from South American macaws to Ugandan chimpanzees living in species-considerate habitats. The California Trail exhibit is a must: It begins with an electric gondola ride up and over the Oakland Hills, and features native California plants and animals like grizzly bears, jaguars (yep, jaguars were once indigenous to the Golden State), mountain lions, and condors. (Tip: At the end of the exhibit, stroll to the San Francisco Bay Overlook for panoramic city views and roaming bison grazing directly below.)

Did You Know?

Flamingos actually fly! The Oakland Zoo’s new flamingo aviary was built to encourage this natural behavior.

2 CHILDREN’S FAIRYLAND

This whimsical park opened in 1950 — and most everything to this day remains from 1950. Children’s Fairyland is a glorious throwback where kids create, imagine, and play the old-fashioned way (no screens!). Wander through the Alice in Wonderland card maze and tunnel, play on the Peter Pan pirate ship, and explore Peter Rabbit’s garden. Stop by the gift shop and buy a $3 key to “unlock” classic fairy tales from audio story boxes throughout the park. Don’t miss a show at Storybook Puppet Theater, the oldest continuously operating puppetry theater in the U.S. The 10-acre park overlooks Lake Merritt and is framed by the city skyline and mature landscaping.

Inspired!

Walt Disney visited Children’s Fairyland before he opened Disneyland in 1955, finding inspiration with things like no straight lines in the park’s design and a surprise around every corner.

3 CHABOT SPACE & SCIENCE CENTER

Thanks to a recent partnership with NASA, Chabot’s new NASA Experience exhibit showcases some seriously cool artifacts — a full-scale model of the Artemis rover, spacesuits from the Mercury and Gemini missions, plus hands-on displays that study heat shield technology and rover building for space exploration. Chabot’s other highlights include a planetarium, authentic descent module (complete with three astronauts strapped in for splash down), and Mission Control. Located in Redwood Regional Park, just a short drive from downtown, Chabot feels, quite literally, worlds away.

4

Oakland Museum Of California

Older kids can explore the Gallery of California Natural Sciences at Oakland Museum of California (OMCA) to learn more about the Golden State’s diverse climate, geography, habitats, and ecosystems. For the littles, the exhibit’s Nature Playspace offers activities like a walk-through tunnel with sound and light displays, and garden and kitchen play areas.

Gathering Place

Every Friday night, OMCA opens its doors to the community for a free event with live music and food trucks on its terraced gardens. Bring a picnic blanket to relax on the Great Lawn and toast to the weekend, or buy a museum ticket and take an after-hours stroll through the galleries.