On hot days, we try to find play indoors. Since Bay Play was nearby and appeared to have play our…read moredaughter enjoys, on a whim we stopped in. Completed waivers, selected her play time, and purchased my daughter's admission ticket ($24.94) along with a pair of grip Bay Play socks ($4.00) online. A chaperone ticket is required ($0), additional chaperones are $5 each. Adults either wear their own socks or shoe covers inside of play area. On a Monday at 4:30p there was only one other car parked. Inside there was one child at play. As the day went on a couple more children joined. The kids all played together as one, which was heart warming to see. The restrooms are located at the rear of the play space, at the end of the Ninja Warrior Jungle structure. There are two major play structures, one for bigger kids to climb, swing and play, the other for smaller kids to do the same with play tailored to their petite size. There are three jump spaces with two attached to what appears to be VR simulated devices. There are lots of arcade games for the kids to play, at an additional charge. Outside food is not permitted. Small snacks are allowed. There are two vending machines at the entrance of the play area - one drinks and the other snacks. There are four massage chairs for chaperones to exist in while the littles play. It accepts mobile pay and cards. One chaperone was enjoying herself during our time, eyes shut. There are 2-3 tables at the front of Bay Play with 4 additional tables at the rear closest to the restrooms. For $25, our daughter was able to play from the time of arrival to close (7p). This is definitely an option to consider for play dates or to pop in for something to do. It is located on the border of Emeryville and Oakland. Bay Play is embedded within a neighborhood. There is street parking directly in front of the location.

We needed somewhere for my kiddo and nephew to go on a rainy winter break day and luckily Bay Play…read morewas one of the few kid spots open on New Year's Day. Off the bat, I want to say this is one of the more affordable indoor playgrounds I've been to (some I've gone to will charge for adults?!) and there was no time limit (some places give you a time limit of how long you can play for) so that was a plus. They do require you to purchase their socks (can't be grippy socks from anywhere else) but even with the socks and day pass, I want to say it was only $35? The kids loved running around the swing ropes, the indoor playground with slide, and the big bouncy thingy under the bouldering wall. My only concern about the bouncy thingy by the bouldering wall is there aren't any safety rails or things around it and I can't tell if it's safer with or without it but I definitely needed to stay close by in case he bounced off the entire cushion thingy. If you have highly sensitive little ones or neurodivergent kiddos, this place may be a tad overstimulating with the arcade right smack dab in the middle. Like other reviewers had mentioned, it would be nice if the arcade was slightly away from the physical play so that kids aren't distracted/overstimulated by the arcade screens. We did eventually end our outing at the arcades (spent another $40 on the game card...sigh) but luckily we won a big jackpot from one of the games to make it all worth it! Of note, you can't really wear your shoes in the bathroom which is kinda gross so bear that in mind. All in all, definitely one of the better indoor playgrounds in the Bay Area!

I'm so glad Alameda has an indoor playground. Both my kids have been enjoying since 6 months to 5…read moreyears old+ Can get busy on rainy days so definitely call to make sure they are accepting open play. It's not huge so it's easy to keep an eye on your kids but lots of variety. Love all the benches and comfy seating for caretakers. There's even a paid massage chair. You need trampoline grippy socks but we've invested pairs sold here and used them plenty. Some favorite areas for the kids are bounce house, kitchen area, ball pit, and slide. There's a clean kitchen area to eat your food. I haven't come or hosted a birthday party but there's a room in the back for one.

This place is fantastic, such a great addition to the east bay. I came here for the first time…read moreyesterday with my 4 year old and 8 year old and they both loved it. Especially my 4 year old which I think is probably more of their target audience, kids below 6. There are a lot of physical activities like a slide ( more suited for kids under age 5), a ball pit, swings, rock climbing wall, and a whole jump house in the back. There is also a painting station and sensory room to calm down and take a break. They have a lot of chairs and couches throughout the place so if you have some work to get done there is definitely room to do so while your kids place. All in all, my kids and I enjoyed this place had we'll definitely be back again.

First time visiting this place and what fun it was! The place is bigger than we expected and had a…read morelot of machines. They are grouped by era of pinball machines. So the front room has the oldest machines and subsequent rooms get progressively newer machines. For the 1 time fee you get unlimited play (so no digging for quarters), there are in and out privileges so you can play, leave to eat etc, and return to play some more. The staff is very nice, friendly and knowledgeable. Only a few machines weren't working, but they had signs so you knew, but almost all of them were working and available to play. Also each machine had a sign that gave some history regarding the art design/layout, or how the particular machine was unique/different etc. I tried to read more of the descriptions but got too caught up in just playing them that I didn't read and learn as much as I should have. Next time I come back I will try to read a bit more. The info provided was actually pretty interesting but I got dazzled by all the blinking lights and sounds. So fun! Speaking of sound- there is enough space between each machine that you aren't drowned out by the other machines or players. There are several rooms of machines so people can spread out. The only thing I would have changed is it is very dark inside (I am guessing to keep the place cool) so it was a little hard to see the action with my aged eyes. Younger people won't have any problems. I am guessing also this place must look amazing at night. We were there mid afternoon. The room with the older machines was nice and bright which was nice. The newer machines are in darker rooms to add to the mood? As we were there on a Friday afternoon, not too many kids/teenagers, but don't know what the clientele would be after school. Street parking is pretty good and there is off street metered parking around the corner. This is a fun place and I will come back and bring visitors.

Amazing ambiance. Extreme fun. The machines are well maintained and some are older games but…read morefantastic to play. The place is very clean. The man that sit at the entrance is cordial and makes you feel welcomed as you walk through the door carrying an 18 month baby! Highly recommend. A fantastic time to spend as long as you want to.

This is a fun place to bring your children and grandchildren. We brought our children here when…read morethey were growing up and it has been at least 30 years since we visited here now with our almost 4 year old grandson. I've been a supporter of Fairyland with their annual fundraiser - online auction for the past few years as well. We parked in the parking inside the parking gate on Bellevue and it is pretty reasonable for parking by the hour or the day. Our grandson was very excited and the first thing we did was attend the puppet show and saw "The Magic Tea Kettle". After that we let him wander around and explore the park and he loved the Dragon Slide and went on multiple times, rode the Merry Go Round a couple of times, the Jolly Trolley before it got busy, The Alice in Wonderland tunnel, Clocktower Slide, Willie the Whale, Ching Lung the Happy Dragon, The Three Little Pigs (but one was missing), The Jolly Roger Pirate Ship and the Ansi's Magic Web, saw the donkeys, ducks, tortoise, chickens, goats. We also ate lunch at cafe and shared chicken nuggets, chicken panini sandwich and chicken quesadilla which were healthy and delicious! At the end of our visit, we went to the gift shop and let him bring home a small trinket. The only suggestion I have is to get safety belts for the Merry Go Round for peace of mind. Visiting Fairyland with our grandson was a delight and brought back memories of bringing our son and daughter here some 30 years ago!

Love this place!!! In fact I have also enjoyed going twice as an adult as well. Its very cute, old…read moretimey & I enjoy its location right on Lake Merritt, which is very beautiful & a really great walk, esp easy for the strollers too. Originally, years ago I brought my 3 kids, and another Mom friend brought her 2 kids.

USS Hornet Sea, Air and Space Museum has become one of those rare places that works equally well…read morefor a deep dive into naval history, a family day out, or even a completely unexpected anime convention. The sheer scale of this Essex-class aircraft carrier hits you the moment you walk up. It's currently the largest military museum in the San Francisco Bay Area, and you can explore three main levels: the massive hangar deck, the upper flight deck where aircraft like the Gulf War-veteran F-14 Tomcat sit nose to nose, and the mid-level deck with everything from the kitchen to the medical bay. The ship is such a labyrinth of passageways that you'll struggle to fit it all into one visit, but somehow that maze-like quality adds to the immersion rather than feeling frustrating. On our visit, we loved wandering on our own through the Apollo exhibit, which includes an authentic Block 1 command module and the Mobile Quarantine Facility that held the Apollo 11 astronauts after their splashdown. One of the quietest surprises is how reflective the ship feels despite its enormous size. Even on busy days, there are long stretches where you can walk through entire sections with nobody else around, just the hum of the bay and the distant lights of San Francisco across the water. The ship is sometimes called the "Grey Ghost," and on a foggy Alameda afternoon, you'll understand why. Parking is completely free in the lot across the street, and it's worth setting aside at least two to three hours to really soak everything in. For anyone in the Bay Area looking for a memorable, hands-on history lesson, this location delivers. And if you happen to visit during CarrierCon, you get to see the flight deck transformed into an anime convention complete with VTuber panels, cosplay meetups, and after-hours dance parties.

USS Hornet (CV-12) is the 4th Essex class aircraft carrier built in 1943 and served in the Pacific…read moretheater fighting some of the biggest battles of WWII. Later, after her modernization overhauls, she would serve as recovery ship for the Apollo 11 & 12 moon missions. Now in her retirement, she serves as an aviation and space museum in Alameda, CA. Of the 24 Essex carriers that were built, only 4 remain as museum ships today. We were lucky to visit on a great day with fantastic weather! You have to drive to this remote location on the island of Alameda, a former naval base, where there is ample parking. Being so far away from downtown SF keeps the crowds away, but is not that great for the museum because it doesn't get enough visitors to sustain them financially, so they rely a lot on volunteers and donations. I heard that there are plans to move the ship over near Fisherman's Wharf, which will increase the flow of visitors. I hope that they will bring her in for a nice facelift before that because the old girl is looking a little ragged these days. Let's see how you look when you're 82 years old! From the pier you have to climb a set of stairs and walk over a sloped gangway high over the the water into the hangar. Her hangar deck and flight deck are pretty spacious with not a lot of aircraft exhibits because they are hard to come by these days and Hornet could use a nice sponsor to help. Even so, the exhibits they do have are significant. The historical aircraft span from the WWII ones she carried into combat like the FM-2 Wildcat fighter and the TBM Avenger torpedo bomber, to the jet age of the Vietnam War with the FJ-2 Fury, the F8U Crusader and F11F Tiger jet fighters and recent ones such as the F-14 Tomcat (of Top Gun fame), S-3 Viking sub hunter and the current F/A-18 Hornet. Below decks, you get to do the self-guided tour of the spaces occupied by the crew, from their sleeping racks to the mess decks to see how they lived day-to-day at sea for months. There are also additional docent led guided tours (at extra cost) that will take you up to the bridge in the island superstructure and also into the bowels of the ship's engine rooms. For me as a military history buff, this is what I like to do on vacations and I drag my poor wife along for the ride.

A magical place! My 6-year-old son is autistic and it was such a relief to be welcomed by a team…read morethat just gets it. The space is super clean and feels like a kid's dream. There's so much to do, climbing, building, exploring, getting wiggles out, and even a quiet room to chill. You can tell the folks behind it really thought through everything. The vibe, the décor, even the website feel so neurodiverse-affirming. They have tech to help build community around members too. We live in Novato so the distance makes a membership tough right now, but I'm hoping we can join in the summer when school isn't in the way. I'd love to see Spirited Play Labs expand to more places as this is the future IMO (please come to Novato, I'll help!). For families like ours, where typical play spaces can feel stressful or isolating, this place is a true gem, welcoming, thoughtful, and hopeful for the future. Thank you!!!

We've been coming to SPL for years, and it has always been such a positive experience. The play…read moresessions with Lia mean so much to us. we truly appreciate her patience, guidance, and support. Every visit, we notice progress. My daughter used to play only by herself, but now we see her becoming more independent and interacting with Lia, which fills our hearts. As a mom of a child on the spectrum, I know how hard it can be. My daughter doesn't have friends, but when we come here, she has one. In other spaces, the stares that come with her stimming can be so difficult to ignore, but here at SPL, we feel safe, accepted, and not judged. That sense of belonging is rare for special needs families, and we are so grateful to have found it here. I love how the staff embraces inclusion and acceptance. it shows in everything they do. I truly wish there were more places and programs like this for our kids, because families like ours need community.

We had a birthday celebration for our daughter at the Village Kids Club, and it was a very nice…read moreexperience. The staff was helpful with set up and cleanup. The facilities and convenient, with lots of fun toys, bean bags, etc. for kids. There is plenty of space, tables, and chairs for some activities and for the food.

We held our child's birthday party here and it's a very nice venue for the kids! The staff wasn't…read morethe most attentive to the kids though. The website advertised "Actively supplies and instruction from our party helper is included." The supplies were provided but the staff just hung back and that was about it. The parents had to do most of the work. It was still a fun place and the kids enjoyed themselves, we just expected a bit more involvement and interaction from the staff.

Our second year into the membership. It is never a dull day here. Specially with world cup games in…read morethe South Bay and heat advisory it was perfect a day to spend summer Saturday here. Loved the new hanging bridge at entrance. Bubble daddy machine was a hit. Our two most favorite spots continue to be outdoor wooden train and the indoor train play area. their onsite restrooms could do with same upgrade as the main entrance restroom. But we love this place. Looking forward to more visits in next 12 months.

One of the few places where you can spend almost the entire day with kids without constantly trying…read moreto figure out what to do next. The Bay Area Discovery Museum somehow manages to feel exciting without feeling overwhelming. There are indoor exhibits, outdoor play areas, sensory stations, bubble activities, climbing structures, toddler-friendly areas, and sand play with Golden Gate Bridge views. The layout makes it easy for kids to naturally move from one activity to another without parents constantly redirecting the day. The overall vibe feels chill, playful, interactive, and very exploration-focused instead of overly chaotic or overstimulating. Quick guide below. What really stood out to me was how thoughtfully designed the museum feels for both children and parents. Many activity areas are staffed, which makes the experience feel more interactive and supported instead of parents having to carry the entire outing themselves. One staff member even pulled out a little guitar during one activity, and suddenly kids and parents were all singing together like a tiny spontaneous flash mob It gave the whole place a really warm, community feel instead of feeling like just another children's museum. I also loved the dedicated toddler play areas where bigger kids can't just run through and take over, which made it feel much calmer and safer for little ones still learning to explore independently. ------ QUICK GUIDE What matters: * Free parking available * Designed mainly for kids ages 0-8 * Indoor + outdoor children's activities * Toddler-friendly play areas * Bubble + sensory activities * Sand play area * Large climbing/play structures * Golden Gate Bridge views * Bathrooms throughout * Stroller-friendly paths * Staff throughout activity areas * Open space to roam and explore * Great for both low-stimulation and high-energy kids * Easy place to spend several hours with children ------ Pro tip: if you accidentally forget diapers or wipes, they have diaper backpacks stocked near the bathrooms -- one of those small details that makes the whole place feel genuinely parent-friendly. Adding photos because it was hard to picture the overall layout before going.