Avery's birthday at Discovery Kingdom was an absolute blast!…read more We spent a good six hours at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom for Avery's birthday, and this was honestly such a fun first big amusement-park experience for our family. Avery had an absolute blast from the moment we got there until it was time to leave. The Looney Tunes characters were probably the biggest highlight for him because Looney Tunes is his favorite, and Wile E. Coyote is his absolute favorite character. We happened to catch Wile E. while he was closing down his picture area, but he still stopped to say hi to Avery. When Avery told him it was his birthday, Wile E. actually stopped what he was doing and brought him back over to the picture area so they could take a photo together. That was such a sweet little moment, especially because he didn't have to do that. We also caught the 3:30 Looney Tunes dance show, although we got there a little late and couldn't get seats because we were on the other side of the park. Avery didn't care -- he was out there dancing like he was part of the cast. One of the service team members noticed how much he was dancing and told me that if we came back around 4:15 for the 4:30 show, Avery might have a chance to get picked to go onstage for his birthday. And IT WORKED. Avery got picked to go onstage! He wanted to be on Team Bugs because Bugs had won the previous dance show, but he ended up on Team Daffy instead... and Team Daffy WON! He was so proud of himself and had the absolute time of his life. Watching him have that much fun on his birthday was easily one of my favorite parts of the entire day. We rode basically every ride Avery was tall enough and comfortable enough to ride, explored the butterfly garden, saw the lions and giraffes, watched the shows, ate pizza and breadsticks with our food pass, grabbed drinks, and still managed to squeeze in more rides afterward. There is definitely plenty to do here even if you're not spending the entire day on roller coasters. One warning, though: the Road Runner roller coaster is INTENSE. That thing has some serious whipping and an extremely abrupt stop. I would definitely prepare yourself for some unexpected movement because it is much more aggressive than I expected. Even some of the smaller kids might find it intimidating just because of how fast it moves. Know what you're getting yourself into before you climb on that one! Also, prepare to get your steps in. This park is big, and we walked A LOT. But honestly, that's part of the experience. There was always something else to go see, another character to find, another show to catch, or another ride to get on. For a first amusement park experience with our kids, I honestly couldn't have asked for a better day. Avery got to meet his favorite Looney Tunes character, dance onstage on his birthday, win a dance competition, see animals, explore the park, eat good food, and ride a bunch of rides. Everybody had fun, and it was absolutely worth the money we spent. This was our family's first real theme-park adventure, and it definitely opened the door for us to start checking out other parks too. Great America and the other California amusement parks are definitely going on the list, but Discovery Kingdom was a pretty damn good place to start. Six hours later, exhausted, stuffed, and with a very happy birthday boy? I'd call that a successful day.

I want to give a shout out to some of the excellent staff members from our visit today. Whoever…read moreplayed Bugs Bunny at 6pm was amazing and playful. Took my daughter's hat and pretended to wear it. Made for a fantastic moment. There was also a friendly guy who was observing the kids' rides (safety checks?) in Looney Tunes area. Now the not so good - Be aware: the entertainment division changed the Looney Tunes show (Tunetastic). It's AWFUL now. Think Mean Girls energy. Lots of DRAMA that is completely unnecessary for a children's audience. Way too LOUD. And they don't let children come anywhere near the stage to meet the characters like they used to. It used to be a fun, interactive, and inclusive DANCE PARTY FOR KIDS. We didn't see any Halloween themed stuff this year. Did it get canceled? More positive highlights - feeding the giraffes, a great value for just $10. Get there early! We also enjoyed the Wildlife Experience show - we saw a diverse array of animals. Overall, it was a fun experience for our group, although some experiences were closed (adventure zone and one of the restaurants). We still had a good time!

I used to own a season's pass every year since I was in sixth grade, so I wanted to bring my 20…read moremonth son before it permanently closes in 2028. I went for nostalgia. In 2028, Great America will be demolished and converted to office and commercial development. The parking lot attendants did little in directing us to the entrance after we asked where it was. I think the entrance moved. The entrance used to be on the left under the "Great America" sign so we stood in line next to the sign. I was confused why there were no children in line, the men were heavily tattooed and the women were scantily clothed; only to find out we were in line for a low rider car show. The Great America entrance was at the far right around the corner. Regarding the food court, I waited fifteen minutes in line. Then an old woman who spoke zero English cut in front of me and attempted to purchase the last pre-made California roll. I put a stop to it and questioned the cashier why he would allow her to cut in front of me after I had been waiting in line for fifteen minutes, and shooed the old lady away. The chicken teriyaki was the worst I've ever had but the California roll was surprisingly decent. There were five rides my son was able to ride on including two carousels. They had a decent outdoor gym for toddlers that included three slides.

When I was a kid, Great America was the Bay Area's version of Disney haha. This place is completely…read moredifferent than what I remembered. The kids rides lines were over 30 min wait time. There were multiple food stalls that were not open. The food is mediocre as expected from theme parks. I wanted to take my kids for the first and last time before they official close in 2027. Save your money if you're thinking about going here.

Took the kids here for a little adventure during inclement weather. They had a blast…read more First things first. I recommend doing the waiver online. You'll have to sign again at the register, but it will save you a bunch of time when you arrive. Ok...for our experience. It can feel a little overwhelming when you first arrive if you haven't been there before. Having people walk in, with their own helmets, acting like they own the place will have anyone unsure where they should go or do when they first arrive. The staff make it feel very welcoming and friendly. After I finished check-in, I felt like the people with their own helmet. Tyrez helped me at check-in. He was patient, professional and friendly. When I say patient, I mean PATIENT! I had four kids with me and when it came to head covers alone, he got everyone what they needed even though I had to prompt the kids multiple times to come to a decision. We got there, but it was rough and Tyrez was amazing throughout! He even explained everything to me so that I wouldn't be caught off guard by anything and wouldn't end up frustrated...or at least that is how it felt. Next, know this. When they are running adult races, it's loud in the track area. Because I work safety, I have my watch set to alarm me when the sound exceeds the OSHA permissible exposure limit. It went off a lot. So, I measured the sound. It can get above 100 decibels. That's loud. Not as loud as a rock concert or fire truck siren, but it will make it difficult to have a conversation. You may want to consider ear plugs...or ear buds with noise canceling. The races are run very efficiently and they alternate between youth and adult groups. One safety feature the do great is that they are never on the track, together, at the same time. Safety seemed like it was well managed. When impacts happen, they throttle down the carts, to ensure everything is safe. One note though...and I see this as a huge positive...they let you RACE! Yes, they pay attention and focus on safety, but they don't scold or stop because of a little inadvertent contact. I was truly impressed by the balance they maintain there. In my group of four, two were a little scared and didn't race all the races we purchased (I bought the SpeedPass for each and it seems like a really good package for first timers), but they were amazing at helping me re-assign them to the others in our group. Luis helped me there and again, he was patient with me and helped ensure we got everything transferred correctly. He also answered all 5,000 of my questions throughout our visit. No, not really 5,000, but there were a lot. He was amazing! If I had any criticism at all, it would be for the game area. Many of their games weren't working because of a network error. It was disappointing for me, but it hit the kids hard. They should have someone dedicated to that area as it was never empty while we were there. I would imagine that having all working correctly would result in increased revenue. Overall, we had an amazing adventure there today and Tyrez and Luis were part of the reason why. Their track team was the other part...I just wasn't able to get their names. If you're looking for a new adventure, this is an amazing way to spend a Saturday!!!

Came here for a date night, and it took 30 minutes at check in. It wasn't busy at all, and the lady…read morein the front had trouble with the system. She also didn't explain how getting our food, getting called for racing, etc worked. All the arcade game prizes were empty! And the system for the card reader would always have to reconnect to wifi. It took the food 40 minutes since "they were still working on food for a party". Mind you there's no one here except a kids party. They also got our order completely wrong! Wrong sauce and completely wrong entree.

Happy Hollow Park & Zoo is a great family adventure park with toddler rides and a small zoo. I…read morevisited when I was a child and when I had kids we purchased memberships. Now, during specific months during the year, they host senior safari where seniors can visit for free and participate in organized activities and visit sponsors for literature and their goodies. I have been attending the safaris for a while and was disappointed this past month. I do appreciate the opportunity for a free visit but would like to see different sponsors and maybe have them stay a bit longer. For the safari this past month I arrived at 9:20 (20 mins after opening) and half of the sponsors were packing up because they ran out of freebies and literature. The biggest disappointment was Danny the dragon along with the carrousel were non-op. Regardless, the main purpose of senior safari is encourage movement and 10,000 steps. I am looking forward to the cooler months to enjoy my walk in the park soaking up the fall weather and sights.

Very disappointing and honestly not worth the money. The park is small, there are very few animals…read moreto see, several areas feel empty or underwhelming, and the rides are limited. On top of admission, you still have to pay for parking, and the food is overpriced for what you get. For a family attraction, the overall experience feels poorly run and seriously lacking in value. There are much better places to take young kids in the Bay Area. We definitely won't be coming back.

We had a really nice time at the San Francisco Zoo! It's a great place to spend the day with the…read morekids. We saw leopards, chimpanzees, lions, penguins, and many other animals. The kids really enjoyed walking around and seeing everything. There's a lot of walking, so definitely wear comfortable shoes! Some animals were hiding or relaxing, but that's part of the zoo experience. We also ate there and had burgers, fries, and a few other things. The food was actually pretty good and hit the spot after all that walking! Overall, we had a fun family day. Nice atmosphere, good food, and plenty to see and do. We'll definitely come back again!

There's a good amount of free parking on Sloat, otherwise prepare to pay $15 on weekdays or $20 on…read moreweekends to park in the lot here. There was a line at the ticket booth on Saturday afternoon, but it went fast. Interaction with staff was minimal during my visit. Zoo admission is pricier on the weekend, plus they charge extra fees for special exhibits like the current Dinos Rule, which is geared toward kids and made up of animatronic dinosaurs with minimal movement. I was disappointed to find that the Australian walkabout and entire section of the park was closed off (except for an enclosure with a single koala), as this was where the temporary dinosaur experience was located. In addition, some of the animals were missing from their habitats including the snow leopards, komodo dragons, and wolverines. Even the family farm was closed while I was there. Luckily, there was still plenty to see and explore. Checked out the ostriches and a group of giraffes up close feeding on some plants, the gorilla preserve (there was not much action in here), madagascar lemur forest, the chilean flamingos, amphibean alley with axolotls, california red-legged frogs, and a california tiger salamander inside, western santa cruz giant tortoises, western pond turtle, magellanic penguins with a lovely setup on penguin island (the cute creatures posing for visitors), sleeping lions, giant anteater, pelicans, rhinos, american black bears yogurt hunting in grizzly gulch, grizzly bears in a separate space munching away on romaine lettuce scattered around, a sloth, green jays, and several species of parrots in the south american tropical rainforest & aviary, mexican gray wolves, horses, a bactrian camel, and bornean orangutans. There was also an insect zoo on site, a small stuffy room with creepy crawlers on display including a desert hairy scorpion, mexican rustleg tarantula, hissing cockroaches, and more. Took a break and grabbed a beverage in the Leaping Lemur Cafe, an easy transaction at the self-order kiosks. There was plenty of indoor and outdoor seating here. I was happy to find an outlet near the tables inside to charge my phone. Besides viewing the animals in their environments, there were other activities and offerings at the park like animal statues in the sculpture learning plaza, a playground and exploration zone for kids, a carousel, animal rescue center, caricatures, face painting, train rides, a giant baobab (tree of life) replica, the national tree of Madagascar, and beautiful artworks including The Jane Goodall Singing Tree of Love mural, part of a peacebuilding project portraying the connection between humans and primates. Other things to note... there were seemingly just as many strollers as there were animals in the park, so be prepared to navigate your way around these. Also, there weren't many food vendors on site. I just saw two cafes and a small ice cream cart. This zoo is not as engaging as it used to be, but there was still a lot to appreciate during my time here.

Gilroy Gardens is a hidden gem. It is tucked far away from the freeways and there is nothing around…read moreit, not even shopping centers, hotels or even a gas station. Admission is quite steep but if you have a Great America gold pass, you can enter the park for free. Parking is $25 and up. Just as the name suggests, Gilroy Gardens is filled with beautiful gardens in every corner. You'll find the prettiest flowers, super tall trees, bamboo, a variety of plants, and so much more landscaping all around. And of course, there are the fun rides! I have gone to Gilroy Gardens a few times now and I enjoy the roller coasters, the ferris wheel, the train, and the paddle boat. However, the paddle boat moves painfully slow. A short line could be deceiving. It can take 1 hour or more. I wished they added more boats or make the process more efficient. The food at the park is delish! Head over to the grill restaurant near the water park for freshly grilled corn, chicken skewers and corn in a cup. I love the churros here more than at Great America. The churros are perfectly soft on the inside and lightly crispy on the outside. And you can't be hanging out in Gilroy without having some Gilroy garlic fries! The garlic fries right by the paddle boats is so good! The fries are crispy and are not soggy at all. If you ever want to enjoy a relaxing day on a train, lake, boat, eating delicious foods and snacks, I highly recommend Gilroy Gardens!

As a South Bay resident, this was our go-to park when our kids were younger! I'd say good for any…read moreage, but definitely for the under ten crowd! Such gorgeous grounds, and the trees and foliage are OUTSTANDING! Nice and shady, lots of places to park a stroller for a quick nap. Food and single day entry are pricey--but if you get a pass, the value is fantastic. And you can bring in food and snacks too. Special shout out for the Halloween and Holiday celebrations! Super fun for the kids, abs they even have special drinks for adults. Fantastic water park--hang in the shade while your older kids slide and play!

My 7-year old LOVED this place, so that alone makes it 5 stars. For me personally, I'd say 3…read morestars, when factoring in its easy location and not having to wait in lines. So let's preface this with, my daughter corresponds with her "very own fairy" (aka. me--a very involved parent who also celebrates her half birthday, commits to elaborate elf on the shelf surprises for a prolonged period each year, is her Girl Scouts troop leader, etc.). She's been asking her fairy to take her to Neverland. The fairy responded "not yet", and instead supplied what my daughter referred to as "free" tickets" (online $20/pp, or $139/annual which includes an adult and 3 kids) to Fairyland the next day. We took the Bart to 19th St Oakland from San Francisco, which was SUPER convenient (daughter loves the train, and I hate driving in traffic), thought a bit of a walk in the Oakland heat/humidity. Also the lake that it's located on, absolutely reeks of sewage--I don't understand how people purposely walk/jog along the edges; but at least you can't really smell it from Fairyland. Just walk on the upper sidewalk or across the street if you share in my disgust. You'll get plenty of cute photos. The few rides they have (4 rides total) are very cute, had no lines on a summer weekday, and only accommodate heights between 36"-54" (except for the Jolly Trolley train which is all heights though adults need to watch their heads when squeezing in and out). The height restriction is very important to know before you go, to ensure your kid isn't disappointed. Wear sunscreen. No mosquitoes, which I was concerned about given the standing lake water and humidity. There are outdoor sinks with soap and antibacterial to wash your hands periodically, which I appreciated. As expected, a high priced gift shop, though it's stocked primarily with smaller toys, so if you're roped into purchasing something it won't break the bank. The single restaurant counter is actually quite perfect! Imaginibbles serves super cute, kid friendly healthy food that is reasonably priced at ~$7/entree. Smaller portions, but in my opinion, perfect for a theme park. The reusable cup ($8, includes one refill) is color changing when cold, very sturdy for a plastic cup, and you can fill with strawberry, white peach or watermelon lemonade that isn't overly sweet. You are also allowed to bring your own food, and there were plenty of folks picnicking on the large grassy area. Attractions are definitely old (paint missing throughout), and not cleaned well. Spiderwebs galore, particularly in areas that are meant to only be looked at, such as the Alice statue that you can see through a window in the Alice in Wonderland tunnel. A quick broom sweep would do wonders! There are a number of cute smaller animals, like chickens, a bearded dragon, 2 donkeys, and a land tortoise. These areas conversely appear relatively well maintained, which is fantastic for both the animals and to keep smells minimal. There is also a pressed wood town area with a slide where the kids can run around and climb into the different buildings, which seemed to be a favorite of many kids. There is a long ~30min puppet show (daily ~11am, 2pm) that changes seasonally, and somehow manages to keep most kids' attention. Magic key ($3) is an easy souvenir (colors change each day, so theoretically you can collect them), and used to hear music/stories through various boxes around the park. Though boxes are staticky (older), and some have bolts sticking out that prevent your key from being turned and thus the stories/music to play. My daughter quickly tired of them anyway, but she loves treasures like the "magic" key, so it was money well spent. There is also a hand-crank penny presser (51 cents) in the gift shop, so bring some change. One disappointment of Fairyland, is that there are literally no "fairies" anywhere to be found. You'd think they might have a few tiny fairy houses situated out of reach, or even fairy lights in trees to simulate fairies. Overall, fun filled and worth the ticket price. Just be sure your kid is in the height range for rides!

This place is strategically built so that there's shade everywhere on those hot summer days. Even…read morethe slides have covers over them so that the metal doesn't get too hot. It's this attention to detail that sets it apart from other amusement parks. And the food. Let's talk about the food. This is not your overpriced, cheap-quality, greasy carnival junk. It's actually healthy fruits and veggies with milk or other house-made stuff. Fun shapes, like a rocket quesadilla. Even my fussy eater wants to eat here. Do we need to talk about the rides or value? The kids come here all day and never want to leave!

Very cute park in Pittsburg. There is a lake, two playgrounds and a few rides that were out of…read morecommission. The area is hit by the sun quite often but otherwise okay. Bring umbrellas if you want a function here in the summer and stay cool. The fish in the pool will def leave the kiddos in a trance for a while.

Really nice park and great for parties. Catching crawdads is…read morea fun and delight for parents and kids. Picnic tables/areas are easy to reserve (call during normal business hours). Unfortunately, all the rides are currently not in operation. No train, no carousel, no kid rides. The only thing that does work is the zip line and the playgrounds. SWP, please hire someone and fix the rides. Your park will have a lot more patrons if you hire someone to fix the rides. You can double the entry fee and people will still come if the rides are operational. Unfortunately if these don't get fixed, I fear this place may shut down eventually. Pro tip: Bring your own stick, string, hook (paperclip) and hot dogs to catch the crawdads. And Ask for discounts when making reservations.

We arrived at 1020am and took the $25 all you can play and ride pass that is valid till 12 noon…read more Well worth it! Kids enjoyed the arcade- most of the machines were working. They also did the bumper boats, go kart and vertical boom! The batting cages are not included and you have to pay extra for them. Great kids activity option if you're looking to find something to keep them occupied with lout breaking the bank!

Would'nt hold a b/day there again. Might've been fun for the kids because [well they're kids] The…read moreroom was small, no door for privacy, Literallly had to go ask for the pizzas we ordered on our own 2 times. after waiting 30-40 minutes AFTER we got the 1st one ? (The pizza was fair at best, not good) It just felt like : Here you go, this is your room. The first delivery of food n drink & that was it ? Totally ignored. No management timely procedures at all. Then had to track down an attendant to get the outdoor stuff going ? Nobody walking around the place to see how things are going with anyone or hows the party "do you need anything" ? Nothing !!!

I had WAY more fun than I thought I would! An organization reserved space for us to come and check…read moreit out. We did the Stranger Things experience. When you walk in, you register with your name and they call you into the room. You put sensors on your wrist and ankles. The orientation is pretty thorough. Then you are outfitted with goggles and a headset. The experience is so interactive! I was scared and I didn't realize I was screaming. I felt so bad for my friends when I saw the video afterwards. I really got into the game and ended up having the most kills lol. I also really like the video they give you afterwards of the experience. I highly recommend it for a teambuilding or party.

We had a spectacular experience here!!! Our family had decided to do the Squid Game one and it was…read morea blast. Staff was friendly and explained instructions clearly including equipment set up and how to play the actual game. It's worth the price and cool activity to do in a group setting.