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 just can't express enough how much we love this place! First of all..owned by a woman of color is…read morealready a green flag in my book. I have literally done almost every single thing this place has to offer from open play, to preschool, OT, hosting a birthday party there and special events like the holiday party and carnival. In terms of birthday parties, it was SO easy. Literally one of the most stress free kids parties I've hosted. The staff were so so kind and super helpful. They helped with everything from setup to clean up so we could just be present and enjoy the day. The party room is super spacious with room for kids and adults. We had a pretty large group and were totally comfortable in the space. I appreciated that we could bring all our own food and decorations and the crew literally helped me setup everything. For open play there is an awesome variety of things for kids to do. I especially love the quiet room. It's great for my neurodivergent kid to have space to both jump in the bounce house and move that energy out and chill in the quiet and calm area. We're big fans and have really enjoyed all aspects of this whole place for 5 years now. Keep it up yall! You're doing great.

We celebrated my child's birthday at Swings & Wings and it was honestly the easiest, most fun party…read morewe've ever hosted! We booked the private party package and had access to the whole play space -- bounce house, ball pit, climbers, all of it. Our host took care of setup and cleanup so we could actually enjoy the party instead of running around. The kids had a blast, and I loved that there was a quiet/sensory room for anyone who needed a break from the excitement. My daughter and her friends had a BLAST! If you're looking for an stress-free, kid-approved birthday spot in Alameda, Swings & Wings is it. We'll be back!

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.

Great experience all around. Worker(s) were very friendly and made the process of getting in and…read morelaying down the rules quick. Tons of pinball machines and a lot of cool history! Definitely a fun place to go with kids or family. Price was reasonable. No limit to play, only ends when they close.

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!

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.

Bay Area Discovery Museum is honestly such a great place for families. It is tucked right along a…read morelittle beach shore with views of the Golden Gate, so if you catch it on a beautiful day, you are in for a really special treat. My biggest tip is to bring a lunch, hang out by the shore, and just chill for a bit. There are so many fun play structures where kids can run around and get all their energy out. They also have smaller play areas and different activities for younger children. I took my son when he was one, right when he was starting to walk, and he was still able to appreciate so much of it. I also think the parents will enjoy this place. I'm not sure if it's the views or the fact that there's lots places to unwind, but I found it one of the more relaxing spots to frequent as a parent. If you do not bring your own food, their options are surprisingly great. We were really impressed to see they have vegetarian, vegan, gluten free, and dairy free options. They also offer discounted tickets if you are on SNAP/EBT or military personnel, which is awesome. Now that my son is older, I am definitely planning to head back soon. They have all kinds of fun programming like bubble bashes and Halloween events. It is truly one of those places you never get tired of coming back to.

We haven't been here in over 10 years with our first set of two kids. Now we have another set but…read morethree toddlers! There's SO MUCH to do and the price is well worth it imo. If we didn't live so far I would absolutely purchase a membership. You can also use your day visit purchase towards a membership. I'm sure this would need to be completed within a certain amount of days, though. The museum does a fantastic job catering everything for families. Yes, I know it's a children's museum but not all museums are equal. Plenty of picnic tables to eat at, both shaded and not, benches to take a break and snack, tissue dispensers (this came in handy!), diaper backpacks supplied with all the necessities during diaper changes near bathrooms, hand sanitizers, etc. We were huge fans how the toddler play areas required shoes off or they provided shoe covers! Food is served here and is decently priced. Several outdoor playgrounds, large sandbox, little water play station, arts and crafts room, and lots of excellent play & pretend themed rooms. Huge kudos for all they have to offer because it touches on every level of imagination and creativity which is so vital for child development. Highly recommend coming here with your kiddos. Plenty to do for all ages!