Sandra Lee

Latest posts by Sandra

Easter Weekend 2023: 16 Things to Do with Kids in the San Francisco Bay Area

Submitted by Sandra Lee on Wed, 04/05/2023 - 7:30am

Hop aboard an Eggstraordinary train. Photo courtesy of the Roaring Fork Railroad

Looking for the best things to do in San Francisco and the Bay Area over Easter weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list.

Grab those bunny ears, baskets, and bonnets because the Easter Bunny has made it to the Bay Area! There are plenty of eggcellent events, from brunching with the bunnies, to egg hunts for days. San Mateo is hosting their annual (and very popular) Eggstravaganza, complete with a parade and bunny photos. Children's Fairyland in Oakland celebrates Bunny Weekend with games like hopscotch through the park. If you'd rather spend Easter on wheels, Roaring Camp is bringing back the Eggstraordinary Easter Egg Hunt.

We've also rounded up the best Easter Egg Hunts in the Bay Area, Easter Movies to watch with the whole family, and Easy Easter Crafts for kids of all ages. Spring is also here, with many events that aren't Easter-focused but still celebratory nonetheless. Find seasonal activities in our Spring Fun Guide for San Francisco Kids.

20 Easter Egg Hunts in San Francisco and the Bay Area for Kids in 2023

Submitted by Sandra Lee on Sun, 03/26/2023 - 3:30am

Egg hunts are eggstraordinary! Photo courtesy of Bigstock

Easter egg hunts around San Francisco and the Bay Area are egg-cellent! The arrival of springtime means tulips are aplenty, and eggs are scrambled throughout the City by the Bay. Many Easter egg hunts in San Francisco and the Bay Area are free community events, adding yet another sweet treat to those colorfully adorned Easter baskets.

Other fun activities, like food trucks, live music, and that obligatory Easter Bunny picture, also tend to be found at Easter egg hunts so families can enjoy a wonderful spring morning or afternoon of seasonal Easter activities. From traditional egg hunts in beautiful parks to fun nighttime flashlight hunts, there is Easter fun for everyone to enjoy.

On the hunt for more Easter ideas? Try these Easter crafts, eat these kid-pleasing Easter recipes, and find more holiday ideas in our Easter Activities Guide for Families.

Best STEM Summer Camps in San Francisco and the Bay Area for Kids

Submitted by Sandra Lee on Sun, 03/19/2023 - 9:45am

LEGO, Minecraft, and coding? Sign us up! Photo courtesy of TechKnowHow

STEM summer camps in San Francisco and the Bay Area are hugely popular, which makes sense because this is home to the technological hub of Silicon Valley.

From LEGO camps to robotics, Minecraft, and space missions, the Bay Area knows how to do STEM. We probably don't need to tell you that the Bay Area is the birthplace of so many tech startups and pioneers, so who knows—STEM summer camps might inspire your kiddo to be the next Steve Jobs. Kids can immerse themselves in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, and they'll have so much fun at camp that they'll hardly realize they're attending an educational summer camp. Discover our favorite STEM summer camps in San Francisco and the Bay Area.

We've got plenty more camp options for your budding scientist like free and cheap camps, sleepaway camps, and more in our San Francisco Summer Camp Guide. You can also find free coding for kids websites and apps.

25 Top Indoor Birthday Party Places in San Francisco for Kids

Submitted by Sandra Lee on Sun, 02/26/2023 - 8:05am

A birthday in an environment the kids will never forget. Photo courtesy of the California Academy of Arts and Sciences

There are so many indoor birthday party places in San Francisco that it will be hard to choose just one. Luckily, kids will have years and years of birthdays in the future, with no shortage of exciting indoor party places in San Francisco to hold those memorable birthday parties.

A wide range of indoor birthday party spots for all interests and energy levels makes it easy to plan an indoor birthday party in San Francisco and the Bay Area, especially if the weather isn't ideal. From places that let kids learn about animals, science, arts, and interactive activities like inflatables, LEGO, and bowling, there are indoor birthday places for all interests and all ages. We rounded up our favorite indoor birthday party places in San Francisco that pretty much do all the party planning for you while making your kiddo's milestone a special one. These birthday party places might have walls, but they'll still be the life of the party.

Want more indoor fun? We love these indoor playgrounds when the kids need to release some energy, and these cooking classes for little foodies. Our at-home guide also has tons of engaging activities to try inside the house.

Presidents Day Weekend 2023 in San Francisco: 12 Best Things to Do with Kids

Submitted by Sandra Lee on Wed, 02/15/2023 - 4:30am

Glide into aerospace designs. Aero Design Challenge photo courtesy of the Hiller Museum of Aviation

Happy Presidents Day weekend! We're in for a long weekend of fun at historic lengths. Whether the kids have Monday off for Presidents Day, or the whole week (like mine), the Bay Area has your back with interactive science, hands-on aerospace engineering, and music events to fill those days off from school. The Sound of Music opens in San Jose, while the Napa Lighted Arts Festival closes. Tiny star gazers will appreciate a telescope viewing in the night sky at the Chabot Space and Science Center. Speaking of the sky, aviation-loving little ones will enjoy taking flight at the Aero Design Challenge at the Hiller Aviation Museum.

If you're looking to instill a bit more history into Presidents Day weekend, then browse free museum days. Maybe you're headed on a road trip to the coast for the long weekend, so here's where to stop along the PCH, or if you're staying put and not leaving the house then check out our at-home guide for families.

Free and Cheap Summer Camps in San Francisco

Submitted by Sandra Lee on Sun, 02/12/2023 - 11:05am

Kids can explore all that San Francisco has to offer this summer. City Kids Camp photo courtesy of San Francisco City Impact

Summer camps in San Francisco will be taking place before you know it. That means it's already time for planning and registrations, and those summer camp registrations usually begin in February. It's no secret that summer camps can be costly, especially if you have more than one kiddo, but luckily there are some fantastic free and affordable summer camps in San Francisco and the Bay Area. Trust us when we say you'll be glad to have something booked for the kids to keep them busy and active.

There are options galore for free and affordable summer camps in San Francisco that include sports camps, coding camps, nature camps, STEM camps, and so many more camps to select. These free and affordable summer camp options will let curious minds wander and create summer camp memories that kids will fondly look back on. We’ve rounded up the best free and cheap summer camps in San Francisco and the Bay Area.

Cost-savvy parents will also love free museum days, and if the little ones are too young to start camp, take them to a baby and toddler class. If you're full steam ahead on summer planning, check out our summer activities guide for San Francisco Bay Area kids.

Free Museum Days for Kids in San Francisco

Submitted by Sandra Lee on Sun, 01/29/2023 - 9:30am

The little ones can release their inner Picasso and create a work of art. Photo courtesy of the Museum

Free museum days will have your senses heightened when you hear that you won't even need a penny to enjoy San Francisco's best museums. Seriously though, what parent doesn't perk up to the word "free"? It's nice to give our wallets a break, especially after the holidays or a birthday party where the shopping and splurging are in full force. Having some free activities to do with the little ones in a cultural mecca brings sighs of relief. Luckily, museums (particularly kid-friendly ones in the Bay Area) get it and periodically offer free museum days where families can enjoy all the STEM, art, and play activities for the mere cost of nothing.

We've rounded up our favorite Bay Area museums with free museum days so you can take the kids to enjoy days of learning and exploration. Our list of free museum days has it all; from interactive art to mesmerizing gardens, science, and history, kids will get to employ their creativity while taking in antiquities.

25 Top Indoor Playgrounds and Play Spaces in San Francisco

Submitted by Sandra Lee on Sun, 01/15/2023 - 9:30am

Jump for joy for the many indoor playgrounds in the Bay Area. Photo courtesy of House of Air

Indoor playgrounds and play spaces are always an option to keep in the back of your mind when you need something entertaining for the kids.

It's news to no one that the Bay Area has some of the best outdoor weather. It's perfect for little ones who need to burn some energy, soak up that Vitamin D, and be out in nature instead of in front of a screen. While that's usually easy to do 99% of the time, there are those days, as rare as they are, when the weather just isn't on the same page. With our recent rain party hitting us all this month, families are looking for things to do inside with kids. If you're getting those stir-crazy vibes from the mini-me's, we've rounded up the best indoor playgrounds to check out that are guaranteed to help burn off that pent-up energy. From trampolines to LEGO creations, these indoor playgrounds and play spaces are sure to be a hit on a rainy or hot day.

Don't feel like leaving the house but still need to occupy the kids? Get them moving with these indoor exercises and activities, and scroll through to find tons of ideas when kids are bored. Plus, check out our at-home guide for families.