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find places to play, activities, classes, parks, and swimming pools.
activities and classes: for toddlers, preschoolers and beyond
Bladium Soccer: the Lil' Kickers soccer program offers indoor classes at Alameda's Bladium and new outdoor sessions Fridays at 4pm in Oakland. Trial classes are available.
800 West Tower Avenue, Bldg 40, Alameda, 814-4999
Fairyland: A 10-acre outdoor storybook park located on the shores of Lake Merritt. Children's theater, summer camp, birthday parties, rides and more.
699 Bellevue Avenue, Oakland, 452-2259
Habitot Children's Museum: Children's Discovery Museum in Berkeley offers hands-on exhibits and indoor play areas for infants, toddlers and young children. Also find classes and camps, along with parent resources and events. Children's classes range from 18-months to 7 years.
2065 Kittredge Street , Berkeley, 647-1111
Head Over Heels Gymnastics & Splash Circus Theater: Preschool, Gymnastics, Kickboxing, Capoeira, and Splash Circus Classes for tots to teens.
4701 Doyle St. Bldg F, Emeryville, 655-1265
Kids In Motion Gymnastics: Gymnastics and tumbling classes starting with Tiny Tumblers (20 months) to teens. Class sessions available throughout the year from Tuesdays - Saturdays.
2863 Broadway, Oakland, 601-8424
Kids 'N Dance: Dance movement classes for children of all ages from 14 months to 16 years. Hip-hop, dance, ballet, gymnastics and more. Studio also offers camps, music theater and hosts birthday parties.
3841 Macarthur Blvd. Oakland, 531-4400 (also in Lafayette)
Kindergym: Fun indoor play for a rainy day offering toddler movement classes with Dawn Margolin. Designed for children under 3, find activities such as: climbing, jumping, music, and parachute time located within Temple Beth Abraham near Lake Merritt. Drop-in play ($8) available on select days or register for class packages. Kids love Dawn and her playful manner and younger siblings are free. Parking is free in church lot.
327 MacArthur Blvd, Oakland, 547-7726
mocha: Museum of Children's Art located in downtown Oakland offers drop-in art classes for children age 18 months and up, as well as, spring/summer camps and special programs for schools. Closed Mondays.
538 Ninth Street, Suite 210, Oakland, 465-8770
Montclair Community Play Center: Toddler and discovery, cooking, gymnastics classes and summer camp available here, as well as, a cooperative pre-school.
5815 Thornhill Drive, Oakland, 810-0510
Oakland Zoo: Open Daily from 10am - 4pm. Giraffes, baboons and lions, oh my.
9777 Golf Links Road, Oakland, 632-9525
SadieDey's Cafe: This Temescal neighborhood Play Cafe offers an indoor play haven and calendar of events including spanish classes for kids ages 0-5. Adults can relax in a cozy atmosphere and enjoy an organic coffee or tea and lunch. (Formerly Tumble and Tea)
Studio Grow: An educational Play Space in West Berkeley for children ages 0-6 and their families and caregivers. Drop-in for their regularly scheduled storytimes, live music events, or help your little one burn off some steam with activities such as: climbing, painting, tumbling and even dance parties!
1235 10th Street/Gilman, Berkeley, 526-9888
Tilden Park: Steam Train, a favorite, plus Carousel and Petting Zoo set amidst 2,077 acres of park land. Rumor has it the pony rides may be resurected as well.Worth crossing into Berkeley for. Miles of hiking, stroller-friendly trails, picnic areas or even try swimming and fishing at Lake Anza.
Entrances off Wildcat Canyon and Grizzly Peak, Berkeley, 562-PARK
KIDS Swimming Lessons & public swimming pools:
Lion's Pool at Dimond Park: Public nicely heated swimming pool open year-round offering lessons for tiny tots (starting at 6 months), kids and adults. Additionally, adult lap swim offered three times daily and water aerobics classes. Grassy park nearby for a picnic with walking trails along Sausal Creek.
3860 Hanly Road, Dimond District, (510) 482-7852
Roberts Regional Rec : The Roberts Pool located in Redwood Regional features a 25 yard, heated swimming pool set admist the Redwoods. Open to the public from May through September with varying days and times of operation. Programs offered at the pool include group and private swim lessons, rec swim, lap swimming, and a special time set aside for disabled swimmers only.
Skyline Blvd near Joaquin Miller Rd, Oakland Hills, (510) 482-0971
Temescal Pool: Temescal Pool is located at Oakland Technical High School, adjacent to Studio One Arts Center and serves the Downtown and North Oakland community with fun, safe recreational programs.
Oakland Tech High, 371 45th Street, North Oakland, 597-5013
Tim Oliver Swim Lessons
Tim & company offer parent/child classes, group or private lessons for tots to adults. The pool is kept at a warm 87 degrees in a lovely Oakland hills park-like setting and is sanitized with chlorine-free Ozone. Small grassy play area is convenient for entertaining little ones
12000 Campus Drive, Oakland off of Redwood Rd, 759-2782
OTHER EAST BAY SWIM CLASSES:
- AquaTech Swim School in Alameda offers high quality instructio year round in an indoor environment.
- Berkeley YMCA join the downtown Berkeley Y and enjoy many class offerings and great pool access year-round.
private swim clubs:
- The Hills: Montclair, 2400 Manzanita Drive, 339-0234. Steep limited memberships.
- Montclair Swim and Tennis Club: Montclair, 1901 Woodhaven Way, 339-2500
- Oakland Hills Swim and Tennis Club: 5475 Redwood Road in the East Oakland Hills, 531-3300
children's parks:
Dimond Park: Large grassy field shaded by a lovely oak trees for ball kicking and kids' play area with swings, slides and tunnel. Public pool offers summer swimming lessons or head for a trail walk along Sausal Creek. Must 'Bjorn' it though -- no stroller access on trail. 3860 Hanly Road, Dimond District, Oakland
Dracena Park: Pack along the sand toys and head over to this lovely Piedmont park, an ideal outdoor setting to let the kids run loose or climb. Brave parents can take a turn on the concrete slide. 130 Dracena Ave (between Blair Ave & Park Way), Piedmont.
Joaquin Miller Park: Known more for its mountain biking and hiking trails, sweeping bay views and Redwood groves, this park also offers a kids play structure, and picnic area. Download the New Map. Joaquin Miller Road and Sanborn Drive, Oakland Hills
Jordan Park: This park offers easy access for those with multiples and is great for toddlers, although its famed collection of large trucks seem to have disappeared for now. Just off of 35th Avenue on Jordan (and near the Redwood Road exit).
Montclair Village Park: Two areas of play equipment for kids and tots, duck pond, picnic tables, BBQs, tennis, baseball and basketball courts. Between Moraga and Mountain Blvds, Montclair Village
Roberts Regional Rec Area: 100-acre park popular for family picnics. Features a baseball field, playfields and sand volleyball courts, deluxe children`s play set area and outdoor pool within a grove of redwoods. Parking fee. Skyline Blvd near Joaquin Miller Rd, Oakland Hills
Shephard Canyon Park: Large grassy soccer field in the Montclair hills frequented by local organized soccer leagues featuring a small play structure, trails and public restrooms. Shephard Canyon Road off of Snake Blvd, Montclair
Temesal Park: You'll find a toddler/kids play structure, streams, bridges, hiking trails in the redwoods, bike path and a sandy beach area at the Lake Temescal park and beach. Picnic tables and grills are great for a BBQ and offer a little oasis for busy families. Junctions 24/13 off of Broadway Terrace.