Lindsay Gehman, host at The Sycamore Park Residence, moved to Mill Valley from San Francisco in 2016 with her 2 young boys (aged 7 and 9). They love spending time outdoors, hiking on the many local trails, heading to Stinson Beach for an all day hang, or taking day trips to Point Reyes or wine country. Here she tells us the best things to do in Northern California with kids.
Northern California, but particularly Marin County, is amazing for children, especially children that love the outdoors. We have access to amazing mountains for hiking, beaches for swimming and surfing and national parks for exploring. Muir Woods, Muir Beach, Stinson Beach, Bolinas, Mt. Tam and Point Reyes are some of our favorite places to explore.
The Best Things to Do in Northern California with Kids
1. Stinson Beach
We love going to Stinson Beach for the whole day. Get there early in the morning during the summer as the parking lots fill up fast, and post up at the beach all day. Have lunch at Parkside; the food is absolutely incredible and they have a solid kids menu. Don’t forget to order the pie!
Cost: $0
Age range: toddlers to teens
2. Muir Woods
We have done a few field trips with my sons’ classes to Muir Woods and the kids love it! There are multiple trails leading you through gigantic redwoods so it can suit all ages and levels of hikers/walkers. Walking through that forest is pure magic! There is also a cafe and gift shop.
Cost: $15 for adults; free for under 15s
Age range: school-age kids and up
3. Point Reyes
We also like making a day trip of Point Reyes, either doing a hike through the Point Reyes National Seashore or going to Shell Beach, which is a cute beach that you have to hike down a bit to get to, but the waves are small so it’s perfect for little kids. Get lunch or dinner at Marshall Store, Hog Island Oyster or Due West Tavern.
Cost: $0
Age range: school age and up
4. Sonoma Train Town
When the kids were younger, we all loved going to Train Town in Sonoma, which is about 2 minutes off the main square in Sonoma, and has a fairly long and picturesque train ride around the property, plus other carnival-like rides for the kids. Have lunch/dinner on the square in Sonoma after, either at Girl and the Fig, Valley or El Dorado Kitchen. We also like to visit Scribe Winery when in Sonoma and book a tasting on the “knoll” which is very chill and kid friendly.
Cost: $9.75 per ticket (over 1s)
Age range: babies up to school age
5. Visit The San Francisco Giants
If it’s baseball season, I recommend taking the kids to a Giants game at Oracle Park! The baseball stadium is located right on the water, and it’s pretty amazing. There is an arcade section, a giant slide and lots of other fun activities to keep the kids occupied. If you are coming in from Marin, it is fun to take the ferry from Larkspur Landing over to the park.
Cost: single game tickets start from $15.85
Age range: young kids to teens
Stay near [Activity Name]: Link to Area/Neighborhood near the activity
6. California Academy of Sciences
Our kids have always loved this museum, which has so many cool exhibits, including a rainforest with birds and butterflies flying around, as well as a small aquarium! And a very special albino alligator named Claude. It’s located in a beautiful section of Golden Gate Park; the surrounding grounds are lovely to explore as well.
Cost: ticket prices vary (around $44); children under 2 go free
Age range: babies, toddlers, older kids and teens
What to Know About Traveling to Northern California With Kids
1. Rent a car
I would definitely recommend renting a car, especially if you are not staying in SF. Having the freedom of doing day trips around here is key as there are so many cool places that are an hour or less away, like Sonoma, Napa, Stinson, and Point Reyes.
2. Check your dates
Many parts of California require a 30-night minimum stay, so you’ll need to plan a big summer trip or stick to certain towns if you want a shorter trip. You’ll find more homes available for rentals during the summer months (June to August) when hosting families are on summer break.
3. Plan your routes
Even just the north of California is 500 miles from the Redwood National & State Parks to Carmel Valley. Read our ultimate California family road trip guide for more details on distances and areas to visit in the wider state.
4. Find a family-friendly vacation rental
Stay at a child-friendly home, like The Sycamore Park Residence, so you won’t have to pack toys or books and you can have a comfortable base to return to after days out sightseeing and spending time outdoors.
Book Your Stay in Northern California With Kid & Coe
When you’re ready to find a family-friendly vacation rental, discover The Sycamore Park Residence or browse all our properties in Northern California.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, definitely! Highly recommend!
I think all of these activities would also be good for toddlers, as well as school-age kids.
I think most of our favorite activities would also be good for teens. I would also add the SF Moma and the De Young Museum to the list.
Anytime! But summer is magical.
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