San Francisco Chronicle - (Sunday)
From fairy tales to baseball, enjoy family fun in Oakland
The Chabot Space & Science Center teaches students about the Earth and universe. Set amid redwood parkland in the hills above Oakland, the science center has hands-on experiences, interactive exhibits, Planetarium shows and three telescopes Nellie, Rachel, and Leah (the largest on the West Coast open weekly to the public.
Oakland’s boundaries pack many places and events for the entire family to spend a day or weekend.
From the storybook setting at Children’s Fairyland to experiencing the California Grizzly bear and a California bison at the the Oakland Zoo to gazing at the stars at the Chabot Space & Science Center, Oakland offers something for every family.
Here are some top picks that visitors of all ages will love.
CHILDREN’S FAIRYLAND
Oakland’s 10-acre storybook theme park on the shores of Lake Merritt has made immediate fans of children and their parents since 1950. Its nearly 60 beloved storybook sets and gardens of child-size proportions — from Old Lady in the Shoe to Peter Rabbit’s Garden — make favorite childhood stories come to life. Gentle rides like the original Jolly Trolly, or the more recent Flecto Carousel, thrill without requiring lightning-fast speed. Don’t skip a visit with the more than 15 feathered, furry, and wooly animal residents because they’re often the park’s most favorite feature.
CHABOT SPACE & SCIENCE CENTER
Set amid redwood parkland in the hills above Oakland, Chabot was founded as an observatory in 1883, but today is a place for students of all ages to learn about Earth and our universe. Pay a visit to Chabot’s three telescopes Nellie, Rachel, and Leah (the largest on the West Coast open weekly to the public), and stay longer for hands-on experiences, interactive exhibits, and Planetarium shows. In April, Chabot opened a new outdoor environmental education deck designed as a multiuse space for new exhibits, First Friday happenings and Slumber with the Stars overnight programs.
OAKLAND ZOO
Home to more than 700 native and exotic animals, the Oakland Zoo has been around since 1922, dedicated to the conservation of wildlife both locally and globally. Visit animals with diverse habitats ranging from African Savannah to African Veldt, and Tropical Rainforest to Wild Australia — with additional favorites at Flamingo Plaza and the Wayne and Gladys Valley Children’s Zoo. In July, the zoo’s new experience, California Trail, Clockwise from top: The Oakland Zoo features a new gondola to transport visitors to the California Trail, which will open on July 12; Children’s Fairyland is a 10-acre storybook theme park on the shores of Lake Merritt with nearly 60 beloved storybook sets; the zoo houses a wide variety of animals, including giraffes; Chabot Space & Science Center features interactive exhibits.