Sandra Lee
Sandra Lee is the community publisher and social media manager for Mommy Poppins Bay Area. With nearly a decade of writing in the parenting space, she’s passionate about helping parents create unforgettable memories with their kids. Her work has appeared in Tiny Beans, Zulily, and more. When she's not exploring or creating content, you’ll find her baking or practicing her hip-hop moves.
Latest posts by Sandra
Splash pads are such an excellent way to cool off during the summer. Most are at kid playgrounds, and parents love these free and easy spots where it's almost guaranteed for little ones to have a blast without going to one of their favorite beaches. Splash pads are perfect for toddlers that aren't quite swim-ready yet, not to say that kids of all ages can't have fun.
We've rounded up our favorite splash pads and parks where kids can jump, splash, and beat the heat all for free, and also included some not-to-be-missed water parks for when everyone needs a day in the pool to cool off. Don't forget to pack a change of clothes and some snacks for an afternoon of serious water fun!
For more summer fun on a budget, explore awesome free things to do in San Francisco this summer with kids, and dive into our Ultimate San Francisco Kids Summer Vacation Guide.
There are so many free things to do in San Francisco this summer that the season might not be long enough to do them all!
The kids are out of school, the weather is warming up, and the Bay Area is sprawling with things to do every day of the week. Free outdoor movie nights and free museum days are a great way to spend an afternoon that won't cost you a penny (if you steer clear of the gift shop). Summer is also the best excuse to take a day off from work and go on a day trip to one of the many beautiful places just a short drive away.
Whether you've got a summer filled with summer camps and travel or prefer to enjoy the days as they come, we've got 51 free things to do in San Francisco with those kiddos this summer.
Have the best summer ever in San Francisco at summer festivals and fairs, and find more summer fun in Ultimate San Francisco Kids Summer Vacation Guide.
Summer camps allow kids to learn new skills, make new friends and new memories, and get away from the screen for a few hours. If you think enrolling kids in camp needs to wait until they are about five years old, we've got some good news.
There are plenty of summer camps in San Francisco and the Bay Area for preschoolers, and they can be so much fun for your little one while giving you some free time when the school year ends to do, well, and everything else. We've rounded up the best preschool summer camps in the San Francisco and Bay Area and have something for every kind of kid. From ballerina camps to nature days and sports galore, check out our picks on where to send your little one for a summer of fun, learning, and exploring!
Have older kiddos too? We've got plenty of options for camp, like free and cheap camps, STEM camps, and even more in our San Francisco Summer Camp Guide.
Imagination City is a brand-new indoor pretend play space in the Hillsdale Shopping Center in San Mateo, and I recently checked it out. Since opening its doors in February, families have been talking about it, the mall has been promoting it, and our family just had to see it ourselves. Once in a while, we like to go to a spot around the Bay Area that's getting a lot of buzz and see if it's worth all the hype. Keep reading below for our review!
If the kiddos are yearning for more imaginative play, we've got a whole list of indoor playgrounds and play spaces, plus free museum days to continue education and inspiration.
Spring festivals are in the Northern California air! Warmer weather, blooming flowers, and events galore are taking center stage in San Francisco and the Bay Area. With fun activities like Carnaval in San Francisco to KidFest in Concord, it's time to get outside and enjoy this beautiful Bay Area weather.
We've rounded up our picks of the best Spring festivals and fairs in San Francisco and the Bay Area for families to enjoy in April and May. Kiddos will love all the culture, music, and Earth Day celebrations. Spring is about to be booked, and many spring festivals are free community events. Mark your calendars and make lasting seasonal memories.
Stop and smell the flowers (especially the tulips while in bloom) when visiting Golden Gate Park with kids, and ring in spring with more seasonal activities in our Spring Fun Guide for San Francisco Kids.
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.
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.
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