Ok, I have three top greater bay area places with a fourth I would like to check out this summer:

1. Bay Area Discovery Museum in Sausalito - designed for children 8 and under. For various sections of the museum, there are maximum height limits. They vary, though, as sections of the museum are labeled for the age group, such as the Tot Spot. If you choose to purchase a membership, a portion is tax deductible.

2. Oakland Zoo - childhood memories keep me coming back here.

3. Monterey Bay Aquarium

4. Fairyland in Lake Merritt (Oakland) is a place we've heard great things about and hope to visit there soon.

We LOVE to go to:

1) Our swim club, Rhonewood Park Cabana Club...but you have to be a member

2) The zoo

3) Shadow Cliffs...we have an East Bay Regional Parks District Parks Pass

4) Parti Palooza...no kidding, it's air conditioned good exercise for the kids

The top four places we like to go to have fun with the kids are: the beach (preferably Half Moon Bay during low tide to view crabs, sea urchins, anemones, and starfish) but any beach will do, RLCC for the swim park, the zoo, Bonfante Gardens (a bit expensive, in entrance fees and gas, but well worth it if you can spend the whole day there).