Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in Oakland, CA

Viva West Berkeley!
If you're coming out to Berkeley for the day, I'd like to suggest you spend your time enjoying the shopping mecca of Fourth Street and the blustery good fun of the marina.  As long as you pack good walking shoes, a small kite, and some layers, this location has everything else you'll need.

If you wake up really really early, head to Fourth Street near Hearst and hit Bette's for breakfast. Bette's Ocean View Diner opens at 6:30 am and the lines form quickly. If you miss your chance for a perfect pancake breakfast, walk a few more doors down to the bagel shop and get your meal on the go.

After a hearty breakfast, there's lots of window shopping that even kids will enjoy. If you can't get them excited about the Crate and Barrel outlet, maybe they'll enjoy the Ark toystore (did someone say train table?!) and some of the little treasures, stamps, and stickers in the assorted other shops: Flight 001 is colorful and dreamy, This Little Piggy has fun trinkets and books, The Paper Source is crafty and well-designed.

The Vivarium will get them inspired and engaged if you wore them down with all that shopping. And there's always train spotting!

Let me now ask for a moment of silence for Cody's. The beloved Fourth Street book store with fabulous children's section succumbed to an economic downturn and closed down earlier this year. We miss them so much.

Grab the goods for a picnic lunch at The Pasta Shop and head to the water. This is not as easy as it should be by bike or foot so I will suggest that you drive. Boo.



The next part of the day is the wear your kids out for nap (or a good night) phase. Drive into the marina, and follow all the roads to the right.  There are paths to run, squirrels to chase, and kites to be flown. If you don't pack your own, there will be many others out to watch. We saw a fun dad launching rockets one time and he let Holden chase down the shrapnel. You might be so lucky!!

If your kid's a napper, now is a good time to head in. And if not, just push it all the way until an early dinner at Hana Japan.

Hana Japan is one of those great places with tableside grilling and knife-wielding sure to delight a toddler, preschooler, or baby. Seriously, they even do a train thing with puffing "smoke" and chugging onions.  According to their website:

Talented chefs twirl their knives and display their prowess with the freshest ingredients. Prepared to your taste, at your table. A touch of culinary drama and comedy from your personal chef enhances the atmosphere.

Or "super fun" according to my 3-year old.  They even made "just a scrambled egg" for my baby (for free!), but he shoveled in all the real food too. I discovered this restaurant a few years back when my massive pregnancy beef craving had me googling "neiman ranch berkeley" (and found only these guys and Cactus Taqueria). So, it's yummy as well as fun.

Hope you enjoyed your day!

If you have more time to kill, check out our list of 99 things to do in Berkeley + Oakland before your kid hits kindergarten.