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

Two fabulous pools worth the trip.



"It's like real summer out here," said one preschool-mommy-friend. Yesterday, two friends' birthday parties had us missing some of the interesting festivals and feedings this weekend, but we had a great time discovering the sunny hot side of the Far East Bay.

Dougherty Valley Aquatic Center: Zero feet to three feet is my son Holden's kind of deep end. A couple months ago, he fell into a swimming pool and has been (understandably) timid around water since. In the middle of the pool is a fountain spraying out of a palm tree and a cool experiment of buckets and water flow to amuse and amaze. Toddler Milo loved it too. More details on the DVAC website.

San Ramon Olympic Pool & Aquatic Center*: The place for the more adventurous preschooler with a love for the water. The middle of the kid's pool has an amazing slide and play structure to put other splash pools to shame. More details on the SROP website.

And it's hot and sunny all summer long, so bring water and sunscreens and enjoy the heat!



*Full disclosure: SROP was the original destination for the party (and the home of said party last year) but there were water main problems that had us going to DVAC.