Popularly known as the Bay Area, the San Francisco Bay Area is located on the shores of the North Pacific Ocean in Northern California. In the hilly San Francisco Peninsula, there lies the iconic Golden Gate Bridge, Victorian houses, and cable cars. If you are a foodie, the popular Oxbow Public Market is known for gourmet food. This outstanding market is located in the beautiful city of Napa. Visit the Napa Valley and Sonoma area to explore the beautiful hillside vineyards north of the Bay Area. The famous Alcatraz Island, formerly a notorious prison now turned into a popular destination site, is a must-visit venue. Golden Gate Park is a popular park with gardens, museums, and trails, and it is known to host several festivals throughout the year. To extend your enjoyment of these parks, there are several glamping spots and hotels that you can book in the Bay Area. Continue reading to learn about the top theme parks and amusement parks in the Bay area of San Francisco.
1. Boomers Livermore
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Guest in arcade
Posted by Boomers Livermore on Tuesday, February 14, 2023
Boomers Livermore is a popular family entertainment center offering a wide array of attractions and activities for visitors of all ages. Some of the exciting rides and features you can find at this exciting venue include go-karts, mini-golf courses with creative themes, and batting cages for baseball enthusiasts.
Visitors also have the option to ride bumper boats for some water-based fun, climb a rock wall for adventure enthusiasts, and play at the arcade for classic video game fun. It’s a fantastic place for families and groups to enjoy a day of active and interactive entertainment.
Boomers Livermore
Address: 2400 Kitty Hawk Rd, Livermore, CA 94551, United States
Website: Boomers Livermore
Opening hours: Mon - Thu: 2pm - 8pm; Fri: 2pm - 10pm; Sat: 11am - 10pm; Sun: 11am - 8pm
2. Aqua Adventure Water Park
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Aqua Adventure Water Park in Fremont boasts a delightful array of attractions and rides that guarantee a splashing good time for visitors of all ages. The park’s star attractions include thrilling water slides, such as the heart-pounding six-lane Splashdown, the twisting and turning Riggity Raggedy, and the kid-friendly Lil’ Squirt, ensuring there’s an exhilarating ride for everyone.
The park’s lazy river offers a relaxing yet enjoyable float through scenic surroundings, while the massive pool invites families to cool off together. Aqua Adventure’s fun factor lies not only in its exhilarating rides but also in its vibrant and tropical atmosphere.
Aqua Adventure Water Park
Address: 40500 Paseo Padre Pkwy, Fremont, CA 94538, United States
Website: Aqua Adventure Water Park
3. Six Flags Discovery Kingdom (from USD 84.0)
First on our list of amazing theme parks is Six Flags Discovery Kingdom. This is one of the state’s most popular theme parks, having won several awards. There are thrill rides that both kids and adults will love as well as an animal park that’s home to several land and sea creatures. The best step to take when deciding how much fun you can handle is by selecting the Go San Francisco Pass. Here, you get to choose between 1 to 5-day(s) pass to tour and enjoy more than 30 fantastic San Francisco attractions. The pass covers popular attractions including San Francisco Bay cruises, Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, and California Academy of Science.
Go City: San Francisco All-Inclusive Pass with 25+ Attractions
Duration: 1 to 5 days
You might be interested in these Airbnbs!
4. Sonoma TrainTown
Located in Sonoma, California, Sonoma TrainTown Railroad is a 10-acre (4-hectare) amusement park and a popular tourist railroad in Bay Area. It is a garden-estate railway haven for railroad enthusiasts who are looking to enjoy TrainTown’s amusement rides. The rides in this railroad-themed amusement park include the Iron Horse Carousel fit for kids and adults, the TrainTown Airlines, the High Iron Ferris Wheel, Mine Train Coaster, and Air Scooter. Enjoy a 20-minute trap traveling over bridges, through a tunnel, miniature town, a petting zoo, and a stop at a Lakeview will make it worth your time.
Sonoma TrainTown
Address: 20264 Broadway, Sonoma, CA
Website: Sonoma TrainTown
Opening hours: Wed - Sun: 10am - 5pm (closed on Mon & Tue)
5. Happy Hollow Park and Zoo
The Happy Hollow Park and Zoo is a unique space where family and friends can go enjoy their time bonding with nature. The park plays its role perfectly by creating a scenic and safe space while the zoo provides a home for the animals creating a balance in the city. The zoo is home to a vast variety of animal species, each in its own unique habitat. See the animals at the zoo on the hill, featuring a combination of animal species, including domesticated animals docile enough to pet.
Happy Hollow Park and Zoo
Address: 748 Story Rd, San Jose, CA 95112, United States
Website: Happy Hollow Park and Zoo
Opening hours: Wed - Sun: 10am - 4pm (closed on Mon & Tue)
6. Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park
Located in Gilroy, California, Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park features over 40 attractions and exhilarating rides. Explore the park’s six majestic gardens or try out the twirling garlic bulb. All attractions are guaranteed to make your visit exciting. Drink and dine in one of the many cafes, stands and restaurants to re-energize for another round of fun and adventure.
Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park
Address: 3050 Hecker Pass Hwy, Gilroy, CA 95020, United States
Website: Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park
7. Children's Fairyland
The Children’s Fairyland is a 10-acre (4 ha) themed amusement park and one of the earliest of its kind in the United States. This playland in San Francisco features small rides, whimsical Playsets, friendly animals to pet, and live entertainment. Enjoy a ride on the Jolly trolly and explore delightful rides, including the Wonder-Go-Round, Anansi’s Magic Web, and the Flecto Carousel. The Children’s Fairyland themed park was designed to delight guests of all ages, the perfect place to spend a weekend with family.
Children's Fairyland
Address: 699 Bellevue Ave, Oakland, CA 94610,
Website: Children's Fairyland
Opening hours: Fri - Sun: 10am - 4pm (closed from Mon - Thu)
8. California's Great America
Owned and operated by Cedar Fair, this 100-acre (40 ha) park offers activities for amusement in California and features family rides, a water park, thrill rides, and kids rides. Explore the latest attractions featured at California’s Great America. Boasting two new restaurants and seven new water attractions, this theme park offers the perfect family weekend spot in the San Francisco Bay Area especially if the kids are too young to traverse the waterfall hikes nearby.
California's Great America
Address: 4701 Great America Pkwy, Santa Clara, CA 95054,
Website: California's Great America
Have fun in San Francisco
Having things to do always makes your week interesting since you have something to look forward to. Alongside these parks and kids’ activities, San Francisco offers a variety of restaurants, from vegetarian to French, for you and your kids to enjoy. With this list, explore exciting parks and join in on the fun with family over the weekend. This is the perfect place to unwind while enjoying the park’s amazing amenities. We also have a quick guide to efficiently touring San Francisco if you have an extra 36 hours on your vacation.
Frequently asked questions about theme parks and amusement parks in the Bay area of San Francisco
1. Which theme parks and amusement parks in the Bay area of San Francisco have a water park?
If you would like to spend quality time with your little ones in one of the theme parks and amusement parks in the Bay area of San Francisco that also has a water park, you can visit Aqua Adventure Water Park.
2. Which theme parks and amusement parks in the Bay area of San Francisco are ideal for families?
Most of the theme parks and amusement parks in the Bay area of San Francisco are family-friendly ones. Some of the best options are Boomers Livermore, Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, and Happy Hollow Park and Zoo.
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