Indoor places for a rainy day in Berkeley
8 places in Berkeley where the weather does not matter: a hands-on science museum in the hills, the children’s section of the central library, two climbing gyms, drop-in paint-your-own pottery, a small play space with a climbing structure and ride-on toys, a toy shop worth browsing, and a board game café.
Design Quest for building and testing things, an Animal Discovery Room, and one of the best views of the bay from the terrace. Open Wednesday to Sunday; $20 covers everyone from three upwards.
A giant children's section downtown with storytime and artist-led sessions, and it costs nothing. The default when the weather turns.
A climbing gym near Downtown Berkeley recommended for rainy days.
A climbing gym in North Berkeley suggested for a rainy-day outing.
Paint-your-own pottery with drop-in studio time, so you do not have to commit to a class or a date. A reliable rainy afternoon.
A small South Berkeley play space with a climbing structure, ride-on toys, and a climbing wall geared toward young kids.
The toy shop people send you to for the thing you cannot find anywhere else. Browsing is half the outing.
A board game cafe, so there is something to do at the table while you wait for food. Works for a birthday or for the stretch of afternoon nobody knows what to do with.
Easy meals
Toddler playgrounds
Up in the hills