Oakland Ice Center
About this place
Indoor skating all year downtown, and rentals start at a toddler size 6, so the very small ones are genuinely included rather than just watching.
How kid-friendly is it?
Nearby places
A hands-on art studio and gallery near 12th Street BART, open for drop-in on weekends. Come in clothes you do not mind.
Downtown Oakland's big full-service hotel with an outdoor pool, direct BART access for car-free adventuring, and suites that fit a travel crib without gymnastics. Walkable to Old Oakland restaurants.
A family-friendly beer garden with a patio where the cooks will make kids fancy-shaped pancakes.
A digital art museum located in Swan's Market.
A converted auto dealership turned sprawling open-air beer garden in Uptown: wood-fired pizza, communal tables, and enough space that a loud kid disappears into the ambient roar. Daytime and early evening are prime family hours.