A small, inclusive play space inside Fremont's huge Central Park: water play, sandpits, spinners, and climbers designed for all abilities, with Lake Elizabeth's pedal boats, train rides, and lakeside path all around it.
A compact, shady playground small enough to keep kids in sight the whole time, next to a paved lake loop and a historic district of antique shops.
North Fremont's favorite: two modern play structures (toddler and big-kid), an inclusive swing seat, a big netted climbing structure, and spinner seats kids can't get enough of. Rubber surfacing throughout.
A South County base with an indoor pool and whirlpool, plus free parking and quick access to Lake Elizabeth, Ardenwood Farm, and the Niles Canyon Railway for kid outings.
Fremont's family pizza pub: arcade games to burn the wait for the pie, a huge craft beer list for the grown-ups, live music Saturdays, and gluten-free crusts so nobody's left out.
Fast-casual kebabs, wraps, and boxes with a weekend kids-eat-free deal: a free Kids Box with each adult wrap or plate and a fountain drink. Quick enough for hangry emergencies.
A city water park with a lazy river, a toddler splash pad, a wet play area for ages 3 to 7 and four tower slides.
A working Victorian farm with a farmyard of animals, a hay barn and a blacksmith at the forge, for $4 an adult and $2 a child. Tuesday to Sunday; the Harvest Festival in October is the big one.
Paved, stroller-friendly loops around the marsh and grassy hills, with a boardwalk over the water and a visitor center on Ohlone history.
A padded obstacle course of slides, ball pits and a zip line across the back, a crawler zone with a floor piano, and an ice cream truck to climb in.
A giant stone sabertooth to climb and slide down, dinosaur bones for younger kids and a tree house for bigger ones.
