A Guide To The Best Kid-Friendly Experiences In Tri-Valley, California

California has over 7,000 valleys but the Tri-Valley area is special. The coming together of the Amador Valley, San Ramon Valley and Livermore Valley has resulted in a place known for its Mediterranean climate, wineries and natural environment. The mild climate of the region means summer nights are cool even if the days are hot.

The main cities are Dublin, Livermore, Pleasanton, San Ramon and Danville. The Tri-Valley has thousands of acres of outdoor recreation space, a large luxury outlet mall and dozens of award-winning restaurants, making it the perfect place to take your kids for a weekend getaway or a longer summer holiday. There are interactive museums, immersive indoor play centres and even an ice cream trail for them to enjoy.

Here are some of the best spots for kids.

The Lost Worlds Adventures

With arcade games, an agility course to test their endurance, a ropes course, five climbing walls, a ball pit, slides, a mini bowling section, a 650-square-metre laser tag arena and many more play sections, the Lost Worlds Adventures in Livermore is an entertainment complex centred on making children have one of the best days of their lives. Families can also host birthday parties in the arena.

Blackhawk Museum

The Blackhawk Museum in Danville is known for its six world-class galleries like the Classic Car Collection, which features rare and historically significant automobiles; the Art of Africa, where kids can see art created by the various indigenous peoples of sub-Saharan Africa; a display of makeup cases turned into fine art called Pat’s Compacts; the Spirit of the Old West where children can learn about the life of Native Americans and the settling of the western frontier; Into China, which houses fine handcrafted masterpieces that capture the cultural essence of the country; and World of Nature, which has more than 600 species on display. While the entire museum is kid-friendly, the immersive World of Nature gallery is especially popular amongst younger crowds.

Tri-Valley Ice Cream Trail

Summer is the best time to go on an ice cream trail across the Tri-Valley. With at least five participating ice cream parlours in the area, kids and their guardians will have a lip-smacking time tasting a variety of flavours. Meadowlark Dairy in Pleasanton and Lottie’s Creamery in Danville are two of the best places in town to sample unique flavours like orange blossom honey, honey candied kumquat and bourbon pecan.

Tri-Valley Ice Skating

Another way to cool down in summer is by strapping on some ice skates. Tri-Valley Ice has two centres in Dublin and Livermore where skaters of all ages, skill levels and interests can have a fun time on the ice while also learning, playing and practising ice hockey if they wish. The centres also host birthday parties, broom ball games and catered ice parties.

Rock City

Just a few kilometres from Mount Diablo State Park’s South Gate entrance is Rock City. It has picnic areas, massive rock formations and stunning views but is renowned for its unique, maze-like wind caves. The caves developed their unusual shape because of millions of years of erosion. They are smooth to the touch and make for a fun outdoor space for all ages to explore. Kids should follow the “Trail through Time” to view some of the area’s most interesting rock formations and crawl through its tunnels and caves. 

Art Studios

Kids’ creativity knows no bounds and the Tri-Valley has opened spaces for them to tap into their imagination. Color Me Mine in Pleasanton allows kids to express their creativity in a pressure-free environment. Kids are encouraged to select a ceramic piece and paint it however they wish. They can also take their creations home with them.

Also in Pleasanton, Créatif is an experiential art studio which hosts painting workshops and a summer camp for kids, where they learn leadership skills, critical thinking and cultural awareness through guided projects, arts and crafts, team-building exercises and games.

Getting There

Pleasanton is 37km from Oakland International Airport. The Amtrak Capital Corridor, ACE Rail, the Bay Area Rapid Transit and the Livermore Transit Center offer a mix of bus and railway connections.

The Livermore Municipal Airport (8km) and Oakland International Airport (44km) are the closest airstrips to Livermore. The Amtrak Capital Corridor, ACE Rail, the Bay Area Rapid Transit, Wheels Bus and the Livermore Transit Center offer a mix of bus and railway connections.

Dublin is 29km from Oakland International Airport. The Bay Area Rapid Transit stops at Dublin/Pleasanton station and West Dublin/Pleasanton station. Wheels Bus also services the area.

Danville is 37km from Oakland International Airport. ACE Rail and the Bart Area Rapid Transit also service Danville. Check the County Connection website for more information.  

San Ramon is 33km from Oakland International Airport. ACE Rail, the Bart Area Rapid Transit and Wheels Bus service the city as well.