Family activities for preschool children in the East Bay, CA
Families of the San Francisco Bay Area are fortunate to have lots of choices when it comes to fun, educational activities for preschool children. The gorgeous natural setting of the Bay Area offers preschool children a diverse landscape to see and explore. The agricultural and historical bounty of the East Bay and San Francisco enrich the senses and inspire wonder. 
With its close proximity (2 min drive) to I-80 and I-580, Nomura Preschool straddles several communities in the East Bay, CA. This convenient location between Hercules, Pinole, San Pablo, Richmond, El Cerrito, Albany, Kensington and Berkeley allows parents to quickly drop off their child without adding significant commute time.
As a longtime member of East Bay communities and a cultural leader in Bay Area preschool care, Nomura Preschool children and parents are encouraged to apply their imaginations and curiosity to the world around them. To that end, we’ve developed a short list of children’s activities for each of our local East Bay cities. By no means comprehensive, these lists include a few city-specific places, events and organizations where your child can grow and have fun.
Jelly Belly Factory (Fairfield, CA)
An easy half-day trip from the East Bay area, the Jelly Belly Factory is open for free tours! The 40-minute walking tour (which is stroller and wheelchair accessible) takes you through the working factory of the preferred jelly bean. Be sure to check that the factory is not scheduled for maintenance on the weekday or weekend you plan to go.
Residents and families in the Bay Area have wonderful natural recreation just minutes from their homes. There are multiple well-kept, beautiful parks throughout the East Bay, CA, and many offer activities for individual and group learning for kids. These include “naturalist-led programs, swimming, boating and horseback riding lessons. Special events for kids include an old-fashioned Independence Day celebration, summer and fall festivals, music concerts and more.” Visit the website for more information.
Locations near Nomura Preschool include the Pinole Library, San Pablo Library, El Sobrante Library, Richmond Library, El Cerrito “Library-a-go-go” del Norte BART automated book vendor, and the Kensington Library.
An informative website with Free Events, Kids’ Catalog, Book Lists, storytime podcasts and more.
Located on the shore of Lake Merritt at Grand Ave and Bellevue / 510.452.2259
Hours and Days Vary by Season / Weather Permitting
General admission: $8 per person / Children under 12 months free
Fairyland admits adults only when they’re accompanied by children and children only when they’re accompanied by adults.
An historic children’s amusement park built in 1948, Fairyland is a wonderfully natural and stimulating place for children to enjoy storybook structures, rides, theatre, a petting zoo, and beloved characters from famous children’s stories. It’s said that this park inspired Walt Disney to build Disneyland when he visited in the fifties. One Day Group passes available for groups over 10 people.