Luckily the weather in Pacifica is often dry or at least nothing that can't be tackled with rain pants and boots and are surrounded by amazing parks, trails, beaches and outdoor options for entertaining little ones.
Yet, it is always great to have some fun options in your back pocket for when the kids have extra energy and movement just needs to happen while it is rather grubby outside.
Let's have a look at some weekly (or regular classes) and some activities to do any day in Pacifica or surroundings to get those wiggles out and entertain the kiddos.
Classes
Gymetown - Gymnastics
Gymtowne Gymnastics Coastside is located in Moss Beach, CA. We offer classes for aspiring gymnasts of all ages and levels. We strive to provide a fun and safe environment for children to gain self-confidence, build body awareness, and develop socially through gymnastics.
More Gymetown locations: SSF
La petite baleen - swimming lessons
La Petite Baleen Swim Schools has been providing award-winning swimming lessons in the Bay Area since 1979. Our curriculum is focused on water safety awareness, ensuring that your children learn not only technique, but life-saving practices as well.
My comment to LPB - we have been going with both of our kids off and on for 3 years and it has been so helpful to see the little one feel comfortable in the water, learn new valuable skills as well as help us as parents feel more secure in how to support and cue our new swimmers in the water and help them excel over time.
(Free infant classes for 2-5 months olds), classes for all other levels available.
Find the closest or most convenient location for you here: (San Francisco, San Bruno, Half Moon Bay, Redwood city)
Kids Yoga
Marluna Yoga provides the tools, skills, and practice that children can use in the here and now as well as along their journey into adulthood. Whether it’s mindfulness at home, breathing exercises at school, or even decompressing in one’s own space—yoga has real-life benefits you can use anytime and anywhere.
Marluna Yoga is a local yoga teacher and offers school programs and class series you can sign up for - read more on her website.
Start the Art - Art Classes
Does you kid like to be creative, but you also like your walls and furniture pieces 'uncolored'? Than take it to Start the Art. Art classes for youngsters to explore, paint, learn and play in a designated art space that is thoughtfully set up and provides new stations of creative learning opportunities every week. Whether the kids get to mix primary colors, design ornaments or decorate crowns - Korin who leads the classes always finds new ways to inspire the curious minds of kids of all ages.
My two boys are so active and wild, but at art class they both patiently and with full focus work on their little projects with so much calmness and effort, it is amazing to me.
Classes are usually: Fridays and Saturdays 9 - 10:30 am and 11 - 12:30 am.
Places to visit
Academy of Science
The California Academy of Sciences is a research institute and natural history museum in San Francisco, California, that is among the largest museums of natural history in the world, housing over 46 million specimens. It is an interactive place to visit with the whole family and explore underwater creatures, swamps and tropical inhabitants. It also has a large outside area with PlayStations and greenery to explore for visitors of all ages. It is located in Golden Gate park, San Francisco.
(Source: Wikipedia)
Exploratorium
The Exploratorium is a museum of science, technology, and arts in San Francisco, California. Characterized as "a mad scientist's penny arcade, a scientific funhouse, and an experimental laboratory all rolled into one", the participatory nature of its exhibits and its self-identification as a center for informal learning has led to it being cited as the prototype for participatory museums around the world.
The Exploratoruim is located: Pier 15 Embarcadero at, Green St, San Francisco, CA 94111
(Source: Wikipedia)
Pacifica Library
Pacifica has two main libraries, one in Sharp Park located: 104 Hilton Way (this location is open more often) and the second location the Pacifica Sanchez Library is located: 1111 Terra Nova Boulevard with obviously plenty of awesome books for all ages. At the Sharp park location you can additional participate in free classes and event like arts and crafts or mindful movement classes for kids or join the weekly Story time at San Pedro Valley Park, which is held outside with music and creative themes to help kids learn and play together.
Other resources at the library you maybe didn't know about:
- Rent a bike, helmet and lock
- Curbside services
- 3D printer
and so much more - let's go explore the local FREE resources.
Other Libraries
If you don't mind driving a little further than Pacifica itself, check out the BRAND NEW South San Francisco Library! It has a fenced in outdoor playground with a section for toddler and a section with larger for the older kids. The library itself is in a huge modern building and offer duple play tables, computers, magnet wall, ready nooks and little corners to get comfortable and of course many amazing books. Find out what they offer on their schedule here.
Another real gem for those colder or rainy days is the Half Moon Bay Library. This library is also very modern and clean with large indoor kid section and story times and Power Up Afternoon activities for kids, as well as an outdoor area to explore little huts and some toys. This library might be my favorite, since it is so calm and cozy.
Indoor play areas
(this photo is a stock photo and doesn't feature Imagination City or Bumpity Bumpity)
Imagination City
Imagination City is one of our favorite indoor play stops at HILLSDALE MALL, SAN MATEO, CA 94403, it is a bit of a drive from Pacifica, but it is a miniature play area with lot's to discover: a fire station, vet, mechanics shop, ice cream truck and pizza restaurant as well as push toys and a small slide. It is a fun space to spend a rainy afternoon.
Note that Imagination City has set play slots in which you can arrive and play.
Price approx.: $18 for 2h playtime (within the preset play slots), crawlers: $16
We often combine it with a haircut appointment at Cookie Cutters kids hair salon.
Jumpity Bumpity
Jumpity Bumpity is 'The Ultimate Children Indoor Recreation & Party Center' - here you can find an indoor play paradise including slides and bounce houses, a climbing area, a toddler friendly set up with lot's to discover. The space is cleaned and inspected daily and is a lot of fun for young kids.
Located at: 45B Serramonte Center space 378, Daly City, CA 94015
Let's grow these resources together
Surely, there are many more resources to be added, please email me or comment below with your suggestions with as much info as possible (you can even write a short blurb, in case I am unfamiliar with the service.) The list here will grow as we receive more ideas and tips! Thank you for participating in spreading the word and growing this communal resource.