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Kid friendly activities.

There is plenty to do as a family in Marin County.  Explore thousands of hiking trails scattered throughout our national, state, and county parks, many of which have waterfront access and definitely views!  Many businesses in Marin are dedicated to kid-friendly offerings both inside and out, and some just about finding the inner child in you.  

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• Activities for Kids
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Spotlight on Marin: A Kid-Friendly Guide

Travel across the bridge and see for yourself: Marin County’s natural beauty is unmatched. Your kids will love the expansive beaches and adventuresome hiking trails, but they’ll also get a kick out of Marin’s museums, playgrounds and restaurants. Add a family afternoon of mini-golf, pottery painting or LEGO® building to the itinerary—the options for Marin family activities are endless! Keep reading to see our favorite family activity spots north of the Golden Gate bridge!

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Sam's Anchor Café Open for indoor and outdoor dining in charming Tiburon, enjoy fresh seafood (like Lobster rolls, fish tacos and more!) while you and your kids soak up the views of Alcatraz, Angel Island and the San Francisco skyline.

27 Main St. Tiburon, CA Website: Sam’s Anchor Café

Amici’s East Coast Pizzeria What kid doesn't love pizza? Inspired by traditional Italian brick-oven pizzas, these thin crusts and fresh flavors make this restaurant a hit for the entire family. And the best part? Kids eat for FREE on Tuesdays (with each adult meal purchase) from 5 p.m. to close. 1242 Fourth St. San Rafael, CA  Website: Amici’s

Sol Food A local favorite, this bright green Puerto Rican restaurant in downtown San Rafael is hard to miss. It features chicken that falls right off the bone, a wide variety of tasty sandwiches, combination plates, soups and salads. Something for everyone! Personally, we love the Maduros (sweet fried yellow plantains)! Location: 811 4th St. San Rafael, CA Website: Sol Food

Bay Area Discovery Museum Let your imagination run wild! With gorgeous views of the Golden Gate Bridge, this museum is a popular Marin family activity and offers indoor and outdoor fun, STEM-focused exhibits and daily programs for kiddos (like woodshop, building challenges and a mud kitchen!). And don’t miss the Bean Sprouts café, where you can enjoy a Grilledzilla (grilled cheese with veggies), a spacequedilla (chicken quesadilla with veggies) and much more! Ideal for children aged six months to 10 years old.

557 McReynolds Rd. Sausalito, CA  Website: Bay Area Discovery Museum

The Marine Mammal Center Watch veterinarians and volunteers prepare marine mammals for release back into the wild. The world’s largest mammal hospital in Sausalito is currently closed, but get alerted when they reopen ! In the meantime, your family can check out these fun events, like the onsite Fish Kitchen Experience (a free event for high school students) and virtual events (on the 1 st Monday of every month).

2000 Bunker Rd., Fort Cronkhite Sausalito, CA  Website: Marine Mammal Center

Where to Play?

Fox & Kit Half grown-up coffee house—half (beautifully designed) kids' wooden playground. Enjoy a latte and some adult conversation while your little ones burn off energy, invoke their imagination and have FUN!

1031 C St. San Rafael, CA  Website: Fox & Kit

McInnis Park Mini Golf For a family that loves sports, this is the perfect place. Marin County's only miniature golf course, McInnis Park, also has a 9-hole golf course and driving range, baseball, hiking and skateboarding. You’ll also find tennis courts, softball fields and soccer fields nearby. After you’ve worked up an appetite, pop into the McInnis Park Club Restaurant. The burgers are delicious!

310 Smith Ranch Rd. San Rafael, CA  Website: McInnis Park

Play-Well Marin Activity Center If you love LEGO® as much as we do, check out the Play-Well Marin Activity Center—one of the largest licensed vendors of LEGO® building sets in the area. Try a workshop, day camp or just drop-in to play with their tens of thousands of LEGO® pieces and get guidance from one of their passionate instructors.

216 Greenfield Ave. San Anselmo, CA  Website: Play-well

Do Art Studio With pottery painting for ages 2-102, this Marin family activity will put a little color into your afternoon with creative fun for the entire family!

1547 4th St. San Rafael, CA 94901 Website: Do Art Studio

San Rafael Summer Farmers Market Starting May 6th, come on down to 4th Street in downtown San Rafael for a night of summer fun! Yes, there will be fresh fruits and vegetables from 100 local farmers, but there are also specialty food purveyors (think honey, jams, pasta, cured meats and more!), one-of-a-kind pieces from local artists, live music, and street-style foods from local restaurants. Have a wander, a bite to eat, a little dance, and travel home with lots of good for you goodies. Click here for more information. 

Take a Hike!

Lakes, ocean views, redwood forests, valleys, dirt trails and open spaces. When you’re in the mood for a little (or large!) adventure, check out a few of our favorite spots:

• Muir Woods : Explore the tranquil and towering redwoods!
• Sausalito Boardwalk : An urban hike amongst shops, café’s and restaurants with gorgeous views of the bay and the San Francisco skyline.
• Mount Tamalpais State Park : Whether you hike one mile or climb to the top of the mountain, Mount Tam has something for everyone with over 75 trails to choose from. Check out some options here .
• Angel Island : The largest natural island in the San Francisco Bay, the views from hiking trails around the island are spectacular and some of the best in the Bay Area.
• China Camp : On the shore of San Pablo Bay in San Rafael, this state park surrounds a historic Chinese American shrimp-fishing village and a salt marsh.
• Point Reyes National Seashore : Views galore! Tomales Bay, Bodega Bay, the Pacific Ocean and Bass Lake to name a few. Check these trails out! !

And why not start or end your hike at the beach? With so many to choose from, these are just a small handful of our favorites:

• Stinson Beach
• Rodeo Beach
• Tennessee Valley Trailhead
• Drakes Beach

And if your little ones are truly nature lovers, check out the Junior Park Rangers Program. They'll explore, learn and protect wildlife in the ultimate outdoor Marin family activity and take home a cool badge in honor of their efforts. 

RELATED ARTICLES: Marin Playgrounds You Must Visit 9 Things To Do in Marin Headlands Party Tricks: The Best Birthday Party Venues in Marin

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Things to Do with Kids in Marin

If you're looking for fun things to do with kids in Marin County, Novato has a great climate, beautiful parks and kid-friendly places to eat and drink. With so much to offer families within a few miles of downtown you really are spoiled for choice. This schedule is a favorite day out for my family - I hope you enjoy it as much as we do!

Toast For Breakfast

The perfect place to begin the day, Toast has a great selection of breakfast favorites and numerous activities to help get your kids started and your family fed. Pancake-batter french toast with vanilla gelato and bananas and the Mickey Mouse pancakes with M&M eyes are the family favorites!

Located in Hamilton, just a couple of miles from downtown Novato, you’ll find a kid-friendly breakfast menu alongside classics for the adults, and of course great coffee to get you ready for the day too. Activities to keep your kiddos attention during your meal include games, puzzles, Etch-a-Sketch fun and the ever popular Wikki Stix.

Celine's Sweets

Celine’s Sweets is a candy wonderland for kids visiting Novato. Conveniently located Downtown on Grant Ave, Celine’s Sweets has wall to wall treats ranging from chocolate bars and fudge to taffy and sours. The candy shop also has an ever rotating selection of ice cream flavors, the perfect end of a day out shopping or dinner Downtown.

Stafford Lake Park

This beautiful country park on the edge of Novato can easily fill a whole day. We like to ride bikes on the many trails – the park has a wonderful way of feeling much more distant from towns and roads than it is. Stop to feed the geese, and bring a picnic lunch for ourselves – there are numerous spots to relax where the park feels like it’s all yours. Flying a kite on a windy day is an afternoon favorite for us, although there are many other activities and there’s plenty of room to play your own games too.

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Hiking Trails for Families with Kids

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Trips for Kids Marin

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Trips for Kids® Marin is a San Francisco Bay Area non-profit whose mission and goal is to provide transformative cycling experiences to underserved youth. Our programs build self-esteem, inspire healthy lifestyles and instill environmental values. Trips for Kids Marin (TFKM) is a 501(c)(3) organization that offers free cycling programs for low-income youth in six Bay Area counties (Contra Costa, San Francisco, Alameda, Solano, San Mateo, and Marin). Trail Rides take youth on mountain bike rides; Earn-A-Bike and Mobile Bike Workshops teach kids basic bike repair, riding skills, job readiness skills, and the opportunity to earn a bike of their own. TFKM has pioneered a replicable youth development model that has been adopted by 75 TFK chapters nationwide and collectively have touched the lives of over 200,000 youth. For most of our participants, we are introducing them to the parks and open spaces near their neighborhoods for the very first time! We provide the leadership, bicycles, helmets, and tools for deep learning and fun. TFKM is a pathway to help youth achieve recommended levels of daily physical activity, combat childhood obesity and equip them with job readiness. The Re-Cyclery Bike Shop, located in San Rafael’s downtown business district, is a center for affordable transportation. It's a valuable part of our environmental education curriculum. By reusing and repurposing useful items, we keep them out of landfills and give our participants a model for environmental stewardship as well as hands-on training.

• Annually, TFK Marin takes 2,000 underserved youth on trail rides, building self-esteem and appreciation of nature!
• Our Re-Cyclery Bike Shop sells used/restored bikes, keeping usable bikes out of the landfill.
• Our Earn-a-Bike program teaches San Rafael kids bike mechanic & handling skills, earning a used bike in the process!
• Our Mobile Bike Workshops provide after-school programs, bringing the joy of biking to Bay Area schools.
• Join us as a valued Volunteer that helps provide life-changing cycling experiences to underserved kids in San Rafael!

Central San Rafael exit to 610 4th Street, on the east side of Hwy 101.

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Trips for Kids

Join Anali Reyes and Santy Hernadez with our special guest Shahne to talk about the organization Trips for Kids, a program that involves Biking!

What we will be asking/mentioning:

•  Family Bike festival
•  Internship opportunities – Recyclery
• Earn-A-Bike program
• Trail rides program

Stay tuned for more!

You can also ask questions to them live on Facebook or Youtube by writing in the comments.

As always, thank you for watching and supporting our show! If you guys have any suggested topics to discuss, let us know on Facebook or on Instagram at @tayradiomarin.

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League of American Bicyclists Acquires Trips for Kids National in Expansion of its Youth Engagement

Accelerating outcomes one mile at a time

Kids Served

Miles Ridden

Volunteers Nationwide

GEARING UP FOR SUCCESS

Trips for kids maintains a portfolio of nearly 50 member sites dedicated to providing low-income and historically marginalized groups with access to bikes, cycling programming, peer-to-peer engagement, role models and more. Here are a few of the ways we help more kids discover the power of the bike.

OUT-OF-SCHOOL PROGRAMS

For more than 30 years, we’ve been on a national mission to promote healthy lifestyles and personal empowerment for young people of all communities, especially those most in need. We use one simple, timeless tool - the bicycle. 

Learn more about how you can start a program in your community of participate in one in your area.

A NETWORK OF SUPPORT

Our nationwide member network comprises youth-centered agencies, schools, cycling organizations, shops, government institutions and individuals dedicated to advancing the TFK mission. Members receive assistance such as operational and program support, program materials, access to no or low-cost cycling equipment, networking opportunities and more. If you are interested in bringing a Trips for Kids program to your community, contact us .

ROLE MODELS MATTER

At the core of any high-quality youth program is positive role models. Caring adults who recognize the importance of exhibiting behaviors that help children learn healthy habits and perspectives that may last a lifetime. TFK role models emphasize healthy choices, positive attitudes, encourage curiosity and help build confidence.

Find out how you can be a TFK role model or brand ambassador.

TFK Alumnus

“I was embarrassed. I was 12 years old and couldn’t ride a bike.

But as the week progressed, the Trips for Kids chapter leaders gave me the

confidence I neededto learn. And by the end of the week, I did.”

GENERAL INFO

T rips for Kids is a registered 501(c)3

Non-profit Organization

EIN: 37-1870249

[email protected]

GIVE WITH CONFIDENCE

2021 Impact Report

2020 Impact Report

© 2023 Trips for Kids

Children & Teen Services

This collection of links contains useful information about children and teen services in Marin.

Children ages six months to eight years and their families enjoy hands-on art, science and environmental exhibitions, performances, special events and cultural festivals... all with a focus on fun!

Located on Richardson Bay in Sausalito is a unique scientific tool for exploring water movement patterns in the San Francisco Bay - Delta Estuary.

The Marin Council of the Boy Scouts of America has been serving the youth of Marin County for over fifty-five years with a quality program focused on adventure, leadership and service.

A recreational facility of the City of Novato Parks, Recreation & Community Services Department and offers a wide variety of activities for young people in grades 6th - 12th, which include drop-in activities, classes, workshops and trips.

Assists families, seniors and the disabled with emergency financial needs.

Our goal is to help girls grow strong in body, mind and spirit and to meet the needs and interests of today's girls.

A non-profit organization to benefit Marin County youth agencies.

Marin County Superior Court

We are dedicated to providing a safe and nurturing environment through activities that are designed to meet the needs of each of its participants.

National Organization of Circumcision Information Resource Centers (NOCIRC) is the first national clearinghouse in the United States for information about circumcision.

We enable low-income kids in Novato, ages 7-18, to participate in after-school athletics.

The Novato Youth Center's mission is to inspire and prepare youth for success by offering programs in Child Development, Athletics, Youth and Family Counseling, Community and School Health Education and the Novato Wellness Center, serving over 4,000 youth and their families annually.

Connecting children to nature by cultivating healthy bodies and minds and fostering future generations of environmental stewards. By farming, cooking, caring for animals and exploring wilderness and the coast, Slide Ranch teaches about the connection between health, a healthy food system and a healthy environment.

We offer rites of passage programs for youth.

Trips for Kids is a Bay Area non-profit that provides mountain bike outings, environmental education and earn-a-bike programs for kids that would not otherwise be exposed to these types of activities.

Wellify Teen is dedicated to helping parents of teens struggling with mental health challenges and provide online support through resources including screening, education and where to find help in Marin County.

Youth in Arts’ provide students with experiences and instruction in the visual and performing arts, and enriches the community with cultural events. Programs include: Arts Unite Us - with at risk and special needs students. Travel the World - music, dance, theater, visual and media arts from around the globe.

Youth Leadership Institute (YLI) works with young people and their adult allies to create positive social change. We design and implement community-based programs that provide youth with leadership skills in the areas of drug and alcohol abuse prevention, philanthropy, and civic engagement.

The YWCA 50+ Employment Support Program for Women provides employment services for persons over 50 living in Marin County.

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Trips for Kids Marin

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​Re-Cyclery Bike Shop

​bike donations and shop sales help put more kids on bikes., location & hours, sample inventory.