These Local Family Entertainment venues and performers are the 2026 winners of Best of Bay Area Parent reader poll. Read the full list of winners here.
Peninsula
Gold: CuriOdyssey. This science playground features wild animals and real science phenomena. San Mateo. curiodyssey.org.
Silver: Filoli Historic House & Garden. Woodside. filoli.org.
Silver: Pinstripes. San Mateo. pinstripes.com/san-mateo.
Bronze: GAMA Ride. San Mateo. gamaride.net.
San Francisco/Marin
Gold: Exploratorium. Families can explore science, art and human perception with hands-on exhibits and events. San Francisco. exploratorium.edu.
Silver: Seaplane Adventures. Mill Valley. seaplane.com.
Bronze: PLAY Theatre Company. Mill Valley. playtheatreco.org.
Silicon Valley
Gold: Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose. This children’s museum features hands-on exhibits, where little ones can learn about dinosaurs, water, art and healthy eating. San Jose. cdm.org.
Silver: Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park. Gilroy. gilroygardens.org.
Bronze: Palo Alto Junior Museum and Zoo. Palo Alto. paloaltozoo.org.
