These Zoos, Aquariums and Nature Centers are the winners of Bay Area Parent’s 2026 Best of the Best reader poll. Read the full list of winners here.
East Bay
Gold: Oakland Zoo. With animals from African elephants to white-faced whistling ducks, plus a gondola to an area featuring California native animals, a children’s zoo, rides and more, the zoo has been a family favorite for a century. Oakland. oaklandzoo.org.
Peninsula
Gold: CuriOdyssey. This science playground features about 70 mostly native animals, including birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates. San Mateo. curiodyssey.org.
San Francisco/Marin
Gold: California Academy of Sciences. Cal Academy’s Steinhart Aquarium is one of the most biologically diverse and interactive aquariums on earth and home to nearly 60,000 animals. San Francisco. calacademy.org.
Silver: San Francisco Zoo & Gardens. San Francisco. sfzoo.org.
Silicon Valley
Gold: Happy Hollow Park & Zoo. Happy Hollow features family-friendly rides, up-close experiences with animals like a jaguar and lemur, and entertainment. San Jose. happyhollow.org.
Silver: Palo Alto Junior Museum and Zoo. Palo Alto. paloaltozoo.org.
Bronze: Hidden Villa. Los Altos Hills. hiddenvilla.org.
