Best Zoos and Aquariums in the Bay Area

These Zoos, Aquariums and Nature Centers are the winners of the 2024 Best of Bay Area Parent 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.    

Silver: Doug Siden Visitor Center at Crab Cove. Alameda. ebparks.org/parks/visitor-centers/crab-cove.

Peninsula

Gold: CuriOdyssey. Features naturalistic exhibits that are home to more than 100 mostly native animals, ranging from the little red-legged frog to the giant vinegarroon. San Mateo. curiodyssey.org.

Silver: Lemos Farm. Half Moon Bay. lemosfarm.com.

San Francisco/Marin

Gold: California Academy of Sciences. An aquarium, planetarium, rainforest and natural history museum in the heart of Golden Gate Park. San Francisco. calacademy.org

Silver: San Francisco Zoo. San Francisco. sfzoo.org.

Silicon Valley

Gold: Monterey Bay Aquarium. Located on historic Cannery Row, this nonprofit aquarium offers displays of sea otters, sharks, jellies, penguins and more. Monterey. montereybayaquarium.org.

Silver: Happy Hollow Park & Zoo. San Jose. happyhollow.org.

Bronze:  Palo Alto Junior Museum and Zoo. Palo Alto. paloaltozoo.org.

 

 

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