These Zoos, Aquariums and Nature Centers were voted the Bay Area’s 2022 Best of the Best by Bay Area Parent readers. Read the full list of winners here.
Silicon Valley
Gold: Monterey Bay Aquarium. Located on historic Cannery Row, this nonprofit aquarium offers displays on sea otters, sharks, jellies, penguins and much more. Monterey. montereybayaquarium.org.
Silver: Happy Hollow Park & Zoo. San Jose. happyhollow.org.
Bronze: Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park. Gilroy. gilroygardens.org.
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 vinegaroon.San Mateo. curiodyssey.org.
Silver: Marine Science Institute. Redwood City. sfbaymsi.org.
Bronze: Lemos Farm. Half Moon Bay. lemosfarm.com.
San Francisco and Marin
Gold: San Francisco Zoo. This 100-acre zoo features more than 2,000 exotic, endangered and rescued animals as well as peaceful gardens. San Francisco. sfzoo.org.
Silver: Conservatory of Flowers. San Francisco. conservatoryofflowers.org.
Bronze: Randall Museum. San Francisco. randallmuseum.org.
East Bay
Gold: Oakland Zoo. The zoo, an East Bay institution celebrating its 100th birthday this year, continue to protect animals while educating and delighting children and families. Oakland. oaklandzoo.org.
Silver: University of California Botanical Garden at Berkeley. Berkeley. botanicalgarden.berkeley.edu.
Bronze: Ardenwood Historic Farm. Fremont. ebparks.org/parks/ardenwood.