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Outdoor activities with kids in Burlingame

Parks, trails, water and open space, sorted by age.

Burlingame is a good middle ground for Peninsula families: playgrounds, a walkable main street, and steady library programming for little kids.

What's on for kids in Burlingame

Within a short drive of Burlingame

  • Bodhi Mid-Autumn Festival Community Fair | Lanterns, Culture & Family Fun

    Tue, Oct 27 · 10:00 AM · San Francisco County Fair Building · san francisco · 14 mi away · Ages 1–12

    Celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival with cultural activities, lanterns, and family fun.

  • SF “Halloween Hoopla” Kids’ Festival in the Park + Costume Parade (2026)

    Sat, Oct 31 · 12:00 PM · Children’s Garden, Yerba Buena Gardens · san francisco · 14 mi away · Ages 0–7

    The 26th annual Halloween Hoopla is back with family-friendly frights and delights for kids under 10 and their adults! A captivating show with performers from Circus Bella accompanied by live music from the Circus Bella All-Star Trio.

  • Halloween Hoopla

    Sat, Oct 31 · Yerba Buena Gardens · san francisco · 14 mi away · Ages 0–12

    Join us for a Halloween celebration with fun activities and performances for kids.

  • Outdoor Kids' Adventure Day

    Tue, Oct 20 · Adventure Park · alameda, ca · 14 mi away · Ages 4–11

    Join us for a thrilling day of adventure activities designed just for kids!

  • Super Family Sundays

    Sun, Oct 18 · Junior Museum & Zoo · palo alto · 15 mi away · Ages 0–12

    A free event when the JMZ is open exclusively to families with children who have disabilities. Children with all disabilities are welcome, as well as parents, siblings, and grandparents. Come meet zoo animals up-close.

Activity ideas that work any day in Burlingame

  • Build a Catapult

    Build a Catapult

    Build a small catapult using craft sticks, rubber bands, and a spoon. This activity lets you design and construct a working machine, which is very satisfying. You'll get to experiment with basic physics principles like leverage and projectile motion, seeing how small changes can affect distance and accuracy. It's a great way to put engineering skills to the test and then enjoy some friendly competition. Start by gathering your materials and assembling the base and arm of your catapult. Once built, test your design with a small, soft projectile like a cotton ball or a mini marshmallow. Pay attention to how far and consistently it launches. Refine your catapult by adjusting the rubber bands or the arm length to improve its performance before challenging family members to a distance or accuracy contest.

    9-12 · Indoor/Outdoor · 60 min

    Open
  • Night Sky Star Map

    Night Sky Star Map

    Discover the hidden patterns of the night sky by creating your own star map. Kids this age enjoy the challenge of identifying constellations and planets, feeling a sense of accomplishment as they recognize familiar shapes and learn new ones. It’s a rewarding way to connect with the natural world and develop observation skills, turning the vast sky into a personal adventure of discovery. To start, use a star-gazing app on a clear night to identify a few prominent constellations and any visible planets. Then, use a piece of dark paper and a white or silver pen to sketch what you see, marking the brightest stars and connecting them to form your constellations. For an extra challenge, try to identify and sketch the same constellations again on a different night without the app, relying on your memory and observation.

    9-13 · Outdoor · 60 min

    Open
  • DIY Recycled Water Wall

    DIY Recycled Water Wall

    Let's build an amazing, splashy water wall! We'll attach plastic bottles and containers to a fence or board and watch the water twist and turn its way down.

    4,5,6,7 · Outdoor · 75 min · About $5–$10

    Open
  • Rock and Mineral Hunt

    Rock and Mineral Hunt

    Explore the natural world around you by collecting interesting rocks and minerals on a walk, then bring your discoveries home to learn more about them. It's satisfying to find unique specimens, from shiny quartz to layered shale, and then use simple tests to unlock their secrets. You become a real-life geologist, understanding the building blocks of our planet right from your own backyard or local park. Your adventure begins with a walk, keeping an eye out for rocks that catch your attention. Back home, spread out your treasures and sort them by color, size, or texture. Next, try a hardness test: can a fingernail scratch it, or a penny, or a steel nail? Use a field guide or online resources to identify what you've found. To stretch the activity, create a display for your collection or draw your favorite rocks, labeling their features.

    9-12 · Outdoor · 60 min

    Open

Questions parents ask about Burlingame

What can you do with a toddler in Burlingame on a rainy day?
The Burlingame library runs weekday storytimes for under-fives, and the recreation center adds indoor drop-in classes when the weather turns. The indoor list for Burlingame shows what's scheduled.
Are these activities free?
Library and playground time is free. Rec-center classes charge a small per-session fee, usually lower for residents. Anything ticketed links out to the organizer so you can check the price before you go.
How often is this page updated?
Event listings refresh automatically from local sources, so past dates drop off on their own.
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