Outdoor activities with kids in Palo Alto

What's on for kids in Palo Alto

• Super Family Sundays

  Sun, Oct 18 · Junior Museum & Zoo · 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.

Within a short drive of Palo Alto

• Martial Arts Training Day — San Francisco Bay Area

  Sat, Oct 10 · 9:00 AM · Hilton San Francisco Airport Bayfront · burlingame · 15 mi away · Ages 0–12

  A day of martial arts training for all skill levels.

• Bat Week Screening of 'The Invisible Mammal'

  Wed, Oct 21 · 6:00 PM · Community Center · burlingame · 15 mi away · Ages 0–12

  A special screening for Bat Week focusing on bat conservation.

Activity ideas that work any day in Palo Alto

• 

  Build a Solar Oven

  Convert an ordinary pizza box into a working solar oven. It’s incredibly satisfying to harness the power of the sun to cook your own food. This activity lets you experiment with natural energy and see science in action, proving that with a little ingenuity, you can create something useful and delicious using only sunlight. You’ll start by preparing the pizza box, lining it with foil to reflect the sun's rays, and adding a plastic wrap window to trap heat. Next, assemble your s'mores inside. Position your oven in a sunny spot and adjust it to catch the most light. Keep an eye on your s'mores as they slowly melt and toast. For an extra challenge, try cooking other small treats like hot dogs or nachos.

  9-12 · Outdoor · 90 min

  Open
• 

  DIY Sidewalk Chalk Factory

  Why buy sidewalk chalk when you can make your own? We'll mix up the ingredients and pour our own custom-colored, chunky chalk sticks.

  6,7,8 · Outdoor · 60 min · About $15–$20

  Open
• 

  Trike & Scooter Car Wash

  Our trusty vehicles have been working hard! Let's give our bikes, trikes, and scooters a good scrub with lots of soap and bubbles.

  4,5,6 · Outdoor · 30 min · About $5–$10

  Open
• 

  Messy Marvelous Mud Kitchen

  Grab some old pots and pans and head outside to the best restaurant in town! We'll mix up some mud pies, leaf salads, and rock soups for our imaginary guests.

  4,5,6 · Outdoor · 60 min · About $0–$10

  Open

Questions parents ask about Palo Alto

What can you do with a toddler in Palo Alto on a rainy day?

The city libraries run several toddler and preschool storytimes a week, and they're short enough — about 30 minutes — to fit before a nap. The indoor list for Palo Alto shows what's scheduled.

Are these activities free?

Library programs and creek trails are free. The children's museum and zoo charge admission, with lower rates for Palo Alto 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.