Tired of wiping up all the puddles generated by your water-play-loving kids after just a few minutes in the bath or kitchen sink? Head outdoors and explore the variety of ways to get wet in our area: water parks (tame and wild varieties), swimming pools/swim and tennis clubs, lakes, lagoons, and beaches. This page also includes helpful links related to water and sun safety.  

Water and Sun Safety

Water Safety

• CDC Fact Sheet on Drowning. (http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/factsheets/drown.htm)
• United States Lifesaving Association Safety Tips for preventing drowning. (http://www.usla.org/PublicInfo/safety_guide.asp)
• InjuryPrevention.org Drowning Prevention links. (http://www.injuryprevention.org/links/links-drown.htm ; http://www.hubblespacephotos.com/water-safety.html)
• American Red Cross Water Safety Tips. (http://www.redcross.org/services/hss/tips/healthtips/safetywater.html#top)
• Orange County Fire Authority Water Safety (http://www.ocfa.org/resident/watch/index.htm)  

Sun Safety

American Academy of Dermatology (http://www.aad.org/public/Parentskids/KidsConnection/KCSunSafety101.htm  excerpt below:  

Watch the clock. Stay out of the sun from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., when the sun's rays are strongest.

Make it a routine. Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen every day. 

Choose SPF 15. Whenever you go out, use a sunscreen with a SPF of 15 or higher.

Reapply. If you're out in the sun between 10 and 4, make sure you slather on more sunscreen (even the waterproof kind) every 2 hours.

Seek shade. Play in the shade whenever you can.

Watch out for the pool. Try to stay away from swimming pools and snow, 
which reflect the sunlight. (Reflected light can burn your skin even faster.) 

Cover up. Wear long pants and shirts with sleeves. If the sun can't get to you, it can't hurt your skin!

Wear a hat. Choose one with a wide (4-inch) brim to protect your face and neck. Sunscreen should be applied frequently. Spray sunscreen is now available in all SPFs and is offered by most sunscreen manufacturers (Waterbabies has a great one). It is an excellent innovation for getting the sunscreen on quickly and covering a lot of ground. It is also good for protecting heads,especially those with less hair than average.  UV protection swim suits, covering much of the body, are another great innovation.  We have been very happy with Stingray Raysuits (http://www.stingray.com.au/) manufactured in Australia, where the locals really know sun.   

Beaches

Baker Beach, San Francisco. Located on Bowley Street off Lincoln Boulevard in the Presidio, this beach features grassy sand dunes for relaxing and glorious views of the Golden Gate Bridge and Marin Headlands. The beach is dangerous for swimmers, but is great for hiking and sunbathing. Note: The northern end of the beach is a popular spot for nude sunbathers.  

China Beach, San Francisco.
Safer for Swimming! Lifeguards are on duty during the summer and there are changing rooms, barbeque pits, and an enclosed sundeck. The beach is accessible from Seacliff and 28th Avenue, near El Camino del Mar. Be prepared for a rather steep hike downhill to access this beach.  

Crown Beach, Alameda:  Robert W. Crown Memorial State Beach
 (510) 521-7090 Parking fee: $5 per vehicle. No lifeguards are provided; swim at your own risk. 

Keller Beach, Richmond: Miller/Knox Regional Shoreline (510) 235-1631 No lifeguards are provided; swim at your own risk. 

Land’s End, San Francisco.
Point Lobos Avenue and Merrie Way, west of Lincoln Park. Land's End is a rugged, scenic beach on the ocean, with narrow trails for hiking. It features a mile of winding trails that end above San Francisco Bay. Bring a jacket and stay away from cliff edges.  

Ocean Beach, San Francisco.
Western edge of the city from approximately Sloat Boulevard to Golden Gate Park. This popular beach stretches along four miles of sandy shoreline. The water is cold and the undertow is very dangerous, so swimming is not allowed. Also offers a host of other shopping, walking, dining, and amusement options including the Musee Mechanique (a collection of vintage coin-operated devices) in the historic Cliff House restaurant.  

For beaches further afield—north  to Marin County, and south toward Monterey—check  out http://bayinsider.ktvu.com/recreation/guides/beaches/index.html  

Lagoons (Chlorinated)

Contra Loma Regional Recreation Area (925) 757-0404 Beach access fee: $3 age 16-61; $2 age 1-15, seniors (62+yrs), and disabled; under 1 year free. 

Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area (510) 537-2240 Beach access fee: $3.50 age 16-61; $2.50 age 1-15, seniors (62+yrs), and disabled; under 1 year free. Don Castro, Hayward

Lakes

Don Castro Regional Recreation Area  (510) 538-1148 Beach access fee: $3 age 16-61; $2 age 1-15, seniors (62+yrs), and disabled; under 1 year free. LakesHorseshoe Lake at Quarry Lakes, Fremont:

Quarry Lakes Regional Recreation Area (510) 795-4883 Beach access fee: $3 age 16-61; $2 age 1-15, seniors (62+yrs), and disabled; under 1 year free. Lake Anza, Berkeley:

Tilden Regional Park(510) 843-2137 Beach access fee: $3.50 age 16-61; $2.50 age 1-15, seniors (62+yrs), and disabled; under 1 year free. Lake Del Valle, Livermore:

Del Valle Regional Park (925) 373-0332 No beach access fee; parking fee $6 per vehicle at Del Valle Road entrance. Lake Temescal, Oakland: 

Temescal Regional Recreation Area(510) 652-1155 Beach access fee: $3 age 16-61; $2 age 1-15, seniors (62+yrs), and disabled; under 1 year free. Shadow Cliffs, Pleasanton:

Shadow Cliffs Regional Recreation Area (925) 846-3000  

Parks

Several of the parks in the vicinity have areas with a variety of levels of water play. 

There are of course the Raging Waters/Water World options for the older kids, but kids of all ages will delight in the water play at the local parks. If you just want to get your hands wet and build some awesome sand castles, the Orinda Community Park has the perfect set up. The Moraga Commons Park also has an area with sprinklers that get the whole body wet—perfect  to cool down with. The following excerpts from the Berkeley Parents Network include other options:

Birch Grove Park, Newark: http://www.ci.newark.ca.us/pw/pwmapar.html38080 Birch Street.In the summer they have a water play area with a tall overhead shower and a button to press to make jets of water shoot up from the ground.  

Central Park, Fremont
An artificial stream runs under a little bridge. Kids wade in the stream and dig up rocks, sail boats down the stream, and throw rocks off the bridge. The stream is very shallow; toddlers love this place. There is good shade and nice grass around the stream for picnicking. Aqua shoes are a good idea. 

Community Center Park, Newark 35501 Cedar Boulevard5 and under wading pool. Untreated water, pool refilled every day. Grassy shaded slopes for picnicking surround a very nice natural-looking wading pool with pebbly concrete bottom.  

Osage Park, Fremont Located off Sycamore Valley Road at Osage Station. It has a "fountain" area, then a "river" which leads into a "wading pool." 

San Ramon Central Park, San Ramon off Bollinger Canyon (at Alcosta) There is a park for regular playing, and then a giant mushroom with water pouring down, a river way, and wading areas with tunnels/bridges and the whole nine yards. There is even a snack shack if you need additional sustenance. It is a bit of a drive, but well worth it.  

The Walnut Creek Park, Walnut Creek Near the Civic Center, this park has areas of water for wet sand and boat play.  

Swimming Pools and Clubs

Public:

Roberts Pool, Oakland: Roberts Regional Recreation Area (510) 482-6028 Pool access fee: $3 age 16-61; $2 age 1-15, seniors (62+yrs), and disabled; under 1 year free; Lap swim: $3.50 per visit; $25 for 10 visits. 

Private: -Pools and clubs with membership requirements, including, but not limited to initiation fees, regular dues, and waiting lists.  

Campolindo Cabana, Moraga (925) 284-9816 

Las Trampas, Lafayette (925) 283-8605 LMYA Swimming, Lafayette: http://www.lmyasports.com/swimming/index.html 

Meadow Swim and Tennis Club, Orinda(925) 254-3860 Moraga Country Club, Moraga:https://www.memberstatements.com/login/login.cfm?CFID=2886318&CFTOKEN=36831873925-376-2200 

Moraga Tennis and Swim Club, Moraga(925) 376-1622 Moraga Valley Swim and Tennis Club (“MVP”), Orinda: http://moragavalleypool.org/925-376-4110 925-376-4110 

Orinda Aquatics, Orinda: http://www.orindaaquatics.org/ Orinda Park Pool, Orinda(925) 254-3970 

Rancho Colorados, Lafayette(925) 299-6993 

Sleepy Hollow Swim and Tennis Club, Orinda Local Health Clubs

These places have swimming pools as well as a large variety of other activities for children. They have initiation fees as well as  monthly dues.

Club Sport, San Ramon: http://www.clubsportsr.com/ This pool has a variety of lessons, clinics, and swim teams for every age and level.  

Lakeridge Athletic Club, El Sobrante: www.lakeridgeathletic.comon the San Pablo Dam Road, 8 miles from downtown Orinda.  (510) 222-2500Offers a summer-only membership. They have an attached double pool, with half dedicated to lap swimming, and half perfect for child’s play – the kid’s half ranges from 2-4 feet in depth.  

Oakwood Athletic Club, Lafayette: http://www.oakwoodathleticclub.com/acquatics.htm(925) 283-4000Offers swimming lessons, swim team, family swim days, and adult swim classes and programs. 

Renaissance Club Sport, Walnut Creek: http://www.clubsports.com/renaissance/index.htmlOffers swimming lessons for kids.  

 Water Parks Six Flags, Marine World, Vallejo: http://www.sixflags.com/parks/marineworld/index.aspNewly opened “Tava’s Jungleland” has a delightful fountain with water spurting up from everywhere. A play structure with water pouring out all over you in the “Loony Tunes” area will also guarantee a soaking child. Another bonus: the (DC) Superheroes can often be spotted around the park. A season pass here gets you into Waterworld in Concord (see below), Sacramento, and even Magic Mountain. Six Flags, Water World, Concord: http://www.sixflags.com/parks/waterworldconcord/index.asp

Lots of fun rides, and some toddler dedicated areas. The wave pool is fun and a few of the slides (not including the kiddie-slides) are fairly tame. The season pass is the best way to go, as toddlers get tired out quickly, and your $30 admission doesn’t really seem worth it. But for $75 (plus an additional $50 parking permit that also works in Vallejo) makes it more palatable to come and go as you please.