Where to take the kids
Boo at the Zoo
Weekends Oct 24 – Oct 31 · 10 am – 3 pm
Sacramento Zoo, Sacramento
Trick-or-treat stations throughout the zoo, costume parade, keeper talks and animal enrichment activities. Included with regular admission; costumes encouraged.
Where to take the kids in Rancho Cordova
41 places, nearest first.
This week in the Rancho Cordova area
Regular weekly events — markets, storytimes, open gyms
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Setting
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Times come from what each organiser publishes — a fixed weekly slot for markets and open gyms, a per-date listing for library storytimes. Schedules change and sessions get cancelled, so confirm with the venue before you set out.
View full calendar →Halloween
Pumpkin patches, haunted trails & more near Rancho Cordova
Dave's Pumpkin Patch
Weekends Oct 17 – Oct 31 · 10 am – 5 pm
Dave's Pumpkin Patch, West Sacramento
Family pumpkin patch with corn maze, hay rides, petting zoo and giant slides. Free admission; activities priced individually. Close to downtown Sacramento.
Keema's Pumpkin Farm
Oct 15 – Nov 1 · 11 am – 6 pm
Keema's Pumpkin Farm, Elk Grove
Family pumpkin farm in Elk Grove: u-pick pumpkins, corn maze, farm animals, playground and jumping pillow. Tue–Fri 11am–6pm, Sat–Sun 10am–6pm (Oct 31–Nov 1: 10am–4pm); closed Mondays. Cash only: adults 13+ $8, kids 2–12 $6, under 2 free.
Places near Rancho Cordova
Open year-round, closest first
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Kids Empire
Rancho Cordova
Massive multi-level padded maze with winding slides, a dance floor and a motorcycle track.
- Price
- $22.90 ages 1–17
- Toddlers
- All ages
- Typical visit
- All day
Open · Last checked Sep 17, 2026
Before you go All-day admission with re-entry — leave for lunch and come back.
White Rock Community Splash Park
Rancho Cordova
The region’s only public splash pad with water slides — free spray area plus two slides at $1 a ride.
- Price
- Free · $1/slide
- Toddlers
- Good for toddlers
Open · Last checked Sep 17, 2026
Before you go Seasonal: Memorial Day through end of August. Off-season it’s just a park.
Sacramento Children’s Museum
Rancho Cordova
Hands-on water tables, air tubes and a pint-sized grocery store to play shop in. Built for birth to about eight.
- Price
- $10 ages 1+, under 1 free
- Toddlers
- Good for toddlers
Open · Last checked Sep 17, 2026
Before you go Older kids run out of things quickly, so it suits the under-eights. It isn’t open every day of the week — check before you drive.
Peek-a-Boo Factory
Rancho Cordova
Three-level play structure with timed ninja and Super Mario obstacle courses, a toddler area and arcades.
- Price
- $20/child+adult
- Toddlers
- Toddler area
Open · Last checked Sep 17, 2026
Before you go Popular party venue — open play is calmest on weekday mornings.
Wacky Tacky
Rancho Cordova
Slides, tunnels and multi-level play structures plus themed attractions like Jungle Bungle and ball-shooting zones.
- Price
- $20/child
- Toddlers
- Good for toddlers
Open · Last checked Sep 17, 2026
Before you go Inexpensive and open 7 days — the easy last-minute option.
Rebounderz Sacramento
Sacramento
Massive trampoline arena with a ninja warrior course, trampoline dodgeball and an indoor playground for ages 2–12.
- Price
- $19.99–$34.99 (+3% fee)
- Toddlers
- Ages 2+
Open · Last checked Sep 17, 2026
Before you go The little-kid playground makes it work for mixed ages — big kids get the arena.
Heron Landing Community Park
Rancho Cordova
Separate toddler and big-kid playgrounds, a rare built-in trampoline, huge sand area, web swing and a big interactive splash pad.
- Price
- Free
- Toddlers
- Toddler area
- Shade
- No shade
Open · Last checked Sep 17, 2026
Before you go Almost no shade — it’s full sun out there. Go early or late.
Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park
Arden, Sacramento
Wall-to-wall trampolines, Sky Rider, warrior course — the big-energy burn-off.
- Price
- $34.99 Unlimited Play ticket
- Toddlers
- Ages 3+
Open · Last checked Sep 17, 2026
Before you go Passes from about $12; grip socks required, buy online to skip the line.
Tempo Park
Citrus Heights
Two play areas and swings with restrooms and covered picnic, set among big trees and creek trails.
- Price
- Free
- Toddlers
- Good for toddlers
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Shade
- Limited shade
Open · Last checked Sep 17, 2026
Before you go The playground itself is unshaded — the trees are along the trails.
Aerospace Museum of California
McClellan
40+ historic aircraft on a 4-acre air park — climb into real cockpits, try the flight simulators, and stand under an F-14 Tomcat. The exhibit hall has hands-on STEM exhibits for kids.
- Price
- Adults $18, youth 3-17 $15, 2 and under free
- Toddlers
- Ages 3+
Open · Last checked Sep 22, 2026
Before you go Open Thursday through Sunday, 9am-5pm (last admission 4pm); closed Mon-Wed. Free parking.
Bertha Henschel Park
East Sacramento
Tot lot plus an adventure playground under a shade structure — and a free shallow wading pool with a mushroom fountain in summer.
- Price
- Free
- Toddlers
- Good for toddlers
- Shade
- Shaded
Open · Last checked Sep 17, 2026
Before you go The wading pool is closed for the 2026 season and back May 2027; the playground is still worth the trip.
Ely’s Play House
Citrus Heights
6,000 sq ft with a two-level jungle gym, toddler zone and pretend kitchen and store.
- Toddlers
- Ages 0–8
Open · Last checked Sep 17, 2026
Before you go Ages 0–8; popular party venue, so check open-play hours.
Rusch Park
Citrus Heights
Two playgrounds plus tree-covered picnic areas, a pool and a skate park — something for every age at once.
- Price
- Free
- Toddlers
- Good for toddlers
- Shade
- Shaded
- Parking
- Playgrounds on opposite sides — park near your pick
Open · Last checked Sep 17, 2026
Before you go Big park and spread out — the two playgrounds sit on opposite sides, so pick your parking accordingly.
McKinley Park
East Sacramento
Big-kid climbing structures under huge shade trees, plus a pond, rose garden, pool and restrooms — the East Sac classic.
- Price
- Free
- Toddlers
- Good for toddlers
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Shade
- Shaded
- Parking
- Fills up on weekends
Open · Last checked Sep 17, 2026
Before you go Weekend parking fills fast; come early and make the playground the main event.
Folsom City Lions Park
Folsom
Western-town play structures with a wheelchair-accessible ‘Play for All’ toddler zone and shade — next to the zoo sanctuary, library and miniature train.
- Price
- Free
- Toddlers
- Toddler area
- Shade
- Shaded
- Parking
- Shared lot with the zoo
- Typical visit
- Half day
Open · Last checked Sep 17, 2026
Before you go Pair it with the Folsom Zoo Sanctuary next door; same parking lot, easy half day.
Sacramento Adventure Playground
Sacramento
Free adventure playground run by Fairytale Town: kids build forts, climb, use real tools and help care for animals.
- Price
- Free
- Toddlers
- Ages 6+ · under-5 area
Open · Last checked Sep 17, 2026
Before you go After-school hours only — Wed–Fri 2:15–6:30pm, Sat 11–4. Ages 6–15 with a 5 & under area; registration required.
WonderPlay Zone
Folsom
Jungle safari-themed structures and an ocean soft-play zone, with a parent co-working space.
- Toddlers
- Ages 0–7
Open · Last checked Sep 17, 2026
Before you go Ages 0–7; opened March 2026, so everything is still new.
Enchanted Natomas
Natomas, Sacramento
Space-themed indoor playground with a 2-story climber, zip line, twin ball pits and a toddler trampoline.
- Price
- $15/child, $12 additional
- Toddlers
- Toddler area
Open · Last checked Sep 17, 2026
Before you go Ages 0–8, around $15 admission; known for being spotless.
California State Railroad Museum
Old Sacramento
Restored locomotives and carriages you can walk through, on the Old Sacramento waterfront.
- Price
- $6 ages 6–17, adults $12
- Toddlers
- Ages 3+
Open · Last checked Sep 17, 2026
Before you go There are engines parked outside you can look at without a ticket, which is a decent warm-up while you decide whether to go in.
SMUD Museum of Science and Curiosity
400 Jibboom St, Sacramento
100+ hands-on STEAM exhibits in a renovated 1912 power station, plus the UC Davis Multiverse Theater planetarium with a 46-foot dome. Pilot a Mars rover in Destination Space or tinker in the Design Lab.
- Price
- Timed-entry tickets; free and discounted rates offered
- Toddlers
- All ages
Open · Last checked Sep 18, 2026
Before you go Open 7 days a week: 10am–4pm weekdays, 10am–5pm weekends. $6/day city parking lot (pay at the kiosk or ParkMobile, code 6848). Timed-entry tickets available online.
Folsom Kids’ Castle Park
Phillip C. Cohn Park, Folsom
Castle-themed playground rebuilt in 2026 with modern, durable materials in the original castle theme — plus a little-kids area, obstacle course, tire swing and a nature trail to a pond.
- Price
- Free
- Toddlers
- Toddler area
Open · Last checked Sep 17, 2026
Before you go The new castle reopened in summer 2026 after the full community rebuild. Confirm current hours with the City of Folsom before you go.
California Automobile Museum
Old Sacramento Waterfront
120+ cars spanning nearly 120 years of automotive history, from brass-era classics to modern tech. Docent tours, Model T photo ops, and Sunday ride-alongs in a museum car.
- Price
- Adults $14, youth 6-17 $8, 5 and under free
- Toddlers
- Ages 3+
Open · Last checked Sep 18, 2026
Before you go Open Wednesday through Monday, 10am-5pm (last admission 4pm); closed Tuesdays. Big warehouse, not fully climate-controlled, so dress for the day.
Sacramento Zoo
William Land Park, Sacramento
More than 140 species in a shaded park setting, next door to Fairytale Town.
- Price
- Varies by date
- Toddlers
- Good for toddlers
- Shade
- Shaded
- Typical visit
- Half day
Open · Last checked Sep 17, 2026
Before you go Heat is the limiting factor for most of the year. A morning visit is a different experience from an afternoon one.
Fairytale Town
William Land Park, Sacramento
Storybook sets built at child scale — Jack and Jill’s hill, Captain Hook’s ship, farm animals to meet.
- Price
- $10 ages 2+, under 2 free
- Toddlers
- Good for toddlers
Open · Last checked Sep 17, 2026
Before you go It shares William Land Park with the zoo and Funderland, so you could chain all three. With small kids, don’t — pick one and leave happy.
Funderland
William Land Park, Sacramento
A small amusement park running since 1946, with rides scaled for the youngest riders in the family.
- Price
- Kids $25, adults $18, seniors $10
- Toddlers
- Good for toddlers · check height minimums
Open · Last checked Sep 17, 2026
Before you go Several rides have height minimums, so check them before you promise anything to a three-year-old.
Econome Family Park
Folsom
Two distinct playgrounds — a rope course and a giant ground-level slide — with covered picnic tables and restrooms.
- Price
- Free
- Toddlers
- Good for toddlers
- Restrooms
- Yes
Open · Last checked Sep 17, 2026
Before you go The giant ground-level slide is the headline — arrive before the birthday-party rush on weekends.
Elk Grove Regional Park
Elk Grove
Over 120 acres with playgrounds, a bike park and a lake you can fish in. The default local morning out.
- Price
- Free
- Toddlers
- Good for toddlers
- Typical visit
- Full morning
Open · Last checked Sep 17, 2026
Before you go Big enough to fill a whole morning without driving anywhere else. Valley summers are genuinely hot — go early and bring more water than you think you need.
The Alley
Elk Grove
Bowling, arcade and an indoor playground under one roof.
- Toddlers
- Ages 3+
Open · Last checked Sep 17, 2026
Before you go The reliable answer on a rainy day or a 100°F one, which around here is most of July. Busiest late afternoon.
Derr-Okamoto Community Park
Elk Grove
Multiple playgrounds for different ages plus a water play area — family-friendly and popular for parties and events.
- Price
- Free
- Toddlers
- Good for toddlers
Open · Last checked Sep 17, 2026
Before you go The water play area runs in the warmer months only; bring towels and a change of clothes.
Miwok Park
Elk Grove
Elk Grove’s only all-wooden, community-built park — towering castle structures and wooden canoes that invite hours of imaginative play.
- Price
- Free
- Toddlers
- Good for toddlers
- Typical visit
- Half day
Open · Last checked Sep 17, 2026
Before you go Built by Elk Grove residents; the wood gets hot in afternoon sun, so mornings are the move in summer.
Space To Play
Elk Grove
Indoor playground plus children’s art studio — sensory toys, gel floor tiles, open play and parties.
- Toddlers
- Good for toddlers
Open · Last checked Sep 17, 2026
Before you go The art studio sets it apart — good for kids who bounce between active and creative.
Oneto Park
Elk Grove
A quiet neighborhood park with a rope climbing structure and separate play areas for ages 2–5 and 5–12 — the hidden gem locals love.
- Price
- Free
- Toddlers
- Good for toddlers
- Parking
- Residential streets
Open · Last checked Sep 17, 2026
Before you go It is tucked into a residential pocket, so use the map directions; no crowds and no lines for the equipment.
Kloss Park
Elk Grove
A fully accessible, fire-truck themed park with ramps up to the slides, wheelchair-accessible sand tables, and a wheelchair swing — next to a real fire station.
- Price
- Free
- Toddlers
- Good for toddlers
Open · Last checked Sep 17, 2026
Before you go The wheelchair swing needs a key, so call Cosumnes CSD ahead of time to arrange access.
Oasis Park
Elk Grove
Twenty acres with modern play equipment and a splash park — the one small kids ask to go back to.
- Price
- Free
- Toddlers
- Good for toddlers
Open · Last checked Sep 17, 2026
Before you go The splash park is the draw and it runs seasonally, so check before you drive over. Towels and a full change of clothes, not optional.
Wackford Aquatic Complex
Elk Grove
Pools, slides and an interactive splash playground for the little ones.
- Price
- $8 ages 5+, $5 ages 2–4
- Toddlers
- Ages 3+
Open · Last checked Sep 17, 2026
Before you go Open swim runs in sessions and by season rather than all day — worth confirming the times before you load the car.
Kammerer Park
Elk Grove
Music-themed playground: separate 2–5 area and older-kid tower, musical splash pad, outdoor instruments and piano-key benches.
- Price
- Free
- Toddlers
- Toddler area
Open · Last checked Sep 17, 2026
Before you go The musical splash pad runs seasonally; the instruments play year-round.
Enchanted Elk Grove
Elk Grove
Indoor playground with a trampoline, toddler areas and imaginative play — the rainy-day answer in Elk Grove.
- Price
- $15/child, $12 additional
- Toddlers
- Toddler area
Open · Last checked Sep 17, 2026
Before you go 4.7 stars on Yelp; check open-play hours before you go, parties can take over weekends.
Morse Community Park
Elk Grove
Playgrounds for all ages plus a splash park for summer, with plenty of shade and grassy areas for a full-day hangout.
- Price
- Free
- Toddlers
- Good for toddlers
- Shade
- Shaded
- Typical visit
- Full day
Open · Last checked Sep 17, 2026
Before you go The splash pad runs seasonally and outdoor concerts happen here in summer — check the CSD schedule.
Machado Dairy Park
Elk Grove
A farm-themed playground honoring the Machado family dairy — a barn play structure, barnyard teeter-totters, and a giant cow statue.
- Price
- Free
- Toddlers
- Good for toddlers
- Shade
- Some shade
- Typical visit
- 1–2 hours
Open · Last checked Sep 17, 2026
Before you go Also has an adult fitness area and shaded picnic spots, so it is easy to stretch the visit past an hour.
George Park
Elk Grove
Dinosaur-themed playground with a zipline, slack line, fossil footprints and a fenced sprayground.
- Price
- Free
- Toddlers
- Good for toddlers
Open · Last checked Sep 17, 2026
Before you go Sprayground runs May–September, 10am–8pm.
River Fox Train
West Sacramento
Pedal-powered railbikes on century-old tracks along the Sacramento River — 10 miles round trip through Yolo farmland, with electric assist when your legs give out. The same depot also runs themed train rides (beer, boba, murder mystery, holiday trains).
- Price
- Weekday railbikes $68.90/rider ($137.80 full bike for two); weekend Pumpkin Patch railbike from $91.80
- Toddlers
- Ages 3+ seated riders
Open · Last checked Sep 30, 2026
Before you go Seated riders must be 3+ (under 3 in a front-facing carrier; no lap seating). Weekday railbikes $68.90/rider — a full bike for two is $137.80; weekends currently list the seasonal Pumpkin Patch railbike from $91.80. Check in 30–40 min early; closed-toe shoes required. Non-refundable, rides run rain or shine. Book ahead.
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Before you go
Days out with kids rarely fall apart over the activity itself
Confirm before you drive
Weekly sessions get cancelled and hours change. This site links straight to each venue's map listing, which is always current.
Let the heat set the timetable
Summer here sits above 100°F for weeks at a stretch. Playgrounds and splash pads are a morning proposition; the Delta breeze turns up in the evening, not when you need it at two.
Solve parking in advance
William Land Park holds the zoo, Fairytale Town and Funderland within a few blocks, so one busy weekend fills all three lots at once. Come early or plan to walk.
Plan one thing, not three
Most of these fill a half day. Leaving room for a nap and some nothing-in-particular beats cramming in another stop.