20 Fun Things to Do with Kids in Sacramento

Things to do in Sacramento with Kids – Sacramento offers countless opportunities for fun! Looking for fun things to do with kids in and around Sacramento? Check out our unique list of kids activities in Sacramento!

Adventure & Excitement

Families with an appetite for adventure will love these thrill-inducing fun things to do with kids in Sacramento.

SMUD MoSac – Museum of Science and Curiosity

Coming Soon … Introducing Sacramento’s newest Science Center: SMUD Museum of Science and Curiosity, or simply MOSAC! Located in the historic power station, overlooking Matsui Waterfront Park along the Sacramento River. MOSAC will be a dynamic epicenter for STEM education and an anchor point for Sacramento’s revitalized waterfront. Now Accepting New Members!

MOSAC will bring K-12 schools, colleges, universities, libraries, museums, and other community resources together to remove barriers and build a Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (STEAM) learning ecosystem that broadens and enriches each learner’s personal journey with the ultimate goals of inspiring more students to enter STEAM careers and of creating a more science-literate community.

SeaQuest newest location at Palladio at Broadstone in Folsom, California is open! Visit SeaQuest and take an adventure through rainforests, deserts, and the depths of the seas. With exciting exhibits and kids activities in Sacramento of all ages, you’ll be able to get wet with the stingrays, feed birds and reptiles, encounter the caimans, marvel at the sharks, take selfies with the snakes, and much more.

Conveniently located, SeaQuest immerses you in a complete world of adventure. With exhibits packed to the gills with flashy fish, brightly-colored birds, riveting reptiles, and more, it’s a splash of adventure for families and kids of all ages. Visit SeaQuest Folsom listing here.

Rockin’ Jump Roseville! The Ultimate Indoor Trampoline Park. They are people like us who want to exercise, but also like to have fun. Lots of fun and kids activities in Sacramento to engage. So instead of stairclimbers and weight machines, they decided to create a place where you can soar in open jump arenas, play trampoline dodgeball, laser tag, do flips, and somersaults.

They also have a new alternative in Roseville for birthday parties and family gatherings, where quality food and private party rooms were guaranteed, and your kids could safely play while we socialized with other parents. From kids’ parties to corporate retreats, church groups to family reunions, and of course vacationers who just want to enjoy themselves. You can visit their website here.

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The Boulder Field

Spend a day at an Indoor Climbing Facility. The Boulder Field (TBF) is Sacramento’s newest and most exciting kids activities in Sacramento where you can do rock climbing and fitness gym. For climbers,  TBF offers 10,000 SF of the best bouldering (i.e., climbing without ropes and harnesses, all under 14 feet, with falls onto a highly engineered mat) and climbing training areas in the nation. TBF is a great place to take your kids all day to expend their energy and a great place for a birthday party. Visit their website for facility hours and birthday party packages.

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Quarry Park Adventures

5373 Pacific St
Rocklin, CA 95677

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA’S FAVORITE OUTDOOR ADVENTURE ATTRACTION
Experience Quarry Park Adventures, the nation’s only adventure park built within and atop a former rock quarry — a truly unique and unforgettable outdoor adventure destination enjoyed by families, friends, and groups alike!

• AERIAL ADVENTURE
• ROCK CLIMBING
• FREE FALL
• KIDZ KOVE
• PADDLE BOATS
• RAPPEL
• VIA FERRATA
• ZIP LINE

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Enjoy the Great Outdoors

Our region’s natural beauty offers families a variety of fun things to do with kids in Sacramento in the out-of-doors. Our favorite place to explore nature in Sacramento include:

Paddle Lake Natoma

Spend a day on the lake! Lake Natoma is located near Folsom and is the perfect location for renting canoes, kayaks or hydro bikes for a day of fun. Hourly boat rentals are available and include everything you need (including life jackets) for a relaxing day on the water. To get more details, visit the boat rental website.

Visit a wildlife refuge! Sacramento is home to the picturesque Sacramento National Wildlife Complex which is made up of five wildlife refuges and three wildlife management areas. Whether you choose an auto tour, hiking trails, or a bicycle path, kids will love seeing tons of wildlife in this beautiful habitat. For more information or to plan your visit, go to their website.

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Tour a fish hatchery! Nimbus Fish Hatchery is close to home and sits along Sacramento’s American River. The hatchery is run by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and produces 4,000,000 Chinook salmon and 430,000 Steelhead trout every year. The center is a favorite among local kids, who enjoy learning about the biology of salmon, hatchery operations and river conservation through interactive exhibits in the visitor center. The hatchery is open from 10 am to 3 pm daily. Learn more or plan your visit.

Enjoy Kids’ Workshops

Several area retailers offer fun, free workshops, especially for youngsters. Our favorites Fun Things to do with kids in Sacramento with kids workshops are:

Home Depot

Home Depot. Every month, area Home Depot locations host free activity workshops, especially for kids. The stores provide all of the supplies and instruction for the project. Your kids complete the project during the workshop and take home their creation when they’re done. Kids also get a complimentary orange apron and a certificate for completing the project. To learn about one of the upcoming workshops, visit the Home Depot Kids Workshop webpage.

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Learning & Creativity

Foster your child’s appreciation for learning and creativity with a visit to one of our area’s science or arts venues. Our top picks for fun things to do with kids in Sacramento that include creativity and exploration include:

Just For Fun Art is different than other painting event companies. Unlike most companies, they have their own private studio. The Art Studio seats up to 35 comfortably. They can also bring the paint party to your home or venue. They provide everything except the table and chairs.

They also have summer art camps and open studio days. They offer services, classes, and professional supplies for Face Painting and Balloon Twisting, Henna, Glitter Tattoos, and much more. You can visit their website here.

Visit a science center! Explorit Science Center in Davis provides children with the opportunity to partake in hands-on science exploration through programs that connect science to everyday life. The center offers family exploration programs on weekends, which are informal, hands-on activity sessions for all ages of children and adults. The programs sometimes feature take-home products. Explorit often invites community scientists to lead these programs where they share their expertise with the families. To plan your visit or view the event calendar, visit their website.

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Learn the art of comedy! Sacramento’sComedy Spot is the perfect place to give kids an early start at developing a sharp mind and a quick wit while having fun. They offer special youth Saturday workshops to introduce kids to performance techniques and take part in improvisational games within a fun, supportive environment. These Saturday Workshops are two-hours long, and parents are encouraged to stay to enjoy their child’s comedic performance. They also have special events periodically, which are published on the Comedy Spot calendar.

History & Museums

Sacramento’s historic past offers many opportunities for fun and enrichment. When looking for things to do in Sacramento with kids, young and old alike will enjoy these interesting and educational places to visit:

 Aerospace Museum of California

Go to a Museum! The Aerospace Museum of California is an excellent place to learn about space exploration and see the future of manned and unmanned space travel. Pilot your own adventure in one of our many STEM activity centers, including building stations, maker’s crafts, and high-tech flight simulators.

Come explore one of aviation’s greatest showcases at the Aerospace Museum located at McClellan Business Park in Sacramento, approximately 20 minutes from Downtown. Celebrate aviation’s past, present, and future while engaging in hands-on experiences for the whole family. From their movie motion ride to state-of-the-art flight simulators, climb aboard and let your dreams take flight!

These attractions are included with admission to the museum. To plan your visit, check out their website.

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Take a historic tour! The Sacramento History Museum offers lots of amazing tours including underground tours of Old Sacramento. You’ll be amazed to learn how Sacramento lifted itself up out of floodwaters during the 1860s. This incredible tour shows visitors the secrets of the hollow sidewalks, sloped alleyways, and the Underground spaces themselves. Learn more about the tours and purchase tickets using their online reservation page.

Historic Preston Castle

Visit a castle! Located east of Elk Grove is the historic Preston Castle in Ione. The beautiful structure was built in the 1890s but is now a deserted castle that has been opened to the public for tours. Visitors will gain an interesting glimpse into the history behind the castle’s walls. Take a tour through parts of the massive building to see its 250 windows overlooking the foothills. During the tour, you’ll be awestruck by this massive and historic structure. Tours are given most Saturdays and reservations are not necessary.

Evening Kids Activities in Sacramento

Don’t let the setting sun put a damper on your family’s fun… check out these options for things to do in Sacramento with kids after the stars come out:

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Go to a drive-in movie! Let your kids experience a unique and historic slice of Americana with a visit to Sacramento’s West Wind drive-in. West Wind offers a relaxed environment mixing old-school vibes with the latest digital technology. You’ll gaze upon crystal-clear images while listening to audio transmitted through your car’s stereo. Families can on the play structure or grab a treat from the snack bar before the show. They feature first-run movies at the same time as indoor theaters and even have midnight screenings and early openings. Visit their website to learn more or to view showtimes.

Visit an Escape Room! Escape rooms are hugely popular and one of the go-to kids activities in Sacramento appropriate for children age 10 and older. These fun challenges rely on play and teamwork to solve a real-life mystery. Team members seek clues and solve puzzles tied to a story or theme to escape before time runs out, usually one hour. Several Escape Room venues have opened in Sacramento. These include  Red Door Escape Room, Escape Sacramento, and Enchambered.

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Enjoy Some Baseball

If you are looking for a fun family event in Sacramento where you can enjoy the fresh outdoor air and munch on some hot dogs, then watching a baseball game is for you.

Raley Field

Watch a Sacramento River Cats game! The Sacramento River Cats are a Minor League Baseball team based in West Sacramento, California. The team is the Triple-A affiliate of Major League Baseball’s San Francisco Giants. The 2019 season starts on April 4th, 2019. Visit their website for more information and their season schedule.

Give Back

If you’re looking for something fun things to do in Sacramento with kids to do while giving back to the community, consider a family service opportunity:

Volunteer! When looking for fun things to do in Sacramento with kids, giving back to the community feels good and is fun for all ages. The City of Sacramento’s Volunteer Program has a variety of volunteer opportunities for youth and adults. Their youth service projects can be short-term or ongoing projects such as cleaning up parks, spiffing up playgrounds, helping at a River Cats game, or cleaning up a creek. Visit their website for a full list of youth volunteer opportunities.

Regardless of your child’s age or interests, there are lots of opportunities for family fun things to do in Sacramento with kids.

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Looking for more things to do with kids in Sacramento? Sacramento offers countless opportunities for fun! Check out our outdoor blog post, or browse through our places to go section. Find even more things to do in Sacramento with kids by checking out our Things To Do category.