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Thursday, 3 March 2016
Bay Area visitors who want to walk along leafy streets, enjoy cultural attractions, and get in some great hiking should head toward Redwood City.
Take note of the following 25 things you and your family can do in Redwood City for less than $25 per person.
If history and good eating are two of your favorite things, visit Alana's Cafe and settle inside a circa-1874 Victorian home (on warm days, opt for a table under a tree outside). Start your meal with a fresh-baked scone for $3.50, and then move onto Martha's Famous Swedish oatmeal pancakes for $9.10. You'll want to lick your plate.
On a rainy day—or any day, especially if you're a history buff—go to the San Mateo County History Museum for a lesson on the area's past with hands-on exhibits. The museum is open Tuesdays through Sundays, and admission is $6 for adults, $4 for students and seniors, and free for kids under 5.
The awesome play structures at Stafford Park are absolutely worth the visit (and free to use!). Grab some food and set up shop at a picnic table, then race your kids on the monkey bars and down the slide.
If you and your family want to check out the locals, head to the Shops On Broadway and settle in for some prime people-watching. Spend your afternoon browsing, and check online before you go for fun events and promotions.
Vesta is arguably the most popular pizza spot in Redwood City, so head over and order a table on the outside patio. Order one of their handcrafted and wood-fired Basil Burrata pizzas ($19 each), or a simple Marinara ($11 each).
Lace up your hiking boots, put on your sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses and drive to the El Corte de Madera Creek Preserve. Redwood City is known for its hiking areas and if you're the outdoorsy type, you're in luck. Park (for free!) near Skeggs Point, and then start on the six-mile Tafoni Loop. Take out your camera to snap photos of the beautiful honeycomb-shaped sandstone boulders along the way.
A visit to Redwood City isn't complete without swinging by the stunning Fox Theatre. Built in 1929, this theater has beautiful Moorish and Gothic architectural detail. Exciting performances are scheduled all the time, so check the online schedule before heading over. Tickets to the upcoming Nutcracker ballet start at $22 per person.
Record stores are dying, but thankfully Redwood City still has the perfect place for anyone missing the old days. The Record Man has a deep, thorough collection of vinyl, and music junkies can spend hours looking for that perfect 45. Try to find the album from your childhood, play it on one of their many turntables, and educate your kids on the best music from your day.
It may sound strange, but Redwood City has a monument to water. It's the Pulgas Water Temple, and it honors the engineering feat of bringing water from the Hetch Hetchy in the Sierras to the Bay Area, providing drinking water for the entire region. Impressive, since it took 24 years (including through the Great Depression) and $102 million to complete. The temple is gorgeous, free to the public, and open Mondays through Fridays.
At 10,000 square feet, La Petite Playhouse is an awesome indoor playground made up of tubes, slides, and a climbing wall. It has several areas where kids can go wild, and it's the perfect place to go on rainy days. Admission is just $10 per person and free for kids who can't walk yet.
In the mood for live jazz music or stand-up comedy? If so, head over to Club Fox near the Fox Theater, an ideal place to wind down for the night. Tickets are usually very cheap (around $7-$10), parking is abundant, and the drinks are tasty. Check their calendar for events.
La Biscotteria is an Italian bakery that gets raves among the locals for their daily-baked delicacies made from fresh organic ingredients. The family-run shop are famous in Redwood City for their biscotti (with many varieties at under $10 a bag), and they're almost as famous for their generous and welcoming customer service. Try the delicious Snowballs at $5 apiece.
The Bay Area is home to countless places to see live theater and Redwood City is no exception. If you're looking for something fun to do during the evening, buy tickets to the latest show at the Dragon Theatre, where tickets are as low as $22 per person, though rush tickets are $10 if you're lucky to get them. Check out the calendar before you go.
For a delicious night out with your family, try Galeotti's Pizzeria, a local favorite for their New York-style pizza. Check the chalkboard for the day's specials and then have your kids order off of the inexpensive children's menu: just $6 for cheese ravioli and $3 for a slice of pizza.
SportsHouse Indoor Sports and Grill is a great place to get into pickup game of basketball or volleyball, just $10 per person on a drop-in basis (adults only, so take your older kids). Hungry after your game? Just walk over to the on-site restaurant Kicks Sports & Grill for a $6 wedge salad or an $8 cheeseburger.
Looking for a cheap round of golf in a beautiful setting? Make your way to Emerald Hills Golf Course, a par 3, nine-hole course in Redwood City. Rates here are crazy cheap, just $15 on weekdays and $16 on Saturday and Sunday. Fore!
Never had green tea ice cream? Now's your chance! Belly up to the counter at Queen Bee Ice Cream, where small scoops will run you just $2.75, and hand-packed quarts cost $7.95. This family-owned shop has been a local favorite since it opened in 2011. If green tea isn't your jam, go for the honey-flavored ice cream Lavender and ginger are also tasty.
On a hot summer day, there are few places better in Redwood City than the pool at Red Morton Community Park. Jump in with your family, then play catch in one of the park's ball fields and cook burgers at an available BBQ pit. Admission is just $3 per day.
For just $15 for adults and $10 for kids aged 5 to 17, you can check out the Hiller Aviation Museum in San Carlos, three miles north of Redwood City. The museum's exhibits offer a peek into the history of air travel back to the late 1860s and include a glimpse at the future of aviation.
If you're lucky enough to visit Redwood City during the spring, don't miss a chance to explore Edgewood Park and Natural Preserve. This 467-acre plot of land is the place to see wildflowers. Note: pets are not allowed to visit with you. Check the website for information on docent-led nature walks on the third Saturday of each month.
Outdoor exploring is a common pastime for people who live in Redwood City. While you're on vacation, blend in with the locals and hit the well-kept trails at Stulsaft Park. This 42-acre plot of land has a stream you can walk along, as well as off-leash areas for your dog and a water play area for kids during warm weather months.
Right down the street from the Redwood City Caltrain station, you'll find teeny-tiny Kristi Marie's, an adorable café and bakery that serves everything from breakfast sandwiches to a variety of pastries. For just a few dollars, you can savor the sweet flavor of a piping-hot cinnamon roll. Order two—calories don't count on vacation!
Redwood City offers many free concerts several evenings a week during the summer at Courthouse Square. If you're headed there during the winter, check the city's website for a list of fun events, like their day-long yearly holiday celebration downtown on Dec. 5.
Three miles north in San Carlos, visitors can blow off steam at Rockin' Jump, an indoor trampoline park where open jump time is priced by the half hour. 30 minutes will cost you $10, 60 minutes costs $14, 90 minutes costs $18, and 120 minutes is $20 per person. Phew. You'll be exhausted!
Just in case you brought Fido along for your vacation, you're in luck with a visit to Pulgas Ridge Preserve. This 366-acre site (free parking and admission) is awesome for hiking (there are six miles of trails), but your dog is likely to be most excited about the 17.5-acre off-leash area at the center of the Preserve. Just take the Cordilleras Trail and you won't be able to miss it.
Need cash for your trip? Come Visit our Redwood City Branch!
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