Parks, trails, the bayfront, and ways to spend a day. The outdoor San Mateo a local actually uses.
The San Mateo stretch of the Bay Trail runs the shoreline from Coyote Point south to the San Mateo Bridge and on toward Foster City, with jets dropping into SFO across the water, sailboats and kiteboarders on the bay, and wide-open views the whole way. Walk it, run it, bike it, or fish along it.
The old San Mateo landfill, reborn as a grassy hill with 360-degree bay views, public art, a 3-acre dog park, and a windsurf and kite launch. Climb the mound near sunset for the best free view in town.
A 670-acre bayfront county park with a eucalyptus-shaded shoreline, a beach and marina, picnic groves, the CuriOdyssey science and wildlife museum, and the steady summer winds that make it a top Bay Area kiteboarding spot.
Kiteboarding lessons run by Tony Parsons, with 20-plus years on the water, teaching beginners through advanced riders on San Mateo's reliable summer bay winds.
A sixteen-acre downtown park with a 1960s Japanese tea garden and koi ponds, a kids' playground, tennis courts, and a miniature train running since 1948.
A hands-on science and wildlife museum at Coyote Point with live native animals, an outdoor zoo, and interactive exhibits built for curious kids.
A creekside neighborhood park whose dirt trails climb Sugarloaf Mountain for ridge-top views over the Peninsula.
A bayfront park with a nautical-themed playground, a marsh boardwalk for birdwatching, and direct Bay Trail access.
A big recreation park with a skate park, tennis and bocce courts, ball fields, and shaded picnic areas.
An east-side neighborhood park with a skate park, playground, and picnic facilities.
A park on the banks of Marina Lagoon with a playground, courts, and beach access for kayaks and small boats.
A modern park in the Bay Meadows village with a full-size soccer field, a wildlife pond, and a looping walking path.
A flat, paved six-mile trail along Crystal Springs Reservoir, a Peninsula favorite for walking, running, and cycling (no dogs allowed).
A 24-lane neighborhood bowling alley with a bar and bistro, weekly leagues, and open play.
Themed, story-driven escape rooms at Hillsdale for small groups.
A downtown indoor playground for kids up to about ten, with slides, a zipline, and obstacle courses.
The city's main library branch with a big children's area, story times, and free community programs near downtown.
A 1,540-seat theater next to San Mateo High, billed as the largest stage between San Francisco and San Jose, hosting concerts and shows.
The county fairgrounds and event complex, home of the San Mateo County Fair and a year-round calendar of expos, festivals, shows, and markets.
Free outdoor concerts in Central Park on summer evenings, a San Mateo tradition of blankets, picnics, and live bands under the trees.
A twelve-screen downtown movie theater within walking distance of B Street's restaurants and parking garages.
A dine-in luxury cinema at Hillsdale with reclining seats and full food-and-drink service to your seat.
A combined bowling-and-bocce venue with an Italian-American bistro and an outdoor fire-pit patio at Hillsdale.
A jungle-themed indoor play structure with slides, climbing, arcade games, open-play sessions, and birthday party rooms for young kids.
A child-sized pretend-play town at Hillsdale where kids ages two to seven take on roles like grocer, firefighter, and doctor.
A walk-in paint-your-own-pottery studio where families pick bisque pieces and glaze them for kiln firing.
A community pottery studio offering wheel-throwing, hand-building, and sculpture classes plus memberships.
A fine-art school teaching kids and teens drawing, painting, sculpting, and mixed media through structured projects.
A European-style art school teaching academic drawing, painting, and ceramics to kids and adults.
A gymnastics and tumbling center with preschool, recreational, and competitive classes from age two and up.
Parent-and-child play, music, and art classes for babies through preschoolers, plus open gym and party space.
A youth musical theater program staging full productions for performers ages five to eighteen.
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