KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter |
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Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers:
For 25 years, one of my core missions with KidsOutAndAbout has been to make invisible things visible, to celebrate what local communities offer families. Everyone is busy, and local treasures are easy to miss. Our job is to point, spotlight, nudge, and say Look here. Try this. Bring the kids. But there’s another kind of invisibility worth fixing:
The people who create these experiences rarely get to see their full impact. They track tickets sold and kids enrolled, but may never hear that your child talked about their field trip for six months, found courage on their stage, or simply felt welcome exactly when they needed it. That’s why our annual Top 20 Places to Take Kids survey matters. Each summer, we ask readers to vote for their favorite local places to take kids.
The results help families see what other families love. The ranking and comments help local organizations see that their work matters. So your three minutes becomes both a recommendation and a thank-you. The survey is simple: Click on your three favorite local destinations. Then also, optionally, nominate favorites in special categories—like arts, sports, and STEM education—and leave comments that we’ll pass along to the people who make these experiences
happen. So please click here to vote in the 2026 edition of the survey. Help families find the places they’ll love, and help the people behind those places know they’re making a difference. The survey will be open until June 20.
—Debra Ross, publisher of KidsOutAndAbout.com, co-author of The Eclipse Effect: How to Seize Extraordinary Moments to Build Strong Communities
P.S. If you're interested, check out the 2025 list here to see who
won last year. |
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KidsOutAndAbout.com: Discover more. Do more. Connect more. If you like my publisher's column, you can easily scroll through past columns in the "Notes from Deb" section of our site. |
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Altitude Milpitas Summer Camp is an active, indoor camp built for kids ages 5–12, featuring high-energy activities like dodgeball, battle beam, basketball tournaments, arts & crafts, and more. With simple weekly pricing at $375, lunch included, and a convenient 9 AM–3 PM schedule, it gives parents an easy, weather-proof summer option that keeps kids moving, social, and entertained.
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Discover a summer filled with creativity, imagination, and hands-on fun at Children’s Art Classes in San Jose! Our exciting art classes are perfect for kids who love to draw, paint, sculpt, and create in a fun, supportive, and inspiring environment. Young artists will explore a wide variety of art mediums including painting, clay, mixed media, and more... all while building creativity, confidence, and artistic skills. Unlike traditional full-day camps, our flexible classes make it easy for families to choose the schedule that works best for them. Students are welcome to enroll in multiple classes each week and explore different themes and mediums throughout the summer. We offer classes for a variety of ages and skill levels, from beginners to more experienced young artists. Give your child a summer full of color, creativity, and artistic discovery! With small class sizes, engaging projects, and passionate instructors, Children’s Art Classes is the perfect place for kids to…
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It is our tradition of bringing the entire community together with unforgettable local experiences for the past Century! Our story begins in January of 1859, when local agriculturists and community leaders organized the Contra Costa County Agricultural, Historical & Mechanical Society, establishing the county's first county fair in October 11, 1859! Nearly 80 years later, in 1937 the 23rd District Agricultural Association assumed responsibility of this great undertaking, bringing us to today, nearly 90 years later and we're going stronger than ever!
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The seasonal Dublin Farmers' Market will run each Thursday, 4:00 - 8:00 p.m., from April through September 2025, rain or shine, at Emerald Glen Park. Come out to find your farmers' market favorites, such as locally grown fresh produce, baked goods, honey, nuts, pasta, and more. Pick up some delicious hot foods from vendors for dinner each week. In addition to the market, the City of Dublin is excited to bring back the Summer Concert Series, which will run for eight weeks in June, July, and early August at the Emerald Glen Park Amphitheater.
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Witness a feeding frenzy in real time while our expert educators share information about what it takes to feed the aquarium’s largest animals!
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The Cartoon Art Museum celebrates its 40th anniversary year with Sunday Funnies, a showcase of original artwork from the Cartoon Art Museum's permanent collection. This retrospective features classic comic strips from the dawn of the comics medium to the present day, from comic strip pioneers like San Francisco's Jimmy Swinnerton and Krazy Kat creator George Herriman to legendary cartoonists Walt Kelly (Pogo) and Charles M. Schulz (Peanuts) to contemporary classics like Stephan Pastis's Pearls Before Swine and Dana Simpson's Phoebe and Her Unicorn.
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Bay FC is a San Francisco Bay Area-based professional women’s soccer team competing in the NWSL since 2024, playing home matches at PayPal Park in San Jose.
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U-Picks are held seasonally Please be advised that availability of crops varies from week to week – check the table below for the status of available items. Discounts apply to produce the more you pick! Bring buckets, boxes, or other containers to harvest into, or purchase containers from us for a small fee. Make sure to dress accordingly – layers, hats, sunblock. Load up the kids, pack a picnic lunch and make a day of it! Though we appreciate canine friends, please do not bring your dogs to our farm.
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Drop by the Randall Museum’s Art Room and get creative with your kids. Art instructors guide a different hands-on art activity each week. All ages are welcome to participate. Afternoon Art is a great way to get a taste of the Randall Museum’s arts and crafts programs. All children under 8 must be with a paying participating adult.
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Get ready - Boogie Music Fest- the South Bay's premier street party - is coming to Downtown Campbell May 16th & 17th. This two-day celebration brings together everything that makes a great festival unforgettable; no wonder Metro readers voted it one of the Best Local Music Festivals.
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Saturday 9am-1pm. Open weekly, Year' Round, Rain or Shine. See Market Schedule for All Closure Dates
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In celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, pick up your Passport to the Islands, visit each week, and collect your stamps as you journey through Polynesia—where vibrant stories, traditions, and island flavors come to life at Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park. Each weekend brings educational storytelling, live performances, and specialty food offerings inspired by the islands.
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The KidsOutAndAbout annual guide to summer camps in the San Jose area is back! You can search by date, age, or categories like day/overnight, sports, drama, music, theatre, arts & crafts, technology, robotics, horseback riding, preschool, & more.
Our guide puts summer fun right at your fingertips!
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Parents have an abundance of choices when it comes to PreK and day care options in the San Jose area! Use our Big List to help find the best one for your kiddos and check our events calendar to find Open Houses where you can meet teachers and tour the
schools.
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Looking for a thrilling family-friendly adventure in the San Jose area? Escape rooms are interactive, puzzle-packed experiences where you and your team work together to solve clues, unlock secrets,
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Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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