In April, a variety of attractions, theme parks and museums are reopening in the San Francisco Bay Area and around the State of California. Below is a rundown of a variety of attractions.
Bay Area Discovery Museum
The Bay Area Discovery Museum (BADM) is a space for imaginations to run wild! Located at the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge on 7.5 acres of National Park land in Sausalito, BADM features exhibition spaces and daily programs for children 6 months of age to 10 years. Capacity is limited and advanced tickets are required. More info
Blackhawk Museum
The Blackhawk Museum is NOW OPEN, including the famous classic car gallery! They are open to the public on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 am to 5 pm. Per Contra Costa County guidelines, the Museum will be operating at 25% capacity, we ask that everyone reserve online tickets prior to their visit. Tickets are available to reserve for Saturdays and Sundays, there are no reserved time slots. We may not be able to allow anyone who does not have an online reservation to enter the Museum. For tickets, please visit http://blackhawkmuseum.org/
California Academy of Science
Opened on March 17 and advanced tickets must be purchased. Limited capacity at 20% and masks required for all staff and guests ages 3 and up. Morrison Planetarium will remain closed until further notice. More Info + tickets
California Great America
Opens on May 22. All 2020 Pre-K, Regular, Gold and Platinum Season Passes (as well as purchased 2020 Season Pass Add-On Products) have been extended through the 2021 Season, according to pass type. Unused 2020 park admission tickets are also valid through September 6, 2021. More information: https://www.cagreatamerica.com/park-update
California Railroad Museum
The museum is now open and is operating at 25% capacity (125 visitors at a time). This will increase to 50% capacity when Sacramento County goes into the orange tier. For more information: https://www.californiarailroad.museum/
Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose
The Museum is now open every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 10:00 – 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 – 4:00 p.m., with a one-hour break between sessions for deep cleaning and sanitizing. Reservations are required for everyone. What to expect + tickets.
Crocket Art Museum (Sacramento)
open to the public on April 8. To ensure a safe visit, new protocols have been established following recommendations and guidelines from Sacramento County Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control. The Museum can resume indoor operations at 25% capacity. Hours have been modified: The Museum will be open Thursday – Sunday, 10 AM – 5 PM. To help ensure your health and comfort, entry will be by timed ticket. Tickets are available here.
Disneyland
Will open on April 30. Reservations required ahead of time. Until further notice, only California residents may visit the parks in line with current state guidelines. The Disneyland Hotel and Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel remain closed and will reopen at a later date. The Downtown Disney District is open with select retail and dining locations. A Touch of Disney, the new limited-time ticketed experience at Disney California Adventure Park which has sold out, will go on as planned from March 18 through April 19, 2021. Upon reopening, certain parks, hotels, restaurants, attractions, experiences and other offerings will be modified or unavailable, will have limited capacity and will be subject to limited availability or even closure, and park admission and offerings are not guaranteed. More info + tickets
Gilroy Gardens
Will open on May 22. The full schedule, including any updates to safety protocols or gardens operations, will be available on their website closer to opening. More info
Happy Hollow Park and Zoo
Now open. Due to capacity restrictions, Happy Hollow requires all members and guests to book a reservation in advance. We do not accept same day reservations unless spaces are available online. Parking fees will resume at many locations, including Happy Hollow, starting on Thursday, April 1. All paid, timed-entry tickets are final, nonrefundable, and will not be exchanged for other dates or times. Click here to make a reservation!
Monterey Bay Aquarium
The aquarium will re-open in May. Member days May 1–14 (Reserve tickets starting April 26, 9 a.m. PT) while they will open to all guests beginning May 15 (Purchase tickets starting May 5, 9 a.m. PT). Tickets & Reopening info
Oakland A’s
The Oakland A’s welcomed fans back on April one. They have limited capacity at 20% when Alameda County is in the red Tier and 33% capacity when in the orange tier and 67% in the yellow. Guests will be seated in physically distance pods. For more information & tickets, click here.
Oakland Zoo
Opened in February, however, they continue to operate in limited capacity. Tickets may not always be available, so be sure to purchase advanced ticket reservations. More info + tickets
Safari West
Opened February 27 for full-time guests. The Safari Tents, the Café and deli opened March 1. More info & tickets
San Francisco Giants
The Giants have been approved to operate the ballpark at up to 22% capacity with testing/vaccination requirements for entry. Information is subject to change. To begin the season, all fans 12 years and older will be required to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test or a full COVID-19 vaccination, in order to gain entry to Oracle Park. If testing, the Giants strongly encourage fans to take a PCR-type test over a rapid antigen test. (Children under 12 are not required to provide negative test results.) More info
San Mateo County Fair
The San Mateo County Event Center announced they will host an in-person county fair this summer after being forced to cancel last year’s event due to the COVID-19 pandemic for just the second time in its 87-year history. The Fair –which will be one of California’s first major public events since early 2020 –will be held from Saturday, June 5thto Sunday, June 13th,and will followall state and county health and safety guidelines. The fair will not operate on Monday, June 7thand Tuesday, June 8th. More Info
San Jose Museum of Art
Opened March 12 with updated hours. Friday–Sunday, 11am–5pm, with the first hour dedicated to our most vulnerable guests—seniors, those who are pregnant, and those with underlying health concerns. More info + tickets
San Francisco Zoo
The SF Zoo is open, however, advanced tickets are required. The zoo will not be accepting any cash. Apple Pay, Google Pay and credit card transactions only. More Info + tickets
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
Rides are now open. A limited selection of rides will open under the state’s reopening health and safety guidelines for California residents. Advance reservations are highly recommended due to reduced capacity, and face masks and physical distancing will be required. Reserve your day to ride today. More Info + reserve rides
Six Flags Discovery Kingdom (Vallejo)
Although open since July for animal displays, nine roller coasters are now open and the park is operating at 15% capacity as of April 1, 2021. Now open to the general public. Visitors will need to reserve tickets in advance. For more information: https://www.sixflags.com/reserve
SkyStar Wheel in Golden Gate Park
Now Open. You must buy tickets in advance. Tickets & Info
Universal Studios Hollywood
Reopens on April 16 following the Taste of Universal, a separately ticketed, limited time event. Tickets will be on sale to CA residents beginning on April 8 and attendance will be limited in accordance with government guidelines. Universal CityWalk and the Universal Cinema are open. Check Reopening Details
Winchester Mystery House
Open Daily as of March 29. The Self-Guided Mansion Tour has been built with social distancing protocols in mind, with one way tour paths and features the larger rooms in the mansion. Advanced tickets are required. Tickets & Info
Updates to the Blueprint include:
- Gatherings beginning April 15: In the Red Tier, outdoor gatherings of up to 25 people are allowed. The gathering size increases to 50 people in the Orange Tier and 100 people in the Yellow Tier. In the Purple Tier, only outdoor gatherings are allowed, and they are limited to three households. Indoor gatherings are strongly discouraged in all tiers but are allowed with modifications and capacity limits in the Red, Orange and Yellow tiers.
- Private events or meetings such as receptions or conferences beginning April 15: In all tiers, modifications are required to reduce risk. This includes pre-purchased tickets or a defined guest list and assigned seating.
- In the Purple Tier, these activities are only allowed outdoors and capacity is limited to 25 people. If all guests are tested or show proof of full vaccination, capacity increases to up to 100 people.
- In the Red Tier, outdoor gatherings are limited to 50 people, and capacity increases to 200 if all guests are tested or show proof of full vaccination. In this tier, indoor activities are allowed if all guests are tested or show proof of full vaccination; capacity is limited to 100 people.
- In the Orange Tier, outdoor gatherings are limited to 100 people, and capacity increases to 300 if all guests are tested or show proof of full vaccination. In this tier, indoor activities are allowed if all guests are tested or show full proof of vaccination; capacity is limited to 150 people.
- In the Yellow Tier, outdoor gatherings are limited to 200 people, and capacity increases to 400 if all guests are tested or show proof of full vaccination. In this tier, indoor activities are allowed if all guests are tested or show full proof of vaccination; capacity is limited to 200 people.
- Indoor live events or performances beginning April 15: In the Purple Tier these activities are not allowed. In the Red, Orange and Yellow tiers these activities are allowed with capacity limits and modifications including physical distancing, advance ticket purchases, designated areas for eating and drinking, and attendance limited to in-state visitors.
- Venues with a capacity of up to 1,500 people: In the Red Tier capacity is limited to 10% or 100 people, and capacity increases to 25% if all guests are tested or show proof of full vaccination. In the Orange Tier, capacity is limited to 15% or 200 people, and capacity increases to 35% if all guests are tested or show proof of full vaccination. In the Yellow Tier capacity in limited to 25% or 300 people, and capacity increases to 50% if all guests are tested or show proof of full vaccination.
- Venues with a capacity of 1,501 and above: In the Red Tier testing or proof of vaccination is required, and capacity is limited to 20%. In the Orange Tier capacity is limited to 10% or 2,000 people, and capacity increases to 35% if all guests are tested or show proof of full vaccination. In the Yellow Tier capacity is limited to 10% or 2,000 people, and capacity increases to 50% if all guests are tested or show proof of full vaccination.
For more information on the state’s response to COVID-19 visit www.covid19.ca.gov.
If you have attractions you think should be added to the list, please email [email protected]
