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Things to Do With Kids Around Chico

These are public museums, parks and refuges, with hours and prices exactly as each operator prints them. Where an operator prints no price or no hours, we say so.

Checked October 29, 2026

  • $5Gateway Science Museum, ages 3-17
  • FreeChico History Museum, under 5
  • FreeGray Lodge, under 16 (Lands Pass is for 16 and up)
  • Under 6ride the B-Line free with a paying adult

Museums in Chico

  • Gateway Science Museum

    Thursday to Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

    Chico State’s science museum, 625 Esplanade, with changing exhibits and the Gateway Gardens. Youth (ages 3-17) $5, adults $10, groups $5 per person. Museums for All is $3. Not confirmed Admission for children under 3. Gateway page.

    Source: Chico State, Gateway Science Museum (opens in a new tab)

  • Gold Nugget Museum, Depot Museum

    Thursday to Monday, 12 to 4 p.m.

    The Paradise museum’s Pearson Road building was destroyed in the 2018 Camp Fire and is being rebuilt; the Depot Museum is open meanwhile. Not confirmed Admission fee. Gold Nugget page.

    Source: Gold Nugget Museum (opens in a new tab)

Parks and Playgrounds

  • Bidwell Park and Caper Acres

    Lower Park closed midnight to 5 a.m.; Upper Park 11 p.m. to an hour before sunrise

    The City lists Caper Acres among its reservable areas, with two birthday rings that are free to reserve for up to two hours; call (530) 896-7800, Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sycamore Pool at One-Mile has lifeguards from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Not confirmed Caper Acres location and hours: the City pages do not state them. Bidwell Park page.

    Source: City of Chico (opens in a new tab)

  • Chico Creek Nature Center

    Hours: Not confirmed

    At 1968 E. Eighth Street, next to Cedar Grove in Bidwell Park. The City says it offers environmental education for all ages, exhibits, wildlife walks and activities. The City page points to the center’s own site for hours and prints no admission price.

    Source: City of Chico (opens in a new tab)

Wildlife and Water

Seasonal

Coming Up in Chico

October 2026

November 2026

December 2026

Sources: each card links to the organizer’s own page and shows the date we checked it. This list shows the next 45 days; see every upcoming event.

What We Could Not Verify

  • Caper Acres location, hours and any fee beyond the free birthday rings: not on the City pages we read.
  • Chico Creek Nature Center hours and admission: the City page defers to the center’s site.
  • Public skating prices at the Chico Ice Rink.
  • Parking and accessibility at the Gold Nugget Depot Museum.
  • Visitor center hours at the Oroville Dam overlooks.

More to Plan With

Sources

  1. Chico State, Gateway Science Museum visit page: https://www.csuchico.edu/gateway/visit/index.shtml (checked October 29, 2026)
  2. Chico History Museum: https://chicohistorymuseum.org/ (checked October 29, 2026)
  3. Gold Nugget Museum: https://goldnuggetmuseum.com/page/about (checked October 29, 2026)
  4. City of Chico, Park Reservation and Donation: https://chicoca.gov/Our-Community/Parks-Recreation-and-Experience-the-Outdoors/Park-Reservation–Donation/ (checked October 29, 2026)
  5. City of Chico, Education and Information Center: https://chicoca.gov/Our-Community/Parks-Recreation-and-Experience-the-Outdoors/Bidwell-Park/Education-and-Information-Center/ (checked October 29, 2026)
  6. City of Chico, Bidwell Park swimming: https://chicoca.gov/Our-Community/Parks-Recreation-and-Experience-the-Outdoors/Bidwell-Park/Swimming/ (checked October 29, 2026)
  7. CDFW, Feather River Fish Hatchery: https://wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing/Hatcheries/Feather-River (checked October 29, 2026)
  8. California State Parks, Lake Oroville SRA: https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=462 (checked October 29, 2026)
  9. CDFW, Gray Lodge Wildlife Area: https://wildlife.ca.gov/Lands/Places-to-Visit/Gray-Lodge-WA (checked October 29, 2026)
  10. USFWS, Sacramento NWR auto tours and trails: https://www.fws.gov/locations/sacramento-national-wildlife-refuge/sacramento-nwr-complex-auto-tours-and-trails (checked October 29, 2026)
  11. City of Chico Recreation, Chico Ice Rink: https://www.chicorec.gov/chico-ice-rink (checked October 29, 2026)
  12. Snow Goose Festival of the Pacific Flyway: https://www.snowgoosefestival.org/ (checked October 29, 2026)
  13. B-Line fares: https://www.blinetransit.com/fares-purchasing-locations (checked October 29, 2026)

On The Map

8 places named on this page are pinned. Tap a pin for the page and directions. Dashed pins were placed from the street address and are approximate. © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Cite this page: It's Chico, “Things to Do With Kids Around Chico”, itschico.com/guides/things-to-do-with-kids-around-chico/ (updated ). By the It's Chico editorial team. Free to quote with attribution and a link to this page; data and tables are licensed CC BY 4.0.