When looking for things to do on the San Francisco Peninsula, make sure you carve out time to spend a day in the central tech hub of San Mateo County, the City of San Mateo. San Mateo is a thriving community with a charming downtown area and an upscale, state-of-the-art shopping center, Hillsdale Shopping Center. The city is home to museums, parks & gardens, restaurants, hotels, and major attractions such as the San Mateo County Event Center.
San Mateo Attractions
The Japanese Tea Garden is located inside Central Park in downtown San Mateo. Here you can see Koi feedings during the spring and summer months. Another fun thing for kids to experience in San Mateo is CuriOdyssey, located in the beautiful Coyote Point Recreation Area. This incredible museum and zoo offer interactive exhibits, hands-on science and art programs, and outdoor wildlife habitats with live, non-releasable animals native to California.
San Mateo Parks & Trails
Seal Point Park is a great waterfront area featuring windsurfing, a multitude of pathways for biking and walking, a 3-acre dog park, bird watching areas, and a children’s playground. There are spectacular metal sculptures that twirl in the wind, and a picture-worthy bridge connecting the trails over the Bay. You can walk the boardwalk along the bay marshes and observe wildlife, including the endangered California Clapper Rail.
Coyote Point Recreation Area is a 670-acre park offering a wide range of recreational opportunities: picnicking, swimming, windsurfing, bicycling, jogging, fishing, boating, and sailing. Kids will love the giant, castle-and-dragon-themed Magic Mountain Playground.
Shopping
While in San Mateo, visit the Hillsdale Shopping Center. With their recently remodeled “North Block”, you will find so many things to do, see and eat! Hillsdale Shopping Center is also home to Blossoms and Botanicals, a unique flower and plant shop.
Group Activities
Take your friends or family to Red Door Escape Room and try to solve one of their interactive and cryptic puzzle escape rooms. Then head over to Pinstripes for a meal and cocktail followed by a fun game of bocce or bowling.
Golfing
If you are a golfer, try the Poplar Creek Golf Course. Today the course averages over 70,000 rounds a year, making it one of the most popular golf courses in Northern California.
Restaurants In San Mateo
Porterhouse is an elegant steakhouse, featuring in-house, dry-aged steaks, a full bar, and a delicious appetizer menu. This is the perfect place to celebrate a special birthday or anniversary. If you are in the mood for fresh, local seafood, try Joy Sushi or Pacific Catch. Another local favorite is Amici’s East Coast Pizzeria. For a one-of-a-kind experience, dine at Pausa Bar & Cookery, featuring authentic Italian fare made from scratch and inspired by the bounty of Northern California.