Palo Alto: The Stanford Shopping Center and Junior Museum

The Stanford Shopping Center is probably the most upscale mall in Northern California, but even if you are not into conspicuous consumption, you can’t help enjoy a stroll down its open courtyard and taste some of the gourmet offerings like Teuscher chocolates. It’s a mall so you best be here to shop because scarcely does any place in the country house A-list names like Neiman Marcus, Saks, Tiffany & Co., Frette, Kate Spade, Louis Vuitton and Burberry all under one (open air) roof. And of course, no shortage of options for the kids. Shop for basics at Gap Kids (or Baby Gap) and Gymboree, or take it up a notch at Burberry Children and Janie and Jack. For kids’ decor and accessories, step into Pottery Barn Kids, which we love online, but seeing the goodies for real is much more fun. It’s also a great place to give the kids a stretch and a play on the many tables and puzzles they have around.

When it’s time for lunch, head to Max’s Opera Cafe, the most popular spot at the mall. It can be a wait but the menu is extensive and it is packed with women and kids on weekdays and families on weekends. The children’s meal includes a pasta or a grilled cheese and they give you coloring as well (score!).

Do your rounds at the mall while the baby takes a nap and then reward his/her good behavior with a trip to the Palo Alto Junior Museum and Zoo. This cute museum is a seven minute drive from the mall and in my opinion, the perfect place for toddlers and preschoolers. The Museum offers a bunch of interactive exhibits all focused around demonstrating scientific principles like gravity, as well as a small zoo, which is pretty impressive considering it’s in the middle of Palo Alto. Reptiles, bats, peacocks and bobcats keep the kids entertained without scaring them off like the bigger animals would. Most parents say that you can do the whole thing in 2 hours, which is the perfect time to engage a preschooler without wearing them out. The icing on the cake? It’s free, with a suggested donation of $3 (go on, do $5).