Are you trying to plan an incredible corporate Team Building Activity in the greater Bay Area, or just looking for a location to have an event? Maybe you are just seeking inspiration for a fun and unique experience for your group. In any scenario, you are in the right place!
We have compiled a diversified array of incredible Team Building and Team Bonding events and locations all around the Bay Area guaranteed to help your team bond, communicate, and most of all - have fun! From Scavenger Hunts to Speakeasies, from Axe Throwing to Island Cruises, we have created a list of the Bay Area’s 35 Best Team Building Activities and Locations to plan the perfect retreat/event/getaway.
If you don’t have time to read the entire blog and you need to plan an event, or you would really just like a human being to bounce some corporate retreat ideas off of, feel free to reach out to us at info@feetfirstevents.com, or call (800)393-3338. We can’t wait to help plan your next team event!
A little bit of advice before you start scrolling…
Whether you end up hiring a professional company to create a city-wide scavenger hunt - or you opt for a “do it yourself” activity and simply take your team on a hike on Angel Island - just make sure that you pick an activity that breaks you out of your typical silos and allows everyone in your group to get to know each other.
For instance, if you go on a hike, MIX IT UP. Put everyone into smaller groups that don’t typically spend time together. Get Jill from Accounting to have an actual conversation with Pete from Product Development. Otherwise, you’ll just have the same people having the same conversations – in a different setting. Don’t get us wrong, it’s nice to have a different setting – but it’s even nicer when everyone gets to know each other a bit better. Trust us - it’ll be great for your team’s spirit and camaraderie!
We hope you get inspired by reading through our 35 Best Bay Area Team Building Activities.
- Experience your own Amazing Race in a local neighborhood (Fisherman’s Wharf, Angel Island, Berkeley, Oakland, Sausalito, Walnut Creek, San Jose, Mountain View, and a bunch of other options…!)
Don’t worry, it isn’t a foot race – and the fastest team isn’t always the winning team. Instead, your teams will strategize how to achieve the most points as you explore a neighborhood.
Teams solve puzzles, crack codes, and film each other doing a range of hilarious activities including dance moves, reenacting scenes from movies, even staging an epic ninja battle!
Beat the other teams while discovering the city in a creative and very memorable way…!
For more information…
https://feetfirstevents.com/collections/in-person/products/amazing-race
- Experience the Game Show Extravaganza!
Let’s face it, there are a lot of pub trivia nights or trivia gameshows, and we have tried many of them. This one stands out-- as it is hosted by some highly energetic, hilarious hosts - and the experience is extremely interactive!
Rather than having individual contestants, the Game Show Extravaganza has everyone competing in Teams – which makes it a lot more interactive and FUN! The show includes several games including Jeopardy, Trivia, Family Feud and Minute to Win It!
You can also include customized content with questions about your company, products, even the participants themselves! By adding inside jokes about your group, everyone feels like they are a part of the show. You will have a blast as you compete to be the Game Show Champions!
https://feetfirstevents.com/collections/in-person/products/game-show-extravaganza
- Take your group to a park and participate in Survivor Games!
Before you get too concerned, in our version of Survivor Games, no one gets voted off the island – and we promise you don’t have to be athletic to be successful in this event. Instead, we have taken our experience as consultants for the Survivor TV show, and we have designed a series of challenges that will give each team an opportunity to test the mental and physical strengths of its members in a highly amusing fashion!
You might be launching Rubber Chicken over 100 feet using three-person slingshots; or using Pedometers to count your steps as you form Human Bobsleds. You might compete in a “Muscle Build” Dance-Off wearing a giant onesie filled with balloons. Or you can test your vocabularies with Giant Words with Friends!
We can also include Company Trivia Bonus Points and Spirit Points – to keep the competition lively at all times! This program usually lasts about two hours, with a super-fun awards ceremony at the end of the challenges.
For more information…
https://feetfirstevents.com/collections/in-person/products/survivor-games
This an amazing opportunity to bond with your coworkers while giving back to a local charity. The event itself is extremely high-energy and interactive, with teams competing in short, fast-paced - and hilarious challenges!
In addition to winning points for each challenge, the teams also win items to create Care Packages or parts to build a variety of items that will ultimately be donated to a local charity.
You can choose from a variety of items for many different charities, including Household Items, Personal Hygiene Items and Non-Perishable Foods for Local Homeless Shelters or Military Families, Wheelchairs for Senior Centers, Bicycles or Backpacks with School Supplies for Boys & Girls Clubs.
Your group will have a great time playing the games during the event – but it will also prove to be a very moving experience for everyone involved when the items are donated to a representative from the charity at the conclusion of the program.
For more information…
- Experience Angel Island
Escape the city to experience one of its most hidden and beautiful secrets - Angel Island!
Ride the ferry from San Francisco or Tiburon to experience one of the most stunning and historically rich islands in the San Francisco Bay—Angel Island State Park. Experience expansive breathtaking 360 degree views of the bay area, learn about the “Ellis Island of the west”, hike, bike ride, take a tram tour, explore and compete in a scavenger hunt, or participate in competitive island games! Full catering services are available.
For more information…
- Take a City Cruise
Take a tour of the unique SF Bay from it/s best vantage point- on the water! Whether you’re looking to host an employee outing, entertain clients, hold your next meeting or special event, book a holiday party, or more, you will love the experience!
Host your next event on the beautiful water of the bay area aboard a unique floating venue with exceptional views! City Cruises offers chef-prepared menu options, full bar service, and all-inclusive packages that can be customized to fit your budget and party size. Enjoy just seeing the city from the actual bay, or try an on boat Game show, Pub trivia, or a Salsa build competition.
For more information…
https://www.cityexperiences.com/group-events/corporate-events/
- Spend Time at Spark Social & Parklab Gardens
SPARK Social SF is a food truck park, beer and sangria garden, and event space located in the heart of San Francisco’s Mission Bay neighborhood. They collaborate with 150+ unique street food vendors to create a unique and amazing experience.
Right across the street from SPARK is Parklab Gardens, where you can play an action-packed round of 18-holes at the city's first and only outdoor mini-golf course! Stagecoach Greens celebrates the San Francisco experience and the story of Boom and Bust in the West. Trek the Emigrant Trail, mine the Gold Rush, ride the 1906 quake, blast through the infamous Sutro fog, and test your luck at the Dragon's Gate!
It’s a fun opportunity for everyone to grub and gather, igniting a spirit of community and celebrating cultural exploration through food, fresh air, and fun!
For more information…
- Plank Brewery and Bowling Alley Oakland
Combining a state-of-the-art 12 lane bowling alley, outdoor bocce courts, a full arcade, patio games, and fully stocked bars, Plank in Oakland creates a full interactive entertainment experience in the heart of Oakland’s historic Jack London Square. With private rooms and reservable areas available both indoors and out, this iconic venue is the perfect place for all weather conditions.
For more information…
- Palace Games
Located at the historic Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco, Palace Games provides some of the best original escape rooms in the country. Full of intuitive puzzles and technological advances that will boggle the mind, each of their four innovative rooms can support four to eight players. Party rooms are also available.
For more information…
- Speakeasy SF
An immersive and theatrical experience like no other! Enjoy a show that involves wandering through different prohibition themed spaces, as you interact with characters, following different storylines, while enjoying casino games, tarot readers, and cocktails. With secret passages and various characters, you will never repeat the same show twice!
For more information…
https://www.thespeakeasysf.com/the-speakeasy-show/
- Dear San Francisco @ Club Fugazi
Powered by mind-blowing circus acts and live original music, the historic Club Fugazi — former home of Beach Blanket Babylon — is delighting audiences of all ages. Dear San Francisco will leave you awestruck and amazed. Take a 90-minute joy ride through the City by the Bay’s busts and booms in a breathtaking aerial extravaganza perfect for your next great night out.
For more information…
https://www.clubfugazisf.com/dear-san-francisco
- Trivium Games
Trivium Games create amazing immersive escape rooms — real-life adventures where players are tasked with solving a series of puzzles and challenges before time runs out. Are you ready to become a paranormal investigator? Check out Ghost Patrol for a spooky good time!
For more information…
Website: https://www.triviumgames.com/
- Bad Axe Throwing San Francisco
Taking the country by storm and allowing you to embrace your inner Viking, axe-throwing is essentially bowling for the 21st century, trading strikes for bulls-eyes ! Featuring four lanes (eight targets) and a variety of different axes for all your throwing needs, Bad Axe Throwing has a knowledgeable staff ready to train your group and have you competing in target practice in no time!
For more information…
https://badaxethrowing.com/locations/axe-throwing-san-francisco/
- Top Golf
If you are looking to entertain corporate clients and colleagues in a very non-corporate setting, San Jose Top Golf is it! It’s a sports entertainment complex that features an inclusive, high-tech golf game that everyone can enjoy, paired with a great food and beverage menu, climate-controlled hitting bays and music. Top Golf has all-inclusive packages which include game play, food, drinks and a dedicated staff to make sure everything runs smoothly.
For more information…
https://topgolf.com/us/san-jose
- Cal Academy of Sciences & Exploratorium
Check out an incredibly unique and mind-blowing museum! It’s an aquarium, planetarium, rainforest, and natural history museum in the heart of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park! Cal Academy is also a powerful voice for biodiversity research and exploration, environmental education, and sustainability across the globe. You can also come on Thursday nights for their afterhours nightlife events to enjoy the museum with drinks and a live DJ!
For more information…
https://www.calacademy.org/about-us
- Get Cooking with Sidewalk Food Tours of San Francisco!
Your group will have a great time with their creative culinary classes! Each class is led by a professional chef and designed for guests looking to expand their culinary knowledge. In these fun 2.5-hour classes, Chef Eliza will guide students to completion of a delicious new dish, provide knife skills and technical know-how, and recipes to take home. Crudité and homemade dips are also provided as a welcome snack!
For more information…
https://sidewalkfoodtours.com/san-francisco/
- The New Parkway Theater
A community staple in Oakland since 2012, the Parkway Theater offers the full movie going experience in two theaters full of quirky seating that includes couches, restaurant booths, and other vintage seating. Featuring a full kitchen, an entire selection of local beers & wines from a 200 miles radius, and a unique “popcorn seasoning bar,” the theater also takes pride in being environmentally friendly, using 100% reusable dishes and napkins.
For more information…
https://www.thenewparkway.com/
- The Magic Patio
One of San Francisco’s best kept secrets, the Magic Patio is a speakeasy, right in the heart of San Francisco’s hip mission neighborhood. Andrew Evans was the Magic & Illusions Lead for the San Francisco production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, and now has created his own incredible environment. Check out an intimate show, or a creative and interactive corporate workshop!
For more information…
https://www.themagicpatio.com/
- House of Air Trampoline House
Looking for a high-flying place to host your next team building event or group get-together? Look no further than House of Air Trampoline Park in San Francisco, California. Their athletic and recreational facilities host open trampoline jump times, aerial training on trampolines, trampoline dodgeball, rock climbing, slacklining, fitness classes and other air-based activities. They offer hassle free, all-inclusive packages that will allow you to enjoy the party and facility rather than worry about the details. Want a group dodgeball event for your team building event? They have you covered.
For more information…
Website: https://houseofair.com/san-francisco/
- City Kayak
For a unique experience, rent kayaks in the south beach area of San Francisco. A great way to explore urban nature while kayaking past McCovey Cove and Oracle Park, and San Francisco’s Embarcadero area. They offer tours, classes, or private rentals. See the beautiful bay from the water!
For more information…
- Sandbox
Sandbox is a futuristic VR experience for groups of up to six people, where you can see and physically interact with everyone inside - just like the real world. Inspired by Star Trek's Holodeck, their exclusive worlds let you feel like you're living inside a game or movie. With several different themed experiences, and locations in Emeryville, San Francisco, San Mateo, & San Ramon.
For more information…
https://sandboxvr.com/sanfrancisco/
- Lucky Strike Bowling
Lucky Strike’s team of seasoned party experts knock all the pins down by specializing in crafting memorable corporate outings, delightful social gatherings, festive holiday parties, and milestone celebrations that leave lasting impressions. Bowling, billiards, and massive screens to catch all the games, delicious cocktails, and tasty bites will keep you and your crew entertained for hours.
For more information…
https://luckystrikeent.com/location/lucky-strike-san-francisco/parties
- Victory Point Café
With the increasing popularity of board games like Catan, Ticket to Ride, and yes, that age old classic, Monopoly, the Victory Point Cafe in Berkeley offers an entire library of over 800 titles for open play, with a knowledgeable staff to point your group in the right direction. Build cities/civilizations, race camels through the desert, or even competitively grow crops at one of the Bay Area’s very first board game cafes. Group reservations are available.
For more information…
https://www.victorypointcafe.com/
- Wine Tasting Treasure Island
With a beautiful outdoor setting just a stone’s throw from San Francisco or Oakland, Treasure Island offers a unique opportunity to taste wines at one of several wineries on the Island. VieWinery, Sol Rouge, Sottomarino, and Treasure Island Wines make up a small handful of small boutique wineries all in the same space.
For more information…
- Mountain Terrace
The Mountain Terrace offers a large outdoor meadow for meetings, team building, movie nights and dinner parties. Located at the top of Woodside, close to Silicon Valley and San Francisco, the Mountain Terrace is a great place for holiday parties, birthday celebrations, bar/bat mitzvahs, fundraisers and cocktail parties. Ask about their local and seasonal culinary creations and award-winning wines.
For more information…
https://www.themountainterrace.com/
- Monterey Bay Aquarium
Don’t miss one of the world’s most renowned and innovative Aquariums. You’ll see it all - rollicking sea otters, fast-swimming sharks, pulsating jellies and waddling penguins! You’ll enjoy their world-class exhibits and breathtaking scenery. With over 200 exhibits and 80,000 plants and animals, the Aquarium is a window to the wonders of the ocean.
For more information…
https://www.montereybayaquarium.org
- Mountain Winery
An incredible fusion of winery and concert venue, the Mountain Winery is a beautiful and incredible experience highlighting the scenic nature of Saratoga! Host an event, see one of their concerts, or drink a little wine at this historical and amazing venue.
For more information…
https://www.mountainwinery.com/
- The Meritage Resort & Spa
If you are looking for a place to have your meeting or event, taste delicious wine, eat wonderful local food or enjoy a day at the spa, the Meritage is your place. Small or large groups will find what they are looking for here in the heart of historic Napa.
For more information…
https://www.meritageresort.com/
- Oakland Zoo
Established in 1922, the Oakland Zoo is one of the city’s most long-standing institutions. They are nationally recognized as a leader in animal welfare, rescue, and conservation, and have served as a place of wonder and discovery for millions of people over the years. It’s a home to more than 850 native and exotic animals, including gibbons, elephants, lions, and more. They can also provide private spaces for meeting - or you can add a competitive touch by incorporating a scavenger hunt!
For more information…
- Levi’s Stadium Special Events
Looking to host your next corporate outing? Look no further than the state-of-the-art Levi’s® Stadium. With over 400,000 square feet of unparalleled event space, featuring premium amenities and fully customizable experiences, Levi’s® Stadium provides the perfect backdrop for your next event. You can host groups from 20 to 25,000. You could even host a dinner on the field!!
For more information…
https://www.levisstadium.com/about/
- Oracle Park
Are you all-in for a one-of-a-kind event? You can’t beat the venues, views and vintage charm of “baseball’s perfect address.” Oracle Park, home of the San Francisco Giants, offers a diverse array of event spaces, sweeping views of the Bay and exclusive insider access to this iconic San Francisco landmark. Make memories with a VIP ticket inside the home of World Series champions. Go Giants!
For more information…
https://giantsenterprises.com/inside-oracle-park/
- Chase Center
Want to get close to the NBA Champs? Then the Chase Center is the right place for you. Chase Center has versatile event spaces with unique club levels, meeting rooms and the arena bowl. Their top floor private event space – Above the Rim – has an outdoor terrace with views of the San Francisco skyline and waterfront park. The combinations are endless at Chase Center to provide your guests a unique meeting and event experience.
For more information…
https://www.chasecenter.com/privateevents
- Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
The Santa Cruz Boardwalk opened in 1907 and is one of the last remaining seaside amusement parks in the world, and home to two rides that are registered National Historic Landmarks. Enjoy amazing rides, games and arcades on a beautiful beach setting. They also have private rentable meeting spaces. Spice up your event with a scavenger hunt or beach games!
For more information…
- Visit Paypal Park - SJ Earthquakes Soccer Stadium
Looking for something different than your standard ballroom at a hotel? PayPal Park's Epicenter and Scoreboard Bar is the perfect solution on a beautiful California day. This transformable space can be used for multiple sets with beautiful views of the stadium pitch and Mt. Hamilton landscape.
For more information…
https://www.sjearthquakes.com/paypalpark/epicenter
- Ranch at Little Hills
The Ranch at Little Hills is an incredible getaway deep in the beautiful woods of Las Trampas Hills with vast lawn space for games and team building activities. Utilize a space large enough for 1200 guests with picnic sights, volleyball, basketball, a dunk tank, softball, tetherball, ping pong, lawn games and more!
For more information…
