Redwood City: Island Nature, History and Culture

Redwood City offers a range of ways to explore the area: nature and waterfront access at Bair Island Ecological Reserve and the Port of Redwood City sit alongside a historic museum and the Fox Theatre. This lets you choose different focuses for your stay—from learning about local history to visiting the waterfront or taking the family to a playground.

Island Nature and Waterfront Access

Bair Island consists of Inner Island, Middle Island and Outer Island, covering about 3,000 acres in total. About 2,000 acres of Middle Island and Outer Island are part of Bair Island Ecological Reserve. These figures refer to different areas: the entire island group and the two islands that belong to the reserve. For nature enthusiasts, Bair Island is a destination in its own right in Redwood City.

The Port of Redwood City offers more than a mile of public waterfront access, with trails, viewpoints and waterfront parks. If you would like to include time by the water in your trip, these various public spaces are some of the specific options available locally. The port also has a public boat launch with access to San Francisco Bay. If you are interested in boating, you can consider this access as a separate part of your trip planning.

A Playground for Everyone

Magical Bridge Playground is free and designed as a socially inclusive playground for everyone. This makes it a destination in its own right for families who would like to set aside time to play together during their stay. You can add a visit to your vacation plans as an easy activity alongside cultural and nature-related interests, with no admission fee.

Local History at the Courthouse

The San Mateo County History Museum is located in the 1910 County Courthouse in Redwood City. The courthouse is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and features a stained-glass dome and a mosaic tile floor inside. The building serves as the museum’s home while also showcasing distinctive architectural details. If you are interested in the region’s history, you can consider the museum visit and the building together as a cultural experience.

Courtroom A is also part of this historic setting: the room has been restored to its earlier appearance, including a stained-glass dome and furnishings. A monthly series of talks, presentations and dramatic performances about local history is held there. These formats offer different ways to explore the subject, from talks to performances. If you would like to plan your visit around them, you can keep the series in mind as a recurring part of the local history program.

Fox Theatre: Architecture and Live Entertainment

The Fox Theatre in downtown Redwood City opened to the public for film screenings on January 2, 1929, under the name The New Sequoia Theater; Ellis John Arkursh was associated with the theater. In 1993, the Fox Theatre was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Today it is a live entertainment venue and is available for rental.

Its design makes the theater noteworthy even apart from its program: the interior is Moorish in style, while the exterior is Gothic. The Reid Brothers of San Francisco carried out the design. If you are interested in architecture, you can see two distinct stylistic features in one building. Live entertainment and historic architecture also give the theater different roles in trip planning; be sure to check specific performances to suit your visit.

More Local Pages

If you would like to explore other destinations in this section, you can find Belmont, Atherton, San Carlos, Montara, Burlingame, Pescadero, Woodside and Moss Beach here.

For the broader travel overview: San Mateo.