12 Fun Team Building Ideas in the Bay Area (2024)
- Date: May 6, 2024
- Topic: Meetings
- Contributors: Written by Peerspace Staff
Source: Peerspace
The Bay Area is full of fun things to do, but finding the right spot for a team building activity can be challenging. The tourist areas are too crowded, and a typical happy-hour activity just won’t do. We’ve come up with 12 of our top team building ideas in the Bay Area to get you out of the office and trying something new. Whether you prefer a day out in nature or a group activity at one of the world-class museums in San Francisco, this list has something for everyone!
And if you prefer more private options in a fresh, unique setting, Peerspace can help you with that, too. As the largest online marketplace for hourly venue rentals, Peerspace has hundreds of San Francisco locations alone. You can book a penthouse, art gallery, restaurant, outdoor venue, rooftop space — or whatever you like — by the hour from a local host.
All spaces are one of a kind in style, pristine, and sure to delight your team. Plus, when you book a Peerspace, you can consult the host to source any extras you want, such as catering and A/V equipment. Check out just a few Peerspace venues in San Francisco with the activities below — just so you get a better idea of what’s out there!
1. Rent a retreat venue in San Francisco on Peerspace
For customizable team building ideas in the Bay Area, rent an event space on Peerspace and design your own activities from the ground up. Not sure where to start?
Here are some of our favorite Bay Area Peerspaces ideal for your team building activities:
- This elegant lounge with an outdoor patio in Mission Bay (pictured above) with indoor and outdoor space for dining, lounging, and collaborating
- This modern conference room that’s one block from Union Square and has a balcony, meeting equipment, and space for 45 people
- This elegant meeting room in the Mission District that’s customizable, includes games, and has all the meeting amenities you can want, for about 30 guests
- This Potrero Hill garden pavilion with indoor and outdoor monitors, a whiteboard, a kitchen, and free coffee and tea
- This artist sky loft penthouse in the Mission District with high ceilings, modern artwork, A/V equipment for meetings, a kitchen, and a spacious outdoor deck
- This premier downtown gallery salon in Lower Nob Hill boasts tons of books, a bamboo conference table, a lounge, a kitchen, and meeting equipment
Peerspace offers many venue options to fulfill different team building goals. You can customize many of these spaces to meet your needs, with A/V equipment and furniture rentals available, as well as professional caterers and event staff for hire. And remember, your chosen venue’s host is always just a quick message away to help arrange any extras.
2. Take an educational trip to the Exploratorium
The Exploratorium is one of San Francisco’s most memorable museums. There are hundreds of hands-on exhibits to keep you busy for hours. Crawl through the pitch-black Tactile Dome or play with light, sound, wind, fog, and other senses and elements.
To get the most out of your trip, visit after dark when all of the field trips are over. That way, you and your team will have the whole museum to yourselves! It’s a playground for the mind that encourages collaboration and discussion.
Each exhibit challenges participants to think outside the box, enhancing problem-solving skills in a fun environment. Ideal for teams looking to blend education with entertainment, the Exploratorium makes for an intellectually stimulating day — or night — out.
3. Play a round of mini-golf at Holey Moley
Looking for a team building outing that doesn’t require a lot of planning, but is still a step up from happy hour? Then why not play a round of mini-golf at Holey Moley? This indoor multi-hole course is known for its eclectic decor as well as its full bar and food menu. Look forward to courses themed like a candy shop, grandma’s house, and even the moon.
Plus, Holey Moley offers the option of hosting a karaoke party. After all, karaoke and mini-golf offer a dynamic duo for team building. These activities blend fun with casual competition. Singing together breaks ice and builds confidence, while mini-golf challenges strategic thinking and precision.
Teams cheer and strategize, forging stronger bonds in laughter and playful rivalry. Perfect for groups that enjoy a mix of physical and expressive activities, this combo keeps energy high and engagement deep.
Whether hitting a hole-in-one or belting out a favorite tune, everyone leaves feeling connected and uplifted. You can rent out the entire venue for a daytime or evening outing. Be sure to make reservations in advance to ensure your team has a spot!
Take your corporate event to the next level by hosting them at the best meeting rooms in San Francisco.
4. Get behind the wheel at Sonoma Raceway
For something a little more thrilling, take your team to Sonoma Raceway, where you can learn precision driving or ride on the state’s longest go-kart track. The on-site business facilities also have everything you need for team building activities or a company retreat.
Go-karting is an adrenaline-pumping team building activity. It’s all about speed, strategy, and sharp turns. Participants race, navigating the track together. This fast-paced environment boosts team spirit and competitive drive. It encourages quick decision-making and teamwork, as racers vie for the lead.
Go-karting is also great for building camaraderie off the track, with teams discussing tactics and sharing laughs over close races. Fantastic for groups seeking thrill and bonding, it’s an unforgettable way to unite and energize any team.
No matter if you race against each other or work together as a team, there’s no better way to get out of the office than to get behind the wheel of a racecar speeding down the track.
5. Go on a scavenger hunt with Handstand
Handstand brings a unique spin to team building ideas in the Bay Area. Unlike most scavenger hunts that just bring you around to the usual tourist spots, Handstand offers fully customizable adventures guided by your mobile device. You’ll solve puzzles, take pictures, and explore new parts of the city.
The games are based in different neighborhoods and take up to two hours to complete. The app can be customized to suit groups as large as 10,000 people! Top Bay Area companies like Uber, Airbnb, FedEx have chosen handstand to design a one-of-a-kind team building activity.
6. Complete a mission at Chabot Space & Science Center
The Chabot Space & Science Center in Oakland offers one of the most elaborate team building experiences in the Bay Area. Check out NASA’s Ames Research Center, where visitors can explore the role of a NASA scientist via hands-on challenges. Also try Astrolight, an immersive exhibition exploring the mysteries of light with beautiful hands-on activities.
This science center sparks wonder with exhibits on the cosmos and beyond. Teams engage with interactive displays, learning about space together. This encourages curiosity and discussion, which are great for team bonding. Experiencing planetarium shows or hands-on science experiments together can inspire and connect colleagues in new ways.
7. Battle Zombies with 7D Experience
Laser tag is always fun, but the 7D ride experience laser tag offered at The Flyer Thrill Zone is unlike any other. It combines an amusement park-like ride, laser tag, and a zombie apocalypse arcade game in one 10-minute experience.
Special effects and a motion seat simulate a ride, while special glasses and a laser blaster take you into an immersive themed world. While the zombie blaster is one of its most popular offerings, it’s far from the only one, but you’ll have to head to The Flyer Thrill Zone to learn more.
8. Overcome challenges at the John McLaren Park Ropes Course
For outdoor fun without leaving the city, plan an all-day team building adventure by taking on the ropes challenge course at John McLaren Park. Offered by Outward Bound California, this is a great way to build trust. The course is open regularly for students and non-profit group members. However, you and your team can join the mailing list for a free run at the course one Saturday a month from February to October.
9. Create something beautiful with Clay By the Bay
Want to plan a team building activity that results in a handmade keepsake to commemorate the event? Then head on over to Clay By the Bay and learn the ceramic arts from pottery pros during a two-hour class. Your pottery is fired and glazed on-site before you receive your completed ceramic creation four to six weeks later. It’s a wonderful way to bond with your team as you try something new and get your hands dirty.
Our creative corporate event ideas in San Francisco will invigorate you and your crew, so check them out!
10. Enjoy games and bites at The Detour
The concept behind The Detour is one that’s growing in popularity in cities across the country. It’s a grown-up arcade with food, drinks, and games galore. Take your team here to challenge them to some classic board games. You can also hit up the arcade and see who’s the pinball wizard of your office.
With so much to do and try, it’s a great place for teams to discover their coworkers’ strengths and weaknesses, on and off the clock.
11. Learn aerial arts at Bandaloop Studio
Bandaloop Studio in West Oakland makes acrobatics easy — even for those with a fear of heights! This half-day workshop uses harnesses to help your team learn to “dance” on the walls. Unlike rock climbing or parkour, you don’t need any special skills to learn new moves and gain a new perspective.
Your team will take part in exercises to get comfortable with vertical dancing. Aerial arts elevate trust as teammates support each other while learning to fly. This unique art form combines strength, grace, and coordination, pushing everyone out of their comfort zones.
12. Enjoy the outdoors at Long Branch Farms
Finally, take the opportunity to get out of the city with a team retreat at Long Branch Farms. Drive along the coast towards Half Moon Bay and stumble across this old Western town with several event spaces, including a church and a saloon.
Your team can take part in a variety of activities, such as a chili cook-off, casino games, dodgeball, beer yoga, and more. With so many options to choose from, this is a great venue to provide large teams with a full day of exciting activities.
Bonus: Cook your hearts out with Hands On Gourmet
We couldn’t leave this charming (and no doubt, delicious!) option off our list of team building ideas in the Bay Area. Hands On Gourmet offers you culinary team building events that foster teamwork. Your team will meet at Hands On Gourmet’s Dogpatch kitchen and mingle and snack until it’s time to cook.
At that time, you will divide into small teams, each team tasked with crafting a meal course along with the help of a professional chef. After cooking comes the best part — eating each course you made, together! Voting on which team’s dish is the best is totally optional.
Best of all, Hands On Gourmet can come to you with its mobile services. This means you can book a stunning San Franciso kitchen space on Peerspace with a fully equipped kitchen and any extras you want, like a lounge, a terrace, a pool — you name it!
Also check out our 9 cool retreat activities in San Francisco to bond your team!
Team building ideas in the Bay Area are better with Peerspace
We’ve come up with this list of the best team building ideas in the Bay Area, but don’t feel limited to the options you find here. Browse Peerspace for exceptional venue ideas in the Bay Area and beyond. Then, if you have any questions or requests, reach out to the venue’s helpful local host.
Peerspace venues help you keep your team building event as personalized as you like. You can also customize your ideas so they’re tailored to your group and your company’s values. For the perfect mix of food and fun, hire a caterer and a group facilitator, and let the good times roll!
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