12 Fun Team Building Ideas in the Bay Area

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 Bay Area’s world-class museums, 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, 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, like catering and A/V equipment. We’ll include real Peerspace venues in San Francisco with the activities below. You know, just so you get a better idea of what’s out there!

1. Rent a retreat venue on Peerspace

Team Building Ideas in the Bay Area
Source: 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
  • This elegant meeting room in the Mission District that is 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 beverages
  • This artist sky loft penthouse in the Mission District with high ceilings, modern artwork, A/V equipment, meeting equipment, a kitchen, and a spacious outdoor deck
  • This premier downtown gallery salon in Lower Nob Hill with tons of books, a bamboo conference table, a lounge, a kitchen, and meeting equipment

As you can see, Peerspace offers you many venue options to fulfill different team building objectives! 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 you like!

2. Take a 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.

The Exploratorium is suitable for all ages, from your youngest team members to the oldest. 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!

3. Play mini-golf at Urban Putt

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 Urban Putt? This indoor 14-hole course is known for its eclectic decor as well as its full bar and food menu.

You can rent out the entire venue for up to 130 guests for a daytime or evening outing that your team is sure to enjoy. Be sure to make reservations in advance to ensure your team has a spot!

Looking for the best meeting rooms in San Francisco? We have them right here!

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. Whether 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!

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.

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 have to head to The Flyer Thrill Zone to learn more!

8. Tackle 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, yet you and your team can sign up on the mailing list for a free run at the course one Saturday of every month!

9. Create something beautiful with Clay By the Bay

Want to plan a team building activity that results in a handmade souvenir of 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 4-6 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.

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 Peerspace San Franciso kitchen space that has both 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

Team Building Ideas in the Bay Area
Source: Peerspace

We’ve come up with this list of the best team building ideas in the Bay Area, but don’t be limited to the options you find here! Browse Peerspace for more venue ideas. 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!

Find unique event venues in the Bay Area on Peerspace

Get together somewhere better

Book thousands of unique spaces directly from local hosts.

Explore Spaces

Share your space and start earning

Join thousands of hosts renting their space for meetings, events, and photo shoots.

List Your Space