kristined's Lists

Kid-Friendly U-Pick Experiences in Northern California

An awesome Spring/Summer guide to places for picking cherries, strawberries, peaches, and an assortment of berries with your kids

1. Webb Ranch Farm
U-Pick opens in June -- other items of note: U-Pick...
2. Buckley Farms
Knock out cherry picking and outlet shopping in one...
3. Phipps Country Store and Farm
Strawberriesare available from April through late...

Mother's Day Fun Around San Francisco (2012)

Fun ways to make mom feel special on her day

1. Courthouse Square
Sat., May 12, 11AM-1PM: Bay Area favorite Andy Z and...
2. Crown & Crumpet Tea Salon
Sun., May 13, 11AM: Treat mom to an Afternoon Tea...
3. San Francisco Zoo
Mother's Day Breakfast at the Zoo, Sun, May 13 - 9AM-...

Museum Exhibits Around San Francisco Kids Will Love (2012)

Kid-friendly museum exhibits and activities in the San Francisco Bay Area

1. Asian Art Museum
From lively storytelling to creating a piece of...
2. MOMA, The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
Kids get in free every Sunday, the museum offers...
3. Legion of Honor
Doing and Viewing Art - every Saturday, 2PM. Family...

Fun with Science and Tech in SF Bay Area

Kid-friendly spots for budding scientists and young innovators in the San Francisco Bay Area

1. The Tech Museum of Innovation
A hands-on technology and science museum for people...
2. Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose
Now open: Mammoth Discovery!, a 2,200 square foot...
3. Lawrence Hall of Science- UC Berkeley
The Lawrence Hall of Science offers hands-on science...

Earth Day: SF Bay Area Community Farms

Community Farms are great places to expose kids to sustainability.

1. Hayes Valley Farm
Sunday, April 22, Earth Day Festival Schedule:...
2. Alemany Farm
Sunday, April 22, 10:30AM: Celebrate Earth Day at...
3. Hidden Villa Ranch
Hidden Villa is a nonprofit educational organization...

Kid-Friendly Earth Day Events in SF Bay Area

Events for celebrating mother Earth with your youngsters

1. JAMaROO Kids Studio
April 20, 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm: Earth Day Celebration...
2. The Presidio of San Francisco
April 21, 10AM-2PM: Earth Stroll at Crissy Field...
3. Frog Park
April 21, 9AM-2PM: Earth Day Party - Honor FROG...

Family Get Away to Santa Cruz

Family-friendly places to stay and things to do for a fun weekend at the beach in Santa Cruz and nearby Capitola

1. Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
Sand, surf, and amusement park rides, does it get any...
2. Natural Bridges State Beach
Famous for its natural bridge, this beach is an...
3. Cowell Beach
Cowells is reputed to be one of the best places to...

Family-Friendly Passover Events in SF Bay Area

Passover Dinners for families in the San Francisco Bay Area

1. Oshman Family Jewish Community Center
April 1, 11:00 AM: Exodus from Egypt & Freedom...
2. Addison Penzak Jewish Community Center
April 1, 3:00pm-5:00pm: Chocolate Seder During this...
3. Jewish Community Center (JCC)
April 6, 5:00p Passover Seder for Families-...

Easter Egg Hunts in the SF Bay Area

Decorate and hunt eggs when the Easter Bunny hits the San Francisco Bay Area

1. JAMaROO Kids Studio
March 30, 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm: Bring the whole family...
2. Mill Valley Community Center
March 31, 8:30 am – 12:00 pm: SPRING...
3. San Bruno City Park
Mar 31, 9:00 am – 12:00 pm: Start off Easter...

Celebrate St. Patrick's Day!

Where you and your kids can get your Irish on in the San Francisco Bay Area

1. Go Green St. Patrick's Day Run
March 17, 8AM: Whether you run 5k, 10K and Half...
2. St. Patricks Day Parade
March 17, 11:30AM: More than 5,000 participants march...
3. Annual St. Patrick’s Day Festival
March 17, 10AM- 5PM: San Francisco has been doing...

Great Indoor Pools for Kids in the SF Bay Area

It may be cold outside but that's no reason to stop swimming!

1. Oshman Family Jewish Community Center
You can hold your child’s next birthday party in...
2. Hamilton Swimming Pool
A new swirly slde and a recently renovated recreation...
3. Giammona Pool
Reopened in 2010, this beautiful pool has a water...

Fortune Cookie Factory Tours

Your kids love them, your family enjoys reading the bits of wisdom and glimpses into the future contained inside them, now the whole family can see how fortune cookies are made!

1. Fornia Fortune Cookies
This factory offers free tours and promises to not...
2. Fortune Cookie Factory
Visitors get to see how the batter mixture is...
3. Mee Mee Bakery
Mee Mee Bakery has been making fresh fortune cookies...

Kid-friendly Chinese New Year Celebrations in SF Bay Area

Enjoy Chinese New Year through the eyes of your children at these fun-filled and family friendly events!

1. Children's Library
Lunar New Year Spectacular Jan 14, 10AM– 3PM This...
2. San Francisco Chinatown
Chinese New Year Mini-Parade Preview and Ribbon...
3. Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose
Lunar New Year Celebration: Year of the Dragon...

Kid-Friendly Holiday Fun in the Napa Valley

Headed to the Napa Valley this holiday season?  The kids may not be able to go wine tasting but you can still take them with you.

1. Festival of Lights
November 25: Forget Black Friday, head to Yountville...
2. Napa Valley Christmas Parade
November 26, 5PM: Join your family, friends and...
3. Calistoga Lighted Tractor Parade
December 3, 7PM: Calistoga pays homage to its...

The Best Places to See Christmas Lights in the South Bay

My family loves a festive light display or an action packed show during the holiday season.   Here’s where you too can take in the holiday lights we’ve enjoyed year after year:

1. Gilroy Gardens (Bonfante Gardens)
Gilroy Gardens Holiday Lights: For two weeks in...
2. Vasona Lake County Park
Fantasy of Lights: Vasona Park is transformed into...
3. Estate Drive Lights
For nearly 20 years the residents of this quiet...

Union Square: San Francisco's Classic Holiday Scene

From the towering Christmas tree to the ice rink, Union Square is San Francisco’s classic Christmas scene.  Here is a preview of what’s you’ll find:

1. Macy's
Doggies in the window: Macy’s has featured...
2. Union Square
Arts, Crafts and Menorah Lighting: Celebrate the...
3. Westin St. Francis
Sugar Castle: Check out the Sugar Castle in the...

Spooky Halloween Happenings in the Bay Area

Kid-friendly Halloween Fun in the San Francisco Bay Area.

1. Gilroy Gardens (Bonfante Gardens)
Halloween Scary Boo! "Boo Zones", created with...
2. Lemos Farm
Halloween on the Farm: Pumpkin patches, ghost train...
3. Fire Engine Tours
October 7-31; Halloween Fire Engine Tours: Sneak...

El Dia de Los Muertos Events for Kids in the SF Bay Area

There are quite a few opportunities in the SF Bay Area to take in a El Dia de Los Muertos celebration with the kids. A time honored Mexican tradition, El Dia de Los Muertos or Day of the Dead is a holiday where family and friends come together to pray for and remember dearly departed loved ones.

1. San Jose Museum of Art
Saturday, Oct. 29; 11:00 am – 5:00 pm. El Dia de...
2. Fruitvale Dia de los Muertos
Sunday, Oct. 30; 10:00 am – 5:00pm This street...
3. Day of the Dead Celebration
Sunday, Oct. 30; 1 – 5 p.m. Enjoy hands-on art...

Silicon Valley Parks & Playgrounds

Places to play outside, say hi if you see  us there!

1. Bubb Park
A nice gathering point for members of the Bagels and...
2. Cuesta Park
Cuesta Park was one of the many things that attracted...
3. Cornelis Bol Park
This park was a happy accidental discovery. I found...