The holiday season is upon us and Northern California is filled with a plethora of family-friendly activities. Winter offers great opportunities for picture perfect moments and time together as a family. We could keep all these great ideas to ourselves, but in the spirit of holiday sharing here are Trekaroo’s top picks for holiday activities in Northern California that are perfect for creating special days that make for wonderful memories.
Catch a Ride on The Polar Express Ride in Sacramento:
photo by flickr user latca
Everyone is encouraged to wear their pajamas on board this one hour train ride. Passengers will travel to the “North Pole” while being read the story of The Polar Express. Dancing waiters fly through the cars as ticketed passengers are served hot chocolate and a cookie. As you head back to Old Sacramento, Santa walks through each car to give out the “first gift of Christmas” — a sleigh bell — to each passenger. All join in and sing Christmas carols when pulling into the station at the California State Railroad Museum.
Tickets for this coveted event sell out immediately. I’ve yet to get my hands on some myself so I’ll take my son to Esquire IMAX Theater for a 3D screening of the Polar Express which plays from November 21 – December 23.
Free on-street parking is available in Old Sacramento after 4:30 p.m. on weekends and all day Saturday and Sunday during the holiday season. Be sure to swing by The Old Sacramento Schoolhouse Museum to see The Gingerbread Holiday. The Schoolhouse Museum will have dozens of sweet houses and other gingerbread structures created by kids, families, and culinary students on display December 3-18th.
Be sure to check Trekaroo’s lists for museums of the Sacramento/Sierra Nevada area that kids love
Rendezvous with Reindeer at California Academy of Sciences:
‘Tis the season for science at California Academy of Sciences, located in the heart of Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. Enjoy art and music from the Bay Area’s greatest talents including carolers, musicians, dancers, and theater troops. Gather round for an up close and personnel experience with live reindeer. To get here, the mountain reindeer traveled 6 hours up the freeway in a trailer. Had they hoofed it, it would have taken ten days. That may sound like a long trip when compared to car travel times, but reindeer actually migrate farther each year than any other land mammal, up to 33 miles each day, which is why members voted online to name the male reindeer Miles!
Discover the only place on the planet with an aquarium, a four-story rainforest, a planetarium, and a natural history museum all under one roof while enjoying wintry activities and family fun that celebrates the science behind some of our most familiar holiday sights, sounds, and traditions.
I visited the California Academy of Sciences in December with two boys. It was a winter wonderland in the Academy’s central piazza. Twice an hour the Academy makes it snow inside. We lucked out because it was snowing right as we walked in! I saw children try to catch the artificial snowflakes on their tongues. At the Academy’s Northern California Coast Gallery there’s a discovery tide pool where children and adults can touch and examine a wide variety of ocean creatures. Touching sea creatures instantly transforms me into a kid again (way cheaper than botox)! People of San Francisco – I am very jealous you have this great place of learning in your city!!
Parents can celebrate New Year’s Eve with their children ages 6+ at Penguins + Pajamas Sleepover. Allow your kids to camp out for a night at the Academy and see the museum in a whole new light. Why count sheep when you can count geckos, butterflies, sharks, and penguins?
Read Tina’s full review of California Academy of Sciences.
Recapture the spirit of Christmas past during the annual Cornish Christmas Celebration in historic downtown Grass Valley:
Recapture the spirit of Christmas past amid the charming surroundings of historic downtown Grass Valley during the annual Cornish Christmas Celebration. Mill and West Main Streets are closed to traffic and filled with the sights and sounds of an old fashioned Christmas while the Grass Valley Cornish Carol Choir performs traditional homeland Christmas carols at the steps of the historic Union Building.
The Cornish Christmas celebration is truly a delight to the senses. Smell the aroma of your favorite dish while you shop the amazing collection of merchants that call downtown Grass Valley their home. Stroll down the bustling historic streets as Christmas music fills the air. Hear young and old alike play your favorite holiday tunes as buildings dressed in Christmas lights sparkle in the December night air. At the Cornish Christmas you’ll see kids and adults dressed in period costumes, musicians, jugglers, carolers, Tommyknocker Cloggers and of course, Santa Claus. Delicious food and drink can be purchased from a number of restaurants and specialty food vendors.
Be sure to check Trekaroo’s lists for Fun Holiday Activities for Kids in Sacramento, CA.
Holidays in South Lake Tahoe are Heavenly:
Tahoe’s South Shore is New Year’s celebration central. Firework shows combined with a myriad of outdoor recreation provide an action-packed holiday season for kids of all ages.
New this season is Heavenly Holiday with a month of festivities including live music, ice sculpting, fire dancers, professional ice skaters, face painting, interactive games and photo opportunities inside a giant snow globe or festive backdrops. “A Heavenly New Year Celebration” includes a concert followed by the Gondola Drop with a decorated and illuminated car descending from the top of the mountain in a “midnight” countdown at 9 p.m. followed by a firework display.
Santa’s Workshop will be recreated in Heavenly Village inside of a 16-foot interactive snow globe. Children and families will be able to go inside of the snow globe to sit on Santa’s lap for a unique experience and photo opportunity. There will be a DJ playing holiday music daily.
Barton Health’s Festival of Trees & Lights, inside the Montbleu Convention Center, features designer decorated trees, crafts for kids, live entertainment and of course Santa Claus. Children age 12 and under are invited to visit the Teddy Bear Hospital – a fun, interactive place where they learn about their health and hospitals in a safe, “no poke” environment from Barton Health’s wonderfully caring real doctors, nurses and staffers. Each child will receive a free teddy bear as they are “admitted” to the hospital. Their journey through the emergency room, the operating room and the doctor’s office check up help build confidence and alleviate fears. Their “patient” teddy bear is theirs to take home and treasure this holiday season and for years to come.
The Tahoe Queen, an authentic Mississippi paddle wheeler, is offering opportunities to meet and take photos with Santa on the 12 p.m. cruises on Saturdays. Sierra-at-Tahoe Resort continues its Christmas tradition with a two-day kids’ festival, Dec. 23-24 with events, music, sack races and a snowman competition.
Be sure to check Trekaroo’s lists for Winter Holiday Activities for Kids in Lake Tahoe & Nevada.
Napa Valley Wine Train’s Santa Express is a fabulous and fun holiday outing for the whole family:
Photo Courtesy Winetrain.com
Join Santa, along with his friends and carolers (including one with a nose that glows so bright), as he travels from the city of Napa to the town of Yountville and back on a train overflowing with happy children. Designed especially for children, this 90 minute journey offers plenty of time for kids to tell Santa exactly what they want to receive for Christmas. A fabulous and fun holiday outing for the whole family, The Santa Express Train is a magical experience for the young and the young at heart. The train will have child friendly menus on board including hot chocolate for the kids.
Be sure to check Trekaroo’s lists for Friendly Holiday Fun in the Napa Valley.
Cut Your Own Christmas Tree in Apple Hill:
While Apple Hill, located just northeast of Placerville, is primarily known for all things apple related, it is also a beautiful destination to pick and chop your own Christmas tree.
Currently, seven full-scale tree farms with u-cut trees are open in Apple Hill during the Christmas season for families to visit and cut their own Christmas trees. Several smaller farms are open, too. Visiting an Apple Hill Christmas tree farm after Thanksgiving is truly a very memorable family experience you and your kids will never forget. All Christmas tree farms open the day after Thanksgiving and remain open until Christmas Eve.
Wide selections of tree varieties are available for purchase. Some of the most popular Christmas Tree Farms currently operating in Apple Hill include: High Sierra Iris Gardens, Hillside Tree Farm, and McGee Christmas Tree Farm. Enjoying Christmas in Apple Hill isn’t all about just getting a Christmas tree though. Many of the tree farms offer great Christmas activities for the kids and have nice warm cups of hot chocolate or some world famous apple cider waiting for you. If you get the chance be sure to try the fudge and freshest apple pie you have ever had!
Be sure to check Trekaroo’s lists for Apple Hill Christmas Tree Farms
Celebrate the Holiday Season at the Salinas Holiday Parade of Lights:
Get into the Christmas spirit at the Salinas Holiday Parade of Lights. This family and community-centric event is one of the most highly anticipated events of the year. The lighted parade consists of marching bands, floats, dancers and classic cars. Come early and grab a spot along the parade route which goes up South Main Street and through Oldtown to the National Steinbeck Center.
The annual Salinas Holiday Parade of Lights attracts over 10,000 spectators. Celebrity announcers keep you well informed during the festivities. The Holiday Parade of Lights, celebrating ‘One City, Many Cultures’ has become a Salinas family tradition. The parade is a volunteer community effort and has been hosted by the Oldtown Salinas Association since 2006.
Monterey Celebrates The Holiday Season with An Ocean View at the Lighted Boat Parade:
You’ve seen parades on land — now see one on the ocean at the Lighted Boat Parade. Every year the Monterey Peninsula Yacht Club sponsors a lighted boat parade in the harbor. The boats of Monterey Bay will be brilliantly decked out as they sail from Coast Guard Pier past Cannery Row to Lover’s Point. The ships compete fiercely to win the coveted award for Best Decorations from the Yacht Club at the end of the evening. Check out this unique, can’t-miss event from along the Monterey and Pacific Grove coastline.
Ring in the New Year with the entire family (ages 5 and older) at the Monterey Bay Aquarium! This special New Year’s Eve event will feature a sparkling cider toast at 9 p.m. to celebrate the countdown to the New Year on East Coast time. The evening snack will be a Ghirardelli ice cream sundae bar! There will be fun family activities and programs for a night of celebration. Wake up with the fishes on New Year’s Day and enjoy a full breakfast in the Monterey Bay Aquarium Café then join the aquariums naturalists in watching wildlife from the Great Tide Pool Deck.
Photo by Trekaroo user ukelly
Read Trekaroo’s reviews on Monterey Bay Aquarium.
Last week we told you about Passports with Purpose, the travel bloggers annual fundraiser, and how this year our goal was to raise $80,000 to build two libraries in Zambia. We asked you to consider donating to this worthwhile cause and encouraged you with the incentive that in return for your $10 donation, you have an opportunity to win some incredible prizes. Of course, we think the prize we are giving away, a golf stay at Austin’s Barton Creek Resort, is pretty awesome but there a so many other great prizes to enter to win as well. To get you even more pumped about donating to Passports with Purpose, we have decided to highlight some of these truly awesome prizes. Here are some of our favorite prizes that Passports with Purpose donators have a chance at winning:
Kindle Fire: This has got to be one of the most sought after gifts this holiday season. The 7-inch tablet with Wi-Fi from Amazon is slim, lightweight,is in full color, and holds 18 million movies, books, and apps, making it perfect for travel. With Europe up Close, The Solo Traveler, Mother of All Trips, and The Vacation Gals all giving one away, your chances of winning are pretty decent! Psst…. Budget Travelers Sandbox is also giving away a Kindle Touch…
Xbox 360 with Kinect Bundle: Can you imagine how cool your kids will think you are if an Xbox 360 shows up under your tree? Yes, video games can lead to way too many hours on the couch but Kinect features active games so your kids will get some exercise while playing. Score! Wandermom is hosting this amazing giveaway.
4 Nights in a Suite at the Honua Kai Resort in Maui: Delicious Baby is hosting this 4 night giveaway in an ocean view suite. 4 nights. Maui. Ocean view. Enough said.
Three Night stay for a family of four at an all-inclusive Beaches Resort in Jamaica: I love all-inclusive resorts so the all-inclusive stay in Jamaica that Have Baby will Travel is hosting definitely caught my eye. Imagine hanging out with your little one’s poolside with a cocktail in hand and the Caribbean sun on your shoulders. Not bad, eh?
Two Night Stay at the Four Season Scottsdale at Troon North: My family just returned from this amazing resort (I can’t wait to share the details with you all!) so I know that this is a tremendous prize. In addition to the resort stay, the winner will also be treated to a dinner at Talavera, where I enjoyed the best steak I have ever had. I will definitely be entering in hope of returning to this incredible resort. This giveaway is hosted by My Itchy Travel Feet.
Disneyland/Hilton Garden Inn prize pack: It’s no secret that Trekaroo loves Disney so when we saw the prize that Travel Mamas is giving away, we couldn’t help but get excited. One lucky family will win 4 park hoppers for Disneyland and California Adventure as well as a two night stay at the Anaheim Hilton Garden Inn. What an ideal family getaway!
$1000 HomeAway voucher: We love HomeAway because it give travelers access to 260,000 vacation rentals around the globe in one location. Vacation rentals are great for extended family travel, travel with large families, or families who would love the convenience of staying someplace with all the comforts of home (like a kitchen!.) Nerds Eye View is giving away a $1000 voucher which can be used to take your family on an adventure in a vacation rental that is perfectly suited to your needs.
$500 BedandBreakfast.com gift card: Last year we featured BedandBreakfast.com in our holiday gift guide giveaway so when we saw that Land Lopers was hosting this prize, we were happy to see another chance to win this great prize. The BedandBreakfast.com can be used at more than 4,000 small inns and bed and breakfasts which makes it an idela gift for travelers.
110,000 Hyatt Gold Passport Points: There is something just so exciting about hotel points. Hyatt is one of my favorite hotel brands (extremely family friendly) so winning $2640 worth of Hyatt points turn me into a kid in a candy store. I could spend hours researching what sort of luxurious hotel stays I could get with all those points! According to the giveaway host, Loyalty Traveler of Boarding Area, this prize can buy 5- 22 nights, depending on how you use them. Donate to win this prize and start daydreaming!
There is only one way to win all of these fabulous prizes- head on over to Passports with Purpose and DONATE.
The last day to donate is Friday, December 16, 2011.
Sharlene Earnshaw is the blog editor for Trekaroo.
Travel with kids to: CA |CO | DC | FL | HI | IL |MA | NC | NY | OR | PA | TN | TX | VA | WA
Tis the season for holiday cheer! For many of us, that means seeking out family friendly spots to enjoy festive fun. These are some of our family’s favorite places to get into the Christmas spirit and all are easy to get to from most places throughout New Jersey and the Philadelphia area.
Photo Courtesy StorybooklandStorybook Land is one of our favorite theme parks all year round but at Christmastime it takes on a magical appearance when they feature Christmas Fantasy with Lights. Every night at 5pm Santa climbs out of his chimney and turns on over a million holiday lights throughout the park. He has even managed to make it snow! You can meet Mr. and Mrs. Claus in their home as well to tell them how good you’ve been all year long. All the rides of the theme park are open too!
A visit to Koziar’s Christmas Village is like stepping into Christmas Land. Walk along the path and take in the beauty of displays featuring Christmas in the jungle, beneath the sea, and around the globe lit by over a half million lights. The reflective view from the pond is a breathtaking sight! When you get chilly be sure to stop for some hot chocolate or a visit with Santa himself.
The Nutcracker is one of my favorite holiday shows. My mom used to take me every year and I couldn’t wait to take my daughter for the first time. During her first show she sat rapt with attention at the edge of her seat. To find a show be sure to check Trekaroo’s lists for where to see The Nutracker in Philadelpia and New Jersey.
Photo Courtesy New Hope Ivyland RailroadTaking a train ride with Santa has always been at the top of my children’s lists, even before they ever saw the movie Polar Express. This holiday tradition has become more popular than ever with kids all around the country dressing in their pajamas and taking a magical Christmas ride. While some stations started the tradition after 2004 movie, others like the Pine Creek Railroad in New Jersey, have been taking families on rides with Santa Claus for over 30 years! See where to board a train ride with Santa in New Jersey and Philly areas.
Another family favorite of ours is piling in the car in our jammies, bringing along some hot chocolate and turning on some Christmas music while driving around the neighborhoods in our area to enjoy the lights. Some of the people in our town really go all out! However, if you want to make more of an adventure out of it, how about heading to Center City Philadelphia to see the Macy’s Holiday Light Show . While at Macy’s, be sure to visit the third floor where you will find a 6,000 foot recreation of Charles Dicken’s A Christmas Carol. Over 100 animated figures help bring this Christmas classic to life. You might even be able to get some Christmas shopping done!
Photo Courtesy Visit PhillyWhile I have never been to Christmas Village located in Love Park in Center City, Philadelphia, it looks to have some real charm. This traditional German Christmas Market features over 50 vendors selling arts and crafts, jewelry, ornaments and all sorts of other goodies you can purchase as a treat for yourself or as a holiday gift. You can also sample European food and drink while browsing about. If you happen to visit the market on December 7th, your family can even attend the tree lighting!
Longwood Gardens is another one of those year round gems that transforms at Christmas time. Walk through the gardens and see how they have been transformed into a gingerbread fantasy with over 40 miles of lights and displays. During the season there will be performances in the evenings by local choral groups and vignettes from the Nutcracker.
May you all have a happy and healthy holiday season filled with many wonderful memories!
Looking for more holiday-fun activities? Check out your neighborhood below.
California: San Diego | Orange County | LA & Environs | Bay Area | Lake Tahoe | Sacramento
Other US cities: Dallas | NYC/NJ | Philadelphia | Salt Lake City | Seattle
Don’t see your city?? Make a list of fun activities in your neck of the woods to share with Trekaroo users.
Tina Buell is one of Trekaroo’s Northern California Destination Guroos
Travel with kids to: CA |CO | DC | FL | HI | IL |MA | NC | NY | OR | PA | TN | TX | VA | WA
When families think of great destinations to view fall foliage, California is not typically the first state that comes to mind. More often than not, people head to the eastern half of the country to witness New England’s dramatic color, or The Great Smokey Mountains ablaze with reds, oranges, and browns. Lucky for us west coasters, there are still plenty of great places to experience autumn’s splendor without hopping a plane and battling the “leafer” crowds. Here are a few of my favorite spots for seeing fall color in the Golden State.
Photo courtesy wunderground.com
There are few places in California more beautiful than the Eastern Sierra in the fall. Quaking aspens flanking the lake seem to glow as the sunlight penetrates their leaves. There is just something about the granite covered mountainside reflecting in the lake with fiery trees highlighting the foreground that keeps drawing people back to June Lake year after year. Come early in the season before the snowfall begins and the area around the lake loses its flashiness and takes on its winter coat.
Read more about where to stay and what to do while visiting the Eastern Sierra with Kids.
Seeing the fall colors in Napa Valley is an experience unto itself. Wineries are just finished celebrating “the crush” and the night air is distinctively crisp. In between stops at wineries (yes, there are plenty of family friendly wineries out there), be sure to walk a trail or two in Bothe-Napa Valley State Park. The big leafed maple are gorgeous and sound so wonderful crunching underfoot.
Read about all the activities and lodging suggestions in Wine Country with kids on Trekaroo.
Photo courtesy nps.gov
Yosemite is like the prom queen. She never had a bad hair day and always looks picture perfect. No matter what the season is, Yosemite never stops short of wowing whoever graces her presence. While many of the trees in the park are evergreen, there are still maples, oaks, and dogwoods to spice up the scenery come mid-October. The fall weather makes for nice mid-afternoon strolls on the parks hiking trails.
Read all about family friendly lodging and activities in Yosemite.
Photo courtesy flickr user goldenstatephoto
Yes, there really is fall color in San Diego County! At 4,000 feet in elevation, palm trees and sandy beaches give way to mountain air, apple orchards, and some wonderful opportunities for leaf peeping. This historic mining town is a great place for Southern California natives to get a taste of fall without having to hop on a plane. Grab a cup of hot apple cider and enjoy the view before heading back on down the mountain and into the land of endless summers.
California’s capital is filled with more than high rises and legislature. It is also a city with over 110,000 city-owned trees (and many more privately owned), which makes for quite a vibrant spectacle come fall. When I lived in Sacramento, I absolutely loved taking the bridge over the river and gazing down at the beautiful trees below. My kids loved jumping in piles of leaves in city parks and searching for the biggest maple leaves bigger than their tiny faces. If you can pick any season to visit the City of Trees, make it the autumn.
Read all about where to go and where to stay while in Sacramento with kids.
Samuel P Taylor State Park in Marin County
15 miles west of San Rafael, the Bay Area crowds are non-existent and coastal redwoods intermingle with oaks and firs to create a lovely fall spectacle come late October. Samuel P Taylor State Park is a great place to hike, bike, and enjoy the golds and browns popping against the evergreens. Pt Reyes National Seashore is just down the road and an especially nice place to take in the sunset this time of year.
Best Spots to See Fall Foliage with Kids in Northern and Central California
Best Spots to See Fall Foliage with Kids in Southern California
Interested in visiting the North Bay? Then be sure to check out all of our suggestions for family friendly lodging and activities in the Bay Area.
Still looking for more fall fun in California? Than be sure to check out Spooky Festivals and Attractions in Northern California and Spooky Festivals and Attractions in Southern California.
More on Fall Foliage:
Best Spots to View Fall Foliage with Kids in Utah
Best Spots to View Fall Foliage with Kids in Texas
Best Spots to View Fall Foliage with Kids in Tennessee
Best Spots to View Fall Foliage with Kids in New England
Best Spots to View Fall Foliage with Kids in North Carolina
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Sharlene Earnshaw (aka doubleadventure) is Blogger-in-chief for Trekaroo and the blogger behind Double the Adventure.
Travel with kids to: CA |CO | DC | FL | HI | IL |MA | NC | NY | PA | TN | TX | VA | WA
On our recent road trip with the kids from San Francisco to Seattle. I had a particularly bad travel moment. Sick to my stomach with some stomach bug, I begged to stop to use the restroom. We pulled up at a tiny town called Wolf Creek, OR. It was 2pm, the kids are tired of driving and the large breakfast had totally worn off. Every one was cranky (myself included for obvious reasons) and there was no food available except a pretty sad corner grocery and a nondescript taco truck. Brennan who can’t ever get enough Mexican food voted for the taco stand, I was too sick to eat. Besides, it was frigidly cold.
Hungry and frozen, the kids were naturally cranky and whiny. But I instead of being a kind compassionate mommy, I was feeling immensely sorry for myself. I decided to seek refuge in the car while Brennan fended for himself trying to feed the kids on the picnic bench, and strange dog begging the kids for food. It wasn’t long before they packed up and brought the food into the car. I was really grumpy at this point because I was imagining rice and beans in every crevice of our already very dirty car. With a 3 year old climbing on me and food almost spilling at every monent, I declared in frustration, that this was the worst moment of our trip.
Fortunately, although traveling with kids can sometimes be miserable, these moments are often juxtaposed with redeeming moments that make it all worth it. A few hours later, with full tummies (except mine), we got into a conversation about our up coming birthdays. We threw out ideas for our 5 year old’s birthday and after thinking through a few themes – star wars, transformers….suddenly he stopped short and said, “I can’t decide…do I want a party at home with lots of presents or I do want to go on a trip for my birthday. Traveling is so fun…you get to see so many things.”At that moment, I realized that indeed all the moments of pure torture that sometimes accompanies a trip with kids, were indeed paying off.
We travel because we want our kids to realize that the world is much bigger than our home, our town, or just getting neat toys. We want them to appreciate creation, be inquisitive about how things work, and meet people from all walks of life.
Our next stop was Lake Shasta Caverns. It was the first time that our kids had seen a limestone cave with stalagmites and stalactites. The wonder and awe we experienced through the eyes of a 5 and 3 year old was worth the long drives, the muddy clothes, and the 7 piles of laundry that we returned home with.
This was the first trip we did using tips from Trekaroo families and I’m excited to report that the challenging moments were fewer, and the fun times were more. Old Sacramento was indeed delightful, arranging sugar packets (“Toys on The Fly”) at a restaurant did provide the perfect amount of distraction, and the McCould Railroad B &B was definitely unique.
