INDEX:
San Anselmo:
Millennium Playground
Petaluma:
Charles M.Schulz Museum Mondays for Little Ones
Rivertown Revival (read article)
San Rafael:
Marinwood Park
Las Gallina Valley
Terra Linda
Northgate Mall Play Area
Farmers Market
Frietas Park
The Christmas House (now open)
Sausalito:
Schoonmaker (Kayak Beach)
Play Land (indoor)
Novato:
Studio 4 Art
Pioneer Park
Wine County:
Family Friendly Wineries
Scientopia (Napa)_
Berkeley:
Tilden regional Park
HABITOT
Events:
Royal Wedding Party
Nicasio Valley Farm Pumpkin Patch
The Tolay Festival
Bob the Builder Exhibit in San Jose
Wet Weather Activities in Bay Area
Marin County Fair 2012 - (see article)
Rivertown Revival (see article)
General Info:
Keep Kids Cool - Shady Parks (see article)
San Anselmo:
Millennium Playground at San Anselmo Memorial Park
San Francisco Blvd (off Sir Francis Drake Blvd), San Anselmo; view website
San Anselmo:
Millennium Playground
Petaluma:
Charles M.Schulz Museum Mondays for Little Ones
Rivertown Revival (read article)
San Rafael:
Marinwood Park
Las Gallina Valley
Terra Linda
Northgate Mall Play Area
Farmers Market
Frietas Park
The Christmas House (now open)
Sausalito:
Schoonmaker (Kayak Beach)
Play Land (indoor)
Novato:
Studio 4 Art
Pioneer Park
Wine County:
Family Friendly Wineries
Scientopia (Napa)_
Berkeley:
Tilden regional Park
HABITOT
Events:
Royal Wedding Party
Nicasio Valley Farm Pumpkin Patch
The Tolay Festival
Bob the Builder Exhibit in San Jose
Wet Weather Activities in Bay Area
Marin County Fair 2012 - (see article)
Rivertown Revival (see article)
General Info:
Play Dates at Playgrounds (Posted November 29th 2011)
Take a look at my favorite playgrounds in Marin and other moms suggestions for the best parks in the Bay Area on the Circle of Moms website:
Keep Kids Cool - Shady Parks (see article)
San Anselmo:
Millennium Playground at San Anselmo Memorial Park
San Francisco Blvd (off Sir Francis Drake Blvd), San Anselmo; view website
If you are looking for a park that the children can spend hours having adventures while discovering new areas and hidden corners of the playground then check out the Millennium Playground in San Anselmo Memorial Park.
The playground was built by a team of volunteers in May 2000 and was designed by the local children to reflect various San Anselmo themes. It has a variety of complex designed castle fortresses that represent the Seminary Tower and Town Hall Tower which are a lot of fun to get lost in. There is also a train depot with a wonderful wooden train, a giant dinosaur, sand box, swings and various slides that pop out of the wooden structures.
San Anselmo Memorial Park also has grassy areas, a picnic area, several sports fields, tennis courts and clean bathroom facilities.
Petaluma:
‘Museum Mondays for Little Ones’, from 10.00 – 12.00 pm, Charles M. Schulz Museum, 2301 Hardies Lane, Santa Rosa; http://www.schulzmuseum.org/
Cost: $5 per child &up to two parents/caregivers admitted free before 11 am. After 11 am regular museum admission applies.
Posted March 30th 2011
On the fourth Monday of every month (through to September) the Charles M. Schultz Museum offers arts and crafts activities, stories and games for children ages 1 – 5 years old. We headed up to Santa Rosa to check it out last Monday, and had a great time!
From 10.00 am all the children and parents met in the downstairs gallery’s area and then were lead out to the sculpture garden where the group leader introduced the theme of the day, which was; “Spring is Here”. The children were asked to follow the Charlie Brown inspired zigzag path while looking at the colorful flowers and playing movement games like pretending to be flowers and trees in the breeze. The garden has great sculptures of the Peanuts characters which carry throughout the inside of the museum.
There were various arts and crafts stations set up throughout museum for the children to explore at their leisure. We started off at the potting table in the great hall, where the children could fill a lined box with soil, scratch the child’s first initial into the soil using a stick, and sprinkle grass seed into the scratched letter. If the child watered the letter every third day, soon we will be able to see the first letter of his or her name grow, and this can be transplanted into your garden at home!
Next, there was a table set up to create a “Paper Plate Daisy Mask”; the children were given paper plates with a hole cut out of the middle. The parents were asked to help the children cut petals from yellow and white paper and glue them to the perimeter of the plate to create a colored pattern. Buttons, foam and cotton could also be glued on to make different textures, and a yarn tied on to make a mask, so the child could put their face through the hole with the daisy petals surrounding their face, cute!
Next we headed upstairs to the Education Room where two arts and crafts activities were underway with a couple of tables of toys set up in the middle. “Create a Blooming Japanese Cherry Tree” table offered pieces of white paper with the outline of a tree printed on them. The children could use Dot–a-Dot paint markers to paint the trunk and branches of the tree, and then glue on scrunched up pieces of pink tissue paper to create the cherry blossom. The “Make Flowers Pop!” table encouraged children to take cardboard flowers which could be decorated with paint, markers or crayon and then glued onto colored card, and pipe cleaners created the flower’s stems.
Creating art with different textures and media provides a fun experience while improving fine motor practice for the little ones, they also make great pieces of art work to take home with you!
The Snoopy Ice Rink is located next door where you can enjoy a lunch inside the ‘Warm Puppy Café’ overlooking the ice rink. If it is a chilly day you can warm up to a Peppermint Patty hot chocolate by the fireplace. Also if you head over to the rink for 11.45 am on a week day you will be able to catch the Snoopy themed Zamboni machine circling the ice before the public skating starts at noon! Alternatively, if it is a sunny day you can enjoy lunch outside in the picnic area surrounded by sculptures of the Peanut characters.
‘Museum Mondays for Little ones’ offered a variety of fun activities for toddlers in addition to seeing the museum’s permanent and changing exhibits in an impressive, modern environment. Also having the ice rink and café just next door makes it a fun filled day out and worth the journey! The next one will be taking place Monday April 25th.
Petaluma:
Rivertown Revival 2012
The annual Rivertown Rivival takes place at The David Yearsley River Herritage Center in Petaluma this Saturday, July 21st. Our family had so much fun at the event last year that I wanted to share our pictures and let you know what you can expect to see this year.
The Rivertwon Rivival is an art-based, thematic festival (think the Old West meets the Victorian era) that celebrates the history of the Petaluma River, and raises funds for the River Heritage Center.
This community festival includes over 100 musicians, an art boat flotilla, art boat drag races, local food vendors, lots of children’s activities and even $5 wedding ceremonies!
Their “Kidstown” will include activities, crafts and entertainment for the preschool and early elementary school set designed by Heidi Overman, and a special area with magic tricks and special craft projects for tweens and teens designed by Margaret Kuffel.
This year, Kai{Squared} has volunteered to be the wedding coordinators at the festival. Danielle and Kiri have designed an authentic wedding site that will host approx. 20 fun and whimsical $5 weddings and vow renewals, starting from 11am.
Everywhere you turn there will be volunteers and visitors in costume, circus performers, dancers, magicians, theater troupes and aerialists. A great deal of effort goes into every aspect of this experience from hand-painted ticket booths, to signage, dock creation and custom built stages.
1. Live music acts on three stages, this is the Channel Stage at the entrance of the festival
2. The flotilla and art boats will begin at approx. 1 pm.
3. The Arts Council of Sonoma County and local artists have prepared many art installations.
4. $5 weddings ceremonies coordinated by Kai{Squared}
5. My son particularly loved experiencing the vintage tractors and carts last year!
WHERE:
Riverown Revival
The David Yearsley River Heritage Center, Petaluma
(near McNear Landing or Streamer’s Landing Park)
11.00 am – 7.00 pm
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San Rafael:
Marinwood Park, 775 Miller Creek Road, San Rafael
Posted September 10th 2010
Now that Marinwood has quieted down after the bustling activities during the summer holidays with various summer camps, it is an ideal place for a play date. There is a playground with a sand box shaded from the hot sun by large trees, and surrounded by an open grass area, picnic tables and a new improved BBQ area (available for group bookings). The Marinwood Fire Station next door is also available to hire for birthday parties.
The Marinwood Community Center building has a preschool with a great reputation and offers classes and workshops all year round like children's music classes and Toddler Mini Sports. Check them out on http://www.marinwood.org/. The swimming pool has a wonderful warm tot's pool that has a gated grass area with loungers and large parasols, perfect for a little group get together!
Also running behind the park is Miller Creek which is a wonderful stream that is great for little ones to search for rocks and take a stroll in the running water in their crocs or rain boots hand in hand with Mom or Dad!
Las Gallinas Valley Sanitary District,
300 Smith Ranch Road, San Rafael; view website
Posted July 13th 2011
One of our favorite things to do with the children is go on nature walks. My son likes to explore new places and collect little treasures in his bucket.
Last weekend we returned to a place we haven't been since he was an infant in his stroller; Las Gallinas Valley Sanity District. Now I admit the name is not very inviting, but the reclamation area has a large pond full of ducks and birds, and is surrounded by beautiful wildflowers, rolling hills, marsh land and clear views of San Pablo Bay and Mount Tampalais, plus it has a clean even-ground hiking trail (3.5 mile in total).
It is an interesting place to spot deer, cranes, pelicans and storks, in fact over 200 species of birds pass through it each year. It is a great place to walk or ride your bike during fall and winter too as you get to see the various migrating birds resting here. We have taken some wonderful photographs during the seasons here.
Along our walk we picked different colored wildflowers (which we pressed for Grandma), collected feathers, long grass, rocks and blew lots of dandelions. We watched butterflies fluttering past and bugs crawling by. All great, simple fun for a toddler to learn about nature that doesn't cost a dime!
“Parent & Tot Camp” posted June 29th 2011
Marinwood Community Center, 775 Miller Creek Road, San Rafael:
Tel: 415-479-0775 & view website
Every summer the Marinwood Community Center provides summer camp for children aged 3 and up. This year they are introducing a "Parent & Tot Camp" for 2 ½ - 3 year olds to introduce younger kids to summer camp with a view to continue it next summer based on how popular it is.
I signed my two year old son and me up (at an extremely reasonable rate) and attended it last week with a friend and her daughter. The camp took place on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9.30 - 12.30 pm, which was perfect timing to entertain a toddler all morning before their afternoon nap.
Each day there were different activities planned around the camp's weekly theme which was "beach party". The format of the day would start with a welcome circle time with the two group councilors playing games with the other children and then a sing song with the other children in the different camps.
One day we would do some dancing or play with bubbles and each day there was a different arts and crafts activity. This included painting with sand, decorating a sun visor and beach bag with paint, sequins and feathers, and marble painting which we hadn’t done before. It involved placing a piece of colored paper into an aluminum tray and then dropped marbles covered in different colored paint into the tray and rolling the marbles up and down to create an abstract piece of artwork across the paper.
After snack time the children had 30 minutes in the tot's pool and then fun running through the water sprinklers on the grass in the park. We ended each session with a picnic lunch together with a story for those who could tear themselves away from their food.
We really enjoyed it and thought it was a great introduction to camp and even preschool for the younger children, with the added confidence that their parent was by their side throughout the experience.
They are planning on doing another one during the first week of August (same times as before) and I highly recommend signing up through the Marinwood Community Services website: view website
Terra Linda, San Rafael
Posted August 20th 2010
The Terra Linda Community Center not only has a great outdoor Tots Pool, but it is next to the hidden Terra Linda Park. The park has an open grass area to run around in and a large shady tree to enjoy picnics under. You can find the Terra Linda Fire Station next door, where the kids love to see the shiny Fire Engines sat outside.
A local mom owned business is across the street called 'Weezy's Grass Fed Shed', 621 Del Ganado. It is a great place for a lunch treat of mini organic burgers and sweet potato fries (cooked in rice bran oil). For a sweet treat, head to 'Three Twin Ice Cream', 641 Del Ganado for an organic scoop of Madagascar Vanilla, Strawberry Fields, or my favorite flavor, Bittersweet Chocolate!
New Play Area at Northgate Mall, 5800 Northgate mall, San Rafael;
Posted March 16th 2011
It is turning out to be a wet month in Marin and indoor activities that are free can be hard to find, but there is good news! The indoor play area at the Northgate Mall will be relocating to the East Concourse near Guest Services (between H & M and Victoria’s Secret) in time for next weekend (Sat March 26th).
The new play area will be much bigger (750 square feet) than the existing one by the movie theater, with more play elements to keep your little ones entertained.
If you are wanting to grab a drink or a bite to eat for breakfast or lunch at the Northgate Mall, my favorite option is ‘Panera Bread’ (by Kohls), there is also ‘Tomatina’ which offers great pizzas (see my review in the ‘Local Restaurants Reviews’ section above) both with outdoor dining, or there is always the indoor food court with ‘Subway’ and ‘Shogun Fresh Japanese Grill’.
The new play area will also be a great place to leave the husbands sipping their Gloria Jean’s coffee while you get some shopping done at weekends!
Farmer’s Market, 3501 Civic Center Drive, San Rafael
Posted September 8th
The Farmer’s Market at the Civic Center in San Rafael, on Thursdays mornings (8.00 am – 1.00 pm) are much more family friendly than Sundays, as it is smaller and quieter now that older kids are back to school, allowing parents to maneuver their strollers around the vendors with ease.
A good place to start is at the bouncy houses and puppet show where toddlers sit attentively enjoying the music and their favorite characters from Sesame Street. Once the show is over move through the market where there are plenty of fresh fruit for the kids to sample as you grab your waffle or pastry from the bakery and much needed cup of coffee at the new ‘Maddie’s Mud’ (Marinwood’s new neighborhood vendor providing good coffee and conversation). Our other favorite vendors are the ‘Home Made Ravioli & Olive Co’ that offers pesto, dips, olives and wonderful fresh pasta; the Ravioli is delicious especially the butternut squash which is a winner with the kids. Look out for fresh muffins such coconut & banana or orange & zucchini, also the naughty but nice ‘Teeny Cake’ that offers mini size cupcakes, a special treat for little ones.
The seating area on the opposite side of the market always has great music by local musicians playing and is surrounded by great hot food venders such as Aidell’s Sausage, Pizza Politana and Brittany Crepes & Galettes. So you can sink your teeth into a hot sausage sandwich on Rosemary bread or a margarita pizza washed down with organic lemonade while enjoying the musical performance.
Next, take a stroll around the lake, past the petting zoo and pony rides to the Civic Center Park for some much needed free play which will tire them out for their afternoon nap.
Freitas Park, Montecillo Road, San Rafael
September 26th 2010
As the temperatures soars this week most families will be hitting the pools, but a fun alternative is to take the kids to Freitas Park, Montecillo Road (next to the Kaiser Hospital) which has a water sprinkle structure. The structure looks like a giant red coil that is controlled by a hand print sensor that varies the strength of the water. Toddlers enjoy running through the sprays of water showering them from every direction.
Once dried off and in need of lunch or a snack, the Northgate Mall is a just few minutes drive away. 'Panera Bread' is a great place for a delicious variety of sandwiches, soups and salads with patio seating. 'Berry Twist' opposite Panera Bread and offers a variety of frozen yogurt such as pomegranate & green tea with lots of fun toppings, in a cool modern parlour, that also has outdoor seating.
The Christmas House’ at West End Nursery, 1938 Fifth Avenue, San Rafael
Posted December 16th 2010
The Christmas House at the West End Nursery in San Rafael comes alive each year with displays of over 50 beautifully decorated Christmas trees, each with a different theme making the ornaments ideal gifts for friends and all members of the family. There are also wonderful gifts from all over the world (and the most glamorous Nutcrackers that I have ever seen) that will get you and your little ones into the holiday spirit.
The perfect play date to add sparkle to a rainy day!
Sausalito:
Schoonmaker (Kayak Beach)
Off Liberty Ship Way, Sausalito
Posted September 1st 2010
As the fog finally lifts over Sausalito we can hit our favorite beach again! Schoonmaker Beach in Sausalito, also known as Kayak Beach, is located just off Liberty Ship Way, south of Marina. There is a few parking lots and shoreline access to the beach. It is a more accessible alternative to Stinson Beach, and in my opinion more family friendly. It is a small manageable size (2.3 acre of sandy beach), sheltered from the wind and surf so ideal for paddling in the calm water of the bay. It is quieter in the mornings so great for hanging out, building sandcastles and enjoying a picnic. Just a few steps away is the French bistro Le Garage (see restaurant review page) which is also a great place for lunch during the week or weekend brunch.
Posted Feb 21st 2012
Posted Feb 21st 2012
Play Land,
610 Coloma Street, Building 6, Sausalito
610 Coloma Street, Building 6, Sausalito
Looking for an alternative indoor activity to BADM in Southern Marin?
Play Land is a full sized gymnasium in Sausalito that becomes an inflatable wonderland four times a week. An amazing giant bouncy house takes up the majority of the space with a basketball hoop, a 15 foot inflatable slide and a toddler bouncy zone. There are also plastic cars and wagons dotted around the gym drive around in and mini basketball hoops.
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| Bouncy houses in Play Land |
For younger kids seeking less octane play, there is an arts and crafts room and train table area. There is a padded area for tots between the ages of 1 – 2 years old where they can explore at their own pace by their parent’s side, but the main event here is the oversized bouncy house.
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| Play Land |
You can take a quiet moment away from the play area to enjoy lunch or a snack at the food area with picnic tables where tea and coffee is available.
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| 15 ft slide in Play Land |
The space is available for hire on Sundays and there is drop-off available for older children some afternoons. For further details about opening times and cost, please check out Play Land website
Novato:
Studio 4 Art, 1133 Grant Avenue, Novato
open 10.00 am – 5.00 pm, Mon – Fri: www.studio4art.net
November 25th 2010
My son and I have been going to a weekly ‘Art for Toddlers’ classes at Studio4Art in Novato for a few weeks now, and wanted to let others know about this great local business.
The toddler class is for children from 20 months up to 3 years old, and works out reasonably priced if you sign up for 4 classes, plus you can choose which day of the week you would like to attend. If you are part of a playgroup then groups of 4 children or more receive a 20% discount. A great idea is to design a special holiday or theme inspired playgroup, and focus on handprints in clay or a special painting on canvas that can be framed for a gift. For those wanting to get some holiday shopping or errands done while their kid’s create art, then drop ins are also available for ages 4 and over. Clay, painting, drawing and mosaics are available. There are also special workshops available such as the clay gingerbread house building (in listings above) or you can build a clay jewelry/treasure box or mosaic flower pot together. See website for details.
Each week the ‘Art for Toddler’ class begins by drawing with colored pastels, pencils or pens, and then moves onto modeling with clay. The clay can be manipulated with their hands to make a 3D object or rolled out flat and cut out using variously shaped cutters or tools to create patterns in the clay. Our instructor Kebby McInroy tells us that moldings with clay is a great skill to learn at a young age as it builds strength and versatility in the hands and fingers.
The clay objects are then painted and fired so we can see the finish product the following week. The children also do painting on mini sized easels which is a lot of fun to watch, as they mix their colors and take different approaches with their paintbrushes onto the paper.
We just wish our 40 minute class wouldn’t go by so quickly!
A few minutes drive away from the art studio is Pioneer Park, which is a beautiful place this time of year. It is surrounded by rolling hills and green open spaces. It has a fantastic playground with exciting play structures to climb, and an intricate sand activity table in the sand box, check it out next time you are in Novato!
Wine Country:
Family Friendly Wineries
Family Friendly Wineries
Most of us moms appreciate a well-deserved glass of wine and we are so fortunate to live so close to the beautiful wine country. This week my friend Elena McAlpine suggests some great wineries that are family friendly day trips out.
By Elena McAlpine, posted June 8th 2011
At the end of a long day with my 2 year old, usually consisting of six outfit changes (her, not me) and a few temper tantrums (me, not her) I love to relax with a nice, big glass of wine. It’s a ritual that I cherish, opening a bottle of Pinot Noir and sitting down with my husband to relax and talk about our day. It’s a little reward I give myself after my daughter insists on wearing a shower capand nothing else to the grocery store or points at a blemish on my face and asks if she can kiss my boo boo.
I always loved wine and going wine tasting in the Napa Valley. Only 45 minutes away, it makes for a fun and easy day trip. Now that I have a toddler to think about, I decided I had to discover a new ‘family friendly’ wine country and make it affordable for my family to enjoy.
That’s why my husband and I started ‘The Napa Card’. It’s an easy way to save money wine tasting in the Napa and Sonoma Valleys. Sipping wine with your family gets you out of the house doing what you love (indulging yourself, of course!) while taking your kids out on anadventure. There are plenty of family friendly wineries out there. Here are a few to get you toasting with your tots while saving a buck or two with ‘The Napa Card’.
Cline Cellars – With a tasting room located in an 1850s farmhouse, this winery is a top pick.
Enjoy a picnic on lush green lawns while the kids discover the six spring-fed ponds. Surrounded by over 5,000 rose bushes, dozens of rustling willow trees and ever-changing gardens, this winery calls to be discovered by adults and children alike.
Clif Family Winery – Taste Clif Family’s Climber Red or Kits Killer Cab at their wine tasting shop Vino Velo. Combining the family’s passion for the outdoors with their love of wine, Vino Velo is a wine tasting and bicycle shop all in one. Bring the bikes and have a taste of wine before being your children’s tour guide to the Napa Valley.
Tudal Family Winery – Between the bocce court, the enticing flower and vegetable gardens and the collection of historic farm tractors, tools and bygone novelties, your family will love Tudal Family Winery. They also make a fantastic Cabernet Savignon! Kids can explore the grounds while you sip and relax.
Cheers!
Elena
Scientopia Discovery center, 1785 B Tanen Street, Napa www.scientopiadiscoverycenter.com
Posted October 27th 2010
It is essential to find fun indoor spaces for your toddlers to run around in during this wet weather we have been having, especially as winter is creeping in. Our favorites are’ Jumping Jacks’ in San Rafael, ‘Power Play’ at Cal Star Gym in Novato (check weekly calendar below for details), and of course the wonderful ‘Bay Area Discovery Museum’ in Sausalito.
But if you want to drive a little further, then ‘Scientopia’ in Napa is a great place with lots of different themed indoor areas and a garden outside with a picnic area for dry days.
Scientopia is a Discovery Center designed for children to combine play while learning music, art, math and science through creative free play and interactive exhibits. There is a soft play room for children three and under, full of soft building and climbing blocks, with slides, a small ball pit and lounge area alongside a full book shelf to chill out in.
The main room has a wide array of exciting activities for children to try out that are constantly rotated. It has a puppet theater for kids to create their own show, a dress up area full of costumes, and a music area with instruments to play with. A produce stand and little 50’s style diner where kids can learn the different fruit and vegetables going into their food cart. A little dig pit full of rubber gravel (much cleaner) where they can play with shovels and trucks, and a large train table with pop up holes in the center full of trains and other vehicles. There is a ‘Thinking Corner’ where children can explore and learn about pulleys, magnets, simple machines, use a turn table and wind tunnels. Also a ‘Brainiac Lab’ for children 5 and older, to experiment with microscopes, electricity and more.
It is a great place for children to experiment and learn new things while playing in a fun, vibrant environment!
Berkeley:
Tilden Regional Park, Berkeley
Posted September 1st 2010
If you feel like taking a little outing outside Marin then head over to Tilden Regional Park in Berkeley for a fun day out! It features the Regional Parks Botanic Garden of California native plants, an 18 hole golf course, and the nature area is 740-acre preserve with 10+ miles of hiking trails.
The park has fun features for kids such as the beautifully restored Herschell-Spillman merry-go-round which is open at weekends from 11.00 - 5.00 pm. The Redwood Valley Railway with miniature trains running at weekends from 11.00 - 6.00 pm. Also The Little Farm featuring cows, sheep, goats, pigs, chickens, rabbits and ducks. The sheep and goats appreciate a good munch, so remember to bring celery and lettuce for them!
The park's gem is a small sandy beach at Lake Anza surrounded by beautiful scenery and wildlife, the perfect setting for a picnic. Refreshments such as sandwiches, hot dogs and ice cream are also available from the Lake Anza Beach Club.
HABITOT
Posted January 27th 2012
If you are looking for indoor activities to do with your children during this changeable weather, check out HABITOT in Berkeley. Habitot is a children’s play and learning center with various themed areas for plenty of exploration and dramatic play.
Children can dress up as astronauts and take a ride inside a rocketship full of lights, buttons, keyboards, and phones to call mission control beside it.
They can dress up in other costumes in front of lit up mirrors and experiment with face paints. Take a shopping trip with their carts round the fresh produce market, or splash round with water in Waterworks area.
They can dress up in other costumes in front of lit up mirrors and experiment with face paints. Take a shopping trip with their carts round the fresh produce market, or splash round with water in Waterworks area.
There is a great arts and crafts room which has a huge wall for kids to grab a paintbrush and go crazy on, or sit down for organized art and craft activities. My son enjoyed discovering GAK which is similar to Playdoh but has a sticky rubbery consistence (GAK Facebook page). We also played with glue and glitter together to make a picture of his name.
There is also a small soft play area called the Infant Garden for little ones which was perfect for my 8 month daughter who is less happy to sit in her stroller and wants to join in the fun by starting to crawl and cruise around.
HABITOT has some great resources like the good selection of books in their parenting reference library with their own parenting pamphlets on useful subjects like; learning to share, how to stop biting, and how to control anger (theirs and yours). Also a toy lending service which is a wonderful idea!
The discovery museum is a small part of the large building that has been hosting classes and art programs since 1998. The appearance of the museum and its play structures reflects how long it has been open, and they welcome donations to help update their exhibit. I just wish the toy store by the entrance wasn’t so close the play areas as my son just kept wandering into it and wanting me to buy everything he picked up.
But HABITOT is good fun, especially on a rainy day and worth checking out!
For further information and opening times, please see their website
EVENTS:
Play Date Idea – A Royal Wedding Tea Party
I remember my sister and me dressing up and reenacting Princess Diana and Prince Charles’ wedding back in 1981, so I am super excited about the Royal Wedding between Prince William and Kate Middleton this Friday. It is great that so many Americans are getting into the spirit of the occasion, and a fun idea would be to turn it into a play date this week. Get a group of your mommy friends together to have a Royal Wedding themed tea party!
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| A Royal Wedding Party - The Marin Scoop |
As the wedding ceremony will be taking place in the early hours of the morning, you could show the recorded televised version over breakfast together! We are expecting good weather in Marin this Friday so take it outside and host a traditional English garden party. The party could have a “Prince & Princess” costume theme for the children, and ask the moms to get into the spirit too by wearing a hat (sun, wedding, tiara or crown).
It is easy to make some British themed decorations for the party such as ‘Union Jack’ flag bunting to hang in the garden or round the house using paper or fabric, or decorate with red, white and blue garlands, flags or balloons.
The food can be simple English style breakfast sandwiches such as sausage, egg or bacon “butties” with tomato ketchup or ‘HP Sauce’ dips, or smoked salmon and cream cheese…these might be tastier than the traditional English cucumber tea sandwiches! Also toasted English muffins or crumpets with melted cheese would be good too!
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| British Food at a Royal Party - The Marin Scoop |
These can be washed down with cups of English Breakfast black tea, served in a warmed teapot of course. Wedding flutes of orange Juice or mimosas, a fruit punch perhaps or my personal favorite drink is a refreshing mix of apple juice and ginger ale with fresh mint, squeeze of fresh limes and slices of cucumber. Delicious!
Depending on the children’s ages, a Royal Wedding craft table could be set up for decorating flags, crowns or even cupcakes with red, white and blue decorations, feathers, candy etc.
Decorated cupcakes with a British theme are a fun dessert option, or maybe an English ‘Victoria Sponge’ cake can be decorated with strawberries and blueberries in the shape of the Union Jack flag on top. Fruit scones with English clotted cream and fruit jam are popular, or bite size English cakes like ‘Bakewell Tarts’ and mini apple pies. Serve plates of English biscuits (cookies) like Cadbury’s ‘chocolate Digestives’, ‘Mini Chocolate Fingers’, or ‘Hob Knobs’. Other traditional English desserts include ‘Spotted Dick’ pudding (Heinz do a canned version) or a homemade ‘Trifle’ pudding which consist of layers of lady fingers on the bottom, fruit set in Jell-O in the middle and whipped cream on top with sprinkles and grated chocolate served in a large bowl. You can simplify this by offering fresh strawberries or fruit flavored “jelly” (Jell-O) served with vanilla ice cream or cream.
You can find most of these ingredients in ‘World Food Market’ and the British sections of some supermarkets.
Have fun with it and as the Brits say… enjoy “a jolly old knees up!”
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| My party in Marin Independent Journal |
Nicasio Valley Farm Pumpkin Patch, Nicasio Valley Road (quarter of a mile west from Nicasio Square),
Open 7 days a week from Oct 2nd – 31st 2010, 10.00 – 6.00 pm.
(Posted October 8th 2010)
A great way to get into the spirit of fall and Halloween is to visit the various pumpkin patches located around Marin. Our favorite is the one at Nicasio Valley Farm which is located in the most beautiful setting. It recently opened and has a whole host of entertainment throughout the month.
It is the place to pick from their wide selection of certified organic pumpkins, that are spread out in their large meadow. Kids can take a hayride, get lost in their mazes (one designed for little kids), bounce on the jumpy house or inflatable slide and visit the farm animals. Fresh produce can be bought at a stand that includes squash, gourds, apples and other organic vegetables. Snack and drinks are available and there is an organic ice cream stand, you can also get delicious cheese from their own ‘Nicasio Valley Cheese Co’ on Thursdays – Sundays. Big Ned’s BBQ provides a hearty lunch at weekends, and there is plenty of seating and picnic areas with shade.
At weekends you can catch the musician Tim Cain performing on the Sundays. The Marin Agricultural Land Trust (MALT) Day is on Thursday October 7th which will serve wood-fired pizza, Mexican food and beer by Iron Springs Brewery, there will also be an educational booth set up by MALT, beneficiary of pumpkin sales that day, from 10.00 – 4.00 pm.
Last year a bunch of us brought our children here for their first experience of a pumpkin patch, and were able to wheel groups of them around the meadow in wagons and wheelbarrows, this year they will be running around the field choosing their own pumpkins!
'The Tolay Festival’
from Thursday Oct 14th – Sunday 17th, from 10.00 am – 3.30 pm on Thursday & Fridays, and 9.00 – 5.00 pm at weekends, at Tolay Lake Regional Park outside Petaluma, $3 admission, free entry for 12 and under & $6 parking fee. For driving directions see website:
Posted October 15th 2010
A fun adventure play date to do with friends or family is the annual ‘Tolay Festival’ that takes place later this week in Sonoma. The festival grew from the original pumpkin patch and there are free Ranger-led tractor hay rides to the patch. It is now a festival that offers various attractions and activities for all ages including an animal area with Boer goats, a night time Creatures Barn with a Creep Crawly Critters room. A hands-on children’s area and Kiddie Corral, lawn games, a firefighting display, a Native American village, a demonstration of old farm equipment and early gas engines (which my son loves).
You can grab a bite from ‘Willie Bird Turkey BBQ’, or there is a taco truck and kettle corn vendor, alternatively bring you own picnic and enjoy it on the lawn or picnic tables while taking in a wonderful surroundings.
Bob the Builder exhibit, Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose, 180 Woz Way, San Jose, CA
Sunflower Valley is replicated to promote 'green' themes and all the elements of the TV series are child sized so the kids can drive the trucks and diggers. There are hands-on activities like Bob's workshop, Wendy solar paneled caravan and Farmer's Pickles water pump. Soon you will be saying: "Can we fix it? Yes we can!"
Suggestions on where to take the kids in Wet Weather
Posted March 26th 2012
Posted March 26th 2012
If running around the Northgate Mall doesn’t feel you with excitement than try taking the kids to these indoor activities:
Play Café
Take shelter from the rain with a hot coffee and a Panini at Play Cafe while the kids can dress up in costumes and perform in the theater room, discover their culinary skills in the toy kitchen, play with the train tables, toy castles and dollhouses or jump in the “swimming hole’ ball pool. There is free wi-fi and magazines for the grown-ups and a selection of kid-friendly snack and lunch options.
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| Play cafe, Oakland |
Chuck E. Cheese
Take a trip back to your own childhood with a drive further north to Chuck E.Cheese in Rohnert Park. Grab some tokens and let the kids run around the slot machine rides, climb up the tower and scoot around the play tubes above you. Pizza, oven roasted sandwiches and fill up at the salad bar for lunch.
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| Chuck E.Cheese |
Habitot
Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with ‘Shamrock Day’ at HABITOT, the children’s museum in Berkeley with Irish themed arts and crafts. Read my review of Habitot here.
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| Habitot in Berkeley |
Story time with Christopher Smith at Book Passage
My baby daughter had the pleasure of being introduced to the popular Christopher Smith's story and sing-along time last Sunday, and was rocking out to it for the full half hour.. It happens every Sunday at 11.00 am at the Book Passage in Corte Madera. The Book Passage also has great children’s book section and café!
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| Christopher Smith at Book Passage |
Marin County Fair 2012
Posted July 2nd 2012
We all get to enjoy the Marin County Fair for longer this year as July 4th lands on a Wednesday this year, so 3 more days left to pack in the fun!
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| Giant Wheel at Marin County Fair - The Marin Scoop |
Our family had a great time at the fair yesterday. Once you pay the $16 entrance fee the majority of the rides and games are FREE! My son and I boarded the solar powered choo choo train to get the lay of the land and check out the various vendors…most of the food is the typical fried affair but if you want to avoid the generic corn dogs and dripping nachos there is delicious fresh corn on the cob or support our local Mary’s Pizza Shack, Marin Cheese Company or Lydia's Organic Kitchen for juices and super healthy options.
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| A slice from Mary's Pizza Shack - The Marin Scoop |
The kids enjoyed seeing the animals at Clover Stornetta Farm where children can take a close look at the cute bunnies, chickens, sheep, cows, turkeys, goats, ponies. There is also a petting zoo for the children to pet the farm animals even beautiful fawns. The racing hogs were fun to watch in the Ham Bone Express and the Gymkhana is great for horse lovers.
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| Phil's Fresh Lemonade stand at Marin County Fair |
Afterwards we sat down on the grass and enjoyed out Ben and Jerry ice-cream in front the Little Theater puppet show with friends, which featured vintage characters like Thumbelina.
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| Carnival Rides at Marin County Fair - The Marin Scoop |
Our three year old son was hesitant about riding the solar powered Carousel or the Giant Wheel; which gives you sweeping views of the fair from nearly a100 feet height. So we headed to the kiddy rides at the Carnival, the jumping dune buggy cars and Corvette cars were more his style.
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| Corvette cars at Marin County Fair - The Marin Scoop |
The fair is on until Wednesday July 4th which will close with the fantastic fireworks at 9.30 pm. We look forward to exploring more of the rides and the rest of the fair before then!
Keep the Kids Cool - Shady Parks in Marin
Posted July 10th 2012
As the temperatures soars this week most families will be hitting the pools, but I thought I would share some suggestions on cool parks in Marin to take the kids to, where they can play in the shade without fear of burning.
Miwok Park, 2200 Novato Blvd, Novato
Miwok Park in Novato is surrounded by huge trees so it feels like a little cool haven where the kids can cool down while playing on the climbing structures and in the sand box.
There are plenty of great trees to climb and lots of picnic tables making it an ideal place for a large play group or birthday party. If you feel like an adventure, walk down to the Creek and go for a walk in the water and hunt for fish, rocks and other treasures.
Marinwood Park, 775 Miller Creek Road, San Rafael
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| Creek walking - The Marin Scoop |
For fire truck fans there is the Marinwood Fire Station next door (also available to hire for birthday parties).
The Marinwood Community Center has a preschool with a great reputation that offers kid’s classes and workshops all year round like children's music classes and toddler mini sports. Check out details about these and their regular family-friendly Music in the Park on their website on http://www.marinwood.org/. The swimming pool also has a small warm tot's pool that has a gated grass area with loungers and large parasols, perfect for a little group get together!
Also running behind the park is Miller Creek which is a wonderful stream that is great for little ones to take a walk in the Creek’s running water searching for rocks and fish in their crocs or rain boots hand in hand with Mom or Dad!
Terra Linda, San Rafael
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| Weezy's Grass fed Shed - The Marin Scoop |
You can find the Terra Linda Fire Station next door, where the kids love to see the shiny Fire Engines sat outside.
There is also a perfect view of the fire station from a great local mom owned business across the street called 'Weezy's Grass Fed Shed', 621 Del Ganado. It is a great place for a lunch where you can try their mini organic sliders and sweet potato fries (cooked in rice bran oil).
For a sweet treat, head to 'Three Twin Ice Cream', ice-cream parlor at 641 Del Ganado for an organic scoop of Madagascar Vanilla, Strawberry Fields, or my favorite flavor, Bittersweet Chocolate!
Freitas Park, Montecillo Road, San Rafael
A fun alternative is to take the kids to Freitas Park, Montecillo Road (next to the Kaiser Hospital in San Rafael) which has a water sprinkle structure. The structure looks like a giant red coil that is controlled by a hand print sensor that varies the strength of the water. Toddlers enjoy running through the sprays of water showering them from every direction.
Once dried off and in need of lunch or a snack, the Northgate Mall is a just few minutes’ drive away. 'Panera Bread' is a great place for a delicious variety of sandwiches, soups and salads with patio seating. 'Berry Twist' opposite Panera Bread and offers a variety of frozen yogurt such as pomegranate & green tea with lots of fun toppings, in a cool modern parlor, that also has outdoor seating.
Millennium Playground at San Anselmo Memorial Park
San Francisco Blvd (off Sir Francis Drake Blvd), San Anselmo
If you are looking for a park that the children can spend hours having adventures while discovering new areas and hidden corners of the playground then check out the Millennium Playground in San Anselmo Memorial Park.
The playground was built by a team of volunteers in May 2000 and was designed by the local children to reflect various San Anselmo themes. It has a variety of complex designed castle fortresses that represent the Seminary Tower and Town Hall Tower which are a lot of fun to get lost in. There is also a train depot with a wonderful wooden train, a giant dinosaur, sand box, swings and various slides that pop out of the wooden structures.
San Anselmo Memorial Park also has grassy areas, a picnic area, several sports fields, tennis courts and clean bathroom facilities.
Are you a fan of these parks or have any other suggestions on cool places for the kids to play in Marin, share your feedback by leaving a comment!
