The Holidays are all about spending time with family and friends. Looking for some fun things to do with your family locally this holiday season, ways to keep your kids busy over break or entertaining out of town guests? Here is a list of our favorite holiday activities for family members of all ages.
Ornament Tree at the Lafayette Reservoir Lafayette Reservoir Recreation Area:
See the ornaments on the Lafayette Reservoir Plum Tree. A local tradition for over 2 decades, where visitors are encourage to bring an ornament and you can also take a fun family walk or hike. Enjoy the beautiful 600 acres of wide open space studded with oak trees, bay trees, and and oak grass, with a lake in the center of the park. There are plenty of picnic tables and a large lawn area and children’s playground on the East side. Even in the rain, you can hike and stay dry on the Lakeside Nature Trail which is 2.7 miles. You can bring your dog along (on a leash) with the kids. Fishing and boating are available for additional fees.
3849 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Lafayette, Ca. Open sunrise –sunset
Parking: Meter parking or $6.00 all day fee
Orchard Nursery’s Christmas Tree Winter Wonderland
4010 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Lafayette, Ca. 9:00am – 5:00pm Every Day.
Enjoy a spectacular display of Christmas trees each decorated with beautiful and unique tree decorations to fit a particular theme from music, sports, storybooks, horses, cars, gingerbreads, to Russian and German handicrafts. The entire nursery is decked out in the 2012 theme, Starry, Starry Nights. Outside there is a wooden electric train that goes around the fish pond with a waterfall. Children will find it enchanting, and adults will find it is almost impossible to resist not buying one of the lovely plants or gift items you will see there!
Orinda’s Model Trains Display
Featured along the front window of True Value Orinda Hardware 56 Moraga Way in Orinda, this is a wonderful interactive display of Model trains with a tunnel, mountains, and miniature carnival with moving parts. It is set up so kids of all ages, even preschoolers, can access the switches to make the trains move and whistle blow.
Store hours are: M-F:7:30 AM – 6:30 PM, Sat:8:00 AM – 6:00 PM, Sun:10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
San Ramon Christmas lights
Bill Graham Menorah Day Festival
Dec. 8 – 15, at 3-6 pm
Activities for kids, dreidels, music and dancing, a 4 pm ceremony with local officials and dignitaries, and lighting of the menorah candle at 4:30 pm.
At Union Square Park, Geary and Powell streets.
HYATT REGENCY SAN FRANCISCO Snow Village & Snow Fall in the Lobby & Ice Skating
Visit the Hyatt Atrium Lobby’s snow village and garden scale train display by collector Glen Leveque and Eric Moe of Moe Trains. Enjoy the 300,000 cascading lights and a dramatic 30-foot tree, snow will fall three times a day in the hotel’s lobby, Ice skating at the Embarcadero ice rink.
November 16 through December 31, 2012.
Alameda Christmas Tree Lane
Amazing display of lights and Christmas decorations homes decorated along Thompson Ave. Park your car and enjoy a stroll with your family to check out all the homes decorated in a variety of holiday themes.
Address: 3200 Thompson Ave, Alameda, CA 94501 (between High St & Fernside Blvd)
San Ramon Christmas lights
The Vista San Ramon Community in San Ramon, CA is located off of Alcosta Blvd. across from Central Park and Iron Horse Middle School (accessible via Overlook Dr and Woodland Dr) This neighborhood gets in the holiday spirit and homes are well decorated for the holidays! Many visitors park their cars and walk through each street to take in the sights and sounds and admire the extensive decorating each home has done. Food collection bins are set at each entrance for those who wish to donate non-perishable food items.
Sundar Shadi Holiday Display (on Moeser Lane)
See this beautiful Nativity display on his sprawling hillside yard on the Arlington.
Address: On Moeser Lane, east of San Pablo Avenue, El Cerrito, CA 94530
Hours: 5:30 PM - 10:00 PM
Dates: December 15 - December 26
Donate locally – One Warm Coat
Roughing It Day Camp Office, 1010 Oak Hill Road, Lafayette, 9:30am – 5:30pm M – F
This is a simple and meaningful activity that allows children to think of others, and not just themselves during the holidays. Help your child to find “gently used “ coats in their closet that they have outgrown which can be donated the Richmond Rescue Mission through the One Warm Coat Organization. This is a great way to teach children to help others and to be generous with what they have been lucky enough to be given. Bring your coats to drop off at the Roughing It Office or the closest One Warm Coat drop-off spot near you!
Share with us your family’s favorite holiday activities. We’d love to hear from you and add them to our list. Enjoy!
