Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in san jose, CA

What I Love About the Circus (And a Giveaway!)

by bonggamom

July 28, 2009

The circus is coming, the circus is coming!  What sweeter sound is there to a child's ears?  From Dumbo the Elephant to Olivia Saves the Circus to Dr. Seuss's If I Ran the Circus, the big top has held a special fascination for young children.  And it's no wonder:  what they see at a circus defies reality and lets their imagination soar as high as the flying trapeeze artists.  When they see elephants balance on balls, or scary tigers cuddle up to humans, or people walk on tightropes, they begin to feel like anything is possible.   Here are my favorite things about the circus:

1) Elephants:  I grew up watching Dumbo, and the first thing that I think of when you say the word circus is elephants.  There's something about those sweet, doe-eyed giants that warms countless hearts, young and old.

2) Clowns: A bunch of grownups with their pants falling down, tripping over this and that, squirting each other with water, throwing pie in one another's faces -- in short, acting like children.  What child wouldn't want to see that?

3) Cotton candy:  Pink, sweet, fluffy, spun from sugar and dreams, as magical as the circus itself.... if there ever was a time to let go a little, stop worrying about the next visit to the dentist and grab a stick of cotton candy, it would be during a visit to the circus.  Your child's teeth won't thank you for it, but he will.

4) Motorcycles:  Those motorcycles roaring up, over and around a big, round steel cage are loud and fast and guaranteed to make every little boy's eyes grow wide.

5) Acrobats:  Most children have spines like rubber (and bounce around like rubber balls), but even your little human pretzels will be impressed by contortionists and acrobats who flip and fold, tumble and turn in every way imaginable.  Make sure you have an extra supply of pillows around your couch the day after your little one watches them perform!

Lucky for us, in a couple of weeks the circus is coming to town, so we'll get to see all that and more.  The all-new Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus show, Zing Zang Zoom, will be playing at San Jose and Oakland!  With disappearing elephants, levitating audience members, and a circus turned literally upside down, Zin Zang Zoom merges fun magic with traditional circus acts in a circus spectacular that will remind children of all ages that the Greatest Show on Earth still lives on.

Zing Zang Zoom will be playing at Oakland's ORACLE Arena on the following dates:
August 12th:  7:30pm
August 13th:  7:30pm
August 14th:  7:30pm
August 15th: 11:00am, 3:00pm, 7:00pm
Aubust 16th:  1:00pm, 5:00pm


.... and at San Jose's HP Pavilion on the following dates:
August 19th:  7:30pm
August 20th:  7:30pm
August 21st:  7:30pm
August 22nd: 11:00am, 3:00pm, 7:00pm
August 23rd: 11:00am, 3:00pm, 7:00pm

So..... what do you love about the circus?  Tell us all about it and you could win tickets to the circus!  One lucky Being Savvy reader will receive a 4-pack of tickets to the Oakland show on opening night, August 12th at 7:30pm.  To enter, simply leave a comment on this post, telling what you or your child loves most about the circus.  For extra entries, you can do any of the following:

1) Tweet about this giveaway and leave a separate comment with a link to your tweet.  Here is a tweet you can copy and paste:

Win a ticket to the circus when it opens in Oakland on Aug. 12!  Join our giveaway at @savvySV  www.savvysource.com


2)  Blog about this giveaway and link back to this post.  Leave a separate comment here with a link to your blog post.

3) Email a friend about the upcoming Ringling Bros. circus!  You must send it to an email address that is not your own, and cc bonggamom@yahoo.com.  You must also include the link to www.ringling.com  and the upcoming show dates.  Please leave a separate comment on this post saying you did this.  You may email up to 3 people, for a maximum of 3 extra entries!

Giveaway ends at midnight PST on August 5, 2009.  I will pick a winner at random and announce the winner's name on August 6.  Please leave a valid email address so I can contact you; you will have 48 hours to respond before I pick an alternate winner.  Good luck!  

Can't wait to see if you're the lucky winner?  Purchase a 4-pack of tickets for only $44 by calling 1-800-745-3000, or by logging onto www.ticketmaster.com and entering the coupon code:  MOM (Not valid on VIP, Front Row and Circus Celebrity seats or combinable with other offers).  This coupon code is valid in select markets across the country; click here to see whether your city qualifies.

Summer Concerts

by bonggamom

July 21, 2009

One of the best things about summer are the long, long days, making it easy for the whole family to take a walk or kick around a few balls in the back yard after dinner.   With such nice, warm, sunny evenings, it's no wonder that outdoor summer concerts are such a popular family activity. If you haven't already taken your family to a summer concert, now's the time to try.  Pack a picnic dinner, grab a blanket and sweater, and enjoy one of the many outdoor summer concerts around Silicon Valley. There's one for every night of the week!

Monday evenings
Jazz Mondays on Main Street, Redwood City

Tuesday evenings
Campbell Summer Concert Series 
Milpitas Summer Concert Series
Twilight Concert Series, Palo Alto

Wednesday evenings
Menlo Park Summer Concert Series
Jazz on the Plazz, Los Gatos
Summer Music and Market, Sunnyvale

Thursday evenings
Mountain View Summer Concert Series
Metro Music in the Park, San Jose
Sounds of the Row, Santana Row
Movies on the Square, Redwood City

Friday evenings
Music on the Square, Redwood City
Rockin on the Patio, AJ Stumps San Jose
Friday Movie Nights, Los Altos

Saturday evenings
Vasona Vibrations Outdoor Music Series
Jazz and Beyond, Sunnyvale
Summer Family Movie Nights, San Jose

Sunday evenings
Music in the Park, Los Gatos

Does your city have a summer concert series not mentioned here?  Please email me at bonggamom@yahoo.com; I'd love to add it to the list!

5 Daytrips South of Silicon Valley

by bonggamom

July 14, 2009

Nothing says summer quite like a Road Trip: hopping in the car with a picnic basket and blanket and driving off, with the summer sun and breeze and the excitement making the journey almost as fun as the destination itself.  With so many great destinations close to Silicon Valley, there's no time quite like summertime to go exploring.  Today let's make like the birds and head down south for some great day trips.  Here are five great places to spend the day with your little one:

1)  Monterey
When parents plan a trip to Monterey, their thoughts usually turn to the Monterey Bay Aquarium, and for good reason.  But Monterey is so chock-full of things to do that you'll get many, many day-trips out of it.  I don't care much for Cannery Row -- not much to do for the kids -- but we do enjoy seal-spotting at Fisherman's Wharf. You'll also find old-fashioned penny candy, clam chowder, fish & chips fried straight off the boat -- and the only organ grinder monkey we've ever seen.   And don't even get me started on the Dennis the Menace Playground and all the things to do around El Estero Park.

2)  Carmel By The Sea
With such a cute name, how could it not be fun?  Just south of Monterey, you can get to Carmel via Highway 101 if you're in a hurry.  Or if you have time (and a DVD player in your car) you can do the scenic 17-mile Drive that begins at Monterey, winds along the coast and ends in Carmel. Head down to the end of Ocean Street to the beautiful, pet-friendly white sand beach (good luck finding parking). You'll need to keep your kids close to you when walking into some of the galleries and craft stores on Ocean Street (the expression really ought to be Like a Kid in a China Shop), but that shouldn't stop you from paying a visit to Kris Kringle, the year-round Christmas store in the equally charming Doud Arcade.

3)  Santa Cruz
Our standard Santa Cruz outing includes a morning on the beach and afternoon on the Boardwalk, a picnic lunch on the sands and a funnel cake by the shops.  Once in a while we head to the Santa Cruz harbor to watch the boats come in while munching on fish and chips.  Or take a stroll up and down the Municipal Wharf.   We always stop downtown for coffee (try the Santa Cruz Coffee Roasting Co. or Lulu's) before we head home.  And we always have a great time.

4)  Gilroy Gardens / Bonfante
OK, I'll admit we've never been there.  But so many parents look at me with such incredulity and pity when I tell them that it's on my list of things to do before my kids grow up.  With its family themed rides and focus on nature, I want to take the kids before they move on to rides with names like MegaTwister and G-Zone and consider themselves too cool for that corny stuff.  Many of my friends love it so much they buy annual passes (it pays for itself in two visits and it's tax-deductible).  On the way home, shopaholics and bargain hunters like me may find the 145 stores at the Gilroy outlets too tempting to pass up.  Just hope that you've tired your little ones out to the point where you can leave them in the car, blissfully snoring away, with your spouse.

5)  Laguna Seca Recreation Area
I know I'm going a bit off the usual kiddie beaten track here, but if you've got boys with nothing but hotwheels on their minds, this one's a winner.  I wouldn't even know about it if my husband weren't such a MotoGP freak, but Laguna Seca is home to one of the most revered racing circuits in the world.  They host several major motorcyle and sportscar racing events throughout the year, and kids 12 and under usually get in free.  I couldn't care less about motorbikes, but I have to admit that watching these bikes zoom past you during live races is pretty cool.  Needless to say, my boys -- the twins and their dad -- had the time of their lives. 

Staying Up Late for Fireworks

by bonggamom

July 02, 2009

It's the 4th of July weekend, and no doubt you already have your Independence Day plans set up.  Whether you plan to fire up the barbecue, jump into the pool, or attend one of the many parades and festivals around Silicon Valley, your little ones are sure to have a great time.  And since the 4th falls on a Saturday this year, you might even consider letting your little ones stay up until it gets dark and the fireworks begin.  After all, they don't have to  wake up bright and early the next day to get to summer camp or daycare or summer school -- and neither do you.  So go ahead, stay up and let them experience the magic. 

You don't have to go far; just drive up and down Highway 101 at 9:30PM on Saturday night, and your little one will be treated to a bevy of fireworks from one city to the next (you, of course, will be keeping your eyes on the road, right?).  Or pick one from the list below, and get there early with your picnic blanket, chairs and sweatshirts:

1)  Foster City's fireworks begin at 9:30 pm, and can be viewed from Leo Ryan Park.  Note that tarps, personal fireworks and cigarettes will not be allowed at the event; also, SamTrans will not be giving free transportation to and from the viewing area this year, so be sure to bring bus fare or find a friend to ride with.

2)  We never miss Redwood City's fireworks display; they're the nearest to our house, and a real treat to watch.  The show starts at 9:30 p.m., but if you have hopes of viewing the display from the Port of Redwood City's waterfront, make sure you get there by 7:00pm (the police close the area off once all parking spots are taken).  However, the fireworks can still be seen from downtown Redwood City and high points all over the Peninsula west of Highway 101.

3)  The City of Santa Clara's fireworks display serves as the finale to their all-day, All City Picnic from 8:00am till 5:00pm.  The fireworks begin at 9:30pm after some evening entertainment at Santa Clara's Central Park.  Arrive early to get the best viewing spots!

4)  Get ready for a spectacular fireworks set to music at Mountain View's Shoreline Ampitheater!  Radio Disney Presents The 23rd Annual 4TH OF JULY FIREWORKS SPECTACULAR with THE SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY "A Look To The Future" with music from 2001: A Space Odyssey, The Planets, Star Wars and a Star Trek retrospective special guest GEORGE TAKEI.  The concert begins at 5pm and ends at 10pm with fireworks. 

5)  Cupertino's fireworks display will start at 9:30pm at the Cupertino High campus.  Note, there will be no public access to the school. Handicap parking wpill be available at Creekside Park. Street closures 6pm - 12am: Finch Ave., Calle De Barcelona (between Miler Ave. and Finch Ave.), Tilson Ave. (between Finch Ave. and Tantau Ave.), Phil Lane (between Miller Ave. and Tantau Ave.), Stendhal Lane (between Shadygrove Dr. and Phil Ln.). After 6pm there will be NO pedestrian or vehicle access.

Have a Happy and Safe 4th of July weekend!

Camping with Little Ones

by bonggamom

June 29, 2009

Camping season is in full swing, and my family is joining all the other outdoor-lovers in America by getting ready to pitch the tents, strike the matches and spear the marshmallows.  We started our children with backyard camping two years ago and moved on to an actual campsite last year.  They enjoyed it so much that we planned a couple of weekend trips this year.  Just as outings with children require special planning, so do camping trips.  Here are five Must-Have items on my camping list when I camp with my kids:  

1) Little Toys
Despite my belief in ability of nature to keep my children occupied, I always like to have a backup plan.  So don't forget to grab a couple of Hot Wheels cars or Polly Pockets from the toy bin before you leave home.  That way, your little one will have something to entertain himself with when Base Camp has all been explored-out, but they're stuck at Base Camp while mom or dad are cooking, and it's too hot to wander off.

2) A Box to Store Treasures
To a child, a camping trip is like a treasure hunt that lasts for as long as you're in the outdoors.  There are shells and stones and feathers and trinkets galore, just waiting to be found -- so make sure your child has somewhere special to keep them.  And when the camping trip is over, he'll have his special box that he can open to let all the good memories out.

3) A flashlight
Once it gets dark, every member of the family should have a flashlight.  Campfires and kerosene lamps cast a nice friendly glow, but having a flashlight will help each person see where he or she is going.  And it makes for some fun laser-light play.

4) A Night Light
The Great Outdoors can quickly become the Spooky Outdoors after bedtime has arrived and the lights go out.  Flashlights are fun, but they might be too bright for little eyes and can cast scary shadows.  Break out a couple of glowsticks and hang them inside your tent for a soothing glow that's a lot more like the nightlights back home.  Or buy a hand-crank flashlight and give it a couple of turns.  Wrap the flashlight in a tshirt if it's too bright, and gradually, as it loses power, the light will grow dimmer and dimmer -- just as your little one drifts off to sleep.

5) A Potty
If your child is in the habit of waking up in the middle of the night to use the toilet, consider having a portable potty handy just a couple of paces away from your tent.  It's so much easier than having to walk to the nearest portable toilet and struggle with flashlights and toilet paper and a squirmy, sleepy child.  We like to line our portapotty with disposable diapers to make cleanup easy.  Of course, if you have a little boy, any nearby tree would make a great alternative.

Happy Trails!

Weekend Outlook, May 22nd - 25th

by bonggamom

May 21, 2009

Well hello there, Savvy readers.  I'm certainly feeling festive today, so for this edition of the Weekend Outlook, I'm going to focus on festivals, festivals and more festivals.  Maybe it's because the sun is shining.  Maybe it's because there are only a few more weeks till summer vacation starts.  Maybe it's because we have a 3-day weekend coming up.  Or maybe because it's my birthday tomorrow.  There are plenty of reasons to celebrate, and plenty of events to do all that celebrating: 

1)  Get ready for a colorful, spectacular festival in San Francisco's Mission District.  SF Carnaval is happening this weekend, and you know what that means:  glittery costumes, lively music, killer samba, and lots of fun!

2)  Did you know that May is Asian Pacific Islander Month?  To celebrate, the Bay Area Discovery Museum is holding its 15th Annual Asian Pacific Heritage Festival on Saturday, May 23, with free admission to the museum and all events.  Families can experience and enjoy the traditions of Asian and Pacific Islander communities through performances, food and the arts.

3)  Morgan Hill celebrates their annual Mushroom Mardi Gras festival with food, music, entertainment, a fun run, and of course, yummy mushrooms!  It's all happening on May 23 and 24 in downtown Morgan Hill.

Hope you have a great Memorial Weekend!

Weekend Outlook, May 15th - May 17th -- Let the Festivals Begin

by bonggamom

May 14, 2009

They say it's going to be a scorcher of a weekend in Silicon Valley.  I'm not looking forward to the high temperatures, but the good news is that the long, lazy summer is almost here -- and  with the heat comes all the fun summer festivals!  The summer festival season kicks off this weekend in cities all over the Bay Area.  Here's a roundup of some family favorites:

1)  Downtown Campbell is hot, hot, hot!  Their Boogie on the Bayou festival (Saturday and Sunday, May 16-17) will showcase Cajun and New Orleans style cuisine, and they've got some spicy music playing, including Cajun, Blues, Calypso and Jazz.  Kiddos will love the kids' craft area and grownups can stroll through the Arts and Crafts booths. 

2)  Mountain View's 13th Annual A La  Carte & Art festival takes place this weekend in downtown Mountain View (Saturday and Sunday, May 16-17).  Aside from the usual food, music and  shopping, expect a juried art show, health and wellness displays, an organic and green products showcase, a farmer's market and kids' amusement section. 

3)  Kids are the stars of the Hands on the Arts Festival in Sunnyvale (Saturday, May 16). There are a whopping 37 different hands-on workshops for children ages 3-12, led by professional artists (participation requires a wristband which can be purchased for $5).  There is also live entertainment throughout the day.

4)  Held on the Saturday following Mother's Day, every year since  1947, the Los Altos Kiwanis Club Pet Parade begins on Main Street, promptly at 10 a.m. (May 16).  It's a wonderful spring celebration that attracts thousands of kids, along with their pets, wagons, bicycles, parents and neighbors.   It includes youth groups, marching bands, fire engines, and antique police cars.

5)  This year San Carlos celebrates the 25th anniversary of the San Carlos Hometown Days festival.  Held in the spirit of the old-fashioned, fun-filled community gatherings of yesteryear, the event kicks on on Friday night with a musical concert, and continues through Saturday and Sunday.  It's chock-ful of events such as a parade, kids' relays, art contests, battle of the bands, a pancake breakfast, and fairground rides.

Silicon Valley Easter Events

by bonggamom

April 09, 2009

Here comes Peter Cottontail, hoppin' down the bunny trail, hippity hoppity Easter's on its waaaaayy.....    The Easter scene is hoppin' with egg hunts, crafts, pictures, puppet shows and more. Don your best Easter bonnet, tie a ribbon round a basket and hop on down to one of the many fun Easter events scheduled this weekend:

EGG HUNTS
Many cities are holding free or low-cost Easer Egg hunts with crafts, Easter Bunny visits and other fun activities.  If your little one isn't a champion hopper, don't worry; most of these hunts are grouped by age and limit the number of eggs per person, to make sure every child goes home happy.  All events listed below start at 10:00 AM on Saturday, April 11:

1) City of Menlo Park's Easter Egg Hunt at Burgess Park, Menlo Park (ages 8 and under).  Free.

2) City of Los Altos Easter Egg Hunt at Hillview Soccer Field, Los Altos (egg hunts for children walking to 4 years, 5-7 years, and 8-10 years).  Free.

3) Atherton Dames' Annual Easter Egg Hunt at Holbrook-Palmer Park, Atherton. $ 5 per person.

4) City of Santa Clara Easter Egg Hunt at Central Park, Santa Clara (egg hunt divisions for ages 3-4, 5-6, 7-8 and special needs).  Free. 

5) City of Moraga's Spring Egg Hunt at Moraga Commons Park, Moraga (ages 1-6 years).  $5 per child, purchase tickets in advance.

EASTER WITH A TWIST
Easter's not just about egg hunts!  If you're looking to celebrate Easter in a special way, check these events out:

1)Join the Hiller Aviation Museum in welcoming the Easter Bunny arrive in a personal helicopter!  Your child can watch him land at 10:30am on April 11 and receive an egg straight the bunny's paws.  There's also face painting and a great European Model Train display.

2)  Take a ride on the Roaring Camp Railroad and search for chocolate candy eggs in a redwood forest!  Their Eggstraordinary Egg Hunt is set for Sunday, April 12.

3)  Hop, hop, hooray, it's an Easter Parade!  Enjoy the marching bands, baton dancers, classic cars and more at Downtown Campbell's 12th Annual Bunnies & Bonnets Parade The parade starts at noon on April 11.  Afterwards, stay for the Old Fashioned Kids' Fair (1pm-3pm) featuring live music and free games for all the kids. 

LUXURY EASTER BRUNCHES
I love brunch buffets (omelettes cooked especially for me, in front of me, always seem to taste extra-yummy!), and Easter brunches are a special treat.  My all-time favorite luxury Easter Brunch is the one held at the Ahwahnee Hotel in Yosemite, CA; if the Ahwahnee isn't in your plans this year, here are two luxury brunches a bit closer to home:

1)  The Ritz-Carlton at Half Moon Bay goes all out from 10:30am – 3:30pm on Easter Sundy, with Easter favorites like  rosemary-and-garlic roasted leg of lamb and chocolate Easter eggs -- as well as nontraditional dim sum, Pekin duck and tempura.  Children will enjoy the  egg decorating competition, a visit by the Easter Bunny, face painting, a baby animal petting zoo, and an egg hunt on the gazebo lawn.

2)  Easter Brunch at The Fairmont San Jose (Easter Sunday from 10:30am – 3pm) features luxury touches like house-smoked salmon, iced tiger shrimp, Alaskan crab legs, decadent desserts, and of course, champagne.  “Alice in Wonderland” is the theme of this year’s Easter champagne brunch at The Fairmont. There will be Easter egg hunting for the children and a gazebo in the imperial foyer, where children can take pictures with Alice and the Easter Bunny.

Hope you have a, hop, hop, hoppy, er, Happy Easter!

Spring Has Sprung! Weekend Outlook, March 27th - 29th

by bonggamom

March 26, 2009

The sun is shining, it's 65 degrees outside, and they're predicting more sun and high temperatures this weekend (mid-70's!)... don't you just love California?!  Spring has definitely sprung in our little corner of the world, with lots of fun springtime events, uh, sprouting up all over Silicon Valley.  We've got lots of ways to celebrate the great weather this weekend with your preschooler:

1) Celebrate the beginning of gardening season with a fun gardening activity, this Friday at Cheeky Monkey toys in Menlo Park.

2) It's time for a Spring Fling at Filoli!  Filoli Gardens hosts their popular annual springtime event this Saturday.  The gorgeous spring blooms serve as a colorful backdrop for this family fun event.  Children will enjoy visits from well-loved characters, a puppet show, a magic show, arts and crafts, and storytelling.   For grownups, there are demonstrations, guided walks, floral displays and live music. 

3)  Stanford Shopping Center hosts an early Easter activity this Saturday at 11:00am.  Their Easter Eggstravaganza features a mall-wide egg hunt, visits from the Easter Bunny and Desperaux, and Hop Into Spring entertainment at 2:00pm.

4)  Speaking of Easter, the Easter Bunny is once again making the rounds at various malls.  Dress your little ones in their best Easter Bonnets for a special photo, or just have them sit on Mr. Bunny's lap for a short visit. 
*  Hillsdale Mall
*  Stanford Shopping Mall
*  Eastridge Mall 
*  Westgate Mall    

5)  Now that the weather is getting warmer, it's time to bring out the ice cream!  The Friends of the Atherton Library will be hosting an ice cream social and book exchange. Head to the library this Saturday,March 28, 1:00-3:00 p.m.  Bring a book, take a book, have some ice cream -- it's all free.

99 things you must do with your child in Silicon Valley before they grow up

by bonggamom

February 24, 2009

It seems like only yesterday that The Pea was just a little pea.  Now she's 7 and there are still so many things we haven't done together.  I really have to hurry, because some of the best experiences in the Valley have use-by dates:  I want my kids to first experience them while they're young, before the magic fades and they retreat into the solitude of their bedroms and their iPods.

With that in mind, here's a list of must-do activities for parents and kids around Silicon Valley:

Good Eats
 1) Taste garlic ice cream at the Gilroy Garlic Festival.
 2) Chew on saltwater taffy at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk.
 3) Pick berries at a local farm.
 4) Eat fish and chips at Princeton-by-the-Sea.
 5) Get a sugar high at the Jelly Belly Factory.
 6) Have a pancake breakfast at Hobees.
 7) Slurp clam chowder from a sourdough bread bowl at Fisherman's Wharf.
 8) Have an ice cream sundae at Ghirardelli Square.
 9) Burn your tongue at Palo Alto's annual Chili Cook-off.
10) Enjoy berrylicious treats at Watsonville's Strawberry Festival.
11) Go on a tasting tour -- cheese tasting, that is -- around Napa and Sonoma Valley.

The Animal Kingdom
12) Pat a llama at the Happy Hollow Zoo.
13) Join the Los Altos Pet Parade.
14) Milk a cow and feed chickens at Hidden Villa.
15) Watch for whales at the Point Sur Lighthouse.
16) Feed the ducks at Shoreline Park.
17) Spend the day at the Monterey Bay Aquarium.
18) See the Monarch Butterflies in Pacifica.
19) Listen to the sea lions barking at Pier 39.
20) Ride an elephant at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom.
21) Go on safari at Santa Rosa's Safari West.
22) Visit the elephant seals at Ano Nuevo State Reserve.

Events
23) Do the Dragon Dance at San Francisco's Chinese New Year Parade.
24) Welcome springtime at Cupertino's Cherry Blossom Festival.
25) Celebrate Cinco de Mayo at San Jose's annual parade.
26) Watch 4th of July Fireworks from Shoreline Ampitheater.
27) See the Tall Ships and Blue Angels at San Francisco's Fleet Week.
28) See the world's biggest pumpkins at the Half Moon Bay Pumpkin Festival.
29) Go trick or treating at Santana Row.
30) Watch the San Francisco Ballet's Nutcracker.
31) Drive through the Vasona Fantasy of Lights display.
32) Meet Santa Claus at a train station during Caltrains Holiday Train.
33) Enjoy holiday scenes at San Jose's Christmas at the Park.

Sporty Stuff
34) Watch a baseball game at San Francisco's AT&T park.
35) Sail a boat on Shoreline lake.
36) Surf (ok, boogie-board) the waves at San Gregorio State beach.
37) Go rafting on the American River.
38) Ice skate under the stars at Palo Alto's Winter Lodge.
39) Run Bay to Breakers with the little ones in a stroller.
40) Bike the Los Gatos Creek trail.
41) Sink a mini-hole-in-one at Golfland.
42) Take your child for a spin at Redwood City's Malibu Grand Prix.
43) Row, row, row your boat at Vasona Lake County Park.
44) Catch some fish at Ed Levin County Park.

Museums
45) Explore and learn at the Children's Discovery Museum.
46) Scare yourself at the Winchester Mystery House.
47) Play tag amongst the artwork at Stanford University's Rodin Sculpture Garden.
48) Marvel at the California Academy of Science's Living Roof.
49) Count the Pez dispensers at Burlingame's Pez Museum.
50) Walk like an Egyptian at San Jose's Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum.
51) Geek out at the Tech Museum.
52) Take a class at the Palo Alto Junior Museum and Zoo.
53) Play and pretend at Oakland's Habitot Children's Museum.
54) Let your imagination take flight at the Hillier Aviation Museum.
55) Follow the toy trains at the Edward Peterman Museum of Railroad History.

Seein' the Sights
56) Watch an IMAX film at The Tech Museum.
57) See the circus trees at Gilroy Gardens.
58) Enjoy the view from the top of Stanford's Hoover Tower.
59) Watch a space shuttle launch at the NASA Ames Visitor Center.
60) See the stars up close at Lick Observatory.
61) Drive across the Golden Gate Bridge.
62) Check out the local bikers at Alice's Cafe in Woodside.
63) Watch a play, for kids and by kids, at Palo Alto's Hotdog Suppertime Shows.
64) Watch the airplanes bound for San Francisco airport take off and land, from Coyote Point park.
65) See where the San Francisco Bay ends at Palo Alto's Baylands Park.
66) Count as many of the Livermore windmills as you can while driving through Altamont Pass on Highway 580.

Nature
67) Hike through the redwoods at Henry Cowell State Park.
68) Hike up to The Dish at Stanford University.
69) Build a sandcastle at Santa Cruz beach.
70) Find serenity at San Jose's Japanese Friendship Garden.
71) Paint the roses red at San Jose's Heritage Rose Garden.
72) Wade in the creek at Los Altos' Shoup Park.
73) Save the earth on California Coastal Cleanup Day.
74) Pick apples at Gizdich Ranch.
75) Explore the tidepools at the Natural Bridges State Beach.
76) Say hello to the wild turkeys at Deer Hollow Farm.
77) Camp overnight at the Big Basin State Park.

Spend the weekend (or week!) at....
78) ...Yosemite National Park...
79) ...Sequoia National Park...
80) ...Lake Tahoe...
81) ...Napa Valley...
82) ...Sacramento...
83) ...Strawberry...
84) ...Gold Country...
85) ...Carmel-by-the-Sea...
86) ...Big Sur...
87) ...Solvang, or...
88) ...LA

Just Plain Fun
89) Ride the Caltrain up and down the Peninsula.
90) Ride the Billy Jones Wildcat Railroad.
91) Chug through the redwoods on the Roaring Camp Railroad.
92) Catch a cable car on the hills of San Francisco.
93) Hop on the Bill Mason carousel at Oak Meadow Park.
94) Enjoy the rides at Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk.
95) Get stuck on stickers at the Mrs. Grossman's sticker factory.
96) Splash around at the Morgan Hill Aquatics Park.
97) Meet storybook characters at Oakland's Fairyland.
98) Splash through the fountains at the Plaza de Cesar Chavez.
99) Watch a movie at the San Jose's Capitol Drive-In Movie Theater.

My family has done quite a few of these items, but we're nowhere near done.  We (and you) had better get cracking on the rest of this list before the kids grow up!

If you have other activities that simply must be on this list, email us at beingsavvysiliconvalley@savvysource.com. 

Family events on Valentine's Day

by Bonggamom

February 13, 2009

Okay, so you didn't follow my advice. You just didn't get around to making the dinner reservations, or the childcare arrangements, soon enough. Maybe the restaurant burned down or the babysitter got her own hot date. Or maybe you love your kids so much you can't bear to be parted from them on this love-filled weekend. Whatever the case, here are some events where you and your little ones can  Read more...

Holiday tree lighting ceremonies

by Bonggamom

November 28, 2008

Get ready, people; today is Black Friday. Even though you've still got half a turkey in your fridge, The December Holiday Season has Begun . For many grownups, this means crowds and overspending and drunk relatives and stress, but for children, it's all about the presents and the treats and the decorations and the pretty twinkling lights. The holidays are a special time for children, and cities  Read more...

Ready, set, trot!

by Bonggamom

November 14, 2008

Slowly but surely, we're headed towards the holiday season. On the bright side, that means lots of family gatherings and fun. Unfortunately, it also means food, food and more food. You know you're going to have that extra slice of pie, so you might as well burn some calories beforehand. Instead of lounging around while the turkey cooks, why not take the kids and join a turkey trot? Turkey  Read more...

Frightfully fun events around Silicon Valley

by Bonggamom

October 21, 2008

Alfie groaned when he came home one day and saw skeletons lining the fireplace mantel. "It's only September 28, and you're decorating for Halloween already". "I know it's early, dear, but October is my hands-down favorite month of the year, and I like to get into the spirit of things as soon as possible". As I patiently explained to him, when else will I find the time to glue all those litle  Read more...

The Home Team

by Shawn Burns

June 16, 2008

Our national editors here at Savvy Source have enlisted our help in coming up with ways to connect your tax deductions to their far-flung relatives. This one touches pretty close to home with me, because I'm terrible at keeping Erin connected with my parents (Emily is much better at this). We bought one of those infant picture books that you are supposed to fill with  Read more...