Your Family’s Ultimate Guide to the Winter Season around the San Francisco Bay Area!
Columbia Allergy is the nation’s leading network of renowned allergists and immunologists specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of children and adults with environmental and food allergies. Under the leadership of Dr. Sanjeev Jain and a renowned team of board-certified allergists and immunologists, Columbia Allergy aims to help patients who suffer from a life of strict allergen avoidance achieve relief through innovative, clinically proven treatment methods.
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EllevateMD is more than a plastic surgery office—it is a mindset. It was founded to provide customized, natural beauty solutions to today’s busy women. Of course, Dr. Jayaram welcomes men into her practice as well, especially those who support the busy professional women in their lives.
Established in 1995 as a traditional perfumery in San Francisco, the elizabethW brand has expanded to include exquisite and original collections for bath, body, and home, through the founder’s commitment to quality fragrances, superb ingredients, and innovative design.
Winter Wonderland
Did you know that the effects of screen time not only damage your eyes but also your skin and sleep quality? The main culprit? Blue light. Protecting our eyes, skin, and sleep from the damaging effects of blue light is more important than ever before.
The #MomsUnitedForCali campaign goal is simple: to raise money and awareness to support small businesses struggling across California.
Unique items inspired by Tracy‘s childhood and her own children, sharing with you creative ways to celebrate holidays and milestones. Each item is hand made and has its own touches and nuances – making each creation one of a kind!
Use code SFBAM to get 10% off IYK online programs! Purchase an IYK Family Pass ( $99/monthly ) and we’ll Donate 1 month to a Family in Need.New Holiday Traditions
Deck Your Homes
Home for the Holidays
- Make a family keepsake. Stamp your kids’ handprints on a piece of fabric and build a quilt. Save your children’s letters to Santa in a photo album. If you’re musically inclined, write an original song to sing each year. It doesn’t matter what it is, as long as it’s something that lasts year after year.
- Learn about the holiday. Whether you choose to focus on particular stories from your religion, learn how it’s celebrated in different parts of the world, listen to stories from older family members about their childhood memories, or choose an entirely new religion to learn about, find ways to connect your kids with the larger spirit of the season.
- Write holiday cards together. Instead of laying the burden of mailing cards entirely on yourself, find ways for the whole family to pitch in, even if it’s licking the envelopes. (Milk and cookies are excellent motivators)
- Elf yourself. Everyone will get a kick out of seeing themselves as animated elves, and it couldn’t be easier to do.
- Read books along with Rosie and print out the fun activities like the Gingerbread Activity Workbook.
- Track Santa. Starting December 1, the NORAD website has an official Santa tracker, so your kids can keep tabs on the big guy all the way through Christmas Day. If the North American Aerospace Defense Command can get into the Christmas spirit, then anyone can.
- Plan visits from the holiday fairies. Leading up to the main holiday events, plan something fun to do with your kids each day. Have your kids open an envelope from the “fairies” each morning with a special activity for the day. It doesn’t matter what it is, as long as it’s something planned to do together (and you won’t have to look much further than this list for your inspiration).
- Decorate the house. Have your kids make an ornament each year to hang on the tree (plus extras to give to grandparents). String popcorn and cranberries for garland. Cut out paper snowflakes. There are so many ways this can be a family affair, all while listening to holiday music, of course. To wipe down presents and surfaces for decorating, we use Arm & Hammer Essentials Disinfecting Wipes.
- Make food together. Whether you love to bake, make gift bags of spiced nuts, or cook latkes each year for Hanukah, doing it together makes it more special, and the smells of those foods will stick with your kids through adulthood bringing them right back to your kitchen.
- Watch old movies. Amazon, Netflix, Hulu, and YouTube make it possible to watch even the most obscure movie from your childhood. Find your favorite and share it with your kids.
- Write a letter. The old standby recipient of letters is Santa, of course, but it’s also fun to have your kids write to themselves to open the following year. Pre-writers can dictate to you what they want to say, and you can write to your child if they’re not yet verbal. Store the letters with your holiday decorations, so it’s easy to find next year. Or, choose another relative to write to. In this electronic age, keeping the tradition of written letters alive feels perfect for the nostalgia of the holiday season. For e-correspondences, we love Smilebox for personalizable greetings and slideshows.
- Give your child a special present on their first holiday. Maybe it’s their very own menorah or a special ornament, but having something that you pull out each year, prompting the story of when they were little, will make them feel special.
- Wear matching family pajamas. If at least one of your holiday traditions isn’t making someone in your family roll their eyes, then you’re not doing it right. Check out Pat Pat for a picture-perfect family jammy fest.
Nothing says, “I love you” like a beautiful, delicious cake! Handmade, detailed, and personalized creations are the perfect ending to any celebration. Get your celebration treats from P.S. I Cake You, a custom cake and desserts, mom-owned business in the East Bay.
Pocket Chefs is dedicated to matching families with personal home chefs that will visit you weekly to meal prep lunches and dinners that fit your budget and eating lifestyle. Customers are able to sign up to have a chef come on a weekly basis or try out a one-time single session. Use code ‘SFMOMS’ to redeem a BOGO offer!
Winter Wonderland Culinary Arts
Tips for Pie Baking with Kids
Spice It Up
Founded on the hard work of Tommy Speer Jr, Wonderland Trees started as a family business in 2008 in Oakland, California. As a proud supporter of local business and employment, our Christmas Trees are sustainably farm-raised in Southern Oregon and each tree is hand-picked to ensure superior quality and color standards are met. Locally-owned and operated, Tommy is raising his two daughters, Angelina and Tatiana, as fourth-generation Oakland natives.
Located in a beautiful secluded setting surrounded by lawns, vineyards, and trees, Fenestra is a historic winery built in 1889. Fenestra Winery is Livermore Valley’s first family-owned boutique winery, specializing in classically balanced, award-winning wines from primarily Livermore Valley grapes. Their winery offers an easy escape from the everyday hustle and bustle of the Bay Area, inviting you to open the window to world-class wines.
Winter Traditions & Celebrations
Out & About
Santa
- Santa’s Tree Farm and Village (Peninsula)
- Santa Photo Experience (Peninsula)
- Fairy Winterland (East Bay)
- Luminary Walk (East Bay)
- Visit to North Pole (East Bay)
- Santa Photo Experience (East Bay)
- Christmasville in the Woods (Easy Bay)
- Santa Drive-Thru Meet and Greet (East Bay)
- Santa at Macy’s Court (East Bay)
- Santa on Solano (North Bay)
Attractions
- ‘Tis the Season for Science (SF)
- Joy at SF Zoo (SF)
- Fort Mason Flix (SF)
- West Coast Craft Market (SF)
- Night of Lights (Peninsula)
- Holidays at Filoli (Peninsula)
- Drive In Movie (Peninsula)
- IlluminOdyssey Outdoors (Peninsula)
- Walking in a Winter Wonderland (Peninsula)
- Glowfari (East Bay)
- Fairy Winterland (East Bay)
- Mistletoe Mission (East Bay)
- Garden of d’Lights (East Bay)
- Walk Through Wonderland (East Bay)
- Telegraph Avenue Holiday Street Fair (East Bay)
- Christmas in the Park (South Bay)
- Fantasy of Lights (South Bay)
- Holiday in the Park Lights! (North Bay)
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Holiday Lights Drive-Thru (Santa Cruz)
Christmas Trees
- Find your perfect Christmas tree [MAP]
- Clancy’s Christmas Trees (SF)
- The Guardsmen Tree Lot (SF)
- Santa’s Tree Farm and Village (Peninsula)
- Webb Ranch (Peninsula)
- Rancho Siempre Verde (Peninsula)
- Speer Family Farms (East Bay)
- ABC Tree Farms (East Bay)
- Smith Family Farm (East Bay)
- Castro Valley Christmas Tree Farm (East Bay)
- Black Road Christmas Tree Farms (South Bay)
- Battaglia Ranch (South Bay)
- Larsen’s Christmas Tree Farm (North Bay)
- Frosty Mountain Tree Farm (North Bay)
- Celesta Farms (North Bay)
- Little Hills Christmas Tree Farm (North Bay)
- Reindeer Ridge Christmas Tree Farm (North Bay)
- Pronzini Ranch (North Bay)
- Grandma Buddy’s (North Bay)
- Graton Fire Christmas Tree Farm (North Bay)
- Cousins’ Christmas Trees (North Bay)
- Applehill Farms (El Dorado)
Luxurious Vacations for Families Do Exist!
Cardiff Vacations is a luxury vacation rentals local family business. Once a childhood home, now remodeled as luxurious beachfront rentals that are located in Cardiff-by-the-Sea, a desirable place to vacation.
Located south of Encinitas and north of Del Mar & Solana Beach, Cardiff-by-the-Sea has the best weather and is known as a world-class surfing destination.
Since 1971 Blue Bear School of Music has provided superior quality and affordable popular music education to aspiring musicians of all ages and skill levels within a supportive and encouraging community. Fulfilling their mission to empower “people to play the music they love,” the school offers private lessons, group classes, and band workshops in Rock, Pop, Folk, Jazz, Blues, and other popular music styles.
Shop at Macy’s Stoneridge Shopping Center, Pleasanton, CA for women’s and men’s apparel, shoes, jewelry, makeup, furniture, home decor, and children’s items. Be warned – they have a MASSIVE toy department. Be prepared not to go home empty-handed. Psst… have a digital visit to the North Pole and take a selfie with Santa here!
Shop Local
Gifts for the Winter
8. Starling Skincare Facial Massage Duo
Screen-Free Gifts
Gifts for the Creative
Gifts for the Techie
Gifts for the Athlete
Gifts for the Scholar
Holiday Books
For the Adults
