Fun Ideas for Father’s Day 2007

Scream for Ice Cream! Father’s Day will never be the same at Nicasio Valley Farms! Bring the whole family to the farm on Father’s Day, June 17 from 11 am to 3 pm  to make and taste delicious ice creams prepared with Straus organic cream and local fruit and flowers; ice cream makers from Three Twins in San Rafael will show us how. Bring a picnic and stay to meet farm animals and investigate the beauty of newly planted fields. Pre-registration required. Cost is $15 MALT and Slow Food Marin members, $20 non-members,  $8 or $12 children, $55 per family of five or more. Nicasio Valley Farms, 1/4 mile north of Nicasio Square. Info: 415-663-1158 or www.malt.org.

Father’s Day Pancake Breakfast will be on Sunday, June 17 from 9am–1pm at the West Point Inn, Mt. Tamalpais. $7 adults, $6 children. After the pancake breakfast, take dad on one of the many trails to hike on Mt. Tamalpais. For more info on the pancake breakfast, call  415-388-9955 or www.westpointinn.com.

Bring the whole family to the Father’s Day BikeAbout at the San Francisco Zoo on Sunday, June 17 from 8:30 am to 10 am. This family activity will include an early morning bicycle ride followed by a relaxing continental breakfast. This event is lots of fun for everyone. Fee: SFZS Members $20; all others $25; children piggy-backing on their parents’ bikes $7. Pre-registration required. For info, call 415-753-7073 or go to www.sfzoo.org.

Come to Rancho Nicasio for Father's Day and have a BBQ on the Lawn on Sunday, June 17. The lawn opens at 3:00 pm and music starts at 4:00 pm with Houston Jones. For $15 a person, the menu includes: BBQ oysters or raw on the 1/2 shell, BBQ chicken, Louisiana Hot Links, tri tip, filet of salmon and more. They also have hot dogs and hamburger for the kids. For more info, go to www.ranchonicasio.com

Bring dad to “Creative Escapes” on Alcatraz on Sunday, June 17 to learn about some of the lesser-known, creative escape attempts of Alcatraz's military prison years. A great Father's Day family event! Buy tickets for the 6:10 pm Night Tour boat. For more info, call 415-561-4926. This event is for children ages 7 and up.

Stern Grove Festival's 70th Season kicks off with Huey Lewis and the News on Sunday, June 17 from 12-1 pm. Huey Lewis will invoke 80s nostalgia by performing such hits as The Power of Love, If This Is It, and Stuck With You. The Paul Thorn Band opens the afternoon with gospel and blues infused music. Arrive early—space is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Children are invited to participate in KidStage activities before the concert. [415.252.6252; www.sterngrove.org

Take dad out to Drake’s Beach in Point Reyes for a stroll along the beach and dine at Drake’s Beach Café. Check out our Drake’s Beach article for full details,

Ready, Set, Go! Bring dad out to the Discovery Museum on Sunday, June 17 to construct the speediest Lego car you can, and run it on their outdoor track. Wheel through the Big Wheel obstacle course or try out a Soapbox Derby car. For information, go to www.baykidsmuseum.org

Take dad to Cornerstone Gardens in Sonoma for a picnic. Cornerstone Gardens comprises 20 different gardens, each with a different theme, and each designed by a world-famous landscape architect. They also have the Cornerstone Children’s Garden, which features a bright green arbor, several grapevine trellises that the kids can run through, a sand box, a wide array of colorful bird houses, small huts that the kids can go into. Bring your lunch or buy it there at their café. There’s a picnic area at the Barn Gallery, which is located in the center of the gardens and is surrounded by a seemingly endless lawn. For more info or directions, go to www.cornerstonegardens.com. You can also check out the vintage aircraft right next door at Sonoma Valley Airport.

Take dad to Morton's Warm Springs Resort in Glen Ellen for some swimming and picnicing. An old-fashioned, family resort in the heart of the wine country offers BBQ and picnic areas, sports fields and lawns, 3 mineral pools for swimming, snack bar and 20 acres to explore all located in a beautiful creekside setting. They are open Tuesday-Sunday from 10 am - 6 pm. Adults $8 and children (3-12) and seniors $7. For more info, call 707-833-5511 or go to www.MortonsWarmSprings.com/.