Holiday Family Fun at Bay Area Museums
'Tis the Season for Science at the California Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park.
The holidays are a perfect time for a family visit to a museum, where you can both have fun and learn something indoors. Many local San Francisco Bay Area museums offer fun holiday-themed programs, including hands-on activities, special exhibits, and more. You'll even find ice skating and real live reindeer! Here are six of our favorite local museums worth visiting with the kiddos this holiday season.
Bay Area Discovery Museum, Sausalito
This holiday season, family favorite the Bay Area Discovery Museum offers skating at its Iceless Skating Rink through January 5 and winter-themed drop-in activities. To wrap things up, ring in the new year a little early at their Noon Year's Eve party from 9 am–2 pm on December 31 with a noontime ball drop, DJ spinning tunes, art activities, and more. Location: Fort Baker, 557 McReynolds Road, Sausalito, 94965. www.bayareadiscoverymuseum.org
Charles M. Schulz Museum, Santa Rosa
Photo ©Charles M. Schulz Museum
Santa Rosa's Schulz Museum offers a variety of Peanuts-style holiday programs, including a holiday gift-making and gingerbread do house workshops, Hands-on Chanukah, winter classes, and Happy New Year, Charlie Brown! on December 31, complete with root beer toasts at noon and 3 pm. Location: 2301 Hardies Lane, Santa Rosa. schulzmuseum.org.
California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco
The California Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park welcomes back its popular 'Tis the Season for Science program, with hands-on exhibits, indoor snow flurries, science movies in the Snowman Theater, and live performances! The fun takes place through January 5; the Cal Academy is open on Christmas Day, too. Location: 55 Music Concourse Drive, San Francisco. www.calacademy.org
Walt Disney Family Museum, San Francisco
The Walt Disney Family Museum in San Francisco's Presidio presents screenings of Christmas with Walt Disney, highlighting holiday celebrationsin Walt Disney's home, and the animated classic Mickey's Christmas Carol as well as winter-themed art and animation workshops for all ages. Location: 104 Montgomery Street, San Francisco Presidio. waltdisney.org
Randall Museum, San Francisco
Families can get crafty and make one-of-a-kind presents and decorations for the holidays at the Randall Museum’s annual Holiday Crafts Day on December 7. Learn how to roll beeswax candles and make handmade lip balm, create a candy house, and more! While you're there, check out the model trains, live animal presentations, hands-on activities, and more. Admission is always free! Location: 199 Museum Way, San Francisco 94114 www.randallmuseum.org
Habitot Children's Museum, Berkeley
Berkeley's Habitot offers a holiday-themed model train display, a special Gingerbread House Day, and more. Location: 2065 Kittredge Street, Berkeley 94704. www.habitot.org
