Marinwood: Land of Amazing Christmas Houses!

Probably the neighborhood with the highest concentration of amazing Christmas houses per capita in Marin is Marinwood. Marinwood, situated between Novato and San Rafael, was home to the now-defunct Santa's House, which operated until 1994. Anyone who grew up in Marin will probably know exactly which one I mean. It was possibly the Best Christmas House Ever. Even though it's gone, there are others that are really worth visiting. Two of our favorite Christmas houses ever are located in Marinwood: the Bear House and the Mickey Mouse House. Both are pretty outrageous, but show a lot more restraint and focus than the Rombeiro's Christmas House in Novato. What's especially nice is that all the Christmas houses here are within more or less a few blocks of each other, and can be visited in one evening.

The Nisja's Bear House, located at 383 Quietwood Drive (between Las Gallinas Avenue and Miller Creek Road), has been charming Marin families for 28 years. It's not the lights that are the most spectacular thing here (not that they aren't nice), but rather the quality of the displays and decorations that fill the front yard, which include a large, functioning model railroad, and, as the name implies, numerous bears doing all sorts of things. With the trains and bears and animated figures, there's plenty here to get everyone in the Christmas spirit. Check out the display case to the left of the driveway for more bears and Christmas decorations. The bear that blows bubbles is always a hit with the kids, too.

Up the road a short distance at 417 Blackstone Drive (at Las Gallinas) is the Mickey Mouse House. As the name implies, this place is chock full of Mickey Mouse- and Disney-themed holiday decorations. The owners of this home transform their entire two-car garage into a giant glassed-in display case that houses most of their stuffed animals, toys, animated decorations, lighted ceramic buildings and more. The Mickey Mouse house doesn't stop there, though. The home's windows also display holiday paraphernalia and knicknacks, and there's a lighted nativity scene on the lawn. The great thing about this place is that little kids can look to their heart's content, but not touch.

The photos here probably say more about these Christmas houses than the descriptions do. Both are definitely worth a special trip with the family to check out. As with most Christmas houses, feel free to drop a donation into the donation box, if there is one, since that December PG&E bill is probably a whopper. To get to Marinwood, take 101 to the Marinwood/St. Vincent's exit, and head west on Miller Creek Road. To get the Bear House, turn left on Las Gallinas Avenue, then make your first right onto Pinewood Drive, then take the immediate left onto Quietwood. Follow Quietwood to the Bear House, which you can't miss. To find the Mickey Mouse House, turn right off of Miller Creek on to Las Gallinas Avenue. Follow Las Gallinas to Blackstone, where you'll make a left turn. The Mickey Mouse House is right on the corner of Blackstone and Las Gallinas. Our handy Google Map below should help make navigation easier.