One of our favorite family outings is to the town of Sonoma. This small town is a fantastic wine country destination for either a day trip or a weekend “staycation” (which of course is all the rage in this era $4.50-a-gallon gas). Sonoma is about a half-hour’s drive from northern Marin, via Highways 37 and 121. Not as busy or as up-to-the-moment trendy as the Napa Valley, its Wine Country neighbor to the east, Sonoma manages to be both quaint and sophisticated, with a clear sense of tradition and history. Above all, it’s a great place for families, since the Wine Country isn’t necessarily all about wine.

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Get FREE admission to the Appel & Frank "Babes & Babies" Shopping Event in San Francisco this Sunday, July 20, from 10 am–2 pm at JCC of San Francicsco, located at 3200 California Street at Presidio. Babes & Babies brings together over 50 talented emerging designers who create unique items specifically for modern moms and their trendy tots! Moms can outfit their little ones in high style at designers liven up traditional offerings of clothes, accessories and more, all at discounted prices. The first 300 guests will receive a fabulous goodie bag!
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Friday, July 18

• Bring the kids (ages 2–5) to "Fantastic Fridays: Marsh Magic", this Friday from 10 am to noon at the Crissy Field Center. Learn about the marsh sponges, have fun making mud pies, and hear the story of the Six Little Ducks. To register call (415) 561-7752, or download the form at www.parksconservancy.org. The cost is $10 per child, accompanied by a parent or caregiver.

• The Marinwood Community Center will be holding its annual Luau at the Pool on Friday from 6 to 8:30 pm. This event is open to people of all ages. Food will be available for a small charge. Games and activities include volleyball, water basketball, hula hoop contests, water balloon toss, limbo, musical towels, and more. Free for pool members and $4 for non-members. Marinwood Community Center is located at 775 Miller Creek Road in San Rafael.

• Enjoy Jazz & Blues by the Bay this Friday at Gabrielson Park in Sausalito from 6:30-8 pm. For more info, call (415) 289-4152.

• Film Night in the Park will be showing Chariots of Fire on Friday evening at 8:30 pm at San Anselmo's Creek Park. Chariots of Fire is the true story of two British track athletes competing in the 1924 Summer Olympics. One is a devout Scottish missionary who runs for God, the other is a Jewish student at Cambridge who runs for fame and to escape prejudice. Suggested donation $6 for adults and $3 for children. Sponsored by Taco Jane's. For more info, go to www.filmnight.org.

• Novato's Family Outdoor Summer Movie series presents Nancy Drew. Free movies begin 15 minutes after sunset, at the corner of Grant and Sherman Avenues, in Old Town Novato. Pre-movie entertainment, bounce houses, slides, and food available. Presented by Continental Jewelers and the Downtown Novato Business Association. Information: www.dbna.net

• Marin Shakespeare Company opens its 2008 season with The Winter's Tale and Peter Shaffer's Amadeus. This Friday: The opening of The Winter's Tale, 8 pm. Complimentary wine and festivities. General admission: adults $27.50 advance, $30 at the door; seniors $22.50 advance/$25 door; youth $15. Forest Meadows Amphitheatre at Dominican University of California, San Rafael. More information: www.marinshakespeare.org

• Marin Kids Consignment will be having a  sale at Playtime Safari from 5 to 8 pm. Get some gently used clothing for the kids for the perfect price. Bring the kids while you shop for some play and a movie. Finding Nemo will be showing at 5:10 pm. There is never an entrance fee to shop. There is a $5 entrance fee to bring your kids to play at Playtime Safari, watch the movie, and eat the snacks provided. For more info, go to www.marinkidsconsignment.com. Playtime Safari is located at 5470 Nave Drive in Novato.

I think most parents of young children will agree with me when I say that sleep is a precious commodity. In fact, I think much of the sleep that I think I've had in the past few years was in fact not sleep at all, but "liquid naps" in the guise of coffee and other caffeinated drinks. Yes, coffee and tea in all their forms keep many of us moving through the day.

Often, it's impractical to drag the kids into a coffee place, or perhaps you want to pick up a latté when they're asleep in their car seats. This is where the amazing phenomenon that is drive-through coffee comes into place. There really aren't too many drive-through coffee joints in Marin, perhaps because we're less into the whole suburban drive-to-Wal-Mart culture, but they can be found at convenient locations throughout the county.

Ever since she started learning to talk, my little girl has always had her own distinctive vocabulary. Of course, most babies and toddlers have their own words for things they can't quite pronounce. Now there is a great way to show off your child’s unique words and phrases and preserve them on a shirt. Translation Tees is a local mom-owned business that offers one-of-a-kind shirts for the little ones who have their own unique takes on common words. Translation Tees combine your child’s own cute mispronounced words with fresh, colorful, and bold graphics. Over 100 designs are available, printed on high-quality 100% cotton interlock shirts that will last for years.
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Summer is here, and it's time for families to enjoy popular outdoor activities like hiking and camping. Since kids don't always pay attention to their surroundings and potential hazards, it's up to us as parents and caregivers to watch out for them. The goal of our series of outdoor safety posts is to give parents and caregivers an introduction to some of the common safety hazards found in Northern California, with an eye toward children's safety in particular. Of course, none of this should be a substitute for genuine medical advice.

Apparently more and more parents in Marin are sending their children to pricey private summer day camps like Camp Galileo and Steve and Kate's Camp. Of course these camps often offer innovative features and activities made possible by the higher prices. Read what local towns are doing to compete the Marin IJ:

Towns' summer camps try to compete with private programs - Worried about competition from an increasing number of private day camps, San Anselmo Recreation Coordinator Dana Gibson decided to make the town's programs more

Friday, July 11

• Bring the kids (ages 2–5) to "Fantastic Fridays: Planting and Growing", this Friday from 10 am to noon at the Crissy Field Center. Come learn about plants and their parts, nature's color wheel, and more.  To register call (415) 561-7752, or download the form at www.parksconservancy.org. The cost is $10 per child, accompanied by a parent or caregiver.

• Pay a visit to a piece of Cold War history at the Nike Missile Site open house in the Marin Headlands this Friday from 12:30–3:30 pm. Free. More information: www.parksconservancy.org or (415) 331-1453.

• Enjoy Jazz & Blues by the Bay this Friday at Gabrielson Park in Sausalito from 6:30-8 pm. For more info, call (415) 289-4152.

• Film Night in the Park will be showing Across the Universe on Friday evening at 8:30 pm at San Anselmo's Creek Park. Across the Universe is a Julie Taymor's musical set in the '60s and featuring the songs of the Beatles. Suggested donation $6 for adults and $3 for children. Sponsored by Taco Jane's. For more info, call (415) 453-4333

• Novato's Family Outdoor Summer Movie series presents Nim's Island. Free movies begin 15 minutes after sunset, at the corner of Grant and Sherman Avenues, in Old Town Novato. Pre-movie entertainment, bounce houses, slides, and food available. Presented by Continental Jewelers and the Downtown Novato Business Association. Information: www.dbna.net

• Music in the Park Series presents the Courtney Janes performing folk, americana, and bluegrass at Marinwood Park on Friday from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Come and enjoy some live music at this free event. Grab a blanket and some snacks. Beer and wine are available. For more info, go to www.marinwood.org.