There are so many things to do when you visit or live in San Francisco. Here is a 10 things to do in San Francisco during Christmas Break
I have also put together a list of activities and places you can visit on January 1st,.
1 - Ice Skating
There are several indoor and outdoor ice-skating rinks in the Bay Area: SF union Square, Embarcadero Center, Oakland etc. See the full list of ice-skating rinks in San Francisco and the Bay Area
2 - Visit a Victorian Home
Enroll in the Victorian Home Walk. It includes a visit inside a Victorian decorated in the 1890’s style during the holiday season. The tour will also include other houses with exteriors decorated for the season. Departs daily from Union Square, corner of Powell and Post streets. No reservations required; $25 per person.
Nov. 8, 2010-March 30, 2011, 5:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday
3 - Enjoy the holiday lights in your neighborhood, in a close by city or in San Francisco.
In San Francisco, you can enjoy the snowflakes on Market Street, the Embarcadero Center’s Building Lighting, the lights at the Hyatt Regency, at Pier 39, at Ghirardelli Square, at Union Square, Union Street.
See my list on Trekaroo.
4 - Check out the animals at Macy’s holiday Windows on Union Square.
The SF SPCA will have kittens and puppies for adoption till January 2nd, 2011. They are so cute to see. Children love it.
5 - Look for Vampires
On December 31, 2010, at 8 p.m, go on the Vampire Tour of San Francisco
A novel way to spend New Year’s Eve, the two-hour Vampire Tour of San Francisco departs from the corner of California and Taylor streets. Stops along the tour include Grace Cathedral, the Nob Hill Café, Huntington Park, the Pacific-Union Club, the Fairmont and Mark Hopkins hotels. $20 “per mortal.”
6 – Visit the museums
The Contemporary Jewish Museum has an exhibition Curious George saves the Day that will delight the whole family (read my review here).
They will be open on December 25th
Till December. 31, from 1-3 p.m. every Sunday and holiday weekends, you can drop in and make some art. These are free with admission and youth 18 and under always free. Themes change regularly and can be related to Museum exhibitions, in this case Curious George Saves the Day.
Dec.19 and Dec. 26: Season’s Greetings, Rey Style
Make your own linoleum-cut printing stamps to create one-of-a-kind holiday cards.
Special Schools-Out Drop-In
Dec. 27, 28, 30, 31: Wire, Set, Go!
As Curious George is constantly on the go, create wire sculptures that take you places:
Dec. 27: Air Mobiles
Dec. 28: Earth Mobiles
Dec.30: Sea Mobiles
Dec.31: Outer Space Mobiles
The Conservatory of Flowers is hosting the Garden Railway in the Golden Gate Park. Model trains and trolleys will wind their way through mini versions of the park’s specialty gardens, zip past sparkling water features that bring Stow and Spreckels Lakes to life and even whiz by a wee bison paddock. Replicas of 10 of the park’s most beloved landmarks are creatively crafted from recycled and repurposed materials and include the Dutch Windmill, the Japanese Tea Garden, the de Young, the Music Concourse Bandshell, the California Academy of Sciences, the Carousel, the Stow Lake Boat House, the Chinese Pavilion, McLaren Lodge and the Conservatory of Flowers
The Disney Museum is one of our favorite museums, we went for the opening and had a great time, we learned so much. So enjoy Christmas with Walt Disney (read my review of the Disney Museum).
A special holiday screening at the Walt Disney Family Museum includes The Nutcracker Suite from Fantasia; Pluto’s Christmas Tree, scenes from television Christmas specials and rarely seen home movies of Walt Disney and his family. For information and viewing times visit
If you are going to the South Bay, you may want to visit the Tech Museum in San Jose and Body World.
7 - Visit animals
San Francisco Zoo and their reindeers, the California Academy of Sciences and its two reindeers on the roof, as well as the Oakland zoo, our all time favorite.
Happy Hollow Park reopened recently and that will make for a nice visit in the South Bay.
8 – Meet for tea at the Teddy Bear Tea Party at the Ritz-Carlton
From Nov. 26-Dec. 24, 2010, 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Children and their favorite stuffed animals gather in The Lobby Lounge, The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco, for traditional Teddy Bear Tea with Binky the Elf. Holiday storytelling, balloons and a visit and photograph with the cuddly Ritz-Carlton Teddy are complemented by a small teddy bear to take home and a special tea experience of hot chocolate, teddy bear cut-out cookies and assorted sandwiches. For information visit .
9 – Discover the city by bike
We did an unforgettable tour of San Francisco last year. We rented our bikes from Bay City Bike and we spend a very enjoyable day biking all over the beach front and crossing the Golden Gate Bridge. Dress warmly and in layers. You can read my review to see if it is something you want to do.
10 - See a show
Shrek The Musical till January 2nd, 2011
Onstage this holiday season at the Orpheum Theatre, Shrek The Musical is based on the Academy Award-winning animated DreamWorks film and characters from William Steig’s book Shrek! The hilarious story of everyone’s favorite ogre has a dazzling new life onstage in a musical for the entire family featuring a terrific score with 19 all-new songs, big laughs and great dancing.
A Christmas Carol till December 24th,2010
Scrooge, Tiny Tim and others return to the Geary Theatre in Charles Dickens’ classic A Christmas Carol.
Cinderella till December 19, 2010
San Francisco’s African-American Shakespeare Company stages Cinderella at the Buriel Clay Theatre, 762 Fulton St . This timeless tale, brought to whimsical, magical life just in time for the holiday season, is an uplifting re-telling of the classic fairytale, featuring all of the pageantry, hilarity and charm of the original, but with a soulful twist..
The Nutcracker till December 27, 2010
Set in 20th century San Francisco, The Nutcracker returns to the War Memorial Opera House for 31 performances. For information visit .
Black Nativity: A Gospel Celebration of Christmas till December 31, 2010
This annual Christmas pageant presented by the Lorraine Hansberry Theatre is filled with holiday gospel music and new songs, new music, new staging and new artists are added each year. Performances are at The Southside Theatre, Fort Mason Center.
A Family Holiday Sing-Along at Grace Cathedral on Dec. 18, 2010, 11 a.m.
Bring the family to Grace Cathedral for a sing-along with the Pacific Boychoir in a program of classic holiday carols..
A Cathedral Christmas at Grace Cathedral on Dec 18 (3 p.m.), Dec.19 (3 p.m.), Dec. 20, 2010 (7 p.m.)
Celebrate the season at Grace Cathedral with the choir of men and boys with orchestra, featuring their signature performances of favorite carols, along with sacred masterpieces and yuletide classics.
Related posts:
Ice-skating rinks in Tahoe
Holidays lights and tree lightings in San Francisco
Holidays events you want to share with your kids on Trekaroo
Holidays events around the Bay Area on Trekaroo
Tips for a drama-free visit to a museum with kids
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