Vacations Blog

After Gudrun’s post about seeing the lights in the Bay Area, I thought I would share my family’s favorites just north of the Golden Gate Bridge.

We especially like the holiday boat parades. Our favorite is the Sausalito Lighted Yacht Parade on December 8, 2007 starting at 6:00 p.m. I like it because it is near my home, not crowded and is quite spectacular. It lasts about an hour, just enough time to keep the kids entertained and to get chilled enough to justify copious amounts of hot chocolate. There is great viewing from inside the Spinnaker restaurant or you can bring your own warm beverage and see the show from the dock just to the north of the restaurant.

My friends from Petaluma have invited us to view the Petaluma Holiday Lighted Boat Parade on December 1, 2007 from their architectural office overlooking the river. As the Petaluma Post described it, “a flotilla of vessels decked in lights will glide into the Petaluma River Turning Basin beginning about 6 PM.” If you miss the parade, don’t worry, boats leave their lights on for a few hours after the parade. There are many restaurants to visit near the river if you want to make it more of an evening.

My friends in Napa county rave about the the Yountville Festival of Lights on November 25th starting at 1:00 in the afternoon. Yountville is a charming small town with great restaurants and cute boutiques. The festival features a visit from Santa Claus, holiday carolers and even expert ice carvings. The restaurants open booths on the streets with all sorts of tasty offerings. The lights go on at dusk and you can then take a tour of the lighted streets in a horse drawn carriage. Toss in a few wineries en route and you have a great day for adults and kids.

The Winter Solstice is celebrated every year in Muir Woods. This year the celebration begins on December 21 at 3:00 p.m. This is one of my favorite events because of its homespun nature. It is hosted by the GGNRA, (think singing & acting forest rangers) and celebrates the longest night of the year amongst the redwoods, the tallest of trees. The rangers sing seasonal songs (no religion involved) tell stories, light bonfires perfect for a bring-your-own hotdog roast and s’more making and have lots of crafts for the kids. The night culminates in the lighting of luminaries on the trail through the redwoods. The quiet magic of the forest surrounds me every year and fills me with a true feeling of peace. A rare feeling in the month of December.

I highly recommend this event even if you don’t have children. Have an early dinner at the Pelican Inn, and then walk the lighted path through the forest before the rangers finish their show. You will miss the kids and the crowds and still experience the beauty of the night.

Do you have any holiday events you love? Let me know. As always, I would love to hear about your travel tips, stories and adventures.

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