The Christmas House at West End Nursery in San Rafael

Keep the kiddos busy! Here's out list of fun things to do with the kids for the week of November 8–14. We've broken it down day-by-day with suggestions for activities, outings, events, and more that you can use to help plan out your week.

Keep in mind that some of these activities require advance registration, so check the organizer's website before you attend. If you have something fun you'd like to share, please let us know and we'll consider it for next week's list!

Monday, November 8

• Kick off your holiday season at West End Nursery's Christmas House, Open daily, 9 am–4 pm.
• Read aloud with the animated storybook The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle.
• Drop-in for open gym time at Gymworld in San Rafael for kids 5 and under, Monday–Friday, 10:30 am–12:30 pm.
• Get in the holiday spirt and make a batch of peanut butter blossoms cookies.

Tuesday, November 9

• Visit the animals and hike at Tolay Lake Regional Park in Petaluma.
• Reserve your spot at The Gravity Vault Marin indoor rock climbing gym in San Rafael, open daily, 9 am–6 pm.
• Have fun with the kiddos at a Jumping Jacks class, San Rafael Community Center, Tuesday & Thursday, 9:30 and 11 am.
• Make a big pot of delicous slow cooker tortilla soup for dinner.

Climb, run and explore Gumnut Grove at the Bay Area Discovery Museum in Sausalito.

Wednesday, November 10

• Climb, run and explore Gumnut Grove at the Bay Area Discovey Museum, Sausalito, Wednesday–Sunday, 9 am–4 pm. Reserve tickets here.
• Drop in for Tot's Open Gym (ages 0–4) at the Fairfax Pavilion, Wednesday, 9:30 am
• Toddlers on Ice introduces our youngest skaters to the ice, Snoopy's Home Ice, Santa Rosa, Wednesdays, 11 am–noon. Reserve your spot, $20 for child/adult.
• Join Librarian Lauren for Outdoor Story Time in Mill Valley's Old Mill Park, Wednesday, 10:15 am

Thursday, November 11

• Take the kiddos to play and burn off some energy at Hal Brown Park at Creekside in Greenbrae. Bring a picnic too!
• Make a colorful paper mosaic with PBS Kids.
• Join Catherine for songs and stories at Preschool Storytime at the Belvedere Tiburon Library's YouTube channel.
• Walk or bike on the Bay Trail at the Hamilton Wetlands in Novato.

Take a walk and visit the animals at Toley Lake Regional Park in Petaluma.

Friday, November 12

• Drop in to Playland in Sausalito for bounce house free play. Friday, 9 and 10:30 am.
• Take a family bike ride at Indian Valley Open Space Preserve in Novato.
• Visit the Oakland Zoo at night for Glowfari, opening Friday, November 12, 5:30–10 pm.
• Get the kids in the kitchen for homemade pizza night.

Saturday & Sunday, November 13 & 14

• Bring the family to celebrate the Chabot Space and Science Center, Oakland long-anticipated reopening with rovers, astronauts, scientists and more! Friday–Sunday, Reserve your tickets here.
• Visit the de Young museum in Golden Gate Park for free (with proof of Bay Area residency), Saturday, 9:30 am–5:15 pm.
• Take a ride at Sonoma TrainTown where you can feed the animals and ride carnival rides, too, Saturday & Sunday, 10 am–4 pm.
• Learn to skimboard at Upton Beach, Saturday, 11 am–1 pm.
• Explore the Marin Headlands for nature, hiking, and history.
• Shop for treasures at the Outdoor Antique French Market at Marin Center in San Rafael, Sunday, 9 am–3 pm.
• Drop the kiddos (6–13 yrs) off to burn off some enery in a gymnastics enviornoment, Cal Star Gymnastics, Novato, 5:30–8:30 pm, ($25 per child). Register online here.
• Get fresh produce at this Sunday's Marin Farmers Market in San Rafael, 8 am–1 pm.