Here are my top picks of festive ways to celebrate the season locally. Super mom status is achieved if you can accomplish half of this list! I will be adding a few of these as fun things to do for Parker's advent calendar. Hope to see you out and about!
1.
Visit a Christmas tree farm
Nothing reminds me of the holidays more than the smell of a fresh pine tree. This year I want to take Parker to a Christmas tree farm so he can pick out his own mini tree to decorate. There are plenty of lots that sell pre cut trees but just 3 legit Christmas tree farms.
Family Christmas Tree Farm
300 Pepper Drive
El Cajon, CA 92021
619-448-5331
www.familychristmastreefarm.com
House Evergreen Forest
3036 N. Victoria Drive
Alpine, CA 91901
619-445-8300
ttrreeffaarrmm@cox.net (worst email address eevveerr)
Pine Tree Acres
620 Haverford Road
Ramona, CA 92065
760-788-5524
pinetreeacres@roadrunner.com
2.
Have a snow day
It may not snow
in San Diego but every year there seems to be snow
around San Diego. Your best bet is to wait for the weatherman to announce that there is snow falling in Laguna Mountain, Julian or Palomar Mountain. Don't want to wait? Just head to Big Bear for a snow day.
3.
December Nights
Balboa Park December Nights, the nation’s premier holiday festival, will take place for the 35th consecutive year on Friday, Dec. 6, 3-11pm, and Saturday, Dec. 7, noon-11pm. As always, the event brings families and friends together to spread holiday joy, learn more about the cultural value of Balboa Park and kick-off the “most wonderful time of the year.”
Participating Balboa Park museums open their doors free of charge from 5-9 pm both evenings and more than 350,000 visitors are expected to experience the joy of San Diego’s largest free community festival. Those who attend will participate in a truly multicultural experience, enjoying food, music and entertainment from around the world.
4.
Go ice skating...by the sea
Every year the Hotel Del Coronado transforms Windsor Lawn into an outdoor ice skating rink adjacent to Coronado Beach overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The rink will be open from November 27 to January 5. For more information, visit Hotel Del Coronado's
website.
5.
Attend a Christmas Tree Lighting
There are a number of tree lighting celebrations throughout San Diego every holiday season. I would love to be able to go to the one in Coronado or Balboa Park. For a complete list, check out this article on
Red Tricycle.
6.
Check out some Christmas lights
Some people take their Christmas lights seriously. I'm not one of those people but I do enjoy driving through nicely decorated neighborhoods. Here is the link to a list of some of the
best Christmas light displays in San Diego. Wanna be super fancy about your Christmas light viewing? Book a tour with
Masterpiece Limos. Other options for checking out light displays is the Holiday of Lights at the Del Mar Fairgrounds and the San Diego Bay Parade of Lights.
7.
Take photos with Santa at Seaport Village
The Santa's available for photo ops in
Seaport Village this year look legit! Much better than the mall Santa I saw at Fashion Valley. I'm top of that, I'm sure Seaport Village will be decked out for the holidays. Can't wait for Parker's first crying photo with Santa.
8.
Make an ornament
These handprint ornaments are a simple way to capture how small Parker's hands are at this first Christmas. Visit
You're So Martha for full instructions. Too lazy? You can buy this kit from
Pearhead. These would make great holiday gifts for gushing grandparents.
9.
Make a nativity scene
Help your little one get into the real spirit of Christmas and celebrate the birth of Jesus but making a baby friendly nativity scene. I love this simple wooden project available from
Caravan Shoppe. Don't have time to make this project?
Target has some cute wooden peg doll nativity characters available in store too!
10.
Jungle Bells
For a wild twist to holiday festivities, take in the Zoo's annual Jungle Bells celebration. Starting Saturday, Dec. 15 through January 6 2013, families can put a wild-animal twist on familiar holiday traditions during the Zoo's 2012 Jungle Bells celebration. The Zoo will stay open until 8 p.m. each night except Dec. 24 - when it will close at 5 p.m.
