The family has arrived and the turkey has been eaten, but there are still a few days to have fun before everyone goes home.  Here are 10 suggestions of places to go and things to do this Thanksgiving holiday in the Bay area.  Have fun!

Go Outside and Play

Visit SaveTheRedwoods.org to take part in Green Friday and get a free pass for one of 116 different California State parks.  Also, the US National Park Service is celebrating 100 years this year.  Visit NPS.gov to find a park.  Admission to a number of US National Parks is free.  If not, borrow a 4th grader and take advantage of Every Kid In A Park.

The Nutcracker Ballets

A sure sign that the holidays are here.  Our annual Nutcracker calendar lists ballets, teas and cast parties for companies all over the Bay area. Cost: $10 – $45.  CelebrateFamily.us

Play PinBall at the Pacific Pinball Museum in Alameda

Admission to the Pacific Pinball Museum includes all you can play at pinball machines.  Use your library card at Discover and Go for admission discounts to the Pacific PinBall Museum and other attractions in the Bay Area. Cost: Free – $20 Pacific Pinball Museum

Go Ice Skating

We’ve listed nine holiday ice rinks in the Bay Area. Try the Hat Trick at Downtown San Jose. One ticket gets you ice skating, the Tech Museum and the San Jose Museum of Fine Art.   Where to Find Outdoor Ice Skating Rinks Around the Bay Area

Visit the 49er Museum/Tour Levi’s Stadium

For any fan of the game. Take a behind the scenes tour of the state of the art Levi’s Stadium.  The Stadium tour includes the field level, the Visiting Team locker room, the solar Terrace and much more.

Visit the 49ers Museum which is located at Levi’s Stadium and take pictures with the Super Bowl trophies and rings and my favorite room – the  49ers Hall of Fame.  The Hall contains 26 life size statues  of 49er favorites including Ronnie Lott, Joe Montana, The Catch and so much more.  Kids enjoy the lower section where school children are hosted for field trips. Take pictures in the giant 49er helmet. 49ers Museum

Go to the San Francisco Zoo

Walk off your Thanksgiving dinner and join the #optoutside movement. Connect, care and conserve with us while checking out black swans, black rhinos, black widows and more! Support the zoo and do some holiday shopping at the main Gift Shop from 10:00-1:00 to receive 10% off merchandise, just say the name of one of our reindeer (hint: “Belle”, “Holly” and “Peppermint”) or share a reindeer fun fact. *Certain items excluded from the special – TOM’s shoes, books promotional and clearance.  SFZoo.org

Visit Chuck E.  Cheese

San Jose has a two story Chuck E Cheese just off the 101 and Tully.  Great games for young kids, teens and adults.  Click here for the current coupons: chuckecheese coupons

Take a Holiday Train Ride

Choose from the Polar Express or the Holiday Lights Train (Roaring Camp).  Vintage excursion cars, adorned with thousands of colorful lights, roll through the streets of Santa Cruz. Your little engineers might also enjoy Billy Jones WildCat Railroad at Vasona Park.

Visit California Great America Winterfest

Great America will reopen for the holiday season with ice skating, visits from Santa, holiday themed goodies and fun.  Winterfest is free 2016 & 2017 season ticket holders with discounted tickets available online and at Groupon and GoldStar.com

Go to A Movie

In addition to the current family movies of Moana, Doctor Strange and Fantastic Beasts, Disney Screen is showing Sword in the Stone, Three Musketeers, The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe and Prince Caspian.  Disney Screen is $5 for ALL four movies and showing at Century 25 Union Landing in Union City.  Disney Screen

What do you think?  Let us know if we’ve missed any of your favorites!

Here’s wish you and your family a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend.

Marian