Today’s guide to the best family Valentine’s ever is sponsored by The Claremont Club and Spa; a Fairmont Hotel. Scroll on for fun outings, at-home activities, and a deal for a delicious dinner.
Looking for Valentine’s Day activities families can enjoy in the East Bay? We are excited to share this round-up of love- and heart-themed activities in February. Read on for our favorite Valentine’s Day activities for families, including romantic dinners, special outings, crafts, projects, family together-time, and parents-sneaking-away-but-staying-home time (hint: turn on the TV).
Spotlight on Valentine’s Offerings from The Claremont Club & Spa, Berkeley
The Claremont is offering both family fun and a delicious dinner to go for couples. They pack it up so you can assemble and heat a romantic and delicious feast for two with minimal effort. Valentine’s Dinner for two is $255. Pick up between February 10 and 14. Order yours now >>
February 10 to 12. For a joyful outing with a little something for everyone, stop by the outdoor space at Claremont’s Five Palms to enjoy the food, sights, wine, s’mores kits, and festive atmosphere. Cookie decorating kits and wood-fired pizza are available on weekends.
We have lots of ideas: ❤ Fun Valentine-y Activities with Kids | Family-friendly Valentine Outings |Â Romantic Dinner to go ❤
Local Drop-in Activities for Family-friendly Valentine’s Day
No EventsReserve your Spot for Family-friendly Valentine’s Day
Love at the Lake, Lake Chabot, Castro Valley
February 8 to 28. The signature Valentine’s Day package at Lake Chabot is nice for a special date or small family. Enjoy a covered and decorated patio boat for two hours with a picnic basket for $209-$259. Add more snacks, sweets, or flowers. Reserve your spot >
Silhouette Art, Oakland
Thursday, Feb. 9, 11 am to 5 pm. Book a session to have a renowned silhouette artist, Karl Johnson from Cut Arts, make a beautiful keepsake of your child (however squirmy) in about five minutes at Bella Vita in Rockridge. Register now >
Family Skate with Woodfired Pizza & Cookie Decorating, Berkeley
February 10 through 12. The Claremont Club & Spa will be offering glice skating along with tasty food, drinks, always glorious sunsets, and cookie decorating kits at the Five Palms Al Fresco for an easy family date night. More details and open hours >
Kid-Parent Ceramic Craft, Albany
Saturday, Feb. 11, 9:30 to 11 am. The Cass Ceramics instructor will teach child-caregiver duos how to make a heart-shaped bowl perfect for sweet treats or treasures for $65. The dishes will be ready in 3 weeks. Pre-registration is required.
Family Botanical Valentine’s Tea, Berkeley
Saturday, Feb. 11, 10 to 11:30 am or 1 – 2:30 pm. UC Berkeley Botanical Garden hosts a lovely botanical tea party to celebrate the ones you love. Children and their grown-ups will explore the garden through an educational walk, make their own tea party snacks and drinks, craft valentines from pressed botanicals. Select the morning or afternoon session. $20 per child/$24 per adult; discounts for members. Pre-registration is required.
Penguin Valentines, San Francisco
Saturday, Feb. 12 and 14, 10:30 am and 3 pm. The Cal Academy penguins will continue their annual tradition of receiving valentines from the biologists who care for them. Watch the penguins nab felt hearts to line their nests and learn more about the colony during a visit to the museum. Included with admission ($32-$42). Learn more.
Kids-only Valentine’s Treats Workshop, Oakland
Tuesday, Feb. 14, 3:30 to 5:30 pm. Cooking Round the World is hosting a 2-hour workshop where kids, ages 6 to 12, will be preparing chocolate-covered strawberries, red velvet cupcakes, and sweetheart cookies for $40. Pre-registration is required. Also offered in Lafayette.
Pro tip: Reschedule your Valentine’s date night
It can be really hard to schedule childcare and a dinner out that falls exactly on Valentine’s Day. Can I strongly suggest you take advantage of one of these incredible Parents’ Nights Out programs any night you can get in this month? There are a bunch to choose from: Kids do judo, paint rainbow horses, watch movies, flop on trampolines, and generally have a blast!
This February, you can find:
- Feb. 4:Â Kids Night Out “Bear With Me” (painting) at Aran’s Art Studio, Castro Valley
- Feb. 4: Movie, fun, and optional judo at Hanabi Judo, Albany
- Feb. 4:Â Gymnastics, crafts, and movies at Encore Gym, Walnut Creek
- Feb. 10: Dinner, treats, playtime, and a movie at Swings and Wings, Alameda
- Feb. 11: Kids Night Out “Valentine Flowers” (painting) at Aran’s Art Studio, Castro Valley
- Feb. 11: Gymnastics, tumbling, and climbing at Ultimate Sports Connection, Concord
- Feb. 18: Kids Night Out “Rainbow Horse” (painting) at Aran’s Art Studio, Castro Valley
Dinner date at home
Romantic Valentine Dinner to-go from The Claremont Club & Spa, Berkeley
Pick up the nicely-packaged dinner at the carriage house entrance (down in view of the tennis courts). Clear off a whole table and use the nice napkins for a romantic dinner. Each kit includes all of the fixings and sides needed to make a spectacular meal; all you have to do is place it in the oven, relax, and enjoy your time together.
In previous years, I’ve tried to enlist my children as servers, but it is much easier to order them a pizza and turn on Encanto. Then sink your teeth into this:
❤ First Course: Jumbo Prawn Cocktail & Iceberg Salad
❤ Second Course: Beef Wellington, honey-glazed carrots, Yukon potato puree
❤ Dessert: Chocolate decadence cake
Order now and save 10% with code 510families.
Kid-friendly Valentine’s Activities at home
Looking for a fun do-together project at home for you and a kid? Check out some of our ideas to get started.
DIY Valentine’s Day Cards For School
If you have a willing participant, you can take a photo of your child against a blank wall, posed as shown below. Print or order prints (pro tip: Amazon does it for $0.17 per photo!). Then, hole-punch twice — above and below your child’s hand in the photo — to stick a lollipop through.
Heart of Gold painting project from SplashKits
Order in advance. Do it on your own time. SplashKits are do-it-yourself acrylic painting kits great for all ages and skill levels complete with materials. This one is a literal gold heart on a striped background. Â Order from SplashKits >
Painting Sweet Bowls from Color Me Mine, Alameda
Order in advance. Do it on your own time. Order a set of heart-shaped bowls along with 8 Paint Colors of your choice to paint together (and fire later, included). Color Me Mine has great projects to create together at home. Other sweetheart projects at Color Me Mine include Candy Heart Plate, Valentine’s Tic Tac Toe, and a sweetheart mug.
Thank you again to our sponsor The Claremont Club and Spa; a Fairmont Hotel. Place your romantic dinner orders here and save 10% with code 510families.
