Memorial Day in the Bay Area - 2011

Trying to figure out what to do this Memorial Day weekend? Join the club! Here are a few ideas:

Mary Poppins - the Singalong Version at the Retrodome. I love this movie and the songs. Feed the Birds. Chim Chimmeree. A Spoonful of Sugar. Ah, my kids hate hearing me sing. So we probably won't be there. But you should go. The Retrodome is in San Jose. Show times are Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m.

Wicked Plants - Botanical Rogues & Assassins - at the Conservatory of Flowers in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park. Paralysis, strangulation and derangement. Need I say more?

Carnaval! in San Francisco. This parade is so much fun. The first time we went, my son told the babysitter that we saw naked ladies dancing in the street. She gave us a strange look. Technically, they weren't naked. Carnaval runs May 28-29, with the parade on Sunday, starting at 9:30 a.m. The parade and festival are free.

Great America has a lot going on this weekend. If you're in the Armed Forces (active or retired) you can get free admission - bring ID. Boomerang Bay opens May 28. May 29 is Asian Fest, plus fireworks.

Roaring Camp's Civil War Enactment - we've spent many weekends in Roaring Camp in Felton (near Santa Cruz). This weekend they're hosting a Civil War enactment to commemorate the Civil War's 150th anniversary. The event is May 28-30 (Saturday through Monday), with trains still running. Read a little about what I wrote for FamilyFun Magazine about Roaring Camp.

Bay Area Discovery Museum - if you are part of a military family, you can get in free to the Bay Area Discovery Museum from Memorial Day through Labor Day (I'm not sure if includes the whole Memorial Day weekend, or just starting Monday). This fabulous kids' museum is actually on a former military base at the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge - how appropriate! Here's a list of all Blue Star Museums.

Also for military personnel, check this list of 133 Military Discounts posted on Gift Card Granny. Discounts on everything from airfare, hotel stays, products, Legoland, Seaworld, cruises, restaurants, and clothing.