In the tradition of good deeds and giving—and enjoying a holiday scene straight out of Norman Rockwell—head for San Anselmo. This charming Marin town has bounced back from last year’s flooding with its small-town main-street heart intact. Celebrate at festive stores like Fig Garden, Felice! and Gunning’s Hobbies. Get warmed up at the Marin Coffee Roasters (they also offer live music; this Saturday the Bittersweets are playing at 9:00 PM). Or satisfy body and soul at Comforts café, whose menu offers a unique range of comfort food, from the signature chinese chicken salad to the scrumptious local organic apple pie. And here’s a sweet bonus: Shop San Anselmo tonight or any Thursday evening until Christmas, and 10 percent of participating stores’ profits will be donated to the Marin Advocates for Children. That’s the holiday spirit!

To reach San Anselmo, exit Sir Francis Drake Boulevard from Highway 101. Go 4 miles west. Turn left at Tunstead. The next street is San Anselmo Avenue: free metered parking through January 1.